Antara River Cruises launches Nauka Vilas– an exquisite one-suite wooden yacht that redefines river travel as a wholly private affair. Sailing from and to Kolkata, Nauka Vilas is the first of its kind: a bespoke, single-suite ship designed for couples and travellers seeking uncompromising privacy, service and craftsmanship whilst discovering the heritage and history along the sacred waters of the Hooghly.
Crafted by expert designers, Nauka Vilas carries just one Luxury Suite — a king bed, an ensuite three-fixture bathroom, a walk-in closet and a private sun deck that unfolds into an open-air lounge above the river. Every detail, from floor-to-ceiling windows with mesmerising river views and hand-finished teak interiors to a dedicated in-house culinary team crafting bespoke menus onboard, has been conceived to make the vessel feel like a personal plush private residence.
The inaugural itinerary, A Romantic Bespoke Journey on the Hooghly, is an all-inclusive three-night, four-day passage tracing the river’s storied past — from the confluence town of Tribeni, home to a 14th-century Islamic shrine, through the Portuguese heritage of Bandel, the French colonial charm of Chandernagore, the Danish quarters of Serampore, and into Kolkata. Guests will move through centuries of history — Mughal tombs, terracotta temples, colonial churches and candlelit shores — from the privacy of their own vessel, with excursions, meals, beverages and transfers fully curated and included.
Raj Singh, Founder and Chairman of Antara Cruises, comments, “Nauka Vilas was conceived for travellers who no longer wish to share their journey — not the deck, not the itinerary, not the moment. It is an intimate journey of immersive discovery, reimagined.”