As CEO of Waterways Leisure Tourism Limited, Bailom oversees Cordelia Cruises — a ₹ 8,000 crore brand that commands a staggering 99% of the Indian cruise market. When content creator Navan Jaiswal flagged down Jurgen Bailom on the upper deck of a massive luxury liner, he was meeting the man who is single-handedly dominating India’s maritime tourism industry.
In the conversation with Jaiswal, Jurgen Bailom touched upon many topics — including how he started as a waiter, the difficulties of running a cruise business, India as a country and more. Today, he is the CEO of a company valued at ₹ 8,000 crore.
The brand currently holds a 99% market share in the Indian cruise business, according to Bailom. When asked about the scale and valuation of the business, Bailom revealed, “Almost close to 8,000 crores. He added that with a single vessel operating currently, the enterprise generates “approximately 600 to 700 crores a year.
Cordelia Cruises has established a dominant presence in the Indian maritime tourism sector. “India is a very beautiful country. To have a cruise business is a no-brainer in India. You have the third-largest coastline,” the Austria-born CEO explained.
