Cordelia Cruises only began sailing in 2021, but India’s home-grown cruise line is already preparing to get a whole lot bigger.
It started with Empress, a former Royal Caribbean cruise ship offering short sailings from India. Now two more ships are joining the fleet, opening up even more possibilities for a cruise line that’s very different from the big American and European brands many of us are used to.
From the food onboard to the destinations you can visit, there are some interesting differences. And with the fleet expanding, this is a cruise line we’re likely to hear a lot more about.
Cordelia Cruises Is Growing From 1 Ship To 3
Cordelia Cruises launched with just one ship, Empress, in September 2021. But the fleet is now entering a major period of expansion, with Cordelia Sky joining in 2026 and Cordelia Sun due to follow in 2027.
The Cordelia Cruise ship is known as ‘Empress’ but it had another life before becoming the first ship in the Cordelia fleet.
The ship was first launched in 1990 by Royal Caribbean International and was named Nordic Empress before being rebranded as Empress of the Seas.
Credit: Jsausley, CC BY-SA 4.0
Nordic Empress was the first mainstream cruise ship designed specifically for the 3- and 4-day cruise market and this ties in nicely with the short holidays that are being offered by Cordelia Cruises.
Empress of the Seas was purchased by Cordelia Cruises in December 2020. As well as changing the name to simply Empress, the ship underwent an extensive refurbishment and now has a huge Cordelia Cruises logo on her hull.
Two More Ships Are Joining Cordelia Cruises
Cordelia Cruises is expanding its fleet with two additional ships.
Cordelia Sky is due to join the fleet in 2026, followed by Cordelia Sun in 2027. Both ships previously sailed for Norwegian Cruise Line as Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Sun.
The expansion will take Cordelia from a single-ship cruise line to a three-ship fleet.
And it’s not just the fleet that’s growing. Cordelia is also expanding its choice of destinations, with cruises around India alongside international sailings to Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Southeast Asia.
The Food Is Designed With Indian Cruisers In Mind
When you sail on Empress, you’ll find a mixture of Indian and international food, with the menus designed particularly with Indian travellers in mind.
The food onboard is tailored to the primarily Indian clientele and is designed with the tastes and preferences of Indian travellers in mind.
All food served on board is Halal and no beef or pork is cooked on the ship. There are also vegetarian options and Jain food at all of the restaurants.
Starlight and the Food Court are included in your cruise fare, while you’ll pay extra if you want to eat at the speciality restaurants, including Chopstix and International Grill.
To see what lunch is like on Coredial Cruises, take a look at this video…
Cordelia Cruises Includes An All-Inclusive Drinks Package
One big change since Cordelia Cruises first launched is that an all-inclusive beverage package is now included in the cruise fare.
For adults aged 21 and over, the package covers a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Cordelia lists 10 beverage categories, including beer, wine, spirits such as vodka, rum, gin and whiskey, plus cocktails and mocktails. Non-alcoholic drinks are also available for children.
There are Premium and Luxury beverage packages available if you want to upgrade, so not every drink onboard is necessarily covered by the standard package.
You’ll also receive complimentary bottled water in your cabin each day. Standard passengers get two 500ml bottles per person per day, Upper passengers get three and Premier passengers get four.
Alcoholic drinks are only served from the ship’s bars when the ship is at sea, and Cordelia states that alcohol service begins once the ship is 12 nautical miles from the coast.
Cordelia Cruises Sails From Several Ports Around India
Cordelia Cruises offers departures from several ports around India, with Mumbai and Chennai among its main starting points.
Depending on the itinerary and time of year, cruises may also depart from ports including Kochi, Goa, Visakhapatnam and Puducherry. This means you don’t necessarily have to travel to Mumbai to join a Cordelia cruise.
Where the ships sail from varies throughout the year, so it’s worth checking the latest schedule when you’re ready to book. From these Indian ports, Cordelia offers a mixture of domestic cruises and international itineraries to destinations elsewhere in Asia.
Cordelia Cruises Now Sails Around India And Further Into Asia
Cordelia Cruises offers a mixture of short getaways and longer itineraries, with cruises around India as well as international sailings to other parts of Asia. The exact routes vary depending on the ship and time of year, but there are now considerably more possibilities than when the cruise line first launched.
Lakshadweep remains one of Cordelia’s standout destinations. This Indian archipelago is known for its white-sand beaches, clear water and coral reefs, with opportunities for activities including snorkelling, scuba diving and kayaking.
Kochi in Kerala is another destination featured on Cordelia itineraries. Its long history has left the city with an interesting mixture of Indian, Portuguese, Dutch and British influences, alongside bustling markets and waterfront attractions.
Goa is a popular stop for its beaches, historic churches and temples, markets and lively atmosphere. It’s also an easy destination to explore on a shorter cruise from Mumbai.
Sri Lanka features on Cordelia’s international itineraries, with ports used by the cruise line including Colombo, Hambantota, Trincomalee and Jaffna. Depending on the itinerary, this opens up everything from historic cities and temples to beaches and wildlife experiences.
The Maldives has also joined Cordelia’s wider range of destinations, with Malé included among the cruise line’s international ports.
And the network now stretches even further into Southeast Asia. Cordelia lists ports including Phuket in Thailand, Port Klang and Langkawi in Malaysia and Singapore, giving the growing cruise line considerably more scope for international itineraries.
With Cordelia Sky joining the fleet in 2026 and Cordelia Sun following in 2027, the choice of routes is likely to keep evolving. It’s worth checking Cordelia’s current schedule before booking rather than assuming a particular destination will be available year-round.
Cordelia Cruises Is Operated By Waterways Leisure Tourism
Cordelia Cruises is operated by Waterways Leisure Tourism Limited, an Indian company that was previously known as Waterways Leisure Tourism Private Limited.
The cruise line was created specifically for the Indian market, with an onboard experience designed around the way Indian passengers like to holiday. That includes Indian and international cuisine, entertainment and special celebrations of festivals such as Diwali and Navratri.
Cordelia describes itself as India’s premium cruise line, with the aim of growing cruise holidays within India while also offering international itineraries to other parts of Asia.
Accommodation Onboard Empress
Empress has five main accommodation categories, ranging from budget-friendly Interior Staterooms to the much larger Chairman’s Suite. Here’s what you can choose from…
Interior Stateroom
The Interior Staterooms are the most budget-friendly option but include everything you need with a bathroom, television, safe and twin beds that can be converted to a queen size bed.
Oceanview Stateroom
These private and cosy cabins are similar to the Interior Stateroom but have an all-important sea view! If you worry about feeling claustrophobic in a windowless room, then paying extra for a window can be worth it.
Mini Suite
This room is a bit more luxurious, with a private balcony where you can sit back and enjoy the ocean views. Empress doesn’t have a standard balcony cabin category, so a Mini Suite is the entry-level option if you want your own outside space.
Suite
Things take a step up in luxuriousness with the Suites and Chairman’s suite. Both of these come with a range of extra perks:
- Priority embarkation and disembarkation
- Porter services
- Sparkling wine and fruit basket
- Complimentary WiFi
- Complimentary laundry
- Reserved section at the theatre
- Complimentary Bridge Tour
- Butler service
- Breakfast & lunch at the specialty restaurant
- Evening cocktais with the Captain
The Chairman’s Suite is the best room on the ship with a living room, a private dining area, a private sun-deck balcony and even a Jacuzzi!
Cordelia Cruises Offers Short 2-Night Sailings
You don’t need to commit to a week-long holiday to try Cordelia Cruises. Some of its shortest itineraries are just 2 nights, which could be a good way to get a taste of cruising without spending too much time away.
Cordelia also offers No Cost EMI on eligible bookings, which lets you spread the cost over monthly payments. Just remember that the advertised monthly figure isn’t the total cruise fare, so check the full price before deciding whether you’ve found a good deal.
And don’t get too hung up on the first price you see. Cordelia regularly runs special offers, so have a look at the Cordelia Cruises promotion page to see what’s available before you book.
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Booking Direct Comes With Some Extra Benefits
The easiest way to book a Cordelia cruise is through the cruise line’s own website, where you can search for sailings by destination, departure port, travel month, cruise length and budget.
There are some useful perks to booking direct too. Cordelia currently offers a Best Price Guarantee, No-Cost EMI on eligible cards and flexible cancellation on eligible bookings up to eight days before sailing.
You can also book through authorised travel agents, so it’s still worth comparing your options before paying. Just make sure you’re booking through Cordelia itself or a legitimate travel agent, as the cruise line warns customers about fake cruise deals and unofficial payment links.
Cordelia Cruises Gets Mostly Positive Reviews
Most passengers seem to enjoy their time with Cordelia Cruises. At the time of updating this article, the cruise line has a Google rating of around 4.1 out of 5 from more than 1,500 reviews.
Food gets plenty of praise, along with the entertainment, friendly crew and lively atmosphere onboard. Some passengers particularly enjoy the experience for family holidays and first cruises.
Of course, not everyone loves everything. Some reviewers find the cabins small, while others mention problems with certain parts of their trip or booking experience.
I’d always recommend reading a mixture of recent good and bad reviews before booking. The overall score is useful, but the individual reviews will give you a much better idea of whether Cordelia Cruises is right for you.
Cordelia Cruises Is One To Watch
For cruisers in India, Cordelia offers an interesting alternative to flying overseas to join one of the big international cruise lines. The food, entertainment and overall experience are designed with Indian travellers in mind, while the growing choice of itineraries opens up more opportunities to explore India and destinations further afield.
And I think the next few years could be particularly interesting. With two more ships joining the fleet and more destinations on offer, Cordelia Cruises is becoming a much bigger player in this part of the cruise world.
If you’ve been tempted to try a cruise from India, Cordelia is certainly worth having on your radar.
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