Snapshot
IRCTC has launched bookings for Cordelia Cruises, India’s first indigenous premium cruise liner.
The Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has entered the luxury cruise segment, offering tourism services to the public and expanding its business.
Indian Railways’ catering and ticketing arm has launched bookings for Cordelia Cruises, India’s first indigenous premium cruise liner that aspires to promote and drive cruise culture in the country.
IRCTC has been a leader in offering various travel and tourism-related services through its online portal, spanning ticket booking for trains, domestic and international flights, over 10,000 hotels across the country, and, recently launched, buses.
The organisation has joined hands with Cordelia Cruises, operated by Waterways Leisure Tourism, for the promotion and marketing of the first indigenous luxury cruise in India.
This is an incredible luxury travel offering under IRCTC’s umbrella of tourism services to the public.
The cruise liner says it caters to the way Indians love to holiday. The guests on board will have the experience of sailing to Indian and international destinations like Goa, Diu, Lakshadweep, Kochi, and Sri Lanka.
Cordelia Cruises is starting its first journey from 18 September 2021. In the first phase, it will sail through Indian destinations with its base at Mumbai.
Later, from May 2022, the cruise will be shifted to Chennai and will sail to Sri Lankan destinations like Colombo, Galle, Trincomalee, and Jaffna.
Recreational and leisure activities on Cordelia Cruises include restaurants, swimming pool, bar, open cinema, theatre, kids area, and gymnasium.
Cordelia Cruises is a unique indigenous luxury cruise that matches the standard of international cruise ships.
According to IRCTC, given the priority on safety in Covid-19 times, all the standard protocols for guests and crew members are implemented — fully vaccinated crew members, daily health checks for crew members, hourly sanitisation of facilities, air filtration and social distancing norms, and limited guests as per the official mandate of the government.
A special services team in charge of the safety and health of senior citizens and children and the requirement of tests and vaccination for guests before boarding is being worked out apart from other pre-travel checks.
Well-spaced waiting areas, sanitisation stations, and contactless and online facilities for check-in and boarding are other provisions for enhancing safety.
Beside luxury cruising in India, IRCTC is also in the process of signing an agreement with all major international cruise liners and will provide their bookings on its web portal as soon as the pandemic normalises and the operation of international cruises starts.