Add another small-ship cruise line to the mix. In September, Cruise Industry News broke the story about Tropicana Cruises starting Cuba service in November with the Adriana (ex-Adriana III from Plein Cap – click here to read the story), and now Blue Ocean Cruises is set to start various Indian itineraries with the OceanLife.
The OceanLife is the ex-EasyCruise Life, and is apparently under charter after sitting idle up for the last year, according to people familiar with the matter.
Blue Ocean Cruises says it will start service in November, offering various itineraries catering to the Indian market, including one-night cruises from Mumbai; two-night cruises from Mumbai, stopping in Goa; and four-night voyages homeporting in Mumbai.
Louis Cruises experimented with the Indian market in 2009, sending its Aquamarine (ex-Nordic Prince) to the region to homeport out of Kochi for three- and one-day voyages from December 2009 to May 2010.
Louis pulled out of the region in 45 days, citing excessive port charges and port infrastructure issues, among other things.
Star Cruises has also previously tried to sail from India, but abandoned the program.
