The ongoing Red Sea crisis has impacted the upcoming cruise season at Port Cochin (India), starting in September, following the cancellation of at least 10 passenger ships during the previous season, which concluded in April.
According to a senior shipping agency official, two European cruise ships scheduled to dock in March 2025 have already canceled their visits, with the possibility of further cancellations in the next season, ending in May.
The official noted that between January and June 2024, 5 to 6 cruise ships managed by their agency canceled their scheduled visits to Cochin. The first vessel for the current season is expected to arrive on November 14th.
During the 2023 season, Cochin Port hosted 34 cruise vessels, bringing in 22,872 tourists. In contrast, the port received 50+ cruise ships during pre-COVID times. The recent season included 8 maiden calls from ships such as Celebrity Edge, Bolette, Riviera, and Seven Seas Mariner. Coastal voyages from operators like Cordelia, Costa and AIDA also visited Cochin and Bangaram/Lakshadweep.
The port will face a revenue loss of ₹(Indian rupees) 15-20 lakh per ship in handling charges. Johny Abraham, managing director of Intersight Tours and Travels, highlighted that the cancellations will significantly affect various sectors dependent on cruise tourism, including sightseeing, taxi services, airlines, hotels, and handicraft makers. The average spending of a foreign tourist in Kochi ranges from $100-250, and cancellations will impact these business opportunities.
Capt. Tom Joseph of Arctic Crew Management Pvt Ltd explained that cruise ships typically travel from the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden to Dubai, and then to Indian ports such as Mumbai, Goa, Mangalore, and Cochin, before proceeding to Southeast Asia and returning along the same route.
With the increase in attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea, many cargo ships are now rerouting around Africa. Such deviations also affect cruise itineraries, port calls, and shore excursions. Given the current Red Sea crisis, cruises to Indian ports are expected to experience disruptions until the situation stabilizes, potentially impacting planned cruises for 2024-25.