Category Archives: Cruises

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.

The global cruise capacity is forecast to grow 19 per cent to more than 746,000 lower berths leading up to 2028, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) said in its recent report ‘State Of The Cruise Industry 2023’. The task of attracting four million new-to-cruise travellers now lies with the industry to meet the increase in global cruise capacity projected from 2023 to 2025. At least 14 new member ships will enter service during 2023 itself and projected to exceed 300 ocean-going vessels in 2024.

Rajiv Jalota, Chairman, Mumbai Port Trust, has said that with the upgradation of the Mumbai port passenger terminal, he expects the international cruise traffic to increase this year, with more than one million passengers per annum. He added that Mumbai port has one of the lowest cruise tariffs in the world.

Cordelia Cruises recently started sailings to Sri Lanka from India for the first time ever, touching the ports of Hambantota, Trincomalee and Jaffna from Chennai. Present at the debut sailing were Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways. Jurgen Bailom, President & CEO of Waterways Leisure, Cordelia Cruises, says, “In the year 2023, we hope to host over 50,000 passengers for our Sri Lanka sailings alone between June 2023-September 2023.”

The transportation and logistics arm of the Hayleys Group, Advantis announced a partnership with India’s cruise line, Cordelia Cruises to usher in a new wave of in-bound luxury tourists to Sri Lanka. Advantis Travel and Aviation will serve as the General Sales Agent, while Advantis Group subsidiary Clarion Shipping will serve as Port Agent for Cordelia Cruises in Sri Lanka. Cordelia Cruises aims to revolutionise the tourism market in the region by offering an extraordinary cruise experience that exudes style and luxury through its crown jewel – “The Empress”, an iconic vessel with 796 cabins in 5 distinct categories filled with state-of-the-art amenities, the ship is capable of accommodating 1,800 passengers. The luxury cruise line will embark on its inaugural sailing to the island, in June 2023. The collaboration marks a milestone in Sri Lanka’s efforts to revitalise inbound tourism and capitalise on the island’s significant untapped potential as an international hotspot for cruise tourism. Embarking on a cruise journey to Sri Lanka opens up a world of thrilling shore excursions for travellers, with Jaffna, Hambantota, and Trincomalee serving as bases. These exceptional locations offer an opportunity to embark on unforgettable adventures that showcase the very best of Sri Lanka’s rich heritage, breathtaking natural beauty, and vibrant cultural diversity. A significant boost to the Sri Lankan tourism industry is anticipated, attracting an estimated 80,000 tourists within the first four months alone. This surge is set to unlock significant commercial opportunities for the tourism value chain, drive economic growth and position Sri Lanka as a premier destination for discerning travellers, providing a timely impetus to the country’s travel and tourism industry. Cordelia Cruises President and CEO, Jurgen Bailom stated: “Sri Lanka …

Disney Cruise Line and Singapore Tourism Board today announced magical cruise vacations to Southeast Asia for the first time, revealed by Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro and Singapore’s Minister for Transport and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, S. Iswaran. Under a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding, Disney Cruise Line and Singapore Tourism Board agreed to collaborate to homeport a brand-new Disney cruise ship exclusively in Singapore for at least five years beginning in 2025. More details about the maiden voyage, itineraries and onboard experiences will be announced later. “This is a very exciting year for The Walt Disney Company — 2023 marks our 100th anniversary,” D’Amaro said. “As part of this, Disney Cruise Line is currently undergoing an ambitious expansion with new ships and new destinations around the world. We are incredibly excited to make Singapore the home port to our seventh-launched ship, which will sail from here year-round starting in 2025.” “We look forward to welcoming the magic of Disney Cruise Line to Singapore in 2025,” said Keith Tan, Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board (STB). “This is an important milestone for STB and reflects Disney Cruise Line’s strong confidence in Singapore and Southeast Asia. The new Disney cruise ship will be an attraction itself and is expected to boost the tourism sector in Singapore for many years to come.” Singapore’s strategic location, world-class air connectivity and port infrastructure make it a thriving cruise hub in Southeast Asia, a diverse region that is home to over 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The addition of a Disney Cruise Line ship in Singapore has the potential to add millions of local and foreign cruise passengers across the five-year period, including fly-cruise passengers who …

There’s a luxurious new way to cruise through Vietnam’s Halong Bay, Paradise Vietnam owns the most luxurious cruises in Vietnam, confirming its leading position in the luxury cruise industry. Pioneering in the Indian market to redefine luxury and create brand awareness, Paradise Vietnam selects IRIS Reps as its India representative to position and increase their visibility in the travel industry. In a statement regarding the appointment, Cao Anh Tuan – Director or Sales , stated, “We are pleased to have IRIS Reps on board to help us establish a strong foundation for Paradise Vietnam in India. Our joint efforts will enable us to gain greater visibility and penetrate the vast and diverse Indian market. Paradise Vietnam will continue to uphold its mission of bringing premium and quintessence cuisine to tourists with the desire to reach new heights. We always try our best to bring Paradise Vietnam to new successes and maintain our leading position in Vietnam’s tourism industry. Paradise Vietnam is the pioneer in setting the standard for world-class leisure at sea with 12 most luxurious cruises in Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay, along with experienced staff capable of quality event services, Paradise Vietnam is the first choice for events of various styles, sizes, and occasions.” Commenting on the appointment, Alefiya Singh, Director IRIS Reps said, “We are elated to have entered the partnership with Paradise Vietnam. I am delighted to see Vietnam become one of the best tourism market for India, we aim to still derive greater growth into the region through strategic sales initiatives, marketing partnerships and working closely with the travel trade in India. We look forward to further strengthening Paradise Vietnam as the first choice of destination from …