Uber will soon provide boat service. Certainly a greater interest in boats than before.
At its third annual Go-GET product event, Uber revealed on Wednesday in New York City that it will soon debut boat travel in Greece, allowing tourists and boat enthusiasts to book a trip on the water using the app.
Up to eight persons can use the boating option to explore different parts of Mykonos.
That’s the initial Greek location to receive help, but there are plans to add others.
Before the launch of Uber Boat in London, the company tested the waters with a short-lived program called “Boat to Work” in San Francisco in 2013. In addition, Thames Clippers, a London commuter ferry service, has partnered with Uber so passengers aboard Uber-branded ships can purchase tickets through the Uber app.
However, Uber claims that their Mykonos Uber Boat is unlike any other because it operates as a private charter for the user and their party. As a result, unlike Uber Boat in London, there is no external ownership to worry about. AEG, a sports company that initially owned the London-based Uber Boat and live entertainment firm that sold a majority stake to Northleaf Capital Partners last year.
Even if the ride-sharing industry has been on the upswing since the outbreak, Uber may be feeling the push to enter new markets. Shares of the ride-hailing startup increased by 7% after the company’s first-quarter profits surpassed expectations. Uber plans to maintain the same number of employees and achieve profitability in operating income this year.