Summary
Indian cruise line Cordelia Cruises has added Cordelia Sky, the former Norwegian Sky, to its fleet, allowing it to operate from two homeports at once. The ship begins sailing from Mumbai on October 23, while Empress shifts to Kochi. The two-ship fleet will carry about 3,596 guests at double occupancy, a 126% jump in capacity.
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Mumbai: Cordelia Cruises announced on Sunday, October 11, 2026, that Cordelia Sky has joined its fleet, enabling the domestic cruise line to serve two homeports simultaneously and expand its presence across western and southern India.
The company described the addition as the start of its next phase of growth, with a larger fleet, more guest capacity, a wider destination network and more onboard experiences.
How much capacity does Cordelia Sky add?
With Cordelia Sky joining Cordelia Empress, the fleet now offers 1,798 staterooms and about 3,596 guests at double occupancy. The company said this is an increase of roughly 126% in double-occupancy capacity compared with its single-ship operation.
Cordelia Sky has 1,002 staterooms, including 429 interior cabins, 313 ocean-view cabins, 245 mini suites, 11 penthouse suites and four chairman’s suites.
Where will Cordelia Sky sail?
Cordelia Sky’s inaugural commercial sailing departs Mumbai on October 23. Its programme from Mumbai includes two-night cruises at sea, three-night Goa sailings, four-night Lakshadweep cruises and five-night itineraries combining Goa and Lakshadweep.
The ship will also operate seven-night Southeast Asia itineraries from Chennai, calling at Phuket, Langkawi, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. These sailings are scheduled to begin in June 2027.
What is the ship’s history?
Cordelia Sky is the former Norwegian Sky, which Cordelia Cruises secured from Norwegian Cruise Line under a long-term lease. The 77,104-ton ship was originally ordered by Costa Cruises, then completed at Germany’s Lloyd Werft shipyard for Norwegian, entering service in mid-1999. It sailed with Norwegian for 27 years, including four years as Pride of Aloha in Hawaii.
Cordelia took delivery of the ship in September 2026, and it underwent refurbishment in Yalova, Turkey, before its Indian debut.
What happens to Empress?
Cordelia Empress, the former Royal Caribbean ship Empress of the Seas, will begin a new chapter from Kochi. From October 25, 2026, it will run five-night sailings from Kochi to Malé in the Maldives and Colombo in Sri Lanka, along with two-night weekend cruises.
When will the third ship arrive?
Cordelia Sun, the former Norwegian Sun, will be the line’s third ship. It is set to start its first Cordelia cruise on November 1, 2027, with two- to five-night sailings to Agatti Island, Goa and Kochi.
What did the CEO say?
Jurgen Bailom, President and CEO of Cordelia Cruises, said the company was launched five years ago to make cruising a holiday choice for more Indians. With Sky in Mumbai, Empress in Kochi and Sun to follow in 2027, he said the line is moving closer to “making cruise holidays a part of how India travels, celebrates and explores.”
Why does it matter for the cruise sector?
More than doubling capacity marks a major test of domestic cruise demand in India. Operating from Mumbai, Kochi and later Chennai also spreads traffic across multiple cruise terminals and opens international itineraries to Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Southeast Asia, potentially boosting port calls, tourism spending and onshore services in coastal cities.
FAQs
What is Cordelia Sky?
Cordelia Sky is the former Norwegian Sky, a 77,104-ton cruise ship now operated by India’s Cordelia Cruises under a long-term lease.
When does Cordelia Sky start sailing?
Its inaugural commercial sailing departs Mumbai on October 23, 2026.
How many guests can Cordelia Cruises now carry?
The two-ship fleet offers 1,798 staterooms and about 3,596 guests at double occupancy.
Where will Cordelia Empress be based?
Empress moves to Kochi, sailing to Malé and Colombo from October 25, 2026.
When will Cordelia Sun join the fleet?
Cordelia Sun is scheduled to start sailing for Cordelia on November 1, 2027.
