Puneites prefer cruise holidays this summer

PUNE: Life has become a pleasure cruise for most in the city, literally. For, this summer, many a fervent traveller is taking that long-yearned-for ship to the Mediterranean: from cruising through the golden beaches of Spain and French Riviera to exploring those exotic islands of Greece and Italy.
Cruising or cruise holidays are finding more and more takers each summer, say travel agencies who are witnessing an unprecedented rise in their clientele this year.
Nikhil Thakurdas, CEO of city-based Odyssey Tours and Travels, quotes a 25% increase in the number of those who opted for cruises this summer. "It has its advantages. For one, the cost of your cruise is all inclusive. You pay once for almost everything - accommodation, unlimited food, transportation, daily entertainment, among other things. Cruise lines regularly offer prices for under $100 per person, per night, which is much cheaper than you'd spend on land for a hotel, meals and transportation. On some cruise lines, kids sail free or at discounted rates when sharing a cabin with two adults."

Thakurdas said that cruises have become quite popular over the last two years. "The cruise market in India had to its credit 75,000 passengers in 2010. This market is growing between 15-20% per annum. About 50% of these 75,000 people opt for cruises to Asia, which means that approximately 40,000 people sail in Asia. The remaining travel to other parts of the world. This year, however, more and more people are going for cruises to the Western part of the world such as Mediterranean, Alaska, Bahamas, Caribbean and Scandinavia," he said, adding that cruises have witnessed a 25% increase in terms of its clientele in Pune this year.
Thakurdas said that travelers book as early as six months in advance to up to one month prior to travel. "The average cruise holiday length is seven days. We have had 175-200 passengers opting for cruise this year alone, which means about 60-70 families," he said, adding that a cruise can start from as low a price as Rs 5,000 per person, per night to Rs 35,000 for seven days.