For many, vacation options are limited to either enjoying the crisp mountain air from high up in the hills or soaking in the sunshine on the beach. The New Year 2024 is set to welcome a brand new kind of vacation i.e. the 'seacation'. We've all heard of road trips through quiet towns and bustling cities so a seacation is exactly that; except that it takes place in the water. Post the pandemic, tourism has picked up tremendously and travellers are aching to explore new sights, sounds and pathways; me included. So the thought of embarking on a gigantic cruise ship to spend days on the water and some of them exploring Indian states across the Southern leg of the country, was an inviting one. A seacation on Cordelia Cruises was just what my soul needed to enter the New Year 2024 with vigour. On this edition of #SheSays, I explored the highlights of Kochi, went snorkeling in Lakshadweep and lived every water baby's dream on Cordelia Cruises.
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Standard Protocol When You Hop On The Cruise
My journey flagged off from Mumbai to Kerala's coastal state of Kochi to the now extremely popular Agatti Island in Lakshadweep back to Mumbai over the course of a week. Especially for first time cruisers, the sight of the towering Empress ship when boarding can be intimidating, however it's literally smooth sailing once you're on deck. When travelling through the various legs of the journey, having your key card is essential so ensure that it is on your person at all times. A schedule is also sent to each cabin daily, which is handy to know the activities happening across decks during functional hours. Entertainment options across the cruise vary between paid options and those open for all, which a visit to the box office will keep you informed about.
Exploring The Amenities Of Cordelia
Like a travelling hotel of sorts, the Cordelia ship Empress encompasses every feeling your heart, stomach or mind desires. Food cravings are satiated at their buffet restaurants Starlight and Food Court, where an everchanging daily menu of Indian food, continental meals and desserts are whipped out with a sea view served on the side. Besides the usual routine of breakfast, lunch and dinner, their High Tea service in the evening and Midnight snacks late at night will ensure that you really never do feel hungry at any point during your journey. A la carte restaurants like Chopstix are available if you'd like to treat yourself to a special meal.
Besides hunger, boredom also isn't a feeling you'd experience on the cruise. Rock climbing is a great option to try, if your forearms are willing to comply. There's a roof top pool surrounded by lounge chairs to take in the sunshine in the peak of the afternoon. Head to the spa to massage away the knots in your back while you course through the knots at sea. Even if you feel like doing absolutely nothing at all, grab a book, stretch out on the cushioned chairs in the deck lobbies and watch the waves pass you by.
Living In Style On The Cruise Line
There are multiple accommodation options on the Empress ship. Standard rooms vary from having a standard double bed option to twin beds to those with circular windows which allow you to peep through at the night sky before you sleep. Premium rooms get larger in size as they increase in price with the Suites being the top-of-the-line option on the cruise line. The Suite comes with a spacious living room, compact bathroom with an attached bidet and housekeeping available multiple times a day. However, it was the incredible balcony in the Suite that had my heart.
Furnished with outdoor seating and a table, it was a dream to watch the waves go by and catch the setting sun in the privacy of my own space. That reason and that alone is enough for me to recommend spending your treasured days on the cruise in a Suite. The room cards are segregated by colours where white, silver and gold signify the different standard of accommodation one is living in.
Entertainment On Deck Is Steps Away
The thought of spending days confined to a giant vessel surrounded by nothing but the water can seem restrictive to many. Apprehension circled me until we actually set sail into the sea and nothing was left for me to do except explore the mighty Empress. There are outdoor decks to take strolls on during the day and night, a gym to get buff in and lounge chairs facing the sea to soak in the rays. Multiple clubs including The Gentleman's Club are home to live musicians that play Indian classics and Western hits well into the night, which make for a delightful after-dinner break. Daily activities like Zumba, group games, treasure hunts and children's recreation are also part of the daily schedule so monotony will take a backseat.
Party animals will be pleased to note that high spirits and higher decibels are a nightly affair on the ship. Whether it's a sail-away 'do when leaving from a port, a neon themed bash or a masquerade costume party, the wine, song and dance are free flowing practically every night. If you'd like to party until dawn, their in-house night club keeps the beats pumping well into the early hours of the morning.
Outshining everything else however is Cordelia's own Marquee Theater. Consider it the whole and soul of entertainment on the water. The amphitheater is the destination for the cruise line's Broadway-esque musical showcase about a big fat Punjabi wedding, a celebrity mentalist wow-ing the audience with his illusions as well as a burlesque show set to the sounds of yesteryear Hindi film songs. One performance more captivating than the next, make sure you head to the theater 15 minutes early to secure a good spot. The burlesque show with a filmy twist is for adults only and just the kind of razzle dazzle a night on the town deserves.
Excursions; A Pleasant Change Of Pace
Whether you're on a short cruise-cation or a long getaway, excursions at the various ports of call are a merry change of pace. They serve as a pleasant change of scenery from the nautical miles of water you've spent days staring at. Kochi, my first port of call, welcomed me on a sunny winter day to pay my respects at a Jewish Synagogue followed by a spot of shopping. A tranquil ride in a boat completed the peaceful day in traditional Keralite fashion.
My second and final port of call before I headed back to home base in Mumbai was Agatti Island in Lakshadweep. Now finding a spot of popularity on India's tourist map, the union territory is bordered on one side by white sand and on the other, by clear blue water. Despite being a water baby who grew up along the beach, I can say with confidence that I've never seen water as delightfully pristine in India as I did in Lakshadweep. My day on the island was spent kayaking, snorkeling and swimming in the still seas. The coral reefs of the area are a highlight if you can muster up the courage to swim deep into the Agatti seas. Even the tender boat ride to and from the cruise ship to the island was a new experience in itself before I headed back to the ship.
Regardless of whether you're a beach baby or a 'holiday in the hills' person, a seacation on Cordelia Cruises will be your surefire dose of vitamin sea. The experience of life on the water is brand new for India and the world at large; which simply cannot be replicated by any other kind of vacation. There's something irreplaceable about watching the waves bob, the sun dip in the horizon and the sounds of the ocean lulling you to sleep when you live the cruise life.
With a packed itinerary of activities, entertainment constantly running through the hours and luxury amenities to pamper you thoroughly, setting sail on a cruise is an unmissable experience. I'd say once in your lifetime but I think once you take a cruise trip, you'd be tempted to take many more.
In #SheSays, Dayle Pereira explores the sights, sounds, experiences and tastes of luxury hospitality at hotels and resorts, restaurants and hotspots all over the world.
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