An Exclusive Interview with Akansha Agarwal, Co-Founder & CMO at Int2Cruises, cruise-first OTA
In an exclusive interview with Akansha Agarwal, Co-Founder & CMO of Int2Cruises, cruise-first OTA, we delve into her entrepreneurial journey.
She shares her vision for revolutionizing the cruise industry by making it more accessible and exciting for travelers. We explore the marketing strategies that have positioned Int2Cruises as a leader in this niche market.
Can you share the inspiration behind founding Int2Cruises and what motivated you to focus on cruise travel?
Akansha Agarwal: Over several years of experience in the cruise industry, we recognized the clear challenges that Indian cruisers faced when booking their vacations.
While the cruising experience is uncomplicated, the act of planning the trip to arrive at that point was neither easy nor uncomplicated for Indian travelers, as they need to arrange for multiple services, which creates challenges simply set up by the lack of a single, unique platform to support them.
That’s how Int2Cruises was formed. We wanted to simplify cruise planning for Indian travelers and make it easy and simple to build a trip on one intelligent platform where they can access everything in one place.
With Int2Cruises travellers can explore and compare live sailings with over 25 different cruise brands globally, while comparing cabin pricing at the same time.
We developed a solution-driven end to end service model through Int2Cruises, from booking flights, hotels, visas, excursions to travel insurance, so you can manage your entire holiday, at one platform.
The inspiration for Int2Cruises was to remove barriers from the cruise experience by building an accessible and user-friendly ecosystem specifically for Indian travellers.
By leveraging real-time inventory and tailors cruise recommendations based on each individual’s preferences, making cruise travel smarter, more seamless, and enjoyable.
As the CMO, what unique marketing strategies have you implemented to promote cruise travel in Asia?
Akansha Agarwal: Our primary focus has been to make cruise holidays feel easy, exciting, and accessible for travelers across Asia.
We have created bundled, ready-to-book packages such as Fly + Cruise and Land + Cruise, so our customers can book their flights, hotels, visas and excursions at the same time in a bundle and do not need to look to different platforms or agents for coordination.
We are using AI to help make decision-making easier. Our intelligent chat assistant assists users with finding the right cruise based on travel dates, destination choice, type of travel, ie: solo, partner, family, and of course budget. It combines the fast and convenient process of automation but guides users with the expertise of a cruise expert.
As more travelers engage with Int2Cruises, the platform continues to learn and improve, offering increasingly personalized recommendations. Our goal is to make discovering and booking a cruise as seamless and enjoyable as browsing your next dream vacation.
Can you discuss any partnerships or collaborations that have been pivotal for Int2Cruises’ growth?
Akansha Agarwal: Our foundation as a cruise-first OTA is built on strong partnerships with over 25 international cruise lines, which provide our users with real-time access to pricing and inventory across more than 400 ships, 30,000 itineraries, and over 50,000 global sailings.
This deep integration is a key differentiator as it ensures travelers always see live availability and transparent fares.
We have equally focused on expanding beyond cruise bookings. We have partnered with airlines, hotels, visas, and ground transfer providers to create full end-to-end cruise vacations as one booking experience. Most recently we have started curating exclusive experiences on-board and at key destinations.
This elevates a cruise holiday from being just a holiday to an immersive journey. Together these partnerships are changing the way Indians look at cruise travel, and subsequently making it seamless, exciting and more accessible than before.
What trends are you currently observing in consumer preferences for cruise travel, especially post-pandemic?
Akansha Agarwal: We have seen a prominent change in traveler behavior after the pandemic. Previously, most travelers would plan a land trip first and contest the added-on short cruise experience. Currently, they are reversing.
Many travelers are opting for a cruise as the centerpiece of their holiday and are planning the balance of the trip around the cruise.
There is strong demand for newer and larger ships, along with short-haul options like Singapore and Dubai. Europe remains a favored option, with the Mediterranean and Northern Europe preferred. There is also interest in expedition cruises to places like Antarctica and the Arctic.
In terms of duration, seven-night cruises have emerged as the sweet spot. They provide ample time to explore while remaining manageable for families and working professionals.
Multi-generational travel is also gaining momentum, with families choosing cruises that offer a variety of experiences catering to all age groups, from children to grandparents.
How do you see the cruise industry evolving in Asia, and what role does Int2Cruises play in that transformation?
At present, cruising makes up only about 1 percent of India’s outbound travel, which indicates enormous growth potential. In FY 2023–24, India had 4.71 lakh cruise passengers booked domestically and internationally.
With initiatives like Cruise Bharat Mission, the government aims to build India as a cruise tourism endpoint with a target of 2.5 million passengers annually by 2029.
It’s no longer about demand, it’s about delivering ease, visibility, and access, and that’s exactly where we come in.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to enter the travel and tourism industry?
India is one of the fastest-growing outbound travel markets in the world. The outbound segment is projected to grow at over 11 percent CAGR and is expected to reach 55 billion dollars by 2034. Simultaneously, the online travel market in India is expected to grow to 28.4 billion dollars by 2029.
With rising incomes, an aspirational traveller with an openness to experiential travel, and much stronger connectivity, India is expected to be the world’s fourth largest source of travel spend by 2030.
Given this trajectory, we see a real opportunity to make cruise booking easier for Indian consumers and to raise awareness of an under penetrated category.
Akansha Agarwal’s story is an inspiring example of how passion and a clear vision can transform an industry.
Her leadership at Int2Cruises has not only created a successful business but has also significantly contributed to the growth of cruise tourism in Asia. Her insights offer valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs.
| Are you an
Entrepreneur or Startup? Do you have a Success Story to Share? SugerMint would like to share your success story. We cover entrepreneur Stories, Startup News, Women entrepreneur stories, and Startup stories
|
Read more Success stories of Indian entrepreneurs, Women Entrepreneurs & startups stories at SugerMint. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn