Category Archives: Cruises

Speaking about the significance of research and data in the tourism industry, Suman Billa, IAS, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism said, “Being in the sector which is vast and multifaceted, it is essential to have accurate and comprehensive data to inform our decisions. While government data provides a solid foundation, it often captures only one facet of the entire landscape. To truly understand the dynamics of the tourism and hospitality sectors, we must triangulate this data with insights from industry bodies, international organisations like the WTO, and other reliable sources.”

Skyscanner’s 2025 travel trend report reveals that the upcoming year will be about collective travel experiences. From stargazing beneath the night skies to exploring immersive art galleries, Indians are increasingly drawn to adventures that offer a sense of community. Moreover, with 66% of Indians planning to travel more in 2025, global exploration is a top priority as they seek out destinations that offer enriching experiences. The report further offers insights into the pulse of Indian travellers in the coming year, their evolving travel preferences, and the top 10 trending and best-value destinations.

At the grand reveal of Disney Cruise Line in Singapore, it was announced that the cruise liner will set sail on 15 Dec 2025 and bookings will start from 10 Dec 2024. Details on pricing and sailing dates will be released on 14 Nov, 2024. It will have experiences specially created for guests in Asia.

Aiming to make India a global hub for cruise tourism, Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, GoI, launched the Cruise Bharat Mission in Mumbai and shared insights on how this initiative will boost the cruise sector. The 3-phase programme targets 50 lakh pax by 2047.

Disney Cruise Line is unveiling all-new details about one of the seven themed areas aboard the Disney Adventure, which will set sail from Singapore in 2025. Disney Imagination Garden, the central hub of the ship, will be an immersive, enchanted valley inspired by 100 years of heroic and heartwarming Disney adventures. The colorful landscapes of Disney Imagination Garden will transport guests into the pages of well-loved Disney stories alongside their favorite characters. The vibrant, open-air garden will be set against a three-deck-tall, stunning storybook castle art piece, a first-of-its-kind onboard a Disney Cruise Line ship. The space will also include a state-of-the art theatrical stage that will bring beloved Disney stories to life, two quick-service eateries, an alluring bar and a selection of garden-view staterooms.   “Disney Imagination Garden is the heart and soul of the Disney Adventure, where our guests will interact with our Disney, Pixar and Marvel stories in a whole new way,” said Laura Cabo, portfolio executive creative director, Walt Disney Imagineering. “The size and scale of this space provided us with so many opportunities to dream big and try new things with our experiential design, creating first-of-a-kind experiences for our guests, from all-new entertainment to delicious dining and lots of magical surprises sprinkled throughout. Rooted in the rich legacy of Disney storytelling, we’re creating an area that will open doors to new adventures and encourage guests to create magic of their own.”   Disney Imagination Garden is one of seven uniquely themed areas on the Disney Adventure, each teeming with incredible characters and unique experiences. The other areas include Disney Discovery Reef, San Fransokyo Street, Wayfinder Bay, Town Square, Marvel Landing and Toy Story Place. More details about …

“Domestic cruises are gaining popularity among families, couples, millennials, and Gen Z, offering them an all-inclusive seacation. Young professionals are also combining public holidays with weekends for a domestic cruise holiday,” said Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head, Holidays, MICE, VISA, Thomas Cook (India).

Scylla AG & VIVA Cruises have joined hands with Global India Reps to introduce their premium river cruise brand in Europe to the Indian Market. Scylla AG, a leader in exclusive river cruises across Europe since 1973, has a fleet of 40 in-house designed ships that offer unparalleled experiences for tourists and event organisers alike. VIVA Cruises, established in 2018 as an extension of Scylla AG, specialises in river cruises tour operator that explores Europe’s most picturesque destinations. Operating year-round, VIVA Cruises’ modern fleet navigates the Rhine, Danube, Main, Moselle, Seine, Rhône, and the Baltic Sea coast. Global India Reps is a representative/marketing platform having the collective experience of almost 20 years in consulting, launching, promoting & creating a network for sourcing business for its Principals from India. Rony H Broun, Regional Vice President, says “I am delighted that through our collaboration with, Global India Reps, we can introduce VIVA Cruises Journeys, facilities, custom services to the Indian market. This collaboration is set to showcase the unique offerings and exceptional service standards of Scylla shipping company & VIVA Cruises to potential partners and customers in India. Outbound Travel from India presents a significant opportunity given the huge demand for this region and we wish to offer and serve the outbound travel market for 2024 & beyond.” Reach us at Booth F530, BLTM! “With their unique experience, strong trade relationships and proven track record of success launching new international products from India, we are confident that Global India Reps, headed by Mr. Ashish Saran will springboard and accelerate our entry into the Indian outbound market”, Broun added. Ashish Saran, Co-Founder & Business Head, Global India Reps added “there is a major …

Resorts World Cruises is pleased to announce that the Genting Dream will use the historic port of Melaka as the gateway to Kuala Lumpur for its 2 Night Cruises departing from Singapore on Sundays, starting 10 November 2024. As ‘the cruise line that knows Asia best’, passengers will enjoy a new and enhanced experience with dual visits to the city of Melaka and the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. With port stay time extended from 10 to 12 hours, passengers on the Kuala Lumpur excursions will have ample time to explore Melaka before boarding the ship.

Switzerland Tourism invites the Indian outbound travel trade to attend an exclusive webinar on 8 August at 3pm highlighting the unique experiences of BLS Interlaken’s lake cruises, Aletsch Arena, Swissminiatur and Foxtown factory stores. Attend all webinars for a chance to win a trip to Switzerland in 2025! For more details, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com.

Resorts World Cruises is pleased to announce that the 150,695 gross tonnage Genting Dream successfully completed its first berthing alongside the Phuket Deep Sea Port on 24 July 2024, making it the largest cruise ship to do so. As ‘the Cruise Line that Knows Asia Best’, Resorts World Cruises has the vast and in depth expertise in enhancing experiences for its passengers. Genting Dream passengers departing from Singapore for the 3 Night Phuket Cruise will now have the convenience and comfort of disembarking and re-embarking the ship in Phuket without using tender boats. In addition, inbound passengers can enjoy the flexibility without having to worry about the tender boat schedule and at the same time maximise their stay in Phuket. “Our Marine Operational team, the Captains of Genting Dream together with the Phuket Pilots have conducted comprehensive studies, risk assessments and ship simulations over half a year with the Thailand authorities to ensure the feasibility and safety of this pioneering initiative. With our ship now able to berth alongside Phuket Deep Sea Port regularly, our passengers will enjoy the convenience, which will further boost Phuket’s image as a cruise destination”, said Michael Goh, President of Resorts World Cruises. “We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to the Marine Department, The Governor of Phuket province, the local port authorities, as well as to Wallem Shipping Agency for their support and coordination,” he added. With a cruise terminal at the Phuket Deep Sea Port, the berthing of a large cruise ship like Genting Dream also creates new opportunities for Phuket and Resorts World Cruises to explore future possibilities, as well as as a potential cruise and clearance gateway for outbound …