Asia Sailings Take Centre Stage as Indians Prefer Cruise Holidays

Cruising is increasingly the holiday of choice for Indian travellers, with Asia emerging as the top pick. A new report by Int2Cruises, Asia’s cruise-first online travel platform, finds that more than 70 per cent of Indian travellers opt for Asia sailings, with Singapore leading as the most popular destination across age groups.

The report highlights that Singapore has become a multigenerational favourite, attracting children (14.33 per cent), young adults (23 per cent), and middle-aged travellers (35.26 per cent), making it ideal for family holidays. Hong Kong appeals strongly to younger families, while Alaska remains a top choice for seniors (64.16 per cent aged 44–69). Australia and New Zealand are more popular among travellers aged 70+, while the Bahamas, Caribbean, and Europe resonate strongly with younger and middle-aged groups.

Booking behaviour, however, shows a distinct trend. While 82 per cent of Indians decide their cruise destinations in advance, nearly 69 per cent of bookings are made within 90 days of sailing, a far shorter window than global travellers. For Asia sailings, the figure rises to 80 per cent, highlighting Indians’ preference for last-minute planning even for international trips.

Commenting on the findings, Ms Akansha Agarwal, Co-Founder & CMO of Int2Cruises, said, “What we’re witnessing is the rise of a new generation of cruise travellers — more curious, value-conscious, and digitally confident. They no longer see cruising as a niche or once-in-a-lifetime holiday, but as an accessible, repeatable experience. Int2Cruises was built to bridge the gap — to bring transparency, choice, and simplicity into cruise planning.”

According to data from other OTA platforms such as MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip and ixigo, Indians prefer last-minute bookings in comparison with European and American travellers. About 78 per cent of domestic and 30 per cent of international flights from India are booked within 15 days of departure, particularly for visa-free destinations like Thailand and the Maldives.