Cordelia Cruises has announced its return to Chennai for its fifth cruising season in 2026, further strengthening the city’s growing position as one of India’s leading cruise gateways.
The company confirmed that Cordelia Empress will make its first Chennai call on June 20, 2026, with sailings continuing through the end of August. The deployment will feature a mix of domestic and international itineraries ranging from two to ten nights, including cruises to Visakhapatnam, Puducherry, Sri Lanka and destinations across Southeast Asia.
Over the past few years, Chennai has steadily emerged as an important homeport for Indian cruise tourism, offering travellers easier access to both regional coastal sailings and international cruise holidays.
Among the key highlights of the 2026 season is a 10-night Southeast Asia cruise sailing from Chennai to Phuket, Langkawi, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, departing on July 18.
The deployment will also feature multiple Sri Lanka itineraries, including five-night cruises covering Hambantota, Trincomalee and Jaffna departing on August 10 and 17, alongside a shorter three-night Chennai–Trincomalee sailing departing on August 7.
For domestic travellers, Cordelia Cruises will operate several five-night Chennai–Visakhapatnam–Puducherry sailings departing across June and July, in addition to regular two-night weekend cruises from Chennai.
The season will also include a five-night westbound sailing from Chennai to Kochi and Mumbai departing on August 24.
Cordelia Cruises additionally introduced an extended 13-night cruise option combining a three-night Visakhapatnam–Puducherry–Chennai itinerary with the 10-night Southeast Asia sailing onward to Singapore, allowing guests to travel seamlessly from India to Southeast Asia through a single cruise journey.
The deployment is designed to cater to a wide range of travellers through short coastal getaways, family holidays and longer international cruise vacations.
Jurgen Bailom, President and CEO of Cordelia Cruises, said, “Chennai has become an important part of India’s cruise story and we are excited to return for our 5th season with a wider mix of itineraries and experiences for Indian travellers. What makes this deployment particularly exciting is the variety it offers, from short coastal getaways to longer international sailings across Southeast Asia. We are also seeing growing interest from families and groups looking for holidays that are easy to plan and bring multiple experiences together within a single journey.
“As cruise travel continues to grow in India, Chennai is steadily strengthening its position as a gateway for both domestic and international cruising,” he added.
Onboard, the Cordelia Empress offers 796 cabins across five categories and can accommodate up to 1,950 guests. The ship features four dining venues, nine bars and lounges, live entertainment, gaming areas, a casino, retail outlets and ocean-view wellness facilities including a spa and fitness centre.
