As India’s cruise tourism gathers momentum, Cordelia Cruises has emerged as a key homegrown brand, offering contemporary, India-focused cruise holidays. In a recent interaction with TTJ, Jurgen Bailom, President and CEO, outlines the company’s journey, expansion plans, and his vision for shaping India’s evolving cruise tourism landscape.
In just five years, Cordelia Cruises has made a mark on India’s cruising landscape, hosting almost one crore guests, taking 500,000-plus to Lakshadweep, and staging 3,000-plus Bollywood-style ‘Balle Balle’ shows to standing ovations aboard the Cordelia Empress. These achievements echo the Prime Minister’s 2047 vision for the blue economy, bolstered by the Cruise Bharat Mission.
India Cruising Ahead
Explaining the momentum, Jurgen notes, “With the shipping minister continuing into a second term, there is a strong government push to develop ocean cruising. Under the Cruise Bharat Mission, India is rolling out infrastructure, from an ultra-modern passenger cruise terminal in Mumbai to facilities in Goa and Cochin, a new terminal in Visakhapatnam, and an existing one in Chennai, alongside plans for 27 more, including Diu, Puri, and Kolkata. This rapid growth is driving our fleet expansion, and more destinations will enable longer itineraries and wider reach.”
Looking ahead, Cordelia is eyeing visa-friendly regional routes across Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, alongside longer voyages to Australia, with 16 and 34-day sailings designed to feature an Indian onboard experience focusing on Indian, Jain, vegetarian, and non-vegetarian food.
Blueprint for the Future
Jurgen says, “It has been a great innings so far. As you know, Cordelia means ‘Daughter of the Sea’, a sentiment that reflects our identity. We have announced the arrival of a new ship, Cordelia Sky, this October, followed by Cordelia Sun next year. October was chosen deliberately as it is an auspicious month for Indians, when festivities begin, and an ideal period to put steel to water. As an Indian cruise line, Cordelia Cruises ensures its ethos is rooted in these customs and traditions.”
On the new ship, Cordelia Sky, Cordelia Cruises is set to amplify its Indian identity with gully cricket, all-new Bollywood-style productions by Wizcraft, and seven new Indian restaurants. Highlights include what is billed as the biggest vada-pao, the largest biryani at sea, vibrant street food concepts featuring puchkas, and a broader vision to showcase Indian-style cruising to global audiences.
Another distinctive onboard addition is JB (Just Beans), a uniquely Indian coffee concept by Cordelia Cruises. Sourcing select coffee beans from Kerala, the brand focuses on curated roasts to deliver an authentic, premium cafe experience at sea. The Just Beans outlet will debut across Cordelia ships, reinforcing the line’s commitment to showcasing Indian flavours and homegrown concepts on a global cruising stage.
Ships Repositioning
Outlining future deployment plans, Jurgen says that with the arrival of Cordelia Sky in October, it will take over itineraries from Mumbai, while Cordelia Empress shifts to sail from Cochin. With the induction of a third ship, Cordelia Sun, next year, Cordelia Sky will move to Cochin, Empress to Chennai, and Cordelia Sun will take over Mumbai itineraries. This will position three ships across three Indian ports, two on the West coast and one on the East coast.
Business Mix
Around 30 per cent of Cordelia Cruises’ business comes from MICE and weddings, driven by corporates across pharma, banking, automobile, and other sectors, as noted by Jurgen. The all-inclusive format, 24-hour service, and ease of travel, often without a passport or visa for domestic sailings, make it a compelling venue for events and celebrations at sea. The remaining 70 per cent is FIT, with a notably young clientele averaging 34 to 35 years, highlighting strong appeal among new-age Indian travellers.
