Latest Pop Among Indian Vacationers: Holiday On A Cruise

Stay away from the prow, sit facing out and keep an eye on any oddness in the water. The advice for the lower decks is in the face and important unless the sole intention of your cruise holiday in the Sunderbans is to become tiger lunch. The Royal Bengals of this mangrove morass, bisected by rivers and estuaries, are the world바카라�s sole swimming stripes and they are known to knock over fisherman from his boat with force equivalent of a 200-kg torpedo. Unsuspecting vacationers are no exception.

Or else, sip your stout and sunset slowly on the upper deck without having to worry about hungry Richard Parkers jumping out of the shadows as your cruise-liner meanders through a 3,000-km course from Calcutta to Dhaka. This cruise, run by Exotic Heritage Group, is a first of its kind between the two neighbours straddling the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta. It will call in at heritage sites Barisal, Chandpur (famous for its hilsa), and Narayanganj.

The inaugural run is sometime this year, but the special cruise Ganga Villa will take private cruisers from 2020. 바카라�The Rs 30-crore ship is theme-based, inspired by Indian textiles, with 18 suites for a maximum 36 cruisers. River cruises are gaining traction among the high- and middle-income groups and in recent years we have had a spike in bookings,바카라� says company managing director Raj Singh. It바카라�s the company바카라�s fourth river cruise.

Up north in Assam, on the mighty and broad-torso Brahmaputra, count yourself lucky if the friendly xihu or Gangetic dolphin bobs in and out alongside the hull in a mirthful dance much like the Bihu dancers pirouetting on the land the river scythes through. The cruises on this splendid river features stops for wildlife watch, village walks, visits to tea gardens and craft workshops, exploring country towns in cycle rickshaws, barbecue on deserted river islands, and of course Bihu gigs. No doubt, this is rated among the top ten adventure cruises in the world. 바카라�This is our 15th year. We have two ships in Calcutta (ABN Rajmahal and ABN Sukapha) on the Ganga and two on the Brahmaputra (Charaidew I and Charaidew II),바카라� says Ashish Phookan, managing director of Assam Bengal Navigation.

The success of these ventures has busted the myth that cruise holidays are only for the rich, an exclusive preserve of the affluent. Such voyages are the latest pop among the moneyed middle class because of its all-inclusive nature바카라�a value-for-money thali, with an array of products such as food, entertainment, and various ports of call all paid for in a single ticket. 바카라�A cruise offers several stops바카라�visit the place, hop back and sail to another city. Also, the journeys are more exciting with a wide range of entertainment options바카라�spas, pools, casinos, and clubs. There is something for all age groups바카라�children, youth, millennial and baby boomer바카라�all at one place. Nowadays, film promotions, movie shoots, and MICE (meeting incentives conferences and exhibition) events are frequently organised in cruises,바카라� says Amit Jain, founder of Rising Star Tours and Travel.

Envy Blue

Chariadew moors by a sand island of the Brahmaputra.

Several types of cruises바카라�sea and river바카라�are on offer for Indian vacationers with varying levels of disposable income. For those wishing to relax and take a break from cubicled monotony, the option is freestyle cruise. Unrestricted and free-flowing, here the tourist doesn바카라�t have to follow a pre-decided schedule. There is enough flexibility on board and it totally depends on the passenger whether to go out or simply relax. 바카라�This style of travelling is attracting millennials, young couples and corporate travelers. Similarly, those who love luxurious indulgence, there are specific cruises ensuring world-class service and for the adventure lovers, there are longer expeditions. Cruises have diversified,바카라� says Karan Anand of Cox and Kings.

The standout trait of a cruise is that it fulfills the needs of almost every traveler: from fun-loving families to honeymooning couples. Plus, it is cost effective. A multi-destination tour would mean the tourist will have to pack, fly, alight, explore and repeat the process many times over. On a cruise-liner, the destinations come to you. This helps cover more places. 바카라�On an average, a cruise vacation can save you approximately 30 per cent versus a land-based programme due to the all-inclusive nature of cruising,바카라� says Varun Chadha, COO of TIRUN travel marketing.

The vessel바카라�s sun deck.

The new experience of moving beyond the land, in direct contact with nature is what entices Indians to go for cruise vacations. What can be more exciting than reading a favourite book under a clear blue sky on the deck of cruise ship? Or a date/honeymoon from Mumbai to Goa under a starry sky? Well, Angriya, the country바카라�s first domestic luxury cruise ship between Mumbai and Goa, showed the way and spun a new wave of vacationing in the country. Ask Captain Anand Kumar, CEO, of Angriya Sea Eagle Private Limited. He nods his acknowledgment to Delhi-based, self-proclaimed travel freak Dr Veena Agarwal바카라�s remarks that cruising frees her soul.

Agarwal says the service and facilities on a cruise ship are impeccable바카라�on-call attendants, doctors and nurses, and meals straight from the top drawer, spa, shopping, yoga, game shows, dance floors바카라�The possibilities are endless. The Royal Bengal and the xihu included.

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