Category Archives: Cruises

Cordelia Cruises, India’s premium cruise line, has made a triumphant return to Mumbai this month, after a successful four-month posting in Chennai. Cordelia Cruises returned to the esteemed Mumbai port on the 23rd of September and it will homeport here till June 2024. After a series of successful sailings to Sri Lanka in June 2023, Cordelia became the first Indian cruise to set sail internationally. This represents a monumental stride in the Indian cruise operations and marks an achievement for the country. Cordelia Cruises embarked on an incredible journey, introducing a perfect blend of Indian hospitality and world-class amenities to more than 400,000 passengers since its inception. With a vision of transforming India’s vast coastline, which spans over 7,500 square kilometres, into a bustling hub for coastal tourism, Cordelia Cruises aims to propel the nation into the global cruise tourism industry spotlight.

Costa Cruises will be starting operations in India with the launch of their premier cruise Costa Serena, for India sailings. The cruise is also looking to extend the season until 10th January 2024, with one itinerary to Maldives-Mumbai-Cochin-Maldives-Mumbai. Alessandro De Masi, Consul General of Italy in Mumbai, also mentioned that the cruise will offer 100 per cent customisation for Indian guests. 

Learn more about the largest cruise ship in domestic waters – Costa Serena – and its sailings ex Mumbai and Cochin in November and December 2023 at this exclusive webinar on September 21 at 3pm. It will highlight specially curated itineraries for a truly international experience with an Indian touch. For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.

Manoj Singh, Country Head India Norwegian Cruise Line shared, “Indian cruise traveller has moved away from single-island vacations towards more diverse, multi-destination experiences. There is a growing demand, and more people now want meaningful holidays.” 

Sharing data on India as a cruise source market, Joel Katz, MD (Australasia), CLIA, says, “India ranks much higher among its Asian counterparts. In 2019, India contributed around 313,000 pax to cruise operations internationally, an increase over the previous year of more than 40%. India’s source market had grown at double-digit rates for consecutive years, putting India behind only Mainland China, Taiwan and Singapore in the Asia region, and ahead of Japan and Hong Kong.”

Manoj Saraf, MD, Gainwell Travel, said that Indian cruise traveller have evolved and are now amongst the top sailors in Asia – Pacific region. “From 3 nights, they have now moved to much longer and more experiential itineraries,” he said.  

JANDEC Travel JSC, and Ambassador Cruise, Halong Bay, Vietnam, a holistic tourism service provider and cruise liner based in Vietnam, assigns AllKnown Marketers (AKM) the task of performing its trade and marketing initiatives in the Indian market. The AKM team will be responsible for endorsing these diversified products & services, hence, to encourage Indian tourists to experience Vietnam’s gastronomy and culture, nature and other outdoor adventures. Since JANDEC Travel JSC, and Ambassador Cruise, Halong Bay, Vietnam debuted in the Indian market early 2023, the business penetration will further enhance its presence through a strong partnership with sustainable efforts and consistent outreach between both parties. Jandec Travels JSC Vietnam deviates from any traditional travel companies in promoting holiday packages by catering to all age groups including individuals, families, groups, or corporate organizations. Constantly improving its holiday trails through innovation and creativity with the aim of making every holiday a unique living experience for all. Meanwhile, Ambassador Cruise is a 5-star cruise company that operates in Halong Bay. A state-of-the-art cruise company, premium options of cruise packages have been designed from overnight cruises, day cruise and dinner cruise. Every cruise offers shore excursions, on board entertainment and dining options to suit Indian travellers. Commenting on the appointment, Vu Cong Vice President said, “We are delighted to commence our journey in the Indian market with AllKnown Marketers. The travel industry has undergone a sea change in the past couple of years, however we are certain that exciting times await the entire industry to resume fully soon. The AKM team will assist us in navigating through the Indian travel trade diaspora and to comprehend the ever-evolving Indian travellers. We are looking forward to marking our …

Costa Cruise and TripJack, have partnered to offer cruising experiences during season time. From November 2023 to January 2024, Costa Serena will offer a total of 23 sailings and a dual homeport of Mumbai and Cochin. It will sail to Mumbai, Cochin, Goa and, for the first time ever, the beautiful Lakshadweep islands with a 2, 3 and 5 nights itineraries. Abdul Thingna, VP, Hotels & Holidays at TripJack said, “We are excited to partner with Costa Cruise, a renowned name in the global cruise industry. This collaboration aligns with our mission of providing unique and remarkable travel experiences. The cruise dates in November and December 2023 offer an incredible opportunity for Indian travelers to experience international cruising, and we are confident that our partnership will deliver exceptional value and unforgettable memories.” “We are delighted to collaborate with Tripjack in bringing the incredible world of Costa Cruise to Indian travellers,” said Nalini Gupta of Costa Cruise. “This partnership will allow us to cater to the specific preferences of the Indian market, ensuring that our guests have an exceptional cruising experience.”

Naveen Kundu, MD, Ebixcash pointed out “India is set to become a domestic cruise hub, but regulations, cruise lines, and infrastructure need immediate attention”. Additionally, he informed cruises will come to India if there is favourable environment and infrastructure

Rajiv Jalota, Chairman, Mumbai Port Trust, has announced that the second edition of the Incredible India International Cruise Conference will be held in November 2023 in Mumbai. The first edition was held in May 2022. The two-day conference showcased business opportunities in the country’s cruise sector. A dedicated task force was also formulated on cruise tourism jointly by the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Shipping.