Category Archives: Cruises

A passenger ferry service provider in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Makruzz has been felicitated with the prestigious Maritime Excellence Award at the  Global Maritime Summit 2023 by Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways for their ‘ferry services-promoting urban based water transportation’. The company acknowledged the support of Andaman Administration, DG shipping, the Indian registrar of Ships and efforts of trade partners, passengers who chose Makruzz as mode of transport and team members. Makruzz, a ferry brand of Mak Logistics Pvt Ltd is a pioneering initiative by Mohamed H Jadwet, CS Ashok, and Krishnendu Kundu. They introduced India’s first private sector high speed catamaran passenger vessel in 2009.      

Addressing the audience virtually at the ongoing Global Maritime India Summit in Mumbai, PM Modi said, “We have taken many initiatives to develop maritime tourism in India. We started the world’s longest river cruise service. We are also working on various projects related to cruise tourism across ports like Mumbai’s new international cruise terminal, as well as the new and modern cruise terminals in Vizag and Chennai. We are taking major steps towards making India a major cruise hub.”

Learn more Costa Serena and its sailings ex–Mumbai & Cochin in November and December 2023 at this exclusive webinar today 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. 

Learn more Costa Serena and its sailings ex–Mumbai & Cochin in November and December 2023 at this exclusive webinar today 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.

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.