My first sea cruise experience was way back in December 1999 aboard Superstar Virgo from Singapore to Port Klang and back. A very popular choice during that time, it was a fantastic experience in more ways than one and over the years, I would often wonder why India did not have any comparable sea cruise options. Sure, there were options to travel by ship to Port Blair and Lakshadweep but those were not exactly cruise ships. 22 years later, in 2021, Cordelia Cruises commenced regular cruises in India. I recently took this cruise on the Chennai -Trincolamalee(Sri Lanka)-Chennai route. While not comparable to the much larger cruises elsewhere, Cordelia nevertheless packs a punch.
Globally, over 30million people take a cruise every year. The numbers in India are yet insignificant, under 500k, but growing fast. What I love about cruises is that everything is planned and taken care of and hence very convenient for families or larger groups. On the flip side, there is possibility of motion sickness that can ruin the entire cruise. Secondly, the shore excursions are a big attraction on a cruise but they are generally short in duration and can also be pricey.
Cordelia cruises available routes
The Chennai-Sri Lanka cruise operates only during the monsoon season. There were 3 options when I booked early this year.
- 3N, 4D – Chennai to Trincomalee and back. One day halt at Trincomalee.
- 5N, 6D – Chennai-Jaffna-Trincomalee-Hambantota-Chennai. Halts at 3 locations in Sri Lanka.
- 2N, 3D – Chennai-open sea-Chennai.
I took the 3N, 4D option to Trincolmalee.
Rest of the year, Cordelia operates out of Mumbai to Goa, Kochi and Lakshadweep. A cruise to Dubai is in the works.
Types of accommodation on board
- Chairman’s suite
- Suite
- Mini suite
- Ocean view stateroom
- Interior stateroom
The Chairman’s suite and suites have additional privileges and amenities such as priority embarkation and dis-embarkation, porter service, evening cocktails with the captain(not sure if the Captain actually consumes alcoholic drinks at sea, I hope not!) and so on. If you have spare funds, go ahead and splurge. It will certainly be an enjoyable experience.
For a couple, a mini suite is a great option. The room has a sofa and a small private balcony. Costs much less than the suites and hence not too heavy on the pocket for a 3N or 5N package.
The staterooms, both ocean view and interior, come with two bunk beds and are essentially targeted at families with kids. Even the interior staterooms, without any windows to the outside, are quite decent and does not feel claustrophobic at all. Expect the staterooms to be small though.
Toiletries provided vary depending on the room so it is best to carry your own set. Shower Gel and Shampoo is provided and in mini-suite, there was dental and shaving kit as well.
Dining
Buffet type meals are served in two separate restaurants – Starlight and Food Court. The food was quite good overall, with plenty of vegetarian options. Best part is that snacks are available till about 1.30am. One or two bars too are open till late.
There is one specialty chinese restaurant called ‘Chopstix’ in case one needs a variety. Only those who book the suites are eligible for free breakfast and lunch here. Else it is chargeable. Street food and Pizzas are also served on the top deck for limited duration of time, again on a chargeable basis.
Events and activities
There of quite a few shows, events and activities to keep everyone occupied. From morning till late night. I watched 2 such shows – Balle Balle showcasing a big fat Punjabi wedding and Razzmatazz featuring hits from South Indian cinema. Excellent shows, well choreographed and pure entertainment. Other activities/events include rock climbing, Bridge tour, sundowner party, DJ night, karaoke night, fitness dance, yoga, antakshari, and so on.
Not all shows/activities are free
Few of the events/activities are chargeable and not free. For example, Bollywood songs based show called Burlesque and magic shows. Not sure of the price though.
There is also a Casino where demos are held every evening, a spa, a gaming arcade for kids, a small gym(does anyone really use it?) and shops for souvenirs and other items.
A list of activities for the day is provided the previous evening. Can be also viewed on the room TV.
Shore excursions
At every port of call, there are optional shore excursions that may be booked ahead of time at a marginal discount. Cost varies. Take your pick or simply stay put on the ship. In either case, Sri Lankan visa is still required!
In Trincomalee, options included city tour, whale/dolphin watching, visit to Sigriya/Anuradhapura, relaxing at the beach(Cinnamon Blu resort) etc. Given the time constraints(one needs to back onboard by 4pm or so), only one excursion is possible. I opted to relax at Cinnamon Blu resort. While lunch was included in the package that cost USD 80 per person, I had to pay for the drinks separately. And for usage of pool table. Though most of the live counters at buffet lunch served non-vegetarian items, there were plenty of vegetarian options as well. Good time pass overall.
So what’s good about Cordelia cruise?
- Mid size ship with a capacity of ~1.8k passengers; may get crowded if running full;
- All inclusive package. For those on a budget, no need to spend anything more on the ship;
- Decent rooms. Comfortable mattress and pillows;
- Good food;
- Great shows;
- Helpful staff;
- Plenty of other options for entertainment, including a Casino;
- Quite a few activities such as yoga, dance, music;
- A generic Travel Insurance is included and there is no need to buy a separate insurance cover;
- Shops for those who have to compulsorily buy something on every vacation!
What’s not good about Cordelia cruise?
- Over 30 year old ship but refurbished well;
- Tiny shower cubicle. I could not bend to reach my toes inside;
- Disappointingly small pool;
- Shore excursions get a bit pricey for larger groups;
- Embarkation and dis-embarkation is a bit tedious and takes time. The ramps to get into and out of ship at Chennai were quite steep. It was also slippery due to rain when I boarded. But help is available if needed;
- Poor reception of satellite channels on TV but could be weather related;
- Phones will work on board only if you take their Wi-Fi package(possibly free for higher category of rooms). The starting price was close to INR 1k. Phones however work when the ship is close to the shore.
- Universal adaptor is required as sockets are generally American type. In my mini-suite, there was a Type C socket also(2 round holes);
- Payments onboard are denominated in USD. But can be settled in INR also.
Cordelia does not allow anyone to carry food and beverages onboard.
What does Cordelia cruise cost?
The total fare comprises cabin fare, service charges, fuel surcharge and GST. Additionally, TCS(Tax Collection at Source) as per Indian Income Tax Act applies. Prices are supposed to be dynamic, like air fares. This can be a pain point at time as there may not be a specific advantage in booking early.
3N, 4D Chennai-Trincomalee-Chennai
The normal fare for an ocean view stateroom was INR 33k per night per couple. The interior stateroom cost INR 39k for one couple/1 child and INR 49k per night for one couple/2 children. All children were below 12 years and I personally thought the fares for rooms with children below 12 years was relatively high.
Since I was booking multiple rooms, I was given a good discount. Few of us also got upgraded from oceanview stateroom to mini-suite which was a pleasant surprise.
Consider beverages package to consume alcoholic drinks
The regular all inclusive beverages package includes select beer, wine and spirits. Strangely, fruit juices and coffee are not included but aerated soft drinks are. Not sure if there is any additional cost as I was provided this facility for my entire group. One can upgrade to premium package by paying USD 30 per day or to luxury package by paying USD 55 per day. One gets a wider choice by paying more but I found the regular package good enough. But then, I am not a serious drinker! The regular beverages package should be pre-booked while upgrade can be done on board but for all the remaining cruise days.
One can buy also buy drinks on payment basis. If the intent is to consume one or two drinks here and there, there may not be a need to buy any package. I do not recollect the prices but the general feedback is that the cost is not very different from what you would pay at a decent restaurant in a city, minus the fancy glasses.
Is Cordelia cruise worth the price?
Prima-facie, the rack rates, especially with children, certainly appears to be high. With shore excursions and the cost of travel to Chennai, the overall cost may turn out to be higher as compared to taking a flight to Colombo and doing a land tour. But cruise is more about experience and hence a bit of a premium is possibly justified. Even then, I personally think the rack rates need to be lower by ~25-30% before I conclude that it is fully worth it. So check the available offers on the website or call Cordelia office to get the best possible rates.
Cancellation and re-schedulement
Terms are a bit stiff and cancellations/re-schedulements cannot be done within 20 days from date of cruise. Check this before booking.
Travel Insurance
Cordelia has taken a travel insurance policy with Care Health Insurance for both domestic and international cruises. The cost of insurance is included in the fare. For international cruise, the medical coverage is USD 100k which I thought was adequate for Sri Lanka. Other benefits are typical of standard travel insurance. Coverage is up to 80 years of age only. So if you are travelling with anyone above that age, consider taking a separate policy.
Visa for Indian passport holders
To visit Sri Lanka, Visa is required for Indian passport holders which is issued free of cost. E-Visa option is available. While there is no visa fee, VFS Global, tasked with processing the applications, charges INR 900 per person. One can apply directly or have the Cordelia team process it for ~INR 300 per person.
Should I take the Cordelia cruise?
Without any second thoughts, Yes. I think the cruise is a great way to spend time with family without any need to be running around. Good for elders as well children. And Cordelia, despite few shortcomings, still delivers on the experience. Finally, we Indians do not have to fly overseas to experience a sea cruise. Go for it.
