Cordelia Sky arrives in Mumbai as Cordelia Cruises begins two-ship operation

The Cordelia Sky, formerly Norwegian Sky, arrived in Mumbai and completed its first voyage with passengers on October 23, 2026, as part of the expansion of Indian company Cordelia Cruises. On the same day, the Cordelia Empress departed Mumbai to reposition to Kochi, making the company the first to operate two ships simultaneously from two home ports in India.

Built in 1999, the Cordelia Sky has a gross tonnage of 77,104 and 1,002 cabins. According to Cruise Mapper, its capacity is approximately 2,004 passengers at double occupancy, while Splash Cruise notes that the ship can carry up to 2,280 passengers. Preparations ahead of its entry into service included an exterior repaint, the application of Cordelia branding, and a display of 1,500 drones over the Mahalaxmi Racecourse in Mumbai on October 11.

The Cordelia Sky's maiden voyage was a 3-night round trip from Mumbai calling at Goa, with return scheduled for October 26. The program from this home port will include two- and three-night weekend cruises, four-night departures to Lakshadweep, and five-night itineraries combining Goa and Lakshadweep. Onboard, the ship offers two pools, five jacuzzis, a gym, a spa, pickleball and cricket sports areas, new dining options featuring Indian and international cuisine, large-scale shows and live entertainment.

From its new home port in Kochi, the Cordelia Empress will run a program covering the southwest coast of India and international destinations, with two-night weekend cruises, three- and four-night departures to Lakshadweep, and a five-night international itinerary connecting Kochi with Malé, in the Maldives, and Colombo, in Sri Lanka. The season also expands Cordelia's presence in Lakshadweep, with access to Kavaratti and Minicoy.

The addition of the Cordelia Sky comes under a long-term charter agreement signed in April 2025 with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH), which provided for the transfer of the former Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Sun to the Indian operator in 2026 and 2027 respectively, with purchase options included. Parent company Waterways Leisure Tourism confirmed the expansion in a stock exchange filing on October 26. During the simultaneous operation on October 23 in Mumbai, the two ships recorded close to 6,000 passenger embarkation and disembarkation movements. Cordelia Cruises President and CEO Jurgen Bailom highlighted the moment as a milestone in the company's evolution, which, according to Splash Cruise, has carried more than 800,000 passengers since beginning operations in 2021. The Cordelia Sun is expected to join the fleet in 2027, bringing it to three ships, with the Cordelia Sky set to operate 7-night Southeast Asia voyages between Chennai and Singapore in 2027.