Cruise to Andaman 2026: Ship Ticket Price & Schedule

The Directorate of Shipping Services (DSS) revised passenger fares for FY 2026-27 vide Order No. 216 dated 26 February 2026, effective from 1 April 2026. These are the current official fares and apply to all three mainland routes — Kolkata, Chennai, and Vizag to Port Blair.

Important: Fares are split into Islander (ISL) and Non-Islander (N-ISL) categories. Tourists travelling from mainland India pay the Non-Islander fare. Residents of Andaman & Nicobar Islands with valid domicile documents pay the Islander fare.

Source: DSS Order No. 216 dated 26 February 2026, Annexure 1 – “Fare for Swarajdweep, Campbell Bay, Sindhu and Nalanda type of vessels for Mainland Island Sector,” Revised Fare 2026-27. Fares are per person, one way, excluding taxes and port charges.

Note: These are the latest official DSS fares (FY 2026-27, Order No. 216), in force from 1 April 2026. They replace the earlier FY 2025-26 rates (Order No. 131). Fares are revised annually – this page will be updated when DSS issues the next order.

Four passenger ships run the mainland-to-Andaman service under DSS. Ship assignment to each route varies by month and schedule.

All four are operated by the Directorate of Shipping Services (DSS), Andaman & Nicobar Administration. The DSS STARS portal shows which ship is assigned to each sailing.

The Kolkata to Andaman route has the longest history and the most frequent sailings. Ships depart from Kolkata’s Kidderpore Dock (Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port) roughly 2–3 times a month during the peak season. The journey takes approximately 60–70 hours depending on the ship and sea conditions.

This is the preferred route for travellers from West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Northeast India. MV Sindhu and MV Nalanda handle most of the Kolkata departures. The route passes through the open waters of the Bay of Bengal — the experience is genuinely scenic, with vast ocean views, sunrises over the water, and occasional dolphin sightings.

Kolkata to Port Blair ships also carry supplies and cargo for the islands, so departures tend to be more consistent year-round compared to the Chennai and Vizag routes. Demand is also higher, especially during Durga Puja holidays and the December–January peak season. Book early to secure your preferred cabin class.

Kolkata route fares are the same as the mainland fare table above.

Andaman Passenger Service

The Chennai to Andaman route operates more frequently than Vizag, with sailings roughly every 10–15 days during the peak season (October to March) and once a month during the off-season. Ships depart from Chennai port and take approximately 58–66 hours to reach Port Blair.

This route is the most popular among travellers from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala. MV Swarajdweep, MV Campbell Bay, MV Sindhu, and MV Nalanda are deployed depending on schedule and availability, all under the Directorate of Shipping Services (DSS).

Onboard amenities are basic but functional — meals are available from the canteen, which serves snacks and beverages throughout the journey. Medical facilities are available on all ships. If you are prone to seasickness, carry motion-sickness medication, as the Bay of Bengal crossing can get rough between June and September.

Chennai route fares are the same as the mainland fare table above.
Things to do in Neil Island

The Vizag to Andaman route is the least frequent of the three but remains popular among travellers from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Odisha. Ships depart from Visakhapatnam port on a limited schedule — sailings are announced periodically by DSS and are more common during the October to March season when sea conditions are favourable.

The journey from Vizag to Port Blair takes approximately 56–60 hours, making it the shortest sea route to Andaman. MV Swarajdweep and MV Campbell Bay are commonly assigned to this route. The voyage crosses the Bay of Bengal before docking at Haddo Wharf in Port Blair.

Because sailings are limited, tickets sell out quickly. Book the moment the schedule is announced on the DSS STARS portal. Walk-in bookings may be available at the DSS office in Vizag closer to the sailing date, but availability is not guaranteed.

Vizag route fares are the same as the mainland fare table above — DSS applies uniform fares across all three mainland departure ports. Dss Andamannicobar Gov Site

Once you reach Port Blair, the “cruise” most island-hoppers mean is the private inter-island cruise between Port Blair, Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep), and Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep). The fast, air-conditioned catamarans cover the 38-nautical-mile Port Blair–Havelock leg in about 90 minutes (Makruzz and Nautika); Green Ocean’s slower, fuelefficient vessels take roughly 2 hours 15 minutes but offer open-deck sea views.

Three private operators run most of this route — Makruzz, Green Ocean, and Nautika (Sea Link Adventures also operates services). Each offers tiered seating from standard to luxury. Tickets are sold per leg, per person. A Port Security Fee of ₹50 per person, per sector is added on top for all operators; 18% GST is added at checkout by Makruzz and Nautika, while Green Ocean usually displays GST-inclusive fares.

Inter-Island Cruise Fares (Port Blair ⇄ Havelock / Neil) — indicative ranges

Fares are dynamic and set per departure on each operator’s booking engine — the ranges above are indicative one-way, per-person, per-leg figures (verified against operator and aggregator sources, June 2026), not fixed prices. Most travellers pay roughly INR 1,200–1,800 per leg. Add ₹50 PSF per sector (and 18% GST where not already included). Confirm the live fare at booking.

How to book inter-island cruises: Private cruise tickets are sold on each operator’s official website (makruzz.com, greenoceanseaways.com, and Nautika’s booking site) and through authorised travel agents. Fares appear only after you select a date, and seats — especially the popular morning Port Blair → Havelock departures – sell out days in advance during peak season (December–January and long weekends), so book ahead rather than at the jetty. For a fully arranged island-hopping trip that bundles cruise transfers, hotels, and sightseeing, see TravelTriangle’s Andaman cruise packages.

Return sailings from Port Blair to Kolkata, Chennai, and Vizag use the same ships and the same DSS fare table – there is no separate “return” pricing. Book your return leg at the DSS office at Phoenix Bay Jetty in Port Blair, ideally on the day you arrive, because return berths fill up fast during peak season.

If a return ship sailing does not line up with your dates, most travellers fly back from Veer Savarkar International Airport (Port Blair) to the mainland — a 2–2.5 hour flight. A common, time-efficient plan is ship one way, flight the other: you get the full sea-voyage experience without spending six-plus days at sea round trip.

Most travellers weigh the multi-day ship against a 2-hour flight. Here is the honest trade-off.

Flight fares are indicative and vary by season/booking window

Bottom line: Fly if you are short on time — it is often cheaper than a Deluxe cabin and saves days. Take the ship if the voyage itself is the experience you want, or if you are travelling on the lowest possible budget (Bunk Class).

Booking mainland ship tickets to Andaman has become easier with online ticketing. There are two main ways to book your tickets:

 Online Booking via DSS STARS e-Ticketing Portal

1. Visit the official DSS website at dss.andamannicobar.gov.in and go to the STARS e-Ticketing section.

2. Select your departure port — Kolkata, Chennai, or Vizag.

3. Choose your preferred travel date and ship.

4. Select your cabin class — Seat, Bunk, 2nd Class, 1st Class, or Deluxe.

5. Fill in passenger details (a government ID is required).

6. Complete the payment online and download your e-ticket.

Tickets are released on the portal ahead of the sailing date. Check the portal regularly, as schedules and availability are updated periodically by the DSS.

Walk-in Booking at DSS Office

You can also book in person at the DSS office at each departure port. Counter hours are Monday to Friday 9:00 AM–4:00 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM–12:00 PM (closed Sundays). Carry a valid government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar, Passport, or Voter ID). For return tickets, visit the DSS office at Phoenix Bay Jetty in Port Blair.

(Inter-island private cruises — Makruzz, Green Ocean, Nautika — are booked separately on each operator’s own website, not on the DSS portal.)

Taking a mainland ship to Andaman is not luxury cruising — it is a practical, budget-friendlysea voyage. Here is what to expect onboard:

Accommodation: Bunk Class is a large shared dormitory with rows of bunk beds. 2nd Class offers semi-private 4-berth cabins. 1st Class gives you a private 2-berth cabin with attached washroom. Deluxe is the top tier with AC and attached bath. MV Sindhu and MV Nalanda also have a Seat class — an open seating area without a berth, the most affordable option.

Food: A canteen onboard serves meals (vegetarian and non-vegetarian) at reasonable prices – typically INR 50–150 per meal. Expect rice, dal, sabzi, and fish curry. Tea, coffee, snacks, and cold drinks are also available. Meal inclusion in the ticket price may vary by ship and class – confirm at the time of booking.

Facilities: Ships have a common lounge area, open deck access, and basic medical facilities with a doctor on board. Mobile network drops out within a few hours of departure, so download entertainment in advance.

The Experience: The highlight is the open ocean – uninterrupted views, dramatic sunrises and sunsets, and the feeling of genuinely disconnecting from the mainland. Many travellers describe the ship journey as the most memorable part of their Andaman trip.

Port Blair to Chidiya Tapu

The ideal window for taking a ship to Andaman is October to March. During these months, the Bay of Bengal is relatively calm, the weather is pleasant, and all three mainland routes operate at peak frequency. The same window is best for inter-island cruises, which run yearround but can be choppy and occasionally cancelled in the monsoon.

The monsoon season from June to September brings rough seas, and most mainland ship services are reduced or suspended during this period. Even if a ship operates, the journey can be uncomfortable with heavy swells and delays.

November to February is the sweet spot — calm seas, comfortable temperatures (25- 30°C), and the best visibility for open-ocean views from the deck. For festival or holiday travel, book at least 45 days ahead, as demand surges during Diwali, Christmas, and New Year.

Mangrove kayaking in Andaman

There is no single “best” cruise – it depends on whether you want the lowest fare, the most reliable schedule, or open-deck sea views. Here is how the three main inter-island operators compare for the Port Blair-Havelock-Neil route.

For the mainland sea voyage (Kolkata/Chennai/Vizag → Port Blair), there is effectively one “best” choice – the DSS government ships – since they are the only passenger vessels running that route. Pick the Deluxe AC cabin for the most comfortable multi-day crossing, or Bunk Class for the cheapest fare

Here is a realistic per-person budget for a 7-day Andaman trip that includes the sea voyage one way and a flight back

Estimates exclude flights to your mainland departure port. For a fixed, all-inclusive price, compare Andaman cruise packages that bundle transfers, stays, and sightseeing.

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