AmaWaterways co-founder Rudi Schreiner confirmed the river cruise operator is looking to add more destinations, possibly from 2027.
Speaking at an ‘appreciation lunch’ held in London for key UK partners, Rudi said Ama was ‘looking again at India’, plus he would like to return to Myanmar and Russia, once it is feasible to do so.
Rudi said India was logistically difficult since it’s not possible to sail from Calcutta to another city from where guests can board international flights in less than 10 days.
“Also, other operators have gone into India with charters, but we would only launch with our own ships,” he said. “We are taking another look at India, but if we do go in there, the earliest would be 2027.”
Rudi said he would also like to return to Russia – where it operated cruises for 13 years until 2015 – when the war with Ukraine is over. He said it would also like to return to Myanmar, where it operated for three years.
“Russia would be great, and you never know what will happen with the war, we’re keeping an eye on it,” he added.
AmaWaterways has two new ships joining its fleet next year, which will be used to launch cruises in Colombia, plus it will take back three APT cruise ships following an end to their partnership.
Another two ships will join its fleet in 2026: AmaSofia, which will sail the Danube River, and AmaMaya, which will join AmaDara on the Mekong.
Sales of AmaWaterways from the UK, the cruise line’s third largest market after the US and Canada, are doing ‘extremely well’, said Rudi, adding: “The increase over 2023 is phenomenal.”
This year, the cruise line will carry 99,000 passengers, plus 15,000 through its partnership with APT, which ends next month. It sold around 87% of its berths.
Ama expects to carry 130,000 passenger in 2025 and, so far, bookings are 5% ahead of this time last year, with 61%-62% of capacity sold. “I think the river cruise market is booming,” added Rudi.
He said that, in addition to looking at new destinations, he would like to operate year-round cruise in Europe. Ama has already extended the season in Portugal, from November to December, and on the Danube from March to February.
“I want to push all year-round cruises in Europe I’d like one or two ships sailing [on the Danube] all year round, hopefully from 2027,” he added.
The post AmaWaterways looks to expand with more countries and year-round European cruises appeared first on Travel Gossip.
Continue reading...
Speaking at an ‘appreciation lunch’ held in London for key UK partners, Rudi said Ama was ‘looking again at India’, plus he would like to return to Myanmar and Russia, once it is feasible to do so.
Rudi said India was logistically difficult since it’s not possible to sail from Calcutta to another city from where guests can board international flights in less than 10 days.
“Also, other operators have gone into India with charters, but we would only launch with our own ships,” he said. “We are taking another look at India, but if we do go in there, the earliest would be 2027.”
Rudi said he would also like to return to Russia – where it operated cruises for 13 years until 2015 – when the war with Ukraine is over. He said it would also like to return to Myanmar, where it operated for three years.
“Russia would be great, and you never know what will happen with the war, we’re keeping an eye on it,” he added.
AmaWaterways has two new ships joining its fleet next year, which will be used to launch cruises in Colombia, plus it will take back three APT cruise ships following an end to their partnership.
Another two ships will join its fleet in 2026: AmaSofia, which will sail the Danube River, and AmaMaya, which will join AmaDara on the Mekong.
Sales of AmaWaterways from the UK, the cruise line’s third largest market after the US and Canada, are doing ‘extremely well’, said Rudi, adding: “The increase over 2023 is phenomenal.”
This year, the cruise line will carry 99,000 passengers, plus 15,000 through its partnership with APT, which ends next month. It sold around 87% of its berths.
Ama expects to carry 130,000 passenger in 2025 and, so far, bookings are 5% ahead of this time last year, with 61%-62% of capacity sold. “I think the river cruise market is booming,” added Rudi.
He said that, in addition to looking at new destinations, he would like to operate year-round cruise in Europe. Ama has already extended the season in Portugal, from November to December, and on the Danube from March to February.
“I want to push all year-round cruises in Europe I’d like one or two ships sailing [on the Danube] all year round, hopefully from 2027,” he added.
The post AmaWaterways looks to expand with more countries and year-round European cruises appeared first on Travel Gossip.
Continue reading...
