Mumbai Port secures eight international cruise calls for 2026-27 season

Mumbai Port is continuing to strengthen its position within the international cruise market as a growing number of global cruise operators include the Indian gateway in their deployment plans. For the 2026–27 cruise season, the port has secured eight international cruise calls from premium and luxury operators, including Celebrity Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Silversea Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, reflecting growing confidence in Mumbai as a cruise destination and turnaround port.

According to M. Angamuthu, Chairman of the Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA), the participation of several international luxury cruise brands demonstrates increasing recognition of Mumbai's capabilities within the global cruise sector. He further indicated that continuing changes to cruise deployment patterns, including vessel repositioning resulting from security concerns in the Red Sea and adjustments to Gulf itineraries, could enhance Mumbai's role as an Indian Ocean turnaround port for international operators.

The port authority is continuing to advance a broader development strategy aimed at expanding cruise tourism. Current priorities include strengthening engagement with international cruise companies to attract repositioned vessels, accelerating completion of the Mumbai Marina project and extending the Mumbai-to-Mumbai (M2M) cruise network. MbPA is also coordinating with India's Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways in support of the Cruise Bharat Mission and the establishment of a national cruise terminal network.

Domestic cruising continues to represent a major contributor to Mumbai's growth as a cruise gateway. Angamuthu noted that homeport operations have become the principal driver of the port's cruise development, with the deployment of Empress, operated by Cordelia Cruises, playing a central role in establishing Mumbai as India's leading homeport. The vessel operates regular itineraries linking Mumbai with Goa, Lakshadweep, Kochi and Chennai, supporting both coastal tourism and regional economic activity.

Building on the success of its domestic operations, Cordelia Cruises is preparing to introduce a second vessel into the Indian market. Cordelia Sky, formerly operated as Norwegian Sky, is scheduled to enter service from Mumbai in October 2026, becoming the fourth cruise ship to be homeported at the port, following Angriya, Karnika and Empress. The expansion aligns with the objectives of the Cruise Bharat Mission, which seeks to increase India's domestic cruise capacity while strengthening homeport operations at the country's principal gateway ports.

Mumbai Port handled ~240,000 cruise passengers through 95 cruise calls during the 2025–26 financial year, underlining the continued expansion of both domestic and international cruise activity and reinforcing the port's ambition to establish itself as a leading cruise hub in the Indian Ocean region.