In the sixties and seventies, there was actually a pair of steamers which used to ply between Panaji and Mumbai, carrying loads of passengers on a charming journey along the Konkan coastline.

A catamaran service was started by Damania Shipping in 1994, between Mumbai and Goa, using a beautiful Scandinavian-built vessel, with aeroplane-style reclining seats. The trip from Mumbai used to take seven hours to reach Panaji. The catamaran too, travelled around 40 km offshore, giving travellers a glimpse of the palm-fringed Konkan coast.

However the sea route service is no longer available from June 2004 onwards.