Cordelia Cruises to Add Two Ships, Tripling Fleet by 2027

Cordelia Cruises plans to expand its fleet from one ship to three by the end of 2027, CEO Jurgen Bailom said at a recent industry event, outlining a deployment strategy built around adding capacity and extending established routes from multiple Indian homeports.

Bailom said the company’s near-term approach is to shift where ships are based and scale up itineraries that are already performing, rather than redesigning its route network. “Over the next two years our focus is on refining and redistributing capacity rather than reinventing the network,” he said.

How the three-ship plan is expected to reshape homeports in India

Cordelia’s plan centers on a multi-homeport structure across Mumbai, Kochi and Chennai, supporting a mix of domestic and international sailings. Under the current outline, Cordelia Sky is set to enter service first, followed by the addition of Cordelia Sun in 2027 and a redeployment of Cordelia Empress toward near year-round operations from Chennai.

Bailom also emphasized continuity for destinations already central to the brand. “Lakshadweep remains a core part of our offering and continues to be one of our most popular destinations,” he said.

2026 itinerary expansion on Cordelia Empress from Kochi and Chennai

For 2026, Cordelia Empress is scheduled to add international sailings and broaden its mix of short and mid-length cruises from both Kochi and Chennai.

From Kochi, the Empress is set to offer a five-night sailing calling at Malé and Colombo, along with a two-night “high-seas” weekend cruise, according to Bailom.

From Chennai, Cordelia plans multiple five-night options, including Sri Lanka itineraries and sailings featuring Visakhapatnam and Puducherry. Bailom also said the Empress will operate longer open-jaw routes, including a 10-night Southeast Asia itinerary sailing between Chennai and Singapore scheduled to begin in July.

Cordelia Sky: a larger platform intended to scale core routes

A key step in the expansion is the introduction of Cordelia Sky, which is scheduled to transfer from Norwegian Cruise Line later in 2026 and enter service in October. Bailom said Sky is intended to take on the “core itineraries” currently operated by the Empress, beginning with sailings from Mumbai.

He described the change as an extension of current operations rather than a wholesale shift. “The intent is continuity, not disruption,” Bailom said.

Bailom said Sky is about 25 percent larger than Empress and has more balcony cabins, positioning it to increase capacity on high-demand routes. “The Sky allows us to operate these high-demand routes at a larger scale, with greater capacity and more balcony cabins,” he said.

After starting out from Mumbai, Sky is expected to transition to Kochi as deployment evolves. “As our deployment evolves, the Sky will move to Kochi and continue operating the itineraries that the Empress has established there,” Bailom said, adding that the ship’s size, speed and flexibility support additional port options from existing homeports.

2027 deployment: Cordelia Sun joins as Empress shifts toward near year-round Chennai

In 2027, Cordelia expects to add Cordelia Sun, with Mumbai identified as the homeport for the ship’s entry into the Indian market. With Sun joining, the company’s plan calls for Sky to shift to Kochi while Empress transitions to Chennai on a near year-round basis, creating a three-ship network spread across the three homeports.

Norwegian Sun’s schedule before becoming Cordelia Sun

The incoming Cordelia Sun is currently operating as Norwegian Sun, a 2001-built vessel that Cordelia acquired in 2025 and expects to take delivery of in late 2027 after it leaves Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet.

• April 2, 2026: Norwegian Sun arrived at a Singapore shipyard for a routine drydock that includes maintenance and class-related work.
• April 13, 2026: After an 11-day stay, the ship is scheduled to resume guest operations from Singapore.
• After returning to service: The ship is set to operate a 16-night repositioning voyage to Port Louis, with calls planned in Thailand, the Maldives, Seychelles and Madagascar before arriving in Mauritius.
• Subsequent sailings: The schedule includes an 11-night itinerary to destinations including Madagascar, Réunion and South Africa, followed by a 22-night voyage from Cape Town to Southampton with West Africa calls including Takoradi (Ghana), Abidjan (Ivory Coast) and Luanda (Angola).
• Seasonal moves: After a Northern Europe summer season, the ship is scheduled to cross the Atlantic to New York City in mid-October before arriving in Miami for the winter season.

Bailom said Norwegian Sun is scheduled to leave Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet in late 2027 after an additional summer season in Europe. Once transferred, it will be renamed Cordelia Sun and slated to operate domestic cruising in India alongside Cordelia Sky, which Cordelia has also acquired.

International demand, itinerary design, and how ports are being assessed

Bailom said Cordelia is seeing increased interest from travelers outside India who want to visit India and nearby regions without building multi-city land itineraries. “We are seeing growing interest from international travelers who want to explore India and its surrounding regions without the complexity of multi-city travel,” he said.

He said weeklong itineraries and extended regional sailings, including Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka routes, are being positioned as an access point for visiting the region for both Indian travelers and international guests.

Looking further ahead, Bailom said that as of early 2026 the company was already working on its 2028 deployment plans, with port infrastructure and day-to-day operational dependability as key filters for where ships can be placed reliably. “We focus on creating well-paced journeys that offer a mix of marquee ports, leisure days at sea and immersive shore excursions,” he said, adding that repeatable itineraries that can be operated consistently across seasons and are straightforward for trade partners to sell are more likely to become long-term core products.

The next milestones outlined by the company are Cordelia Sky’s entry into service in October 2026 and the subsequent 2027 fleet moves that bring Cordelia Sun into the India market and shift Empress toward near year-round sailings from Chennai.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When is Cordelia Sky expected to start sailing for Cordelia Cruises?

Jurgen Bailom said Cordelia Sky is scheduled to enter service in October 2026, initially sailing from Mumbai after transferring from Norwegian Cruise Line later in 2026.

What new routes is Cordelia Empress adding from Kochi and Chennai?

From Kochi, Cordelia Empress is set to offer a five-night Malé and Colombo cruise and a two-night high-seas weekend cruise. From Chennai, Cordelia plans five-night Sri Lanka itineraries, five-night sailings featuring Visakhapatnam and Puducherry, and a 10-night open-jaw itinerary between Chennai and Singapore scheduled to begin in July.

What are the specifications of the Cordelia Sky compared to the Empress?

Bailom said Cordelia Sky is about 25 percent larger than the Empress and has more balcony cabins. He added that the ship’s speed and operating flexibility are intended to support scaling high-demand routes and adding port options from existing homeports.

When will Norwegian Sun leave Norwegian Cruise Line and become Cordelia Sun?

Cordelia acquired Norwegian Sun in 2025, and the ship is scheduled to leave Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet in late 2027 after an additional summer season in Europe. After the transfer, it will be renamed Cordelia Sun and is slated to operate domestic cruising in India.