Karl J. Pojer, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, said the German operator could expand in the expedition segment of its business in the near future.

“I would say we have space for extending our expedition fleet,” he said, in an interview with Cruise Industry News in Ft. Lauderdale.

The company is coming off a strong 2015, with tremendous growth sourcing international and English-speaking guests. Among the adjustments is the embracement of “Cruises” as opposed to the German “Kreuzfahrten” in the company’s logo.

Pojer said there was high demand for expedition sailings, but warned companies entering the market that it is not as easy as it looks.

“We are extremely well booked in expedition and thinking about how we can expand,” said Pojer. “Whoever has not been (in the expedition market) yet will learn it is not easy. When we went to the Northeast Passage, no one had ever done it before, our captains spent 10 years preparing that trip.”

Look for expanded coverage of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises in the Summer edition of the Cruise Industry News Quarterly Magazine.