Travelmarvel plans ocean ship debut in April 2029

Travelmarvel has revealed it will build its first-ever ocean ship which is scheduled to enter service in April 2029.

The company, which solely operates on rivers, will be building an ice-class hull vessel that will enable the company to explore some of the world's most remote destinations.

While little detail has been revealed about the ship, Travelmarvel said the vessel will be designed for yacht-like cruising for the premium market to meet the demand of travellers looking for a four-star small ship offering.

David Cox, the CEO of the APT Travel Group, said the decision to invest in a purpose-built premium small ship was driven by a clear opportunity in the market.

"As demand continues to grow, we identified a gap in the market for a contemporary small ship that delivers quality, comfort and engaging destination experiences at great value," he said.

"The launch represents an exciting step forward for the brand and the future of small ship cruising. This is one of the most significant investments in Travelmarvel's history and demonstrates our commitment to the brand's continued evolution and growth."

Travelmarvel has been the sister brand of the Australian luxury tour and cruising company APT Travel Group for the past 20 years. In August became a standalone brand operating the group's premium cruise and tour collection.

Travelmarvel has nine river ships that operate on the Rhine, Main, Danube and Douro rivers in Europe, while in Asia the company has a ship on the Mekong and Yangtze rivers.

The newbuild will add to the brand's expanding fleet of river ships, including the upcoming launch of Travelmarvel Sirius, pictured above.