Cordelia Cruises expands fleet and refines India network with Southeast Asia focus

Cordelia Cruises is set to expand from a single-ship operation to a three-vessel fleet by the end of 2027, as the Indian cruise line focuses on redistributing capacity and strengthening its core deployment across domestic and regional markets.

“Over the next two years our focus is on refining and redistributing capacity rather than reinventing the network. Lakshadweep remains a core part of our offering and continues to be one of our most popular destinations,” Jurgen Bailom, CEO, Cordelia Cruises, told Cruise Industry News.

The expansion begins in 2026 with new itineraries aboard Empress, including the introduction of international sailings from Kochi. These will feature a five-night cruise to Malé and Colombo, alongside shorter high-seas weekend departures.

“From Chennai, we will operate five-night Sri Lanka cruises, five-night Visakhapatnam and Puducherry itineraries, and open-jaw 10-night Southeast Asia sailings between Chennai and Singapore in July,” he said.

The line’s forward deployment strategy centres on Southeast Asia, with further expansion planned for 2027 following the introduction of Cordelia Sky, which will transfer from Norwegian Cruise Line later this year. The vessel will initially enter service from Mumbai in October, taking over established high-demand routes currently operated by Empress.

“These itineraries are designed not only for Indian travellers, but also for international guests,” said Bailom.

“The intent is continuity, not disruption,” he added. “The Sky allows us to operate these high-demand routes at a larger scale, with greater capacity and more balcony cabins.”

At approximately 25 percent larger than Empress, Cordelia Sky is expected to provide additional capacity while maintaining the line’s existing network structure. Over time, the ship will reposition to Kochi, continuing the itineraries established by Empress while offering increased operational flexibility.

“As our deployment evolves, the Sky will move to Kochi and continue operating the itineraries that the Empress has established there, while benefiting from the ship’s size, speed and operational flexibility,” Bailom said.

A third vessel, Cordelia Sun, is scheduled to join the fleet in 2027, sailing from Mumbai. This will trigger a broader realignment of the company’s homeport strategy, with Sky relocating to Kochi and Empress shifting to Chennai on a near year-round basis.

“This creates a balanced, multi-homeport network across India with both domestic and international itineraries.

“The speed capability of the newer ships provides greater flexibility to introduce additional ports from existing homeports,” Bailom said.

The expansion also reflects a growing focus on international source markets, with the company positioning its itineraries as an entry point into India and the wider region.

“We are seeing growing interest from international travellers who want to explore India and its surrounding regions without the complexity of multi-city travel,” Bailom explained.

“Weeklong itineraries such as Southeast Asia sailings, Sri Lanka routes and extended regional cruises allow us to position cruising as a gateway into India, rather than just a domestic holiday format.”

Looking further ahead, planning for 2028 is already underway, with itinerary development shaped by infrastructure constraints and operational consistency.

“Port infrastructure and operational reliability are the primary considerations,” he explained. “A successful itinerary delivers across multiple metrics and blends destination discovery with meaningful onboard experiences.

“We focus on creating well-paced journeys that offer a mix of marquee ports, leisure days at sea and immersive shore excursions, ensuring the overall experience feels enriching rather than rushed.

“From a long-term perspective, success also means repeatability. If an itinerary can be operated reliably across seasons and becomes easy for the trade to sell, it becomes part of the core network.”