Every first is always special. The first kiss or the first friendship or the first journey. So when Cordelia Cruises announced the launch of its new route of east coast sailings from Chennai to Vizag and back, in June 2022, it was expected to garner a lot of curiosity. It clearly received a whole lot of love that it truly deserved. The Empress was fully booked in no time. After all, the first sail is always special right? No one wanted to miss a chance to experience their first cruise first hand and the bonhomie onboard was evident from the moment they stepped foot.
Cordelia Cruises has been getting a lot of attention from the time it launched in India. No wonder it’s been the trendiest holiday choice for over 80,000 guests already and counting. Within less than a year, Cordelia Cruises has become the first choice of Cruising for Indian families. And for good reasons. It was Jurgen Bailom, President and CEO Cordelia Cruises who made cruising accessible to all Indians. From Mumbai, Goa, Lakshadweep, Sri Lanka and now Chennai, Puducherry and Visakhapatnam, the brand is only expanding its choices to give those with wanderlust, vast and best cruising holiday experiences.
I was fortunate to have discovered the beauty that India has by being a part of the first sail on The Empress from Vizag to Chennai.
Entertainment Galore: The mood onboard was upbeat with lots of entertainment and dining options. The entertainment offerings are curated to cater all sorts of age groups on board. Some of the shows that went full house were Indian Cinemagic, Balle Balle, Burlesque-The Bollywood Way, Romance in Bollywood and Magician’s Cut. These shows transported the audience to a world of fantasy with stunning costumes, mesmerising music and sound effects, superlative acting and agile dance moves. The entertainment didn’t stop there. There was endless amusement delights like DJ nights, live music concerts spread across in different areas, salsa workshops and movie nights planned on the cruise. There was enough to keep everyone entertained with Rock Climbing amidst the beauty of the majestic ocean and other fun activities for everyone including the kids. The pool and Jacuzzi also found a hotspot among many cruise lovers too. I loved my treadmill run in the spacious gymnasium with the view of the expansive ocean in front. And for those who wanted to try their luck, the Casino served just the purpose.
Scrumptious Options for every Palate:
Keeping the Glocal- Global yet local theme intact, Cordelia Cruises serves dishes that are curated by the top chefs to suit the International and Indian cuisines. There was also a Jain food and vegetarian counter keeping in mind the tastes and preferences of the Indian travellers. From Pan-Asian cuisines to global grills, Indian street food to tandoor specialties, dining is definitely one of the main highlights of this cruise holiday. The Empress has an all-day dining food court and two specialty restaurants.
The port of Visakhapatnam is renowned for being home to the oldest shipyard in India, and with a plethora of manmade wonders and natural spectacles, Visakhapatnam has become a must-visit tourist destination in South India. Being a commercial hub of Andhra Pradesh, Vizag has some of the best well-maintained beaches and monuments that are worth visiting. The port city and industrial centre in the Bay of Bengal is known for its beautiful beaches like the Ramakrishna, which is home to a preserved submarine at the Kursura Submarine Museum and the Rushikonda Beach. If you have some time at hand you can also go to Kailasagiri and the beaches in Bheemili at a driving distance.
Cordelia Cruises by Waterways Leisure Tourism Pvt ltd is India’s only premium Cruise liner.
True to its name, Cordelia Cruises meaning Daughter of the Seas, promotes and drives the Cruises culture in India through experiences that are curated for Indian families, customised, stylish, luxurious, and most importantly, inherently Indian. Cruising in India in itself is a whole new experience and Cordelia offers a plethora of entertainment options for a one-of-its-kind sailing experience.
From the beautiful Instagrammable backdrops to magical shows, everything you take back is so much more than just another holiday! So if you’re looking for an unending party on the sea then hop on the ship and sail through the ports of Goa, Kochi, Mumbai, Chennai, Vizag, Lakshadweep or Sri Lanka. It is essentially a cruise for Indians and caters to the way Indians love to holiday. Global, international and yet inherently Indian!
Check www.cordeliacruises.com for cruises and tour packages.