Aboard the good ship Angriya (see below), quite a decent set of choices await you: a small infinity pool, live music in the evenings on the stern deck next to it, a discotheque pumping out beats until 4 am, a 24-hour restaurant, a few snack bars and several actual bars (which, though, close by 11 pm), a small reading room, a spa, and a foredeck on which one can lounge late into the night under the stars, enjoying the brisk ocean breeze, literally leaving behind the bright lights and music of the rest of the ship.
All this is fine, and the passengers enjoyed every minute of it, going by the selfies-per-person-per-minute rate. Perhaps the only complaint one heard was there was no cellphone signal available for most of the cruise (the ship sails about 10 miles off the coast) to let them share those selfies with the world instantly. And yes, once the sun set, the selfie-takers deserted the foredeck and wandered off to more hospitable levels to take more shots, leaving it to yours truly and four or five snuggling couples.
And when one tires of wandering around the ship, up and down stairs, through long corridors, deck after deck, the staterooms — cabins to landlubbers like you and me — are comfortable. (And, if you book on one of the upper decks, offer views of a starlit sea.) Even the bunks and pods looked inviting when I checked them out on a brief recce. And yes, I slept soundly in my room, soundly enough to miss the ship entering the Mumbai harbour despite setting alarms.
But really, what I learnt was this: never go on a cruise alone. At least not if you’re of advancing years and not, you know, cruising. Or, actually, not even that, not on this cruise. The thing is, this isn’t the kind of environment in which a middle-aged singleton who does not want to drink himself under the table can really be part of. Aside from the couples gazing deeply into each other’s eyes, the rest of the passengers were mostly families, with a sprinkling of senior citizens, and a group of middle-aged men returning, perhaps, from an extended boys’ night in Goa.
Unless, like me, you’re happy to spend hours on the foredeck, with the wind in your face and only the stars (and a few oblivious couples) for company.
The breakdown
In late October, Angriya began sailing the Mumbai-Goa route (three trips each way per week, starting at 4 pm and ending at 9 am the next day, in either direction) and it is the only Class 4 River Sea Passenger Vessel registered in India. Named after Maratha admiral Kanhoji Angre, the 131-metre vessel was acquired from a Japanese owner and refurbished and adapted for its role in Indian waters. It can carry around 350 passengers. Prices range from ₹4,300 per head for the bunks to ₹7,650 per head for the largest stateroom. All passengers also pay ₹2,000 for food. (Aside from the familiar bans on liquids and other materials airlines have accustomed us to, Angriya does not allow passengers to carry food items in their cabin baggage.) More at angriyacruises.com.
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Floating your boat: rides worth checking out
Royal Caribbean x Tirun
Come May, you will have the chance to hop on board the largest ship ever to sail to and from India. In an exclusive partnership with Royal Caribbean International, Tirun Travel Marketing will bring the Spectrum of the Seas to Mumbai. Says Varun Chadha, COO at Tirun, “The cruise travel business from India is likely to rise exponentially, from two lakh passengers to 40 lakh a year within the next five to 10 years.”
With a capacity for over 5,600 guests, the 1,139 foot Spectrum will feature the liner’s first private enclave for suite guests. Activities include karaoke, skydiving and surfing simulators, and an activity space with Virtual Reality walls. Sailings include Dubai to Mumbai (May 4 to 9) and Singapore (May 9 to 18). Priced at approximately ₹10,600 per night. Details: tirun.com
Jalesh Cruises
Starting in April, this India-flagged cruise company — targeted almost exclusively at locals and tourists visiting the country — will launch its international and domestic voyages. The first will be a Mumbai to Goa cruise on the Karnika (with a capacity of up to 1,900 passengers). Other itineraries include Colombo (starting at ₹47,160), Dubai (₹66,000) Penang (₹28,000), and a host of local excursions and trips along the Indian coast. Jain and vegetarian food options included. Details: jaleshcruises.com
UberBOAT
Uber launched its pilot project, UberBOAT, last month. Connecting the ports at Gateway of India, Elephanta Islands and Mandwa Jetty (Alibaug), users can book the service on the ride-sharing app. Priced at ₹5,700 for UberBOAT (six to eight-seater speed boat) and ₹9,500 for BOAT XL (10+ seater). Details: uber.com
Across the Atlantic: Virgin Voyages
You’ll have to travel a little farther for this cruise, given that there is no Indian port between Miami and Havana. But it might be worth the transatlantic flight to celebrate Richard Branson’s 70th birthday (next year) with the man himself on his new cruise line, Virgin Voyages. This adults-only four-day party will be hosted on the decks of the Scarlet Lady. Depart on July 15 2020, stop in the Bahamas (where Grammy winner Mark Ronson will DJ), sweat it out at a free fitness class and dock in Havana for 24 hours. Prices start at approximately ₹1 lakh on virginvoyages.com