Antara Luxury River Cruises provides various choices onboard their cruise on Ganga river, which is currently docked in Kolkata, from sailings to stays to bespoke celebrations.
The Indian rivers are worlds of interest to themselves,” Raj Singh, the chairman of Antara Luxury River Cruises, proudly declared as we settled for a chat in the cruise ship’s breezy lounge.” He had already set out a map of Indian rivers as an expert on river cruises in India.
He traced the different cruise routes available in the eastern part of the world. Hemant Mediratta, cofounder and COO, contributed to Singh’s paean on Indian rivers, remembering that river cruises were perfect for slow travel, where you enjoyed your surroundings instead of running from one destination to another. And among them, some fascinating river routes have already been chalked out by pioneers of the Indian river cruising industry, starting from Kolkata and reaching as far as Varanasi or Dhaka in Bangladesh.
They may have been compelled by the pandemic to cancel their preparations, but there is no need to complain. These river cruising industry pioneers in India have introduced new plans that provide several options, from short-term fixed sailings to personalized cruises to presenting their luxury ship as a floating venue for weddings, post-wedding events, anniversaries, family gatherings, even company conferences.
The Cruise
This spacious, high-ceilinged floating hotel, spread over three floors, consists of 28 state-of-the-art cabins (accommodating 56 guests in all) of various types, each with river views while cruising. There are cozy seating areas and French balconies with floor-to-ceiling glass doors, aside from the standard luxury facilities such as from a bed dressed in soft linen to flat-screen TVs, from rain showers in bathrooms to top-end bath items, from iPhone docking stations to universal electrical outlets, to name a few.
The primary dining hall is located on the first deck (apart from the Signature suites). The lounge and bar are located on the top floor, and it also has a sun deck. The second floor lies in between the other rooms, including the Maharaja Suite, the very colonial Viceroy Suite, the Heritage Suite, and the Colonial Suites, the most luxurious suite on the ship.
All the rooms contain works of art, like the rest of the ship, like hand stencils on the doors, copies of famous old Calcutta paintings, traditional-style murals, etc.
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Food
The kitchen is completely equipped to handle global cuisine and speciality Indian dishes, with an eclectic mix of visitors, especially from abroad. New products are the subject of the (because sailing along the lower reaches of the Ganga, you are never far from village markets). Things from the bakery are made at home. Security in the ship is a crucial concern, and the whole kitchen set up is a flameless one.
Activities
Interestingly, when visiting the spa, which provides both Indian and western services, you do not have to pull yourself away from the scenic view. And there is a new gym if you want to lose the calories you might have loaded on due to culinary pampering. You can vote for sessions of yoga and meditation as well.
You are inclined to spend some time off-board during a cruise to see historical, architectural, or spiritual sights, a village market or a colony of weaving, or a village of artisans. When traveling, a feeder boat ensures a seamless transition between the main ship and the landing points along the coastline. There are generally numerous entertainment services onboard throughout the evening, such as folk dances, which will give you an insight into the local customs.
The Sailings
Antara Cruises provides passengers pre-scheduled sailings. A two-night Christmas cruise, a three-night cruise to greet 2021, a Mayapur round trip during Republic Day, and Valentine and Holi Specials are some of their latest set sailings.
What’s more, you can go for a luxurious stay to spend an unforgettable multi-generation holiday while the ship is docked in Kolkata. The business promises to only provide staycation guests with river view cabins. It is a perfect getaway in this pandemic situation. Only a small number of people approved onboard and the strictest of sanitation and safety controls. And on the one hand, you enjoy the iconic view of the river and the city skyline on the other. And if you’re lucky, you could see the odd Gangetic Dolphin gliding across the waves, too.
