A 44-passenger ship – called Scenic Aura – with four dining venues will be deployed on the Hooghly River in West Bengal from 2027.
Each Scenic Aura suite will feature a private balcony, a separate bedroom and a Scenic Sun Lounge. Guests will also have complimentary beverages throughout the day, an in-suite mini-bar, unlimited Wi-Fi, resort-style pool, yoga classes, Wellness Centre and fitness area.
The programme combines a nine-night Lower Ganges cruise with curated land journeys across India and Sri Lanka, with five new itineraries ranging from 17 to 25 days.
Highlights include a Scenic Enrich High Tea experience at Kathgola Palace in Murshidabad, time at the revered Hooghly Imambara, a visit to the ISKCON Global Headquarters in Mayapur, and the chance to meet master copper and brass artisans in Matiari.
The wider programme also takes in India and Sri Lanka, from the Golden Triangle and Rajasthan to South India, Sri Lanka’s tea country, wildlife, ancient sites and coastal heritage.
Adam Burke, Scenic Journey Designer, Asia, said: “The introduction of Scenic Aura on India’s Hooghly River is a significant milestone for Scenic Group.
“These journeys have been created around the kind of meaningful, culturally rich and deeply immersive travel experiences our guests are increasingly asking for.
“This is a programme designed to showcase the depth, colour and complexity of the subcontinent, while delivering the seamless inclusions, personalised service and sense of discovery Scenic is known for.”
Nichola Absalom, Managing Director Sales & Marketing UK, added: “This launch represents another important step in Scenic Group's long-term investment in Asia, a region where we continue to see strong growth across both river and ocean cruising.
“By expanding into India, we're opening up a destination that offers extraordinary depth of culture, history and spirituality, while creating new opportunities for our trade partners to tap into the growing appetite for extended, experience-led luxury travel.”
The inaugural season is expected to sell quickly, according to Scenic Group.
The India and Sri Lanka launch forms part of Scenic Group’s wider investment in Asia. Further developments are set to follow in 2028, including Scenic Spirit II joining Scenic Spirit on the Mekong River, Scenic Eclipse II returning to Asia and Oceania and Emerald Xara arriving in Asia.
Find out more about expedition cruise in TTG's Expedition Cruise Selling Guide
