About Mayooram Cruises — Kerala's Trusted Houseboat Operator Since 2003

For over two decades, Mayooram Cruises has been the name travellers from across India and around the world turn to when they want to experience the backwaters of Alappuzha — not as a tourist, but as a guest. Founded in 2003 by Mr. Anilkumar from the heart of Mullakkal, Alappuzha, what began as a single traditional Kettuvallam has grown into a premium fleet of luxury houseboats, each designed to honour Kerala’s heritage while delivering the comforts of a fine hotel. Today, under the leadership of Adarsh Anilkumar, Mayooram Cruises continues that founding vision: to give every guest an alleppey house boat experience that feels personal, unhurried, and genuinely Keralan.

We are not a booking aggregator. We are not a middleman. When you sail with Mayooram Cruises, you are sailing with the people who built this company with their own hands — and who wake up every morning to make sure your journey is nothing short of exceptional.

Our Story — From One Boat to a Legacy on the Water

In 2003, Alappuzha was already famous for its backwaters, but truly personalised houseboat hospitality was rare. Mr. Anilkumar, a local entrepreneur with deep roots in the backwater community, saw an opportunity — not just a business opportunity, but a chance to share the Kerala he loved with the world.

He launched Mayooram Cruises with a single traditional Kettuvallam — a hand-crafted bamboo-and-coir houseboat that had carried rice through these canals for generations. He converted it into a comfortable overnight cruise vessel, welcomed the first guests aboard, and never looked back.

Over the following years, the fleet grew. So did the reputation. Guests began returning year after year — some celebrating anniversaries on the same boat where they had honeymooned, families booking multi-bedroom vessels, corporate groups retreating from the city to find perspective on the water. Word spread because the experience was honest: no hidden charges, no shortcuts on food, no compromise on crew quality.

Today, Mayooram Cruises operates one of Alappuzha’s most respected private houseboat fleets, ranging from intimate one-bedroom deluxe vessels to multi-bedroom luxury houseboats with sun decks, Jacuzzis, and gourmet dining. Every boat in the fleet is regularly inspected, sanitised, and maintained to the highest standard — because reputation, once earned, must be protected every single day.

Meet the Team Behind Every Voyage

A houseboat is only as good as the people who run it. At Mayooram Cruises, our team is our greatest asset.

Adarsh Anilkumar — Managing Director

The son of our founder, Adarsh joined the business with a fresh perspective and a passion for eco-tourism. He has worked to modernise the Mayooram Cruises experience — introducing solar-powered lighting across the fleet, strengthening waste management protocols, and building partnerships with local fishing communities and village artisans. Under his leadership, Mayooram Cruises has earned a reputation for sustainable tourism that does not compromise on luxury.

Adarsh personally oversees every booking itinerary. If you have a special request — a birthday setup, a dietary requirement, a specific route through the lesser-known canals of Kuttanad — it is Adarsh’s team that makes it happen.

Our Captains and Crew

Every captain at Mayooram Cruises has spent years navigating the intricate canal network of the Alappuzha backwaters. They know which bends open into the widest stretches of Vembanad Lake, which villages along the shore make the best stop for fresh coconut water, and which time of evening the birds gather at Pathiramanal Island. They are navigators, but also storytellers — and that combination is what makes a Mayooram Cruises journey feel different from a standard houseboat rental.

Our onboard chefs are trained in traditional Kerala cuisine. Every meal is prepared fresh — karimeen pollichathu (pearl spot fish wrapped in banana leaf), prawn curry, appam with coconut milk stew, steamed rice with avial, and the kind of chai that smells like the backwaters themselves.

Post tags :