MV Ganga Vilas Ship is the World’s longest Motor Ship or Motor Vessel (MV) river cruise. PM Narendra Modi of India flagged the ship via video confreres on January 13, 2023, at 10:30 am. And there was also present the Union Minister of Port Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath, and the Chief Minister of Assam, Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma.
It is the first cruise ship in India. MV Ganga Vilas luxury cruise, dubbed the World’s longest river voyage cruise, will take passengers on a 51-day trip from Varanasi to Dibrugarh. “The inauguration of MV Ganga Vilas will open a new riverscape for Eastern India to emerge yet glowing on the world map of tourism,” PM Narendra Modi said.
Cruise Details:
| MV Ganga Vilas covers 3,200km across five states in India and Bangladesh. | The cruise covers Sarnath, a place of reverence for Buddhism; Mayong, known for tantric craft; and the world’s largest river island Majuli. |
| The maiden cruise begins January 13, 2023 | Traverses Sundarbans in Bay of Bengal delta and Kaziranga National Park (Assam) |
| The journey starts at Varanasi, UP, after witnessing ‘Ganga Aarti.’ | Duration of cruise: Approximately 51 days |
| The journey ends at Dibrugarh, Assam. | Average fare per person: Rs 25,000 a night |
| Stopovers at 50 tourist sites | Cruise has luxury features |
MV Ganga Vilas Ship Route Map:
It starts from Varanasi and ends at Dibrugarh (Assam) via Bangladesh. In this way, Ganga Vilas will begin its journey. The Ganga Vilas luxury cruise will travel 3,200 km across 27 river systems During its 51-day voyage.
The Ganga Vilas cruise will visit 50 tourist destinations, including national parks, world heritage sites, major cities, and river gorges. Travellers will also visit the Vikramshila University and Bihar School of Yoga.
Ship Main Stops:
The MV Ganga cruise’s main stops are given below.
- Patna (Bihar)
- Shahibganj (Jharkhand)
- Guwahati (Assam)
- Kolkata (West Bengal)
- Dibrugarh (Assam)
- Dhaka (Bangladesh)
Luxury Cruise Features:
The cruise will have assorted non-alcoholic beverages, a spa, doctors on call, and vegetarian Indian cuisine. Local food and seasonal vegetables can serve to tourists. The holiday guarantees an experiential voyage as the tourists can indulge in India and Bangladesh’s art, culture, history, and spirituality.
The cruise has 18 suites, three decks on board, and 36 tourists capacity with all the luxury facilities. The suites have furnished numerous soothing interiors and facilities, such as French balconies, LED TVs, safes, convertible beds, and smoke detectors. The cruise has a 40-seater restaurant on the main deck, a sun deck, and a spa at MV Ganga Vilas Ship.
MV Ganga Vilas Ship Ticket Price:
Most tourists from the US and Europe have secured seats on the maiden voyage. The ticket price per person per day is Rs 24,962.25 or $300. Tickets for a 51-day trip from Varanasi to Dibrugarh would cost Rs 12.59 lakh.
How To Book A Ticket:
Everyone has to wait more than a year to get a suite on the luxury ship as tickets are booked full until 2024 in March. The ticket bookings are available for tours from April 2024 onwards, said Antara Luxury River Cruises vice-president Saudamini Mathur.
Antara Luxury River Cruises is operating MV Ganga Vilas Ship—book tickets by going to the official website of Antara Luxury River Cruises.
The Journey of Ganga Vilas Cruise:
The maiden cruise from Varanasi sets sail on January 13, 2023, and has expected to arrive at its final stop – Dibrugarh – on March 1, 2023. Thirty-two tourists already book it. Interestingly, they are all foreigners from Switzerland.
Technical specifications
Ganga Vilas is a motor vessel (MV) type cruise. The vessel has three decks 12 meters wide and 62 meters long.
Other Features:
The Ganga Vilas ship has 39 crew members, and its captain is Mahadev Naik. He has more than 35 years of experience.
The MV Ganga Vilas Ship is the first-ever cruise vessel in India. It is 12 meters long and 62 meters wide, and 1.35 m deep.
Booked Until 2025:
MV Ganga Vilas cruise has three decks and 18 suites on board with a capacity of 36 tourists. It is already booked for to and fro journeys for the next two years. It began its maiden journey on January 13.
FAQs:
What happens if I become sick or injured on a cruise ship?
We have on-call doctors on the cruise for the guests.
What are the smoking policies on cruises?
Yes, smoking is allowed in the deck area of the cruise.
Is spa service available on the cruise?
Yes, we have a dedicated spa service on the cruise.
What amenities & services does the cruise provide?
The cruise has modern amenities and facilities, including a spa, private dining, yoga classes, and more.
How can I stay connected while cruising?
We have high-speed Wi-Fi on our river cruises.