A new company has emerged in India, which has acquired one ship and says is in the process of looking for a second one.

Called Cordelia Cruises, the new company has acquired Empress of the Seas built in 1990 and of 48,563 gross tons, from the Royal Caribbean Group.

“It gives me immense pleasure to inform you that Waterways Leisure Tourism Pvt Ltd that recently bought over the Jalesh Cruises brand has decided to further capitalise the massive potential of cruising by entering the Indian market, with the Empress of the Seas, that belonged to the Royal Caribbean International until recently,” Jurgen Bailom, President & CEO of Cordelia Cruises said in a statement.

The new venture is part of Waterways Leisure Tourism Pvt Ltd, which has also taken over the Jalesh Cruises brand, which had to cease operations in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. It used to operate the 70,310 gross ton Karnika, built in 1990 as Crown Princess for Princess Cruises.

Cordelia Cruises is already in the process of adding a second ship to its fleet, Bailom said.

On 16 December, Royal Caribbean Group said it had sold Empress of the Seas and Majesty of the Seas that was built two years later and which measures at 73,941 gross tons to a buyer based in Asia-Pacific that would release details for future sailings at a later time. As yet, no news has emerged regarding the future of Majesty of the Seas.