The Hindu Business Line : Cruise packages find many takers

According to Star Cruises, which set the ball rolling on domestic sea cruises by stationing the Super Star Libra on Indian waters, its one-night New Year sail to Bombay High is booked to capacity.

Star Cruises commenced its India-based cruises in October. It offers three packages from Mumbai - a four-night-five-day package to Lakshwadeep and Goa starting at Rs 11,000 a person; a two-night-three-day trip to Goa (starting at Rs 8,000); and the shortest, a one-night sail to Bombay High (starting at Rs 4,000).

Mr Naresh Rawal, Marketing Head of Star Cruises, said that the one-night cruise off Mumbai's coast was doing well and was popular with passengers from Maharashtra and its neighbouring States.

Corporates were booking the two-night sails to Goa for meetings and as incentives. The four-night sail to Lakshadweep and Goa was popular with families.

He added that cruising is still a developing concept in the country. Indians are generally not inclined towards long sailings, and a four- to five-night package is considered the ideal length, unlike abroad where a cruise lasts at least seven nights.

The cruise could extend to a fortnight and even a month, the latter being more popular with senior citizens keen to relax.

Star Cruises decided to position the 1,480-capacity Super Star Libra in the country after finding that Indians were flying to Singapore to board cruises to Phuket and Penang.

According to Mr Rawal, around 750 travellers from India took cruises with Star from Singapore each week.

Cruising, he said, was cheaper than a land-based holiday as the cruise package took care of the stay and a maximum of three meals and entertainment on board.

While Mr Rawal is optimistic about prospects for cruises in 2006, officials from the tourism industry say that it will take a year before cruising becomes popular in the country.

An official with a tour operator said that cruising will become a big business by 2008-09.

Further, the Government's initiative to upgrade ports with the participation of the private sector would give a fillip to cruise shipping, he added.

Mr Gautam Dey, Assistant Docks Manager of Mumbai Port Trust, said that with the arrival of Star Cruises to India, several US and European cruise companies are evincing interest in the country.

Carnival, the largest cruise company in the world, has conducted a study on the potential for cruise shipping in the country, he added.

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