According to a spokesperson from Make My Trip, an online travel aggregator, the demand for cruise liners in India over the years has grown significantly. “The category has witnessed a growth of over 25 per cent, year-on-year. Data indicates that by the end of 2020, more than 250,000 Indians would have booked a cruise to one of their favourite seaside getaways in the world,” he says.
As we enter into a new decade, we’re seeing an interesting shift in the way Indian travellers are planning their vacations. The emerging keywords for tourists in India going forward are ‘value for money’, ‘adventure’, ‘experience led-travel’ and ‘exotic destinations’. Cruising offers Indian travellers all this and more, and that is why we’ve seen that in the last few years, cruise tourism in India has seen a rapid double-digit growth. Here is an evaluation of a few reasons cruise tourism is an ever growing trend with Indian travellers.
Value for money
Earlier, Indians mostly associated cruises with holidays that only the wealthy and glamorous ones could afford. This is not true anymore. The myth is slowly diminishing as Indian travellers have understood that taking a cruise vacation is not really as expensive as they think it is. In fact, we have seen a considerable number of Indian passengers booking their holidays in advance, not just to suit their specific requirements, because also because they feel that a cruise vacation in comparison to a land holiday is simpler to plan and cost effective. Cruises are also a great option with dining, transportation, and accommodation elements; these are expensive or difficult to get by in a typical land vacation. Not only is a cruise holiday hassle-free, it offers great value for money by giving guests the thrill of visiting multiple destinations that include exciting on-shore adventures too. It is also convenient to book because all you have to do is select a cruise that is based on your travel dates, length of stay and destinations. Next, get necessary visas, and then just get onboard and disembark when the holiday is over!
Quality family time
Increasingly, Indians are travelling more with their big, extended families, following the simple rule of ‘the more the merrier’. With higher disposable incomes at hand, bigger groups are planning vacations together. We’re also seeing that the Indian guest, who tends to travel with more family members than other nationalities, is always on the lookout for holiday experiences that can cater to each member in their clique. Most cruise liners are pushing the boundaries to design and personalise different experiences for their guests. These range from interconnecting suite options, separate, dedicated luxury accommodation for families; water parks, laser tags and race-tracks for kids; to a plethora of entertainment options for adults onboard. At the Norwegian Cruise Line, through the ‘Freestyle Cruise’ experience, guests have the freedom and flexibility to design their own vacation — from choosing their dining times to enjoying a wide-array of entertainment options without having to worry about set dress codes.
Untouched destinations
Indian guests are driven by exotic destinations, and cruising offers them a great value proposition because it allows them to visit multiple destinations during a single trip. Unconventional destinations such as the Baltic, Antartica and Alaska have proven to be extremely popular with Indian guests. The thrill of embarking on a cruise is still a new experience for most Indian travellers and carries great aspirational value. With the growing awareness and subsequent demand in the cruise holiday segment, Indians are now exploring diverse destinations across the globe, particularly European ones. They are also slowly shifting from shorter four/five night itineraries to longer seven/eight night itineraries.
A MICE Time
The Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) segment is rapidly growing among corporates in India and many organisers have begun to recognise that cruises, due to their logistical convenience and value-for-money proposition, are good solutions for business meets. Companies prefer not to waste their precious resources on transportation or planning a MICE trip across different venues. Due to the inclusive nature of cruise packages, all fees and costs are upfront, with no room for last minute surprises. Compared to land-based programmes, ship-based events are far less costly.
Food Haven
One of the many factors that are tempting Indians to explore the world on a cruise is the availability of all kinds of food options and varied cuisines, especially for travellers who are particular about their gastronomical choices. Cruise lines have understood the nature of this demand and include a plethora of Indian delicacies that will keep a traveller from any part of India satiated. In addition to this, cruises have plenty of options available for the diet-conscious traveller as well. One can find vegan, low-fat, low-/no-salt, dairy-free and low-cholesterol meals. With this range of compelling options, and the flexibility and cost effectiveness of cruising, the outlook for this sector is positive.
Felix Chan, vice president and general manager, Norwegian Cruise Line, Asia
BTI PICKS: Cruise Liners that Indians Love
Angriya Cruises
As India’s first domestic cruise liner, Angriya makes voyages on the Mumbai-Goa sea route and along the pristine Konkan Coast. The liner operates a luxurious seven-deck, 131-meter long passenger ship built in Japan. angriyacruises.com
Costa Cruises
An Italian cruise liner founded in 1854, Costa Cruises’ fourteen ships, which all sail under the Italian flag, provide itineraries sailing to countries globally. In India, the liner cruises to between Kochi-Maldives, Mumbai-Maldives and Mumbai-Kochi. costacruiseindia.com
Genting Hong Kong
A member of the Malaysian Genting Group, Genting Hong Kong owns Crystal Cruises (South America, Alaska, Antarctica etc), Dream Cruises (Australia, Brunei, Cambodia etc) and Star Cruises (Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taipei etc). It has a wide presence across the world. gentinghk.com
Norwegian Cruise Line
Based in the US, Norwegian Cruise Line is the third-largest cruise liner in the world in passenger numbers. The Mediterranean, South America, Panama Canal and Hawaii and Africa are some of the destinations it cruises to. ncl.com
Royal Caribbean Cruises
Founded in Norway in 1968, Royal Caribbean Cruises is the second-largest cruise liner in the world in passenger numbers. With a wide presence across the globe, it sails to more than 300 destinations including Mexico, The Bahamas, Europe and Alaska. royalcaribbean.com
