April 13, 2026 | By Anita Shah

The question is uncomfortable.
But it’s everywhere.

Are Indian travellers actually disliked globally?
Or is this just a perception that has been amplified over time?

In the final episode of UnPopular Opinion, this debate takes centre stage as three industry voices—Naresh, Isha, and Dipti—come together to unpack one of the most talked-about yet least-addressed topics in travel today: the reputation of Indian tourists. Shot onboard a cruise, the setting itself adds a layer of context. Cruises are shared spaces. Cultures collide. Behaviours are visible. And expectations—often unspoken—are high. Which makes it the perfect environment to examine conversations around travel etiquette and more specifically, cruise etiquette.

But instead of jumping to conclusions, the episode does something far more important—it asks better questions.

Are Indian travellers truly lacking etiquette?
Or are they simply navigating a travel format that is still new to many?
Is the criticism rooted in reality, or is it shaped by stereotypes and selective experiences?

Through candid, unfiltered dialogue, the episode breaks down these layers. There is an acknowledgment that as one of the fastest-growing outbound markets, Indian tourists are under a global spotlight. With more Indians travelling than ever before, especially into international and premium segments like cruising, visibility has increased—and so has scrutiny. But visibility doesn’t always mean understanding.

The episode highlights a key gap: awareness. For many first-time cruisers from India, the rules of the sea are very different from land-based holidays. Dining timings, queue etiquette, noise levels in shared spaces, cultural sensitivity—these are not always intuitive. And yet, they are often expected. So where does the responsibility lie?

On the traveller to adapt?
Or on the industry to educate?

Naresh, Isha, and Dipti don’t offer easy answers—but they do offer perspective.

They point out that while there may be instances of behaviour that stand out, it is unfair to generalise an entire demographic. At the same time, they also stress the importance of evolving as global travellers—understanding that travel today is not just about access, but about awareness.

Because travel etiquette is not about judgment.
It’s about respect. And when it comes to cruise etiquette, that respect becomes even more critical—given the close-knit, shared environment of a ship. What makes this episode stand out is its balance.

It doesn’t defend blindly.
It doesn’t criticise harshly.
It reflects.

And in doing so, it shifts the narrative from blame to understanding. Perhaps the most powerful takeaway from the episode is this: the perception of Indian travellers is still being shaped. And that means there is room to redefine it.

Through better awareness.
Through more conversations.
And through a collective effort—from both travellers and the travel industry. Because in the end, the question isn’t just whether Indian tourists are misunderstood or misrepresented. It’s whether we are willing to have the conversation at all.

And this episode does exactly that.