Category Archives: Cruises

Antara Cruises announced its partnership with Serandipians, a distinguished global network of bespoke travel designers, luxury hotels, and curated experiences. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in Antara’s ongoing journey to redefine luxury travel in India and elevate its offerings to a discerning international clientele. Serandipians is renowned for curating the world’s most refined collection of luxury brands and experiences. Membership is by invitation only, reserved for companies that uphold the highest standards of bespoke service, creative excellence, and authentic storytelling—qualities that Antara Cruises embodies through its elegant river journeys across India’s most iconic waterways. “We are proud to join the Serandipians community, as it represents a shared commitment to delivering extraordinary, culturally immersive experiences,” says Raj Singh, Chairman, Antara Cruises. “This partnership opens new pathways for global travellers seeking authentic, intimate, and transformational voyages, directly connecting them with India’s rich heritage from a truly luxurious vantage point.” Antara Cruises’ meticulously designed all-suite vessels offer a seamless blend of heritage, sustainability, and refined elegance. Curated itineraries explore UNESCO World Heritage sites, immersive excursions, and authentic cultural encounters, showcasing India’s diverse heartland through an exceptional lens. As a part of the Serandipians network, Antara will collaborate closely with top luxury travel designers worldwide and travel trade partners to craft tailor-made journeys, providing heightened visibility within the high-end travel sphere and reinforcing India’s position as a premier destination for river cruising.  

Avalon Waterways has carved an undisputed niche with their luxury river cruising, offering discerning travellers a refined yet relaxed way to explore Europe’s most iconic rivers. With its award-winning ships and immersive itineraries, Avalon has now become the cruise line of choice for small groups seeking to script unique memories in an apt setting. From milestone anniversaries to alumni reunions, ladies’ getaways, and club gatherings, Avalon transforms small group travel into unforgettable shared experiences. “We’re seeing an incredible rise in affinity groups choosing Avalon,” says Varesh Chopra, Managing Director – India, Middle East & South Asia. “Our intimate setting, seamless services with personalised experiences resonate deeply with travellers who want to connect, celebrate, and explore without the usual hassles.” Small groups are there to see more of each other while traveling in an unhurried manner rather than queuing up for each meal or excursion. One of the top reasons such groups love Avalon is the ease of the all-inclusive format and the personalised atmosphere on board. No coordinating hotel stays, sightseeing, transportation, or meals. Unlike large ocean liners, Avalon’s ships carry an average of 150 guests, creating a boutique luxury setting on the water. Groups numbering anything from 10 to 30 pax, enjoy the spacious suites, sun decks, and elegant spaces – all designed for making meaningful connections rather than meeting crowds. The truly all-inclusive format includes stay in award winning Panorama Suites, flexible gourmet dining options with local wines & beers even a really ‘Happy Hour’ each day, Services of a professional Cruise Director & expertly guided sightseeing with choices allowing both organizers and guests to focus entirely on creating memories. Travelers indulge in the local culture through evening …

In the Northern Hemisphere Summer 2026, Norwegian Cruise Line Will Open an All-New Nearly Six-Acre Waterpark with 19 Waterslides, an Almost 250 Metre Dynamic River, A New Jet Karts Water Track and More Experiences for Guests to Enjoy ‘The Great Life’ at Great Stirrup Cay Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) announced additional details for its private island transformation on Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas headlined by a nearly six-acre Great Tides Waterpark opening in the Northern Hemisphere summer 2026, and more incredible experiences to bring unforgettable adventures and endless relaxation for its guests. From cliff jumps and jet karts to swim-up bars and splash zones, the expansion of the island’s offerings is designed to elevate every guest’s experience with more freedom, more flexibility and more ways for them to discover ‘The Great Life’! at Great Stirrup Cay. “Great Stirrup Cay has always been an amazing part of the Norwegian Cruise Line guest experience and continues to be one of our highest rated destinations,” said David J Herrera, President, Norwegian Cruise Line. “At 270 acres our private island provides us with an incredible blueprint to reinvent what guests can experience when they escape to ‘The Great Life’ with us. This new waterpark is an outstanding addition to our recent announcement about other amazing new amenities on the island soon to debut. With each phase of our enhancements, we are bringing ashore more of what our guests love about sailing with NCL. Whether you want to relax by the huge new heated pool – complete with multiple swim up bars, are looking forward to racing down one of the 19 waterslides with your kids at Great Tides Waterpark, or just want to …

Gujarat has become the first state to join the Cruise Bharat Mission, signalling its commitment to boost maritime tourism. It positions the state as a frontrunner in India’s coastal development. The mission aims to increase sea cruise traffic 10-fold by 2029, propelling India toward becoming a globally competitive cruise tourism destination.

Cunard is a luxury British cruise line, renowned for creating unforgettable experiences around the world. Cunard has been a leading operator of passenger ships since 1840, and this year celebrates an incredible 185 years of operation. 2025 is a momentous year in Cunard’s history, which will be marked with several iconic land-based events and special Event Voyages. The Cunard experience is built on fine dining, hand-selected entertainment, and outstanding White Star service. From a partnership with a two-Michelin starred chef, to inspiring guest speakers, to world class theatre productions, every detail has been meticulously crafted to make the experience unforgettable. A pioneer in transatlantic journeys and round world voyages, destinations sailed to also include Europe, the Caribbean, Alaska, the Far East and Australia. There are currently four Cunard ships, Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and new ship, Queen Anne, which entered service in May 2024. This investment is part of the company’s ambitious plans for the future of Cunard globally, with the brand now boasting four ships in simultaneous service. Special low fares have been launched on 7 nights Europe sailings for Sep – Oct – Nov 2025. For brochures and booking, kindly contact M/s Griffon, agent of Cunard in India at 91 9820060421 or send email to sales@GriffonCruises.in

Cunard has reported a significant uplift in demand following the launch of its 2027 programme, with a 55% increase in nights booked during the first seven days compared to the equivalent period for the 2026 launch. Both the UK and North American markets contributed significantly to this success, with bookings up almost 50% in the UK and more than 100% in North America. There has also been a notable surge in demand for Cunard’s most exclusive luxury suites. Bookings for Queens Grill and Princess Grill suites rose by over 100% compared to the same launch period last year, reflecting growing global interest in Cunard’s distinctive Grills experience. Queen Mary 2’s Transatlantic Crossings continue to perform strongly. This iconic route remains one of Cunard’s most popular and continues to attract strong interest from guests around the world. Summer 2027 programme: Cunard’s latest programme of extraordinary voyages boasts 195 new itineraries across its iconic fleet, visiting 115 destinations in 32 countries between April 2027 and January 2028. The new itineraries include 93 UNESCO World Heritage sites. And with 18 overnight port calls and 33 late-evening departures, the programme offers even more opportunities to explore the world. The programme offers more variety and choice than ever before, with three of Cunard’s iconic Queens offering roundtrip voyages from the UK for the first time since 2018 – increasing the capacity of Southampton departures by 54% year on year. Katie McAlister, President of Cunard, said: “We’re delighted with the response to our 2027 launch. It’s wonderful to see so many guests choosing to sail with us, and the rise in bookings shows just how much people continue to value the Cunard experience. Demand for our Queens Grill and …

Cunard is a luxury British cruise line, renowned for creating unforgettable experiences around the world. Cunard has been a leading operator of passenger ships since 1840, and this year celebrates an incredible 185 years of operation. 2025 is a momentous year in Cunard’s history, which will be marked with several iconic land-based events and special Event Voyages. The Cunard experience is built on fine dining, hand-selected entertainment, and outstanding White Star service. From a partnership with a two-Michelin starred chef, to inspiring guest speakers, to world class theatre productions, every detail has been meticulously crafted to make the experience unforgettable. A pioneer in transatlantic journeys and round world voyages, destinations sailed to also include Europe, the Caribbean, Alaska, the Far East and Australia. There are currently four Cunard ships, Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and new ship, Queen Anne, which entered service in May 2024. This investment is part of the company’s ambitious plans for the future of Cunard globally, with the brand now boasting four ships in simultaneous service. Special low fares have been launched on 7 nights Europe sailings for Sep – Oct – Nov 2025. For brochures and booking, kindly contact M/s Griffon, agent of Cunard in India at 91 9820060421 or send email to sales@GriffonCruises.in

Waterways Leisure Tourism, which operates Cordelia Cruises, is planning to raise ₹727 crore through an Initial Public Offering (IPO). The company has filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). The IPO, with a face value of ₹10, is a fresh issue of shares amounting to ₹727 crore, with no offer-for-sale component. The funds raised will be used for lease payments to its subsidiary, Baycruise Shipping and Leasing (IFSC) Private Limited, and general corporate purposes.

Sharing her views about the new international cruise terminal opened in Mumbai, Nalini Gupta, Managing Director, ClickMyCruise & Lotus Destinations, says, “It is a major step forward for India’s cruise tourism. But key improvements are still needed like better ground transport access, smoother immigration processes, and more retail and leisure facilities. Strengthening digital systems and sustainability measures, along with robust international marketing, will be essential to fully realise its potential as a global cruise hub.”

In a strategic partnership, ClickMyCruise join hands with Explora Journeys, the luxury cruise line division of MSC Cruises. Nalini Gupta, Managing Director, ClickMyCruise, said, “This partnership is a significant step in our mission to provide curated, world-class travel experiences for Indian luxury cruise enthusiasts.”