Norwegian docks in India

With the launch of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) in India at Mumbai’s Ballard Pier and two new sales offices in Mumbai and Delhi, it is clear that the cruise company now considers India to be a force to reckon with. Steve Odell, Senior VP & MD (As

How do you perceive the India market for cruising?

Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region in the cruise industry today. Between 2012 and 2014, passenger volume grew from 775,000 to nearly 1.4 million passengers, almost doubling up. Among all potential markets, India will be one of the key drivers of Asia’s booming development with 36 per cent increase since 2012.

What kind of numbers are you expecting from India?

The total cruise market in India is 90,000 passengers annually, of which we have 10 per cent market share. In 2015, NCLH hosted 6,000 passengers from India and we are aiming to treble this to about 20,000 within two years – by the end of 2018.

Have you increased your focus on India?

Yes, we have strengthened our presence in Asia with offices in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo and now India. This has coincided with NCL returning to Asia for the first time since 2002. The new offices in New Delhi and Mumbai will conduct key sales and marketing functions along with a dedicated contact centre to serve travel agents across India. It will be headed by Manoj Singh, Country Head – India, Norwegian Cruise Line, who comes from Star Cruises India and Puneet Kumar, Country Head – India, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, who was with Singapore Tourism Board earlier.

Opening offices will help us strengthen our reach in the cruise market and also connect to the agents. Being face to face is critical when working with agents as it helps them understand the product better.

What packages can the agents in India sell?

Norwegian Star will make Mumbai a seasonal home port

NCLH’s fleet across all three brands will sail 45 itineraries throughout Asia from March 2016 to April 2017. Ports of call include Mumbai, Goa, Mangalore, Cochin, Hong Kong, Singapore, Xiamen, Shanghai, Tianjin (Beijing), Jeju, Incheon, Kyoto (Kobe), Nagasaki, Okinawa, Tokyo, Yangon and Colombo among others.

It will also promote the 10day Copenhagen to Stockholm package onboard Seven Seas Voyager which will touch Denmark, Berlin, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland, Russia, Estonia and Sweden from July 23 priced from $5,299 (Cat. F) that includes up to 73 free shore excursions.