Category Archives: Cruises

Qatar Tourism has announced new superyacht luxury cruises in partnership with Emerald Cruises, sailing from Doha launching in January 2023. Emerald Azzurra will offer a seven-night, eight-day itineraries from Doha, with stops at Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; Khasab, Oman; Fujairah, UAE; Zighy Bay, Oman; and Dubai and vice versa. Pre and post cruise tours are available where guests can opt for a three-day package to explore the sites and culture of Qatar. Highlights include the National Museum of Qatar, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, in the style of a desert rose; or a visit to Souq Waqif, to purchase local souvenirs and spices. Visitors can take a trip into the desert and visit the Inland Sea, before enjoying dune bashing and a camel ride. The news comes as construction continues on the new Grand Cruise Terminal located in central Doha, near the Museum of Islamic Art and Souq Waqif. The terminal will have the capacity to host two megaships and will offer various attractions, including an aquarium and art gallery. Chief Operating Officer of Qatar Tourism, Berthold Trenkel, said: “In line with the national strategy, Qatar National Vision 2030, we are expanding our tourism value proposition and are excited to welcome travellers from around the world to experience the best of Qatari hospitality both on sea and land. The new itineraries launching with Emerald Cruises are another step towards achieving this vision. “Qatar has an incredible range of hotels, restaurants, activities and cultural landmarks which can be enjoyed pre and post the cruise, allowing guests the freedom to explore Qatar at their leisure. We welcome travellers from around the world to experience our beautiful country and the best …

Nearly 6 million passengers have sailed on cruise ships since the cruise industry’s restart last year. In addition, 16 new ships will set sail this year include five liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered vessels and nine expedition ships. In addition, more than 75 percent of oceangoing capacity is already back in service—and nearly 100 percent is expected back in operation by August 2022. Best of all, travel advisors and passengers will likely see a full cruise industry recovery in 2023. 

Travel demand has been wiped out by Covid-19, and cruise operations were among the first to be halted when the pandemic broke out in early 2020. After the pandemic ravaged the sector and drove its German shipbuilding subsidiary into insolvency, Genting Hong Kong Ltd. has filed to wind up the company, marking one of the greatest stumbles by a cruise operator globally.

A pioneer in global cruise travel with a 55-year history of breaking boundaries, Norwegian Cruise Line has launched Norwegian Central Asia, an online trade portal to help travel partners in India and Asia discover and market NCL holidays easily and seamlessly. Logging in to Norwegian Central gives partners direct access to NCL’s award-winning travel agent training platform, NCL University (NCLU). Through the reduced rate learning incentive program, travel partners can also earn discounts up to 30% off their own NCL cruise as a reward for completing different levels of NCLU courses. 

Rajiv Jalota, Chairman, Mumbai Port Trust, has said that according to a study initiated by them, by 2042-43, a growth of more than 10-12 times with 40 lakh cruise passengers is predicted, out of which over 20 lakh will be domestic cruise passengers. Domestic cruises have bigger potential from infrastructure point of view. It would need smaller vessels and less infrastructural availability.

Cordelia cruises have successfully completed 16 sailings with approximately 17,776 families and guests since its launch in mid-September. They have achieved 100% consumer occupancy. Jurgen Bailom, CEO and President, Waterways Leisure Tourism, says. “Indians were far from familiar with cruising especially locally. The thick of the pandemic was itself a significantly daunting time. I am overjoyed and humbled in equal measure with the response we have received since our launch. This response is pushing us to do better and offer so much more. Cordelia Cruises has put India on the global cruising map.”

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel, has launched a brand-new platform — ‘Book-A-BDM’— that will allow travel agents from across the country direct access to NCL’s regional Business Development Managers (BDMs), at a time and in a way that suits them. Through this new platform, developed as part of the line’s Partners First commitment, travel agents can quickly and easily book a personal session of up to 1 hour with their local BDM, either over the phone or via Zoom. Travel partners can choose from a range of services to discuss at their Book-A-BDM appointment, including group bookings, sales event planning support, marketing and promotions with NCL, or a general NCL product, itinerary and destination update, depending on the agent’s preference. Appointments are available with Manoj Singh, NCL’s Country Head, India as well as regional Business Development Managers, Betty Abraham – Sr. Business Development Manager for East and South India; Kashish Jiandani – Business Development Manager for Western and Central India; and Bhanu Pandey – Business Development Manager for North India.

The much-anticipated 80-seater cruise boat service on Dal Lake was launched by the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC) as a huge boost to the valley’s tourism infrastructure. People can make reservations for family reunions, weddings, and other social occasions. The cruise boat has a maximum capacity of 80 passengers and is furnished with a number of facilities. Following the government’s announcement that tourism is a priority industry to immunisation, the tourism department immunised tourism stakeholders as part of the inoculation efforts.

With the coronavirus situation improving, Cordelia cruises are all set to resume sailing operations from September 2021.  While their maiden cruise was cancelled by the deadly second wave, the team is upbeat and cautiously optimistic that they can travel freely again. “The second wave led to the cancellation of our initial sailing plans but we were equipped to handle such exigencies. Our team is in touch with guests who have booked with us, and we are regularly checking on the status of their health and vaccination. Safety is the most crucial word in travel today” says Jurgen Bailom, CEO & President for Waterways Leisure Tourism who also added that the response from the guests to the new itineraries has been encouraging. The timeline is also in sync with that of the international cruise industry which is making a comeback in a phased manner. Most cruise liners are commencing sailings with a few ships on certain routes as per the permissions received. It is expected that most of them will start operations between July and August 2021 on specific routes and gradually become fully functional by 2021 end. Cordelia has implemented all the standard protocols for its crew members and guests.  This includes fully vaccinated crew, daily health checks for crew members, hourly sanitization of facilities, air-filtration and aocial distancing norms, limited guests as per the official mandate by the government, special services team in charge of the safety and health of senior citizens and children, and pre-requisite of tests and vaccination before boarding for guests being worked out apart from comprehensive pre travel checks. Cordelia promises sailing to some of the best Indian and international destinations like Goa, Diu, Lakshadweep, …

Close to 300 Indian travel agents tuned in to CruiseWorld India 2021 organised by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Northstar Travel.  Helmed by Genting Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean International, STB and leading cruise agents, the session instilled confidence in Singapore”s cruise recovery and the steps taken by the Singapore cruise industry in the safe resumption of cruising even as Singapore has not opened for international cruise travel. Singapore has pioneered the world’s first Cruise Safe certification programme with stringent hygiene and safety measures throughout the passenger journey. The results have been very encouraging.  More than 90 sailings had taken place and 120,000 Singapore residents had experienced seacation with cruise to nowhere itinerary.