Cruise holidays are usually seen as intimidating, luxurious and slightly out of reach, especially for first-time travellers. But a lot of this hesitation actually comes from the lack of clear information around what a cruise holiday actually involves, from booking the right itinerary and knowing what to pack and what life onboard looks like. Once you simplify everything, you will see that cruising is actually less complicated.
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To understand the basics of cruise travel better, HT Lifestyle spoke to travel expert Varun Chadha, CEO, TIRUN Travel Marketing, who helped clarify all the essentials, including what kind of travel experience a cruise holiday offers, what first-time cruise travellers should know before booking, what they need to carry, and more.
What kind of travel do cruise holidays fall under?
The travel expert categorised cruise holidays as experiential travel, calling them a powerful example of the trend. Experiential travel has been on the rise lately and can be defined as a form of holiday rooted in meaningful experiences and lasting memories, instead of being focused solely on sightseeing. Varun highlighted that cruise holidays fit this idea because they turn the journey itself into an important part of the travel experience.
“A cruise combines destination discovery with a wide range of curated onboard experiences, including dining, entertainment, wellness, cultural immersion, and personalised activities. Travellers can wake up in a new destination while enjoying the consistency, comfort, and convenience of travelling on a single floating resort,” he said.
What are the five essentials every beginner should carry on a cruise?
The travel expert outlined these essentials:
- Travel documents: Carry your passport, cruise tickets, booking confirmations, visas, ID proof and any cruise-related paperwork.
- Comfortable clothing and footwear: Pack outfits suited for both onboard activities and destination exploration, along with comfortable shoes for walking during shore excursions.
- Medication and personal essentials: Keep regular medicines, basic first-aid items, toiletries, and any personal care products you may need, especially for longer itineraries.
- Small day bag: Carry a compact bag for shore excursions to keep essentials like your phone, wallet, sunscreen, water bottle, documents, and medication handy.
- Weather-appropriate accessories: Pack based on the destination, such as sunglasses, hats, light jackets, swimwear, rainwear or sunscreen.
How can travellers choose the right cruise based on their group size, couples, solo travellers, or families?
Next, we asked whether the cruise experience differs based on who people are travelling with. Varun here believed that cruise actually offers an edge in this regard, as modern cruising caters to diverse travel preferences, whether for couples, solo travellers or families.
Varun described this in detail, “One of the biggest strengths of modern cruising is its ability to cater to diverse travel preferences. The right cruise ultimately depends on understanding what each traveller or group hopes to gain from the experience.”
What are the common misconceptions people have about cruise holidays?
Certain inhibitions keep people away from making the most of cruise trips. These myths need to be addressed and debunked. Varun outlined a few myths and revealed the facts against each one of them:
1. Myth: Cruises are only for older travellers
Fact-check:
- The cruise industry caters to a wide range of travellers, including families, couples, solo travellers, luxury seekers and adventure enthusiasts.
- The average age of Indian cruise traveller today is 37, showing that younger travellers are also embracing cruise vacations.
2. Myth: Cruises are always expensive
Fact-check
- Cruises may seem costly at first, but when compared with a land-based holiday, they can offer better value.
- Accommodation, dining, entertainment, activities and transport between destination all bundled into one vacation experience.
- Cruising can be up to 30 per cent more cost-effective.
3. Myth: You are confined to the ship
Fact-check:
- A cruise holiday is not just about staying onboard.
- Travellers can explore multiple destinations through curated shore excursions, while also enjoying the ship's entertainment, wellness facilities, dining venues and recreational experiences.
Why are Indians choosing cruise holidays?
Varun said that more Indians are choosing cruise holidays nowadays. But aside from choosing a cruise for leisure holidays, he spotted various other reasons such as milestone celebrations, like anniversaries or birthdays, family getaways, and experiential travel. The tailored and immersive experience adds to the interest of the travellers.