Is cruise to Andaman from Chennai a viable option?

Holiday is the time when one wants to relax and make the most of the time with family and friend. Opting for a vacation in Andaman is a perfect way to explore something new, rejuvenate and detoxify the mind and body. Most of the people opt for a sea route to Andaman due to various reasons mainly:Holiday is the time when one wants to relax and make the most of the time with family and friend. Opting for a vacation in Andaman is a perfect way to explore something new, rejuvenate and detoxify the mind and body. Most of the people opt for a sea route to Andaman due to various reasons mainly:

• It is less costly than two-way flight.
• Adventurous for those who love voyage or have never tried ever.
• Connecting to nature.
• If you have aerophobia.

But is a cruise to Andaman from Chennai really viable and luxurious like a cruise? 

What most of the people don’t know that ship to Andaman is commercial cargo that carries food and other items from India to the islands. It is not a ship for entertainment or luxury travel but a government operated ship purely for commercial travel and also carries travelers if there is any seat available. Unlike flight one cannot do advance booking as the ticket counter open hardly fifteen days before the departure and there are limited seats. Ticket fee does not include food charges and passengers have to buy food on a ship or carry with them.

Time is also a problem when it comes to sea route. It takes around 60 hours to reach Port Blair via Chennai and passenger can add time taken to reach Chennai from their native city if not Chennai. So, if you are not going for a long vacation then travel via ship is not a viable option. Also, the ship sails only once a month, so one has to plan according to the date of sail. 

To conclude, travelling via ship to Andaman is possible only if you have time and there are no health concerns like nausea or digestive issues only then one should opt for sea route.  

When to opt for Ship to Andaman from Chennai? 

Often people ask whether taking a ship to Andaman from Chennai or other ports is a viable option. Well, the voyage is always an adventurous and relaxing way to travel as the ship takes god 3-4 days to reach the Andaman Islands but it is an ideal way of travelling if time is not the constraint. In this Andaman travel blog, we will discuss the preferred time of travelling and pros and cons of taking a ship.

There are total five ships that travel from India to Andaman that are M.V. Nicobar, M.V. Nanocowry, M.V. Akbar, V. Harshvardhana and M.V. Swarajdweep. The distance from Chennai to Andaman is 1190 km and it takes around 600 hours to reach Port Blair under normal weather conditions. One of the myths doing the rounds is ship to Andaman from Chennai is a cruise but that is not true. These are commercial cargo ships that operate from major seaports of India and carry items of daily consumption to the islands. Along with products they also carry natives of Andaman to the mainland for shopping and passengers from India can also board the ship to Andaman if the seats are available.

The ideal time to visit Andaman and travel via ship is after the monsoons have retreated i.e. between October to May. As the rainfall is over and the sea is calm, it will be easy to travel via ship as there will not be any unforeseen delays. Also, if the passengers have done advanced bookings of the hotels then it won’t be cancelled.  But unlike flights, one cannot do advance bookings of the ship so keep in touch with the port authorities to know when the bookings are open. To conclude, travelling via ship is economical undoubtedly but this Andaman Travel blog suggests opting for one way travel by ship when returning from Andaman to avoid any delays and reach the islands in best of the health.

Why to stay in Dolphin Yatri Nivas Resort while in Havelock Island?

Havelock Island has many hotels and resorts to stay and enjoy the luxurious lifestyle but one has to keep a higher budget to stay in these resorts. Dolphin Resort, Andaman is one such resort that combines comfort and budget. It is a government operated resort which has been made for the comfort of the tourists visiting the islands from around the world. What makes this resort the best option? Havelock Island has many hotels and resorts to stay and enjoy the luxurious lifestyle but one has to keep a higher budget to stay in these resorts. Dolphin Resort, Andaman is one such resort that combines comfort and budget. It is a government operated resort which has been made for the comfort of the tourists visiting the islands from around the world. What makes this resort the best option?

Budget: if you are on a budget and don’t want to spend a hefty amount on accommodation then this is a perfect place to live without investing a fortune.

Fully furnished and well constructed: Even though, it is government operated resort it is fully furnished and equipped with latest amenities and facilities to ensure maximum comfort.

Hospitable environment and staff: The resort is known for its hospitable environment and welcoming staff. One can enjoy swimming in the pool, laze around on the surrounding beach and enjoy the sumptuous meals.

First come first serve basis: There is the heavy demand of this resort and most of the bookings are done in advance. So, they ask tourists to send in writing one month in advance about the booking and if any room is left then they give on first come first serve basis.

Spacious and beautiful cottages of the resort give much-needed privacy to the tourists especially the couples who are visiting Andaman on honeymoon. Undoubtedly, the booking of the room is bit difficult and the process is technical but in the end, it is worth it. One gets to stay in a budgeted resort and yet enjoy the luxuries of the premium resort. So if you are planning a vacation in Andaman and want to spend a day or two in Havelock then choose Dolphin Yatri Nivas Resort.

Insights into the islands of Andaman: 

Lazing around on the pristine beaches of the Andaman, exploring the heritage of the islands and viewing the picturesque natural beauty of the place is an ideal way to spend a vacation. As the year is coming to end, it’s time to leave behind stress and welcome the New Year with full gusto and enthusiasm. In this Andaman travel blog, we will discuss important places to visit in Andaman and make the most of our vacation in the islands.

Port Blair: The capital city of Andaman is known for its multicultural theme and has many historical places to visit including cellular jail and museums. It also has many hotels to stay comfortably.

Port Blair: The capital city of Andaman is known for its multicultural theme and has many historical places to visit including cellular jail and museums. It also has many hotels to stay comfortably.

Limestone Caves: The journey to caves is an adventure in itself. These limestone caves are nature’s masterpiece located in Baratang Island and along with it, one can view mud volcanoes that are naturally erupting uninterruptedly.

Barren Island: It is home to the only active volcano in India and apart from visiting the island to see volcano tourists can also enjoy scuba diving here. Tourist will need a permit to enter the island and they cannot stay overnight as it is unhabitated except for some animals.

Havelock Islands: Known for white sandy beaches and clear blue waters, Havelock Island is an ideal place to get some click. You can hire a candid photographer in Andaman and ask him to click photographs of the journey. Radhanagar beach in Havelock is the cleanest beach in Asia and many people visit this beach to relax and rejuvenate.

Neil Island: It is rich with coral reefs, wildlife and beatific beaches. It is also known for shopping at reasonable prices and snorkelling.

To conclude, if you are visiting the island for the first time then these are the islands one must cover on the first visit.