Cruise.co.uk, the British online cruise retailer, is reported to  be looking to purchase  a small agency in both Ireland and Australia as it eyes international expansion that could embrace South Africa and Scandinavia as well.

Managing director Seamus Conlon said, according to Travel Weekly, that the company would be operating in Ireland by the end of this year as Cruise.co and in Australia by early next year. He expects the company’s website model in the UK, which combines cruise deals with extensive user generated content, to work well in other markets. The user content, which includes reviews and Q&As, will be replicated for the two markets.

“It has been part of our strategy, in changing venture capitalists, to expand to other English-speaking markets,” Conlon said. Our preferred option is to invest in an existing business [rather than a start-up].”

Marketing director Sukie Rapal, who will co-ordinate the move and expansion, said: “Our strategy is to buy a really small agency in Ireland and invest in it so it can operate as our base there. The same will be done in Australia.”

She added: “We are also looking at South Africa and Scandinavia, where there is a high proportion of English-speakers, as well as [possibly] partnering with someone in the US. Ireland and Australia are still emerging [markets] when it comes to cruise. They are where the UK was a few years ago so we believe our combination of user reviews and deals will work well in these markets,” the report said.