Round-voyage cruises to Barren Island, the only active volcano in the Indian subcontinent, have emerged as a major attraction for travellers in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with more than 1,500 passengers availing the service since its launch in October 2025. Operated by the Directorate of Shipping Services under the directions of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, the initiative aims to promote tourism while offering a rare opportunity to witness the region’s unique marine and geological heritage.
Passenger vessels MV Sindhu and MV Nalanda have jointly completed four round voyages to Barren Island on October 24, November 14, November 28 and December 12, 2025. These sailings have carried a total of 1,557 passengers, including around 475 government school students from Sri Vijaya Puram as well as students from North and Middle Andaman. The inclusion of students has been highlighted as a key educational component of the initiative, providing first-hand exposure to volcanic formations, marine ecosystems and the broader geography of the islands.
The cruises have been positioned as a controlled tourism experience, allowing passengers to view the volcano from the sea without landing on the island, which remains protected due to its ecological sensitivity. Officials have indicated that the voyages are designed to balance tourism promotion with conservation imperatives, ensuring that visitor interest does not compromise environmental safeguards around the uninhabited volcanic island.
With growing response to the initial sailings, the Directorate of Shipping Services has announced additional voyages to meet demand. Apart from the scheduled sailing of MV Nalanda on December 26, 2025, further sailings have already been promulgated for January 9 and January 23, 2026. In addition, MV Swaraj Dweep has been scheduled for a special round-voyage to Barren Island on December 31, 2025, coinciding with New Year’s Eve.
The New Year’s Eve sailing has been positioned as a special voyage, aimed at offering passengers a unique way to mark the year-end while viewing the active volcano. To further expand access, the administration has also arranged a special sailing programme of MV Nalanda to facilitate government school students and residents from the southern group of islands, ranging from Car Nicobar to Campbell Bay, enabling them to witness the volcano and participate in the New Year’s Eve voyage aboard MV Swaraj Dweep.
As part of this arrangement, MV Nalanda is scheduled to sail from Sri Vijaya Puram to Campbell Bay on December 28, 2025, at 11 am, with a return voyage on December 29, 2026, at 9 pm via Nancowry and Car Nicobar. A second sailing of MV Nalanda is scheduled from Sri Vijaya Puram to Campbell Bay on January 3, 2026, at 4 pm via Car Nicobar and Nancowry, with the return journey commencing on January 5, 2026, at 9 am via Nancowry.
Passenger tickets for the announced sailings are set to be issued from December 27, 2025, onwards. Bookings can be made through the Directorate of Shipping Services e-ticketing portal, which remains accessible round the clock. For the convenience of users, a QR code linking directly to the portal has also been provided. Tickets are also available at the STARS ticketing counter on all working days between 9 am and 4 pm.
The cruise initiative is being viewed as part of a broader strategy to diversify tourism offerings in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands beyond conventional destinations. By combining education, tourism and controlled access to natural landmarks, the administration aims to position the islands as a destination for experiential and knowledge-based travel.
Officials have noted that the response to the Barren Island cruises reflects growing interest among residents and visitors in exploring lesser-known aspects of the islands’ natural heritage. With additional sailings planned and participation from students across districts, the programme is expected to continue drawing attention while reinforcing the importance of responsible tourism practices in ecologically sensitive regions.
