India's Cordelia Cruises is now a two-ship line. Its newly added Cordelia Sky has started sailing from Mumbai, while Cordelia Empress has moved to a new homeport in Kochi.
Cruise Industry News reported the milestone on October 28, 2026.
Two ships in Mumbai on the same day
Cordelia Sky welcomed its first guests on October 23, 2026. That same day, both ships called at Mumbai. The line says nearly 6,000 guests embarked and disembarked during the day.
After the joint call, Cordelia Empress sailed south to start its new season from Kochi. Cordelia Sky now handles departures from Mumbai.
"Seeing the Cordelia Sky and the Cordelia Empress sailing together was a very special moment for all of us," said Jurgen Bailom, chief executive officer of Cordelia Cruises.
What Cordelia Sky offers from Mumbai
Cordelia Sky runs a mix of short and mid-length trips from Mumbai. Its lineup includes:
- Two- and three-night weekend getaways
- Four-night cruises to Lakshadweep
- Five-night voyages that visit both Goa and Lakshadweep
Lakshadweep is a group of islands off India's southwest coast. Cordelia's calls there include Kavaratti and Minicoy.
What Cordelia Empress offers from Kochi
Cordelia Empress now sails from Kochi in Kerala. Its schedule includes:
- Two-night weekend cruises
- Three- and four-night trips to Lakshadweep
- A five-night voyage linking Kochi with Malé in the Maldives and Colombo in Sri Lanka
The Kochi base puts the ship closer to travelers in southern India. It also opens up international trips to two popular island and city destinations.
"Mumbai has been central to our journey from the beginning, and adding Kochi as a homeport allows us to take cruising closer to many more travelers across India," Bailom said.
Five years of growth
Cordelia launched about five years ago. Bailom said the goal from the start was to make cruising a common holiday choice in India.
"Five years ago, we began with a vision to make cruising a holiday choice for more Indians. Today, we have two ships sailing from two homeports," he said.
The line is not stopping at two. A third ship, Cordelia Sun, is set to join the fleet in 2027.
Why it matters
India's cruise market is still young compared with markets in North America and Europe. A local line adding ships and homeports gives Indian travelers more dates, more ports and more trip lengths to choose from.
Short weekend cruises are a key part of Cordelia's plan. They let first-time cruisers try a ship without a long trip or a big budget. Longer voyages to Lakshadweep, the Maldives and Sri Lanka then give repeat guests a reason to come back.
For travelers from outside India, the new Kochi-Malé-Colombo route may also be worth a look. It links three distinct places in one short trip and starts from a city with its own long trading history.
What comes next
Cordelia Sky and Cordelia Empress will sail their new routes through the season. Watch for more details on Cordelia Sun and its homeport as the 2027 debut gets closer. Travelers can find current sailings and fares on the Cordelia Cruises website.