Antara River Cruises launches Nauka Vilas, an exquisite one-suite wooden yacht that redefines river travel as a wholly private experience. Sailing to and from Kolkata, Nauka Vilas is the first of its kind—a bespoke, single-suite vessel designed for couples and travellers seeking uncompromising privacy, personalised service and exceptional craftsmanship while discovering the heritage and history along the sacred waters of the Hooghly.
Crafted by expert designers, Nauka Vilas features a single Luxury Suite with a king-size bed, en-suite three-fixture bathroom, walk-in closet and a private sun deck that transforms into an open-air lounge above the river. Every detail—from floor-to-ceiling windows offering mesmerising river views and hand-finished teak interiors to a dedicated in-house culinary team creating bespoke menus onboard—has been thoughtfully designed to make the vessel feel like a luxurious 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. The journey travels from the confluence town of Tribeni, home to a 14th-century Islamic shrine, through the Portuguese heritage of Bandel, the French colonial charm of Chandannagar, the Danish quarters of Serampore, and onward to Kolkata. Guests will journey through centuries of history, discovering 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.
“Nauka Vilas was conceived for travellers who no longer wish to share their journey—not the deck, not the itinerary, not the moment,” said Raj Singh, Founder and Chairman of Antara Cruises. “It is an intimate journey of immersive discovery, reimagined.”
Nauka Vilas is conceived as much for romance as for remembrance—an exceptional way to celebrate an anniversary, birthday, honeymoon or a special occasion with loved ones. It offers a once-in-a-lifetime journey designed to create memories that last for years.
Nauka Vilas is now open for bookings, with fares starting from ?1,00,000 per night, including pick-up and drop-off from Kolkata. Itineraries are entirely bespoke and can be customised according to guest requirements.