Cordelia Cruises
 | |
| Founded | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
Area served | Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia |
Key people | Jurgen Bailom (President and CEO) |
| Parent | Waterways Leisure Tourism Limited |
| Website | www |
Cordelia Cruises is an Indian cruise line headquartered in Mumbai. It is a subsidiary and travel brand of Waterways Leisure Tourism Limited, operating as "India's premium cruise line" with a focus on Indian hospitality, cuisine, and family-oriented experiences.
History
Waterways Leisure Tourism Limited was incorporated in November 2020.[1] In late December 2020, the company acquired the former Royal Caribbean ship Empress of the Seas, which became Cordelia Empress.[2] The Cordelia Cruises brand launched in 2021, with its maiden voyage departing from Mumbai in September 2021.[3]
The line has since expanded operations across India's east and west coasts and to regional international destinations.[4] By the mid-2020s, Cordelia Empress had carried over 600,000 guests.[5] In 2025, the company announced fleet expansion plans, supported by an IPO[6], and signed agreements for two additional vessels from Norwegian Cruise Line.[7]
Fleet
Current fleet
- Cordelia Empress (1990) – Former Empress of the Seas / Nordic Empress. 48,563 GT, capacity approximately 1,607–1,910 passengers.
Future fleet
- Cordelia Sky (1999, ex-Norwegian Sky) – Joining in 2026. Sun-class, \~77,104 GT, capacity \~2,000+ passengers.
- Cordelia Sun (2001, ex-Norwegian Sun) – Joining in 2027. Similar Sun-class specifications.
Destinations
Cordelia Cruises offers short coastal cruises and longer voyages from ports such as Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, Visakhapatnam, and others. Popular destinations include Lakshadweep, Goa, Puducherry, Sri Lanka, and expanding routes to Southeast Asia (Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia).
See also
References
- ↑ "WATERWAYS LEISURE TOURISM LIMITED - 2026 Company Profile & Financials - Tracxn". Retrieved 2026-07-02.
- ↑ "Royal Caribbean's Empress of the Seas ship sold to Cordelia Cruises India (Essel Group) | Cruise News". CruiseMapper. 2020-12-28. Retrieved 2026-07-02.
- ↑ "Cordelia Empress Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review". CruiseMapper. Retrieved 2026-07-02.
- ↑ Ahuja, Gurjit S. (2026-06-09). "Cordelia accelerates expansion and sailings to tap India's cruise boom". Travel Trade Journal. Retrieved 2026-07-02.
- ↑ Sharma, Pallavi (2024-10-04). "3 years, 600,000+Passengers, 450+ Sailings: Cordelia Cruises". Retrieved 2026-07-02.
- ↑ Bhutia, Peden Doma (2026-06-23). "Cordelia Cruises IPO Bets on India's Untapped Cruise Market". Skift. Retrieved 2026-07-02.
- ↑ "Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Announces Charter Agreements for Four Vessels". Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. 2025-04-07. Retrieved 2026-07-02.