India's overnight ocean and coastal cruise industry is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20-25 per cent between FY26 and FY31, according to Crisil Intelligence data. The domestic ocean and coastal cruise market grew at a CAGR of about 8 per cent between FY20 and FY25 to ₹830 crore and is projected to expand to ₹1,820-2,250 crore by FY31. The number of cruise passengers in the country stood at 477,676 in 2025, with domestic passengers accounting for 89 per cent and international passengers making up the rest. From 2023 till 2025, the passenger count has risen by over 10 per cent, while total operating vessels have gone up to 253 in FY24 from 227 in FY23.
To capture growing demand, Waterways Leisure Tourism Ltd (WLTL), which operates Cordelia Cruises, is significantly scaling its fleet and operational network. The company has entered into time charter agreements to induct two vessels: Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Sun, targeted for deployment in FY27 and FY28, respectively. According to Jurgen Bailom, president and CEO of Cordelia Cruises, the fleet addition of Cordelia Sky in 2026 and Cordelia Sun in 2027 will significantly increase available capacity and itineraries for Indian travellers. WLTL is also expanding its itinerary portfolio beyond its core routes covering Mumbai, Goa, Kochi, Lakshadweep, Chennai, Puducherry, and others, with new routes from Kochi to Colombo and Malé starting October 2026. There are plans to add ports like Diu, Porbandar and Port Blair, alongside international expansion into Maldives, Indonesia, Australia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, Kuwait and Mauritius.
Indian travellers are increasingly opting for experience-led, immersive holidays over conventional destination-focused itineraries. As reported by Neeraj Singh Dev, executive vice-president – ecommerce, India and short haul holidays at Thomas Cook (India), cruise holidays are seeing healthy interest ahead of the festival and year-end travel period, with shorter 3-7-night itineraries across Southeast Asia and West Asia continuing to attract first-time cruisers. The cruise traveller base is expanding rapidly with growing interest from Tier-II and Tier-III cities, alongside repeat cruisers exploring longer and more experiential journeys. According to Ben Bouldin, president, Greater China and managing director (MD), Asia at Royal Caribbean, Indians travellers valued the ease of exploring multiple European destinations in one vacation, pointing to strong interest in multi-destination cruising. According to findings of a study commissioned by the company, Indian travellers were keen on exploring food, dining and entertainment between destinations.
The growth trajectory will depend on the pace of port infrastructure development, operational efficiency of cruise liners, expansion by operators, fuel prices and wider adoption of cruise holidays among domestic travellers. Government initiatives are expected to provide significant support, with the Cruise Bharat Mission aiming to double cruise passenger traffic by 2029 through infrastructure upgrades, improved connectivity and policy support. Complementary frameworks such as Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 outline extensive long-term investments in port modernisation, last-mile connectivity, and digital processing. Policy measures like reduced tariffs, improved visa processes, and enhanced port connectivity may further support the sector's growth. While long-term projections remain strong, the sector faced noticeable near-term pressure in FY26 due to global macroeconomic uncertainties, fuel price changes, and geopolitical volatility that affected overall travel demand.
