Cordelia Cruises has set an ambitious goal to become one of the world's top five cruise markets by 2032, according to President and CEO Jurgen Bailom. Speaking at a press conference aboard Cordelia Sky off the Mumbai coast, Bailom outlined the company's expansion strategy to capitalize on India's growing cruise tourism potential. The company currently operates two vessels, Cordelia Empress and Cordelia Sky, with its third ship, Cordelia Sun, expected to join the fleet earlier than scheduled. As reported by Moneycontrol, Bailom emphasized that with the expanded fleet, Cordelia Cruises will have three ships operational - two currently in operation and Cordelia Sun coming sooner than expected. The company's expansion increases deployed capacity and broadens its domestic and international itinerary network, with weekend sailings, Goa and Lakshadweep cruises, and international itineraries to the Maldives and Sri Lanka operating across Mumbai and Kochi.
According to Bailom's analysis, India currently lacks significant presence in global cruise rankings, as reported by Moneycontrol. The 2025 global cruise passenger data from Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), released in April 2026, places the US as the dominant market with 20.6 million passengers, followed by Germany (2.8 million), the UK and Ireland (2.5 million), Australia (1.45 million), and Canada (1.27 million). India does not feature among the top 10 source markets in the published CLIA rankings, indicating substantial growth potential. Bailom highlighted that around 2 lakh Indians take international cruises annually before Cordelia Cruises entered the domestic market, with the company already carrying one million passengers. He noted that approximately 13-14% of Indians can afford to go cruising in India, representing 200 million people - five times the capacity of all ships in the world.
As reported by Moneycontrol, the company's expansion increases deployed capacity and broadens its domestic and international itinerary network. Cordelia Sky is the company's latest addition and has commenced commercial operations from Mumbai. The expansion includes weekend sailings, Goa and Lakshadweep cruises, and international itineraries to the Maldives and Sri Lanka operating across Mumbai and Kochi. Bailom noted that the company has further options for several more ships, though specific numbers remain undisclosed due to market regulations as a listed entity. According to the latest regulatory filing by Waterways Leisure Tourism Limited, the company confirmed the expansion plans and operational network, stating that it has further options for several more ships, though specific numbers cannot be disclosed due to SEBI regulations preventing forward-looking statements by listed companies.
According to Bailom's assessment reported by Moneycontrol, India's 12,000 km coastline offers significant opportunities for cruise tourism development. The company is expanding destination offerings, including developing private destinations and currently visits three locations in Lakshadweep, compared to one earlier. Bailom highlighted growing contributions from corporate travel, meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE), and weddings to the company's business, while the company also looks to attract international tourists through longer itineraries. He referenced China's pre-COVID position as the third or fourth-largest cruise market globally, drawing parallels to India's potential growth trajectory and stating that "our goal is, by 2032, to be in the top five largest cruise markets in the world."
As reported by Moneycontrol, higher fuel prices have increased operating costs by 100%, though the company remains profitable. Bailom noted that if fuel prices had remained at last year's levels, the company would have made ₹40 crore more profit. The company has greater flexibility than airlines in managing higher fuel costs through itinerary adjustments, reduced speeds, and improved operational efficiency. Bailom emphasized that cruise operators have "greater flexibility than airlines in managing higher fuel costs" as they can alter itineraries, reduce speeds and improve operational efficiency to manage cost pressures from geopolitical tensions in West Asia and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
