The luxury hospitality veteran said she is “looking forward” to the river ship’s debut – before hinting it won’t be the last of Mandarin Oriental’s cruise journey.
“This is our first entrée, and it’ll be great once it launches,” Ruble told TTG.
Mandarin Oriental announced its expansion into luxury cruising in February with the introduction of a boutique Nile River vessel. The ship – which has not yet been built – will complement the group’s first properties in Luxor and Aswan, creating an “integrated, destination-led journey.”
Guests can choose from three-, four- or seven-night sailings, all of which link the two hotels on either end of the river. The dates for the voyages remain unknown, but they are expected to coincide with the 2027 openings of Mandarin Oriental Winter Palace, Luxor and Mandarin Oriental Old Cataract, Aswan.
Mandarin Oriental believes its river offering will gauge the demand for small-ship luxury cruise, which holds the title of fastest growing sector in maritime tourism.
“Obviously, it's a great way for us to test the waters, creating a unique experience that is Mandarin Oriental specifically,” Ruble said. “Hopefully, there will be more to come.”
Ruble also emphasised the importance of identifying the brand’s positioning in this hyper-competitive market: “We’re open to exploring, but we want to make sure we have the right partners who align with the guest experience we offer.”
The move follows a trend of major luxury hotel brands pivoting into the cruise space, with both Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons entering the maritime market in 2022 and 2026, respectively.
“We don't want to be ‘me too’, but we do want to take the opportunity,” Ruble said. “As any company grows, you look at new ways to reach the guest and be where they want to be. As guests are more and more interested in exclusive experiences like cruise, we ask: ‘How do we get there?’”
Like Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton, Mandarin Oriental has chosen to rely on external investment to pursue its cruise expansion. The brand will operate a vessel developed and owned by K.G. Company for Real Estate and Tourism Investment (a subsidiary of the Garranah Group).
“There are so many things to come in the future,” Ruble said. “We’re so looking forward to having more to offer the guests as we move forward."
