And now, finally in India Samyukta Bhowmick / New Delhi August 27, 2005 The cruise market looks to expand and make itself more accessible with the launch of Star Cruises in India. Star Cruises, the popular Malaysia-based cruise company, is starting operations from India from September this year, the first cruise company to do so. Cruising is becoming a popular holiday option for the growing segment of Indian tourists who have grown tired of the well-worn Singapore/Switzerland/London tourist track. So far though, only international cruise companies have been represented here: the likes of Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, Island Cruises, and, from early this year, the luxury cruise Silversea. These cruises are all long-haul and sail to places such as the Caribbean, the Norwegian fjords and the Meditteranean islands, and are priced accordingly, but with the entry of Star Cruises, the market may suddenly have become much more accessible � in terms of price as well as time. >From 2nd October 2005 to 30th April 2006 (the ship will only do showcase cruises from September to October this year), the luxury liner SuperStar Libra (a 42,000 ton ship with 740 cabins and a passenger capacity of 1,480), will sail from Mumbai to, according to the cruise you pick, Lakshadweep, Goa or simply around the Indian Ocean near Mumbai. A four-night cruise, departing every Sunday from Mumbai, will stop at Lakshwadeep and Goa for a day each; a two-night cruise, departing every Thursday, will sail from Mumbai up to Goa and then back; and you can even take a one-night cruise from Mumbai and back.
Read the rest of this article at http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php? storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu4&leftindx=4&lselect=8&chklogin=N&autono=198436 -- Cheers, Gabe Menezes. London, England
