Cordelia Cruises is targeting a major expansion of India’s cruise tourism industry, with a goal of making India one of the world’s five largest cruise markets by 2032. President and CEO Jurgen Bailom said the company plans to increase fleet capacity, expand destinations and attract more Indian travellers to cruise holidays.
The company currently operates two ships, Cordelia Empress and Cordelia Sky, while a third vessel, Cordelia Sun, is expected to join earlier than previously scheduled. The ambition comes as India’s cruise industry remains relatively small compared with established markets, leaving room for growth but also requiring investment in ships, ports, destinations and supporting infrastructure.
Key Takeaways
- Cordelia Cruises wants India to become one of the world’s five largest cruise markets by 2032.
- The company currently operates Cordelia Empress and Cordelia Sky.
- Its third vessel, Cordelia Sun, could join the fleet earlier than expected.
- Cordelia Sky began commercial operations from Mumbai in October 2026.
- The company has carried approximately one million passengers since entering the domestic cruise market, according to its CEO.
- Its itinerary network includes Goa, Lakshadweep, Maldives and Sri Lanka.
- Corporate travel, weddings and MICE events are becoming additional business opportunities.
- Higher fuel prices remain a major operating-cost challenge.
Cordelia Cruises Sets 2032 Target for India’s Cruise Industry
Cordelia Cruises President and CEO Jurgen Bailom said the company’s ambition is to make India one of the five largest cruise markets globally by 2032.
Speaking at a press conference aboard Cordelia Sky off the Mumbai coast, Bailom highlighted India’s coastline, growing travel demand and the potential to attract more domestic passengers.
He compared India’s opportunity with China’s cruise-market development before the COVID-19 pandemic, when China had become one of the world’s major cruise source markets.
India has a coastline of approximately 12,000 kilometres, providing opportunities to develop coastal and international cruise routes.
However, the country remains outside the top 10 cruise source markets in the latest published Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) rankings.
The ambition therefore represents a significant expansion goal rather than a reflection of India’s current position.
Bailom said the company had already carried around one million passengers since entering the domestic market. He also estimated that approximately 200 million Indians could potentially afford cruise holidays, although this represents the company’s assessment of the addressable market rather than an independently verified count of potential customers.
Cordelia Cruises Plans to Expand Its Fleet to Three Ships
Fleet expansion is central to the company’s strategy.
Cordelia currently operates two vessels:
- Cordelia Empress: The company’s established cruise vessel.
- Cordelia Sky: Its latest addition, which began commercial operations from Mumbai in October 2026.
The third vessel, Cordelia Sun, is expected to join the fleet earlier than previously scheduled, according to Bailom.
The addition will increase the company’s capacity to operate more sailings and expand its domestic and international itinerary network.
Cordelia Sky’s launch marked the company’s transition from a single-ship operator to a two-ship fleet.
The company has also indicated that it has options for further fleet expansion. However, Bailom did not disclose additional ship numbers or specific investment commitments, citing regulatory requirements applicable to the listed company.
The expansion is being undertaken by Waterways Leisure Tourism Limited, the company that operates Cordelia Cruises.
New Routes Expand India’s Cruise Tourism Options
Cordelia is expanding its itinerary network beyond its established domestic routes.
The company’s current operations include sailings from Mumbai and Kochi, with destinations covering Goa and Lakshadweep.
It is also operating international itineraries to destinations such as:
- Maldives
- Sri Lanka
The company has increased its Lakshadweep destination network to three locations from one previously, according to Bailom.
Expanding destinations is important because cruise tourism depends on more than the availability of ships. Travellers also need attractive ports, convenient embarkation points and a variety of itineraries.
The company is looking at developing private destinations as part of its strategy to make cruise holidays more attractive.
Longer international voyages could also help attract foreign tourists and Indian travellers looking for multi-country holiday experiences.
India Still Has Significant Room to Grow in Cruise Tourism
India’s cruise market remains relatively underdeveloped compared with major international markets.
According to the latest 2025 global cruise passenger data released by CLIA in April 2026, the top five cruise source markets were:
| Rank | Market | Cruise passengers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | 20.6 million |
| 2 | Germany | 2.8 million |
| 3 | United Kingdom and Ireland | 2.5 million |
| 4 | Australia | 1.45 million |
| 5 | Canada | 1.27 million |
India did not feature among the top 10 source markets in the published rankings.
The difference highlights the scale of the opportunity, but also the distance India needs to cover before becoming one of the world’s largest cruise markets.
According to industry estimates reported by Business Standard, India’s domestic ocean and coastal cruise market was worth approximately ₹830 crore in FY25.
The market is projected to reach ₹1,820–2,250 crore by FY31, implying annual growth of around 20–25% between FY26 and FY31.
India recorded 477,676 cruise passengers in 2025, with domestic passengers accounting for approximately 89% of the total.
These figures indicate that domestic demand is an important foundation for the industry’s expansion.
Cruise Tourism Could Benefit From India’s Growing Travel Market
Cruise holidays offer a different travel experience from conventional hotel-based holidays.
Passengers can visit multiple destinations while staying aboard the same vessel, with accommodation, dining and entertainment available during the journey.
Cordelia is attempting to make this format more accessible to Indian travellers through shorter sailings and domestic routes.
Weekend cruises and short holidays can appeal to people who may not want to take extended international vacations.
The company is also targeting different customer segments:
- Families seeking holiday experiences.
- Couples and leisure travellers.
- Corporate groups and business events.
- Wedding parties.
- International tourists interested in Indian coastal destinations.
Bailom highlighted the growing contribution of corporate travel, meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE), and weddings to the company’s business.
These categories can provide revenue beyond conventional leisure bookings and help operators use ships across different travel seasons.
Fuel Costs Remain a Major Challenge
Despite its expansion plans, Cordelia faces rising operating costs.
Bailom said fuel prices had increased by approximately 100%, putting pressure on the company’s operating expenses.
He said the company remained profitable but estimated that it could have earned around ₹40 crore more if fuel prices had remained at the previous year’s levels.
Cruise operators have some flexibility in managing fuel expenses.
They can adjust sailing speeds, modify itineraries and improve operational efficiency to reduce consumption.
However, higher fuel prices can still affect profitability, particularly when operators are adding ships and expanding routes.
Other challenges include port infrastructure, passenger demand, maintenance expenses, staffing and the cost of operating large vessels.
The company’s ability to manage these expenses will be important as it increases fleet capacity.
The Role of India’s Cruise Bharat Mission
Government infrastructure development could support the growth of India’s cruise industry.
The Cruise Bharat Mission aims to expand cruise tourism through improvements in ports, passenger facilities, connectivity and coastal destinations.
The broader Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 also include long-term plans for port development and maritime infrastructure.
For cruise operators, better port facilities can reduce operational bottlenecks and make more destinations commercially viable.
However, building a competitive cruise ecosystem requires coordination between port authorities, state tourism departments, local businesses and cruise companies.
Infrastructure must also support passenger transport, immigration procedures, safety, waste management and shore excursions.
Without these facilities, adding ships alone may not be sufficient to create a large cruise tourism market.
The Bigger Picture
Cordelia Cruises’ 2032 ambition reflects growing confidence in India’s domestic tourism potential. A larger fleet, new destinations and shorter cruise itineraries could make cruise holidays accessible to more Indian consumers. The opportunity also extends beyond leisure travel to corporate events, weddings and international tourism. Industry projections suggest that India’s coastal cruise market could expand considerably over the coming years.
However, becoming one of the world’s five largest cruise markets will require much more than the expansion of a single operator. India needs additional vessels, reliable port infrastructure, attractive destinations and sustained passenger demand. Higher fuel costs and the investment required to operate cruise ships also present financial challenges. Cordelia’s fleet expansion is one part of a wider industry effort whose success will depend on infrastructure development and the ability to turn cruise holidays into a mainstream travel choice.
Looking Ahead
The arrival of Cordelia Sun will be an important milestone for the company’s expansion strategy. It could increase sailing capacity and allow the operator to offer more routes from Mumbai and Kochi. The company’s progress in developing Lakshadweep destinations and international itineraries will also be worth watching. Further fleet expansion remains possible, but the company has not disclosed a confirmed number of additional ships or a detailed investment schedule.
By 2032, the growth of India’s cruise market will depend on passenger adoption, infrastructure investment and the economics of operating larger fleets. Cordelia’s target provides a long-term ambition for the industry, but achieving it will require participation from other operators, ports and tourism stakeholders. The next few years will show whether India’s coastline can be translated into a competitive cruise tourism business.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Cordelia Cruises’ target for 2032?
Cordelia Cruises aims to help make India one of the world’s five largest cruise markets by 2032, according to its President and CEO Jurgen Bailom.
2. How many ships does Cordelia Cruises currently operate?
Cordelia operates two vessels: Cordelia Empress and Cordelia Sky. Its third vessel, Cordelia Sun, is expected to join the fleet earlier than previously scheduled.
3. What is Cordelia Sky?
Cordelia Sky is the company’s latest cruise vessel. It began commercial operations from Mumbai in October 2026, expanding Cordelia’s fleet to two ships.
4. Which destinations does Cordelia Cruises serve?
Its network includes domestic destinations such as Goa and Lakshadweep, along with international itineraries to the Maldives and Sri Lanka.
5. How many passengers has Cordelia Cruises carried?
CEO Jurgen Bailom said the company had carried approximately one million passengers since entering the domestic cruise market.
6. How large is India’s cruise tourism market?
Business Standard reported that India’s domestic ocean and coastal cruise market was worth approximately ₹830 crore in FY25 and is projected to reach ₹1,820–2,250 crore by FY31.
7. What challenges does Cordelia Cruises face?
The company faces higher fuel costs, fleet investment requirements, port infrastructure limitations and the challenge of building sustained demand for cruise holidays among Indian travellers.
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