AmaWaterways is eyeing up opportunities to launch a ship to sail in India.
The river cruise line marks its 15th anniversary next year, and chief executive Rudi Schreiner said the company was always looking to introduce “exciting and exotic itineraries”.
Currently the line’s Asian itineraries feature the Mekong and the Irrawaddy.
Speaking at the annual AmaWaterways dinner at World Travel Market, Schreiner said: “We’re looking at India for 2018 or 2019 because we know our repeat guests want to visit new destinations with us. They want exotic destinations and exciting itineraries.
“We are also looking at he opportunities on the Red River in Vietnam.”
Schreiner said he was looking at new ship builds rather than chartering or leasing an existing ship.
“We won’t do it if we can’t control it,” he explained. “It will be a new build ship because we know exactly what our guests expect and want from us.
“We will never go into ocean cruising or expedition. I have no interest in that – zip, zero, none.
“It’s all about river cruising for us and being the best in the sector.”
Kristin Karst, who founded the company along with Schreiner, said the line was looking at setting up dedicated offices in Latin America and Asia, following the opening of dedicated UK office in September.
She added: “We haven’t scratched the service for river cruising yet, there is still massive opportunity for growth across the industry.”