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Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
When do we sail? Cruise ships are turning Indian ports into destinations
Soon after the Bahamas flagged cruise ship MV Empress docks in Visakhapatnam on the morning of July 16, KN Rao, a retired sales manager, and his wife K Mangama step ashore—the thrill of a luxury sail on the sea evident on their beaming faces. A week earlier, the couple had boarded a train from their hometown Berhampur in Odisha, followed by a flight to Chennai, where they celebrated their daughter Vandana's birthday. From there, they did not take a train or a flight back home. They instead booked a two-night cruise. They picked a cabin, which did not have sweeping ocean views, but was rather easy on the pocket. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category PGDM Finance Management Product Management Design Thinking MCA Cybersecurity healthcare Technology Healthcare Data Science Artificial Intelligence MBA Project Management Degree Others Public Policy Operations Management Data Analytics Digital Marketing others Leadership CXO Data Science Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis & Decision Making Quantitative & Analytical Skills Organizational Management & Leadership Innovation & Entrepreneurship Duration: 24 Months IMI Delhi Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Online) Starts on Sep 1, 2024 Get Details 'Some rooms were priced at Rs 1 lakh and above. We booked a standard room for Rs 41,600, which covered our stay along with basic food and drinks. We will always cherish this moment,' says Rao, as he poses for a photo with the ship in the background. Mangama laughs along, both savouring a memory they have just created. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo Like Rao and Mangama, Indians are increasingly going for short voyages aboard cruise ships, for a taste of luxury on sea. A wave of excitement fills the air later that day, as passengers prepare to board MV Empress for the next leg—Visakhapatnam to Puducherry and onwards to Chennai. Among them are Sahil Singla and Nikita Verma , a young fintech couple from Bengaluru, ready to unwind at sea. There is also a lively group of 12 first-time cruisers from Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, who have booked their return tickets by train. Live Events On Deck 5 of the 11-storey ship, run by Cordelia Cruises, a crew member hands out a leaflet outlining the day's activities, dos and don'ts and services that come at an extra cost, like salon and casino. Tucked in the fine print is a firm reminder of onboard decorum: spitting paan comes with a penalty of $1,000. Cruise tourism in India is charting a new course. An increasing number of luxury liners are calling on our ports even as the middle class is discovering the pleasures of sailing. India's cruise tourism has now set an ambitious target of 1 million passengers docking at its ports annually by 2029. WELCOME ABOARD 'Cruise tourism is gaining strong traction among India's upper middleclass segment. Growing disposable income of a burgeoning middle and upper middle class enables them to embrace cruise as a preferred leisure choice,' Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal tells ET. He adds that aspiration for premium travel experiences and increased awareness about cruise holidays are fuelling the demand. The number of sea cruise passengers in India saw a five-fold increase over the past decade — from 1,04,125 in 2014-15 to 4,92,000 in 2024-25. This figure does not include river cruise passengers, for which data is not readily available. However, Sonowal points out that the fleet of luxury river-cruise vessels grew from 3 in FY2014 to 25 in FY2025, reflecting a boom in inland cruise tourism as well. FARE WELL M Angamuthu, chairman of the Visakhapatnam Port Authority, says the rise of domestic cruise lines and the inclusion of Indian ports by international operators have contributed to making cruises more accessible and appealing to Indian travellers. But he also strikes a note of caution: 'Pricing is, and will remain, a critical factor in the Indian cruise market.' He elaborates: 'While there's a segment that is willing to pay for luxury, the broad market, especially the expanding middle class, is price sensitive. Competitive pricing for itineraries, onboard amenities and shore excursions will be key to attracting and retaining passengers. This means cruise lines need to optimise their operational costs and port authorities need to offer rationalised and transparent tariffs.' Unlike airlines, cruise companies rarely publicise their fares. But several cruisers say the per-night cost of a cabin typically ranges from Rs 10,000 to several lakhs, depending on the level of luxury. Much like first-class passengers in aviation, suite guests on a cruise enjoy far more than a spacious bedroom. They have access to private dining areas, sundeck balconies and priority embarkation and disembarkation at every port. Sometimes, the experience is topped with an exclusive cocktail evening with the captain. Mumbai remains the country's cruise tourism hub, handling 102 vessels and 2,68,830 passengers in 2024. However, Cochin Port saw 28 international cruise ship calls last year compared with Mumbai's 20. Among the global cruise giants that regularly include Indian ports in their itineraries are Holland America Line, Crystal Cruises, Virgin Voyages, Celebrity Cruises, Silversea Cruises and Azamara. A 16-night voyage by Azamara Cruises later this year—from Port Louis, Mauritius, to Singapore—has a two-night stopover in Cochin. CARGO TO CRUISE Former shipping secretary Gopal Krishna says that until a few years ago, India had not prioritised the development of dedicated cruise terminals to attract cruise vessels. 'For a long time, Indian ports primarily functioned as cargo hubs, not as gateways for cruise passengers,' he says. 'But with new cruise terminals being built and existing ones being upgraded, we are now better equipped to serve cruise tourism.' He says the game-changer for India's cruise industry will be the ability to attract more foreign vessels to use Indian ports as home port, which means the port where a ship operates from, though not necessarily where it is registered. Homeporting of large cruise ships is not merely a logistical operation, it can be a catalyst for economic growth and job creation. In 2016, Costa NeoClassica, a foreign vessel featuring a casino, theatre, disco, ballroom and a 1,300 sq m wellness centre, chose Mumbai as its home port for three months and completed seven voyages. Its ripple effects were highlighted by the government in a 2017 paper, which states a cruise vessel with a capacity of 3,000 passengers can generate employment for nearly 1,000 people when it uses an Indian port as its home base. The ripple effect extends to local businesses. With each passenger spending at least $70-100 a day on land excursions, a cruise ship fuels substantial daily transactions, injecting fresh energy into tourism, retail and service sectors. 'We believe India could have multiple home ports for foreign cruise vessels by 2029,' says Rajiv Jalota, former chairman, Mumbai Port Authority. 'The government's vision is to enable homeporting of at least one cruise ship each in Goa, Chennai, Kochi and Visakhapatnam, apart from one or two in Mumbai.' Jalota says discussions are at an early stage on launching open-jaw cruises from Port Blair to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. In open-jaw cruises, departure and arrival ports are different. 'If the Port Blair blueprint materialises, passengers can fly to the Andaman Islands and board a cruise ship for the onward voyage,' he says. Global cruise giants are eager to expand into Indian waters but, Jalota says, some operators are lobbying hard for additional tax benefits. According to Krishan Arora, partner, Grant Thornton Bharat , the government has already streamlined the tax issues. He says a simplified tax regime, effective from April 2025, allows foreign cruise operators to bypass cumbersome audits and filings by opting for a fixed percentage of their receipts to be treated as taxable income. He also highlights another recent reform— the removal of import duties on foreign cruise ships temporarily operating along India's coastline. 'This opens up the Indian market for seasonal and short-term cruise deployments, a model followed globally but previously impractical in India due to tax barriers,' he adds. While ship-wise passenger data isn't publicly available, at least two senior government officials point out that MV Empress is singlehandedly driving much of the recent surge in numbers, a matter of concern considering that this French-built ship is 35 years old. They also say the vessel's Delhi-based parent company, Waterways Leisure Tourism, is planning to acquire another cruise ship in the next couple of months. Jurgen Bailom, CEO of Cordelia Cruises, has declined to comment. One thing is clear: the success of cruise liners will depend not just on competitive pricing, but on how they tailor experiences to suit Indian travellers. Take Nayan Goel , 35, an FMCG wholesaler from Lucknow, who flew to Chennai with his wife Sweety and son Parth, to board the MV Empress, paying Rs 1,78,000 for a five-night cruise in an ocean-view cabin. Among all the highlights of the voyage, one detail stands out for him. 'The restaurant on Deck 5, Starlight, serves vegetarian Jain food,' he says with a smile.
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- The Hindu
Cruise Liner experience memorable, but lower fares can make it better, say tourists
A first-time voyage on a cruise liner, with unlimited food, is a memorable experience, and an added attraction for the guzzlers is the liquor onboard. The travellers can move all around the 10-storeyed luxury ship, enter the game zones and enjoy the standard menu of the star hotels. 'I travelled with my friends for the first time on a cruise and we had an exciting experience. At an average price ranging between ₹18,000 and ₹20,000 per person for the three-night cruise from Visakhapatnam to Chennai via Puducherry, we felt, was a pinch on our pockets,' said Patnala Sampath Kumar, a businessman from Srikakulam district. 'We booked flight tickets from Visakhapatnam to Chennai, and opted for the two-night direct cruise from Chennai to Vizag, which we felt was comparatively affordable. The ship, which can carry 2,000 persons, had a large swimming pool,' he said. 'After dark, you get nothing to see outside from the ship. A day-long cruise or a single night, or a two-night trip is more than enough. I feel that the morning to evening sight-seeing at Puducherry on the Vizag-Chennai trip can be skipped to cut down on the fare,' he added. More cruise liners operate for a greater part of the year between Mumbai and Goa in view of the high demand from tourists, particularly foreign tourists, said Raja Ramesh Balla of Aakasa Veedhilo, a travel company. 'These cruise liners avoid the west coast during the rainy season as the Arabian Sea would be very rough. The Bay of Bengal is comparatively calm. Hence, they utilise the downtime to operate on the east coast. The fares should be lowered to attract more travellers,' he opined. The fares vary based on the class of travel. The interior cabin, which does not have an ocean view is cheaper. Those who book early may get a chance to upgrade to a higher class at no extra cost. The next is 'ocean view', which offers a partial view of the ocean. The 'balcony', which offers the full view, is costlier, while the most expensive is the 'Presidential Suite', which offers a lot of luxuries. 'The cruise operator should explore new routes to get repeat customers. Some of our clients feel that US $60 for the local tour in Puducherry is high,' Mr. Raja Ramesh said. Local tours to Simhachalam temple, the Buddhist heritage sites of Thotlakonda and Bhavikonda, Kailasagiri, Rushikonda and Araku can be promoted to draw more tourists to Vizag,' said K. Vijay Mohan, president of Tours and Travels Association of Andhra. The last trip of Cordelia Cruises for this season is on July 14 from Chennai to Vizag, and from Vizag to Chennai via Puducherry on July 16.
The Hindu
04-07-2025
- The Hindu
Warm reception accorded for cruise travellers
A warm reception was accorded to passengers who de-boarded luxury cruise liner, M/V Empress, for sightseeing in Puducherry when the vessel berthed near the coast on Friday morning. The ship, operated by cruise brand Cordelia Cruises, with 1, 231 passengers and 574 crew members, anchored around one km away from the Puducherry shoreline around 6.30 a.m. as the vessel sailed from Visakhapatnam to Chennai. As around 700 travellers had registered with the cruise management for sightseeing in Puducherry, they were taken to the New Port in boats available with the ship. They were received by Secretary to Lieutenant Governor and Tourism Secretary D. Manikandan. 'A total of 150 travellers who had enrolled for the package offered by Pondicherry Tourism Development Corporation were taken to major tourist destinations in buses. For others, the PTDC had facilitated cabs and autorickshaws for sightseeing and shopping. Most of them were domestic tourists,' he said. In the evening, Minister for Public Works and Tourism K. Lakshminarayanan visited the New Port and gave a send -off to the tourists and the ship crew. The cruise liner is expected to make Puducherry a part of their itinerary on July 11 and 18, said a government official.
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Puducherry opens sea lanes for tourists for the first time
The Union Territory is set to open up its sea lanes to tourists from Friday with the territorial administration giving its approval for a luxury cruise liner with over 1,500 passengers to berth near the coast and making arrangements for travellers to take a quick sight-seeing tour of important destinations in this former French enclave. The 210.8-metre-long M/V Empress, operated by cruise brand Cordelia Cruises, is all to anchor one km away from the Puducherry shoreline at around 6.30 a.m. on Friday with 1,231 passengers and 574 crew members as part of cruise liner's latest itinerary for travel bugs. The cruise liner had made attempts two years ago for a similar anchorage near Puducherry coast during the same time of the year, but permission was not granted due to administrative reasons. 'This time, we have decided to give the nod as the Union government considers cruise tourism an important aspect to boost travel economy. The cruise liner will be also anchoring at our coast on July 11 and 18 as part of another travel itinerary. Cordelia management offers to de-board tourists from the ship after its arrival on our coast and interested travellers will be taken to the shore in their boats,' an official told The Hindu. The boats available in the cruise will be berthed at Puducherry New Port around 10 a.m. The travellers will be taken to the yard inside the port and after security clearance they will be boarded on to the buses arranged by the Pondicherry Tourism Development Corporation. Minister for Tourism K. Lakshminarayanan said luxury buses have been arranged for taking the tourists to Auroville, The Ashram, Manakula Vinayagar Temple, and Paradise Beach. The PTDC would be able to generate revenue on the services provided to the cruise travellers while they were on the shore, he said. 'After providing air connectivity for tourists, the government has opened up the sea lanes for visitors. It will certainly trigger more economic activity and provide job opportunities for the local people as luxury cruise travellers are high-spending tourists. The government has taken all security precautions. Each of the travellers de-boarding the cruise will be well-accounted by the police and the immigration officials,' the Minister said. The arrival of the cruise liner, according to an official would help the Port Department net direct revenue from waterfront charges for berthing tender boats, godown charges and parking dues. As the ship has plenty of onboard entertainment, only a relatively smaller proportion of passengers are expected to register for a shore visit during a cruise schedule. 'We will be happy if more tourists venture out,' officials said. 'We are prepared to handle around 400 passengers from the cruise. Berthing facility has been made available at the Port after moving out some vessels berthed for maintenance works. The operation of the cruise from our coast will certainly bring in more revenue to us. We expect more cruises to make Puducherry a part of their itinerary,' the official said. Mr. Lakshminarayanan said Puducherry would be the seventh cruise destination in the country and the second Union Territory to offer berthing facility for luxury liners as part of tourism promotion. 'Some people have raised concerns about berthing of a luxury liner on the coast. No resident of Puducherry was allowed to board the ship from here. People travelling in the ship are either foreigners or from the rest of the country,' he added.
The Hindu
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Union Minister virtually flags off cruise liner from Vizag to Chennai
The luxury cruise liner M.V. Empress, operated by Cordelia Cruises, which arrived at the Visakhapatnam International Cruise Terminal on Wednesday morning, was flagged off virtually by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) Sarbananda Sonowal, for Chennai later in the evening. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu extended best wishes and assured all support for the promotion of cruise tourism in the State. Minister of State for MoPSW, Shantanu Thakur reaffirmed the Government of India's commitment to promoting Cruise Tourism across Indian Ports. Minister for Tourism Kandula Durgesh, who participated in the programme, emphasised the State government's proactive approach in developing tourist circuits and hubs, envisioning more cruise liners. Secretary, MoPSW T.K. Ramachandran described the flag-off of M.V. Empress as a historic milestone for Andhra Pradesh's cruise tourism journey and highlighted its potential to boost the local economy, in line with the Maritime India Vision. Special Chief Secretary, Tourism & Culture, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Ajay Jain, assured full cooperation on behalf of the government to cruise tourism. Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) Chairperson M. Angamuthu said that the VPA would sponsor 5,000 students annually in cruise-led skill development programmes, generating employment and contributing to the socio-economic upliftment of coastal regions. He revealed plans to organise an Andhra-specific Cruise Dialogue to further accelerate Cruise Tourism development, in coordination with MoPSW, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Collector M. Harendhira Prasad, MP M. Sribharat, MLA Ch. Vamsi Krishna Srinivas and VPA Secretary T. Venu Gopal was present.
