Mumbai to Lakshadweep Cruise: Price, Ships & Booking (2026)

• Cabin type. An interior cabin with no window is the cheapest way on board. A sea-view or a balcony room can cost two or three times as much for the exact same sailing.
• How many people share it. Cruise fares are usually quoted per person on double occupancy. Solo travellers get hit hardest.
• When you book. Weekend departures, school holidays and the peak December-to-March window are dearer than a quiet weekday sailing in, say, early October.
• Where you book. The same cabin gets marked up differently by different agents, which is exactly why you see ₹36k on one site and ₹75k on another.

So instead of trusting a random figure, treat the low numbers as bare interior-cabin, off-peak, per-person rates, and the higher ones as balcony or peak-season. The only price that matters is the live one on the operator's own booking page for your dates. Check it there before you plan the rest of the trip. If you want a breakdown of the ferry-style ticketing to the islands as well, we cover that in our guide to Lakshadweep ship ticket online booking.

The permit, which nobody warns you about

This is the part that catches people out, so read it twice. Every single traveller heading to Lakshadweep needs an official entry permit from the Lakshadweep Administration. Yes, even Indian citizens. The shipping company and the airlines both check for an approved permit before they let you board, and no permit means no trip, full stop.

The good news is that the rules got noticeably easier in 2026. Under the revised tourist permit rules that came in from 29 April 2026, you no longer need a local sponsor or a Police Clearance Certificate the way you did before. The security check now happens on the back end, handled directly by Lakshadweep Police once you have applied. Applications go through the official portal at epermit.utl.gov.in.

One thing that has not changed is the waiting time. Normal processing runs about 3 to 7 working days, and in the busy December-to-March stretch it can stretch to 7 to 10. Apply at least a couple of weeks before you sail, not the night before. If you book a full cruise package, the operator usually sorts the permit paperwork for you, which is one less headache.

When to go

Timing matters more here than on most Indian trips, because you are crossing open sea. The calmer, drier months from roughly October to May are the sweet spot. The water is gentler, the crossing is more comfortable, and the lagoons are at their clear, glassy best. Avoid the monsoon months. A rough Arabian Sea is nobody's idea of a relaxing holiday, and sailings are limited then anyway.

If you can manage it, the shoulder weeks in October or late April tend to be cheaper and less crowded than the December peak, without much of a weather trade-off. Once you have your dates, it helps to know which islands your sailing actually stops at, since not all of them are open to visitors. Our rundown of the best places to visit in Lakshadweep is a good place to start.

How to book, step by step

Booking is not complicated once you know the order to do things in.

• Pick your sailing and cabin on the operator's official site and check the live per-person fare for your exact dates.
• Confirm what the fare includes. Most cruise fares cover your cabin, onboard meals and entertainment, but shore excursions, some activities and gratuities can be extra.
• Sort the entry permit, either through the operator's package or yourself on epermit.utl.gov.in, well ahead of the sailing date.
• Keep your ID and permit approval handy for boarding, since both get checked at the terminal.

A few honest things to keep in mind

Lakshadweep is a fragile coral ecosystem, and the local administration keeps a tight cap on tourist numbers, which is partly why the permit exists. Alcohol rules are stricter than on the mainland, and single-use plastic is discouraged, so pack accordingly. And manage your expectations on connectivity. Mobile signal out on the islands is patchy at best, which, honestly, is half the appeal.