Antara Cruises, which operates luxury all-suite river cruises on the Ganges and the Brahmaputra, along with wildlife expeditions in Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park, offers 2-20-day journeys and is increasingly targeting affluent Indian travellers looking for shorter, experience-led holidays centered on heritage, culture and nature. “Demand has moved from curiosity to conviction. Travellers are looking for privacy, service and authentic experiences rather than conventional sightseeing,” said Vineet Arora, chief operating officer of Antara Cruises.
The company returned to pre-pandemic travel volumes in 2024, surpassing its previous financial performance. During FY26, it operated 65 sailings on the Ganges and 33 departures at Bhitarkanika National Park, all at full occupancy. Revenue grew 10% in FY24, 15% in FY25 and 22% in FY26, and bookings are already open through 2027. Antara has commissioned two new luxury river vessels for the Brahmaputra as it expands into shorter domestic heritage cruises.
