Priyanka Saxena Ray
How has the Indian outbound cruise traveller evolved over the past year, and which cruise segments are seeing the strongest demand?
The Indian cruise traveller continues to evolve quite rapidly with each season. A few years ago, the cruise conversation was largely about first-time cruisers, mega-ships and targeted segments that were seen as best suited for a cruise. Today, we’re seeing that segmentation expand to include younger and more diverse audiences. In addition to the massive surge in first-time cruisers on megaships, there is also a growing repeat cruiser base that is actively seeking out more immersive, less mainstream experiences. Expedition cruising, small-ship luxury, and destination-led itineraries are gaining real ground. Travellers are asking more specific questions — about the ship, the experience on board, the quality of shore excursions. The aspiration has shifted from “I want to try a cruise” to “I want the right cruise”. While India has always been seen as a niche market for cruising, the end customer is catching up fast on global trends pushing the trade to develop genuine product knowledge rather than just selling on price.
STIC represents a diverse portfolio of cruise brands. Which products or destinations are gaining maximum traction from India in 2026?
While destination choices continue to expand, expedition and small-ship luxury have certainly outperformed expectations in recent times. The interest in the polar regions is stronger than ever before— both Arctic and Antarctic — as well as Northern Europe and more immersive Mediterranean itineraries for premium travellers.
Across our portfolio, customers are choosing brand experiences that offer genuine immersion — where the destination drives the itinerary rather than the ship being the destination. Japan, the Galápagos, and the Norwegian fjords are recurring requests alongside French Polynesia and the Amazon. We’re also seeing growing curiosity around river cruising, particularly among travellers who’ve already done ocean cruising and are looking for something more intimate.
How are geopolitical unrest, rising airfares and fuel costs impacting outbound cruise bookings from India?
Geopolitical uncertainty, particularly anything affecting the Middle East or European travel corridors created strong short-term hesitation, though we’ve consistently seen demand recover once the immediate anxiety settles. The luxury travellers who are committed to cruising are largely absorbing these costs, however we’re certainly losing the more price-sensitive, first-time considerers. As some travellers reconsider itineraries that require long-haul connections, agents are having to work harder to justify the total trip value and their own service fees.
In light of the Prime Minister’s recent appeal on avoiding unnecessary foreign travel, what is your message to the outbound travel trade?
The Prime Minister’s appeal was made in a specific context of making responsible choices towards the greater good of the country and the economy. Travel that is purposeful — whether for leisure, education, business, or personal enrichment — has never been unnecessary. India’s outbound travel industry supports hundreds of thousands of livelihoods, builds cultural bridges, and contributes meaningfully to the economy. Our message to the trade is to stay focused, stay professional, and continue helping travellers make informed, considered choices.
How can travel agents package cruise holidays more smartly to keep them attractive despite high airfares?
The most effective way agents can have an impact and be more effective is to move from selling a cruise to selling a journey. When the airfare is visible and significant, the answer isn’t to hide it — it’s to build an inimitable experience around it. Agents who understand their clients well enough to build in layers to the experience and come across as advisors and curators rather than agents are consistently outperforming those selling on price alone. The other practical lever is early booking — guiding clients to plan ahead and contribute towards elongating the booking timeline will help build long term trust and generate repeat business.
What new trade initiatives or training programmes is STIC planning to help agents sell cruises more effectively?
Our priority is to focus on depth over volume when it comes to trade engagement. Rather than broad awareness programmes, we’re investing in building a smaller group of genuinely knowledgeable cruise specialists — agents and consultants who can have an informed conversation about expedition cruising, about the difference between small-ship and large-ship experiences, about what makes one itinerary better than another for a specific client. We’re developing dedicated training modules for our cruise portfolio. The goal is to raise the quality of cruise selling in India, not just the quantity.
Follow BOTT on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
Subscribe BOTT Channels on WhatsApp & Telegram to receive real time updates
