Scenic Will Sail Two Ships In India by 2030

Scenic Group this week revealed that it’s signed a new partnership agreement with Assam Bengal Navigation, a river cruise operator with over two decades of sailing on India’s rivers.

Under the new agreement, Scenic plans to sail two ultra-luxury river ships in India by 2029-30, expanding its footprint onto the Brahmaputra River. The long-term partnership pairs Assam Bengal Navigation’s local operating experience with Scenic’s global distribution network and all-inclusive, ultra-luxury product.

The news adds to Scenic’s previously announced expansion on the Hooghly River in West Bengal, where the 44-guest boutique ship Scenic Aura is scheduled to debut in October 2027. That inaugural 2027–28 season, which pairs a 10-night Hooghly River sailing with land journeys across India and Sri Lanka, has already seen high demand and limited remaining availability, according to the company.

The deal was finalized following a meeting in Delhi between Scenic Group Founder and Chairman Glen Moroney, ABN Founder and Managing Director Ashish Phookan, and India’s Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal.

“India offers extraordinary potential for luxury river cruising,” Moroney said in a statement. “Our partnership with Assam Bengal Navigation gives us the benefit of deep local expertise and an established operating platform, while allowing Scenic to bring its international experience in luxury cruising to the market.”