If you are heading to India for a leisure trip, you should definitely enjoy the experience of one of the luxury cruises in India. It’s going to be a totally delightful experience as India has so much to offer. You can enjoy the beauty of beaches, trees, horizons and coasts through a cruise holiday. Ships pay special attention to the needs of the guests. They will provide all sorts of additional facilities including bars, pool, food and music. Let’s take a look at some of the top cruises in India. When it comes to luxury cruises in India, a river cruise is highly sought-after. India is blessed with beautiful places. Though some of these destinations are popular, there are many exotic destinations which haven’t gained the momentum they deserve. Sunderbans Luxury Cruises Sundarbans is the famous Tiger Reserve of Bengal. This place is well-known for its mangrove forests. It’s a river cruise of 4 days and 3 nights. There is so much to see and explore here, including the forests, ghats and the small hamlets. You will have a great time enjoying the luxury of the cruise boats as well. First and foremost, Sundarbans is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You may have heard so much about Royal Bengal Tigers and this place is home to the much-talked about tigers. Sundarbans is also the meeting place of three famous rivers known as Meghna, Brahmaputra and Padma. MV Paramhansa, owned by the well-known Vivada Cruise, will give you an unforgettable journey through the heart of Sundarbans. In your 4 days and 3 nights’ long cruise, you might come across swimming tigers in the water if you are lucky enough. One can say that it is pretty much guaranteed. 1.1.Accommodation They have provided excellent accommodation for the travellers. The Deluxe Air-Conditioned rooms have all the facilities. The 4-deck ship has 32 cabins for the guests. The cabins are categorized as Sun Deck, First Deck, Main Deck and Under Deck. The well-equipped rooms have everything from books to the coffee maker to the emergency kit. The rooms have large windows, which are designed to give an excellent view of the place to the traveler. Being on the cruise for 4 days is going to be a very enriching experience for the traveler. 1.2.Dining As for dining facility, the ship has a terrace restaurant that can accommodate about 80 guests at a time. The kitchen is equipped to provide delicacies from all around the world. And there is a section exclusively for local delicacies. The ship has employed experienced chefs to make sure that travelers have a good time on the ship. The fresh food is something you will enjoy the most. Now let’s take a look at the itinerary. 1.3. First Day: Kolkata (Arrival) The representatives of the agency will pick you up at the airport as soon as you arrive. And they will bring you to the hotel and ensure that you have a comfortable experience. You can spend a day and a night at the hotel and enjoy the beauty of Kolkata. 1.4. Second Day: Kolkata - Namkhana On day 2, you will travel to the Millennium Park Jetty as the cruise starts from there. The cruise starts the journey in the afternoon heading towards the south. What is worthwhile about this is that you will be mesmerized by the serene beauty of the river Ganges. On the way, you will see many important heritage sites. Finally, in the evening, the cruise will anchor at a fisherman’s cove called Namkhana. This is the starting point of Sundarbans. 1.5 Third Day: Namkhana - Sunderbans On the third day, you will begin the travel early morning. This time, you will be heading towards the east side, where you can see the culture and lifestyle of local fisherman. When it comes to the Sundarbans, the dense mangrove is one of the most significant aspects of it. You will see plenty of it starts from here. And the cruise will take you to Lothian Island or another location for a short excursion after that. The day 3 will end with anchoring at the meeting point of the rivers Malta and Bidya. There are a couple of beautiful islands nearby, including Dobanki & Nethidopani and you can reach there with the help of creek boats. There you can see the wildlife and mangrove in close proximity. 1.6. Fourth Day: Sunderbans On the fourth day, you will be heading to Sundarbans. You will start early morning after the breakfast. First, you will head to Bali. And later you will go to the Sundarban Village to get a feel of the village life there. The village people are quite friendly& warm to the tourists. You will be staying overnight there. 1.7. Fifth Day: Sunderbans - Kolkata Now it’s time to head to Kolkata. This time you will encounter the rivers Damodar and Rupnarayan. On the way, you will see some interesting places including the ‘Haldia’ town. Once you reach Kolkata, they will drop you at the airport in the afternoon. 1.8 Cost For luxury rooms, you have to pay 16, 200 per night per passenger. For Deluxe rooms you will be paying 14,750 per night per passenger. The Oberoi M.V. Vrinda Cruise As you know, Kerala backwaters are one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the country. Millions of tourists visit this exotic place every year to enjoy the seamless beauty of this water world. To make the most of it, you should explore the backwaters on a luxury backwater cruise. Luxury M.V. Vrinda Cruise is one of the best luxury cruises you can find there. The calm waters and the scenic beauty of the surroundings will be an unforgettable experience for you. We are talking about a 5 days and 4 nights’ package here. The cruise will explore the Alleppey backwaters. When it comes to Kerala backwaters, one shouldn’t miss a ride in a traditional houseboat called Kettuvallam and you will get to do that as well. You can also see the local villages and the life there. The food is another thing which is unforgettable there. 2.1. Accommodation The ship has got 8 Deluxe Cabins for guests. These cabins have all the world-class facilities that you are looking for. These cabins are spacious and they have done everything to make it aesthetically appealing. You can see the pictures on their website to see the modern facilities that they have arranged in the cabins. The cabins come with huge window, which is meant to give the breath-taking view of the backwaters. The cabins have attached bathrooms with all the modern amenities. 2.2 Dining As for dining, guests will have an unforgettable dining experience. You can have the most delicious meals while enjoying the beauty of the backwaters. The bar and lounge are attached to the upper-deck of the ship where you can relax. As for the delicacies, both South Indian as well as International delicacies is available. The ship has expert chefs working for the guests. Each chef comes with his own exclusive team. You should definitely try the local seafood varieties which are delicious and Malabar Fish Curry is one such item. The chef and his team prepare the special meals for the people on the cruise. Karimeen, a big round freshwater fish, is indigenous to the backwaters here. Karimeen fry is one of the special local delicacies that everyone raves about. You should definitely give it a try. Now let’s take a look at the itinerary. 2.3. First Day: Arrival In Cochin Once you land at Cochin airport, you will be greeted by the representative of the booking agency. They will assist you from that point onward. They will take you straight to the pre-booked hotel. Once you are done with the formalities, you are free to spend the day as you wish. You can check out the local attractions in Cochin and try the local cuisines. It’s also a great opportunity to indulge in a little bit of shopping as well. You will get a feel of Kerala on the first day. You will be staying overnight at the hotel. 2.4. Second Day: Cochin – Aboard Vrinda You will be boarding the ship on the second day. After having breakfast in the morning, you will be taken to the Vembanad Lake Jetty to board the ship around 1PM. The ship will start the journey once all the guests are on board. When it starts its journey, it’s on sea waters, but it will gradually enter into the Alleppey canal soon. Make sure that you thoroughly enjoy the sights and sounds offered by the surroundings. Kerala is one of the most gifted places on earth as far as natural beauty is concerned and you should enjoy every minute of it. Also, you will get to see the life of the local villagers in a close proximity. In the evening, you will get to enjoy the beautiful sunset next to the paddy fields. In the evening, you can enjoy the special Kathakali dance performance. Kathakali is one of the traditional art forms in Kerala, mostly depicting the stories of Mahabharata and Ramayana. 2.5. Third Day: On - Board Vrinda What is special on the third day is that they have arranged a rice boat excursion for the guests. On the third day, the vessel will be touching the River Pamba, while heading towards Alleppey. This route is going to mesmerizing for various reasons, including the water birds., green paddy fields, coconut groves, the village life etc. When it comes to the backwaters in Kerala, the quiet and lazy life of the villagers and the serene surroundings are the biggest attractions. On the third day, the boat anchors at Kanjippadam. From here, you will be going on an excursion on the world famous Kettuvallam, the traditional houseboats, accompanied by a guide. What is special about the houseboats is that it will cover the narrow backwater areas, where you will get to see the village life in a close proximity. On the way, you can visit the Lord Buddha half-statue at Karumadi. For lunch, you will go back to the cruise. You will be spending an overnight aboard. 2.6. Fourth Day: On - Board Vrinda On the fourth day, the cruise will be heading to the South. You can visit Chambakulam, a small village, where you can indulge in sightseeing and shopping. You will be accompanied by the guide. A famous church called St. Mary’s Church, built in 1721 is one of the main attractions there. You will also enjoy the 100 year old temple in the place called Nedumudy. One shouldn’t miss the Chambakulam snake boat yard, which showcases the snake boats used in the world famous annual snake boat race competition here in Alleppey. You will go back to the cruise for lunch. You will get to see another traditional dance form called ‘Mohiniattam’ in the evening. It is a really beautiful art form with attractive costumes and slow dance moves. 2.7. Fifth Day: Cochin - Departure You have finally come to the end of the tour. While the cruise heads towards the North, you can have your breakfast. The representatives of the agency will take you to the Cochin Airport. 2.8. Cost You will be paying Rs. 53,000 per person for the entire cruise trip. River Ganges Heritage Cruise River Ganges heritage cruise is a great way to see the ruins of the Colonial and Muslim rule in the eastern part of the country. This is a 260 kilometer long route and it is filled with religious places, monuments, etc. You are actually going for a one week historical tour when you go for this one. Therefore, you shouldn’t miss this memorable trip. 3.1. Accommodation We are talking about the cruise ship M.V. Paramhamsa here. It is a four-decked ship. There are total 32 rooms on the ship. In that, 12 of them are luxury family rooms. For passengers, there are 20 air-conditioned rooms with attached bathrooms. And finally, it has one Queen Suite as well. As for facilities, you can expect all the modern facilities. You will definitely have a very comfortable travel as they have provided the most luxurious experience for the passengers. 3.2. Dining The Terrace Restaurant can accommodate as many as 80 people. A bar is integrated into the restaurant. As for delicacies, you will find delicacies from all over the world. Experienced chefs are working in the kitchen to provide world class food. You should definitely try the local cuisines. In the bar, you will have all sorts of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. 3.3. Itinerary Now let’s take a look at the itinerary that we can expect. We explore the neighboring towns of Kolkata here. The cruise lasts for 6 days and 5 nights. You will come across places with historical, religious and artistic significance. The destinations include Matiari, Fulia, Kalna, Murshidabad etc. Read the detailed itinerary below to get an idea. 3.4. First Day: Arrival In Kolkata Once you arrive in Kolkata, you will head to the Vivada Jetty in Millennium Park. The tidal conditions pretty much decides the starting time. The trips usually start in the early morning or evening. 3.5. Second Day: Sightseeing On the second day, you will visit the places around Kolkata where you can see the British Charms. There are so many places to see including Bandel, Serampore, Chandannagore, Barrackpore etc. These are the best images of the British colonial past. You will learn so much about the British-India during your trip as Kolkata was one of the main centers of British Raj in India. 3.6. Third Day: Kalna And Fulia What is Kalna known for? Well, this place is known for the Rajbari and Terracotta Temple. Thereafter, you can go to the weavers colony (Fulia). Bengal cotton comes from here. I would suggest you to go for saree& dhoti shopping here as it is cheaper here. From here, you will be heading to Mayapur. 3.7. Fourth Day: Mayapur - Matiari The fourth day is a busy day as you visit places like Mayapur, Murshidabad and Matiari. Mayapur is famous for the ISKON temple. Most importantly, it is the birth place of ChaitanyaMahaprabhu. Coming to Matiari, you will be visiting the famous Kansari Artisans. Then you will head to Murshidabad. 3.8. Fifth Day: Murshidabad This is one of the oldest cities you can find in Kolkata. There are a number of places to visit in Murshidabad, including NizamatKila, Katra Mosque etc. 3.9. Sixth Day: End Of Journey You come to an end of your journey. The cruise will head to Jangipur lock. 3.10. Cost You will be spending 16, 200 per night per passenger for luxury rooms and 14, 750 per night per passenger for Deluxe rooms. M.V. MAHABAHU CRUISE Assam is one of the most beautiful states in India with dense forests, hills, lakes and exotic wildlife. It is considered as the gateway to the North Eastern part of India. Assam is known for its culture and tea plantations. M.V. Mahabahu cruise is meant be a 9 day long affair. The cruise starts from Kolkata. In those 9 days, you will visit some of the most exotic places in North Eastern part of India including tribal villages, monasteries, temples, tea estates and places of historical significance. Or in other words, this journey will teach you a lot about the culture of North East India. 4.1. Accommodation As for accommodation, you are definitely going to love the experience. There are 23 rooms on the cruise. They are classified as 2 Suites, 9 Superior Cabins and 12 Superior Rooms. Most importantly, each one of these rooms has a balcony attached to them. The accommodation is top class with all the facilities. 4.2. Dining When it comes to cuisines, you are in for a treat as the experienced chefs will provide a wide variety of Continental and Indian delicacies for the guests. You should try the local cuisines as they are delicious. They have used only local ingredients to bring the local flavor. Coffee and tea are served in the main dining restaurant (indoor). In case if you are on a strict diet, you can get a special treatment if you inform them in advance. They will also provide the alcoholic beverages that you prefer. Let’s take a look at the itinerary below: 4.3. First Day: Kolkata (Arrival) Once you arrive at the Kolkata airport, the representatives of the agency will pick you up. They will take you to the pre-booked hotel. You can spend a day and a night at the hotel. You can make use of this time to check out what Kolkata has to offer. Once, after having the welcome dinner, guests will be given a class on safety measures. 4.4. Second Day: Kolkata - Guwahati On the second day, you will be heading to Guwahati (Assam) on a plane. The representatives of the agency will be there to pick you up at the airport. Then they will take you to the ship. If you have enough time, you can visit the Kamakhya Devi temple as well on the way. Once you arrive at the boarding point, you can check-in on the cruise. The sailing starts only in the evening. We will be heading to Kirikara. 4.5. Third Day: Kiriakara – Tezpur After having breakfast in the morning, you will head to Tezpur. Meanwhile, you should enjoy the spa and swimming pool. Also, you can enjoy some bird watching as well from the decks. You may encounter Gangetic Dolphin as well. If you want to learn more about the tribes in Assam, you can head to the library or watch the informative DVDs. Most importantly, you shouldn’t miss the presentation titled “wildlife of Kaziranga.” At the end of the day, the cruise will anchor at Tezpur. 4.6. Fourth Day: Silghat After having breakfast in the morning, you will be heading to Silghat. You can have a delicious lunch before you reach Silghat. Once you reach there in the afternoon, you will be heading to the nearby tea estate. You can interact with the tea pickers at work. There you can learn more about tea production at the factories. Before you return to the ship at night, you can enjoy the cultural program there. 4.7. Fifth Day: Kaziranga – Bishwanath On the fifth day, you will be heading to the famous Kaziranga National Park. The sailing will start in the early morning. This national park is the only home for one-horned Rhinoceros. You will be having breakfast at a resort in Kaziranga. You will be starting the wildlife exploration from Kohora Gate via jeep safari. You will be returning the cruise for lunch later and then you will continue your journey to Bishwanath. You can reach the Bishwanath village using small boats. What is special about this place is that you can see silk and cotton weaving being done by village women here. An Assamese traditional dance waits on the cruise in the evening. You will also learn the technique to wear a traditional Assamese sari. 4.8. Sixth Day: Towards Majuli: On the sixth day, you will be heading to Majuli. To learn more about the tribes in that area, you can watch the informative DVD. After having lunch, enjoy the beauty of Majuliisland via boat safari. After that, you can come back to the ship and it will continue to explore more of Majuli. In the evening, you will be spending time on an isolated island. You will have a bonfire session there. At night, you will be returning to the ship for dinner. 4.9. Seventh Day: Majuli Island On the seventh day, you will continue to head towards Majuliisland. You will visit the Mishing village on the way. After spending some time in the village, the journey will continue towards Majuli. Meanwhile, you will enjoy lunch on the ship. For relaxation, you can go to the swimming pool or Jacuzzi bath. But the best option is to watch birds and dolphins from the deck. Finally, the cruise will anchor at Majuli. Before dinner, you can have a healthy discussion on any topic with other guests. 4.10. Eighth Day: Majuli - Nimati – Sibsagar Before you have breakfast, you can enjoy the Yoga session in the morning. Thereafter, you will be heading to the Majuliisland. There are a number of attractions there for the guests. First and foremost, you will be heading to the Satara monasteries, which was built in the 15th century. Then you should go to the SamagudiSatra for the mask dance. You can also go to the KamlabadiSatra and see young monks. Once you are done with that, you will return to the ship for sailing. You will be having farewell dinner at Nimati. 4.11. Ninth Day: Nimati - Jorhat After having the breakfast, you will be visiting Sibsagar. This was the city of Ahom Kings. You will see the ruins of the Ahom Empire in this city. The Ahoms were migrated from China in the 13th century. A Shiva Temple was constructed in 1734 is another attraction. This temple has the distinction of being the highest Hindu temple in India. You have finally come to the end of your 9 day long exploration. From this point onwards, you will go to the airport by road. Then you will catch a flight to Kolkata. Once you arrive in Kolkata, you can go back to your home. 4.12. Cost 1.PRICE PER PERSON ON TWIN SHARING BASIS: Superior cabin without balcony – 1,57,500 Superior cabin with balcony – 1,68,000 Suite cabin (only double occupancy) – 2,45,000 2.SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: Superior cabin without balcony – 1,40,000 Superior cabin with balcony – 1,57,000 Suite cabin (only double occupancy) – 2,45,000
If you have the money not a bad holiday at all. I didn't think that it would be this costly though, reason being why cruises are not advertised as much or popular as other holidays types and destinations. Are cruises conducted to other countries as well?
So it seems that for the 4 day cruise, the price is $680. I couldn't tell if that price was all inclusive, but if it is, the price is pretty competitive with other cruises I've been looking at. I hadn't originally thought of doing a cruise while my best friend and I were there, but this definitely may be feasible.
Yes it seems very reasonable. My only concern would be to know if these trips are all inclusive? I would love to be able to eat and drink all day while I am on the cruise and experience different things. If it is all inclusive these are awesome prices I would definitely go!
Yes you can go on some breathtaking cruises. They have a lot to choose from. The best in my opinion is sunderbans. They are pricey of course but it's so worth it. If you want an experience of a lifetime and to get amazing pictures for memories, this is the way to go. It goes through the largest area too.
I think for the itinerary of the cruise it's a pretty decent price aswell to be honest, although unfortunately it's a little out of my budget at the moment. The only issue I could see with a cruise is that I might get a little bored but I'm sure I could manage 4 days.
I had no idea there were cruises in India too, the pictures of the Oberoi look spectacular. The only problem I see is that when you’re in there surrounded by so much beauty and luxury five days are not enough. The prices seem a bit high, but if you have the money it’s definitely worth the experience. I guess I’ll have to start saving now!
Wow - looks amazing and super classy! I have to agree with @Gabydi that all that beauty and luxury would be lovely but I would be thinking 5 days wouldn't be enough! I'd love to vacation like that all the time but I have a feeling it's a little bit outside my backpackers budget! It's always nice to dream though, right?!
I'm confused about the cost. Are the prices in dollars? If they are I think that they are much too high and I can't see too many people jumping at the chance to go on them. Depending on what is included and how these cruises are really priced, I would be interested in doing it. I am going to assume that there are plenty of English speaking people about because of India having been a colony of England. And where do you go to take one of these cruises? Do they embark from a major city? Is there any other way to see the tiger parks without taking the cruise?
Looks amazing! Well worth the cost. The prices are competitive in today's market and at the end of the day you are paying for the amenities, class and sophistication this cruise carries. I wish it were a little longer though, oh and that it would be an All-Inclusive, if it's not. It seems like going on a cruise such as this one is an experience one never forgets.
This is a nice way to travel around on a cruise ship and it can be an easy way to view the sights and enjoy the food and also the fine wines which can be enjoyable in the evening and the prices are alright for travelling by cruise ship, and like the inside of the ship and it is good to sit in the seats which are well made. I think many visitors will enjoy this way of travel and not having to move about too much and can be nice for the ones who want to just relax and eat meals which are fit for eating at the sea, and eating the seafood can be delicious and would be a great way to enjoy your travel. I think for me it would have to be for a week or two as it would be nice to go with friends and family and relax in the ship and get to meet others who are on the trip, and see the nice views and this can be nice to do in the holidays as the rates can be cheaper sometimes.
This is pretty amazing. The price seems a bit much but I get the feeling by the end of the trip you would've forgotten how much you paid for it.
I went on my first cruise about two years ago and have fell in love with it! I have been counting the days till I can book my next one, I would love to do a world cruise and see as many new places as possible, but I don't think my schedule or budget would allow! I am however contemplating going on a few day cruises while i'm in India instead. Either way, I will not be disappointed!
