India’s Cruise Boom: 51 New Circuits to Transform Tourism by 2027
Centre plans 51 cruise circuits across 14 states, 3 UTs.
The Union government has unveiled an ambitious plan to launch 51 new cruise circuits across 14 states and three Union Territories by 2027 under the Cruise Bharat Mission, according to an official statement released on Monday. The initiative aims to revolutionize India’s river cruise tourism, with global player Viking Cruises announcing its entry into the market with the Viking Brahmaputra, an 80-guest vessel set to begin operations on National Waterway-2 in late 2027.
The Viking Brahmaputra, to be built by Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kolkata, highlights growing investment in India’s burgeoning cruise sector. River cruise voyages on National Waterways have surged by 19.4%, from 371 in 2023-24 to 443 in 2024-25, reflecting the sector’s rising popularity. The number of operational vessels has also grown from five on three waterways in 2013-14 to 25 across 13 national waterways in 2024-25.
To support this expansion, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is developing dedicated cruise terminals on the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers, with facilities planned in Varanasi, Guwahati, Kolkata, and Patna. Additionally, four new terminals are proposed in the northeast at Silghat, Biswanath Ghat, Neamati, and Guijan by 2027, boosting regional tourism.
