TBM Staff - Mumbai
Antara River Cruises is selected as a finalist in the Best Sustainability Initiative category by the prestigious UK-based Wave Awards 2024, celebrating their 10th anniversary this year. This recognition highlights the effort and vision of the pioneers of river cruising in India. With a fleet of nine vessels, Antara River Cruises offers a slow and sustainable way to explore India, allowing guests to discover new cultures and destinations along the waterways, immersing them in unforgettable experiences. Their various itineraries offer fantastic opportunities for anyone looking to explore South Asian culture in some of its most ancient regions, perfect for leisure travellers, history buffs, culture enthusiasts, and nature lovers.
“This is an extremely proud moment for us at Antara River Cruises. We are delighted to be chosen as one of the finalists in the sustainability category by Wave Awards, the cruise industry’s leading event. These awards celebrate excellence in the cruise holiday sector, and it is indeed a great honor for us to be counted among the best in the river cruising business,” said Raj Singh, Chairman, Exotic Heritage Group, promoters of Antara River Cruises. Last year, Antara River Cruises won the Magellan Award for the World’s Longest River Cruise. The Antara Ganga Vilas was awarded Silver in the Overall River Cruising category at the Travel Weekly Magellan Awards 2023. The rivership sailed from Varanasi to Dibrugarh via Dhaka in Bangladesh, traversing 3200 km over 51 days, across 2 countries, 5 states, and 27 river systems.
Early this year, Antara River Cruises launched two-cabin catamarans to traverse the Bhitarkanika mangrove wetland in Odisha, also known as the ‘mini Amazon of India’, on India’s first hybrid solar electric + fuel-powered boats. “As a business that is conscious of responsible and sustainable travel, we have developed and implemented various environmental and socially conscious policies both on and off-board to ensure our positive contribution to ecology and economic development,” added Singh. Antara River Cruises has undertaken several sustainable measures, including using solar power for electrical onboard usage, installing water and wastewater treatment plants, utilising highly effective oil-water separator machines, and maintaining a plastic-free environment with biodegradable items and refillable metal water bottles.
Other sustainability initiatives include the use of energy-efficient LED lights, shore power connections on jetties to reduce generator usage, hospital-grade silencers on cruise generators to reduce noise pollution, and changing room linens and towels every other day unless required or requested. The company also employs lower-polluting ‘green’ fuel for power and navigation. On a broader footing, Antara River Cruises is directly engaged in wildlife and habitat conservation projects in partnership with NGOs. These initiatives underscore their commitment to sustainable travel and responsible tourism, setting a benchmark in the river cruising industry.
