More than one million Australians took to the seas last year and the record numbers look set to increase again with a bumper summer season ahead.
Cruise lines are adding ships for the Australian summer in unprecedented volume with 41 vessels set to sail in local waters between now and May 2017 – including eight ships making their maiden visits Down Under.
The largest ship to visit Australia will be Royal Caribbean’s highly anticipated Ovation of the Seas.
Related article:
Ovation of the Seas itineraries and information
The ‘youngest and most luxurious’ honour belongs to the boutique Seabourn Encore, which arrives in Australia just two weeks after its official naming ceremony in Singapore.
Related article:
A pictorial overview of Seabourn Encore
The impressive flotilla heading our way will offer almost 400 roundtrip itineraries making almost 900 ports of call here in what will be Australia’s biggest cruise season to-date.
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia Commercial Director Brett Jardine said, “Anyone wanting evidence of the continuing rapid growth of the cruise industry in Australia just needs to look at the horizon this summer – there is going to be a constant procession of ships visiting our ports, carrying hundreds of thousands of Australians and international tourists on great value and relaxing holidays.”
Five cruise lines will be making their very first calls here to a range of ports from Darwin in the Northern Territory to Burnie in Tasmania, while across the fleets, individual ships will be making close to 70 maiden calls to coastal towns and cities.
Cruise Lines & their Ships here this Season
Sailing from October 1, 2016 – April 30, 2017.
Blue – Maiden visit to Australia.
Green – Ships based in Australia full-time.
- Azamara Cruises – Azamara Journey (read a passenger review here)
- Carnival Cruise Line – Carnival Legend
- Carnival Cruise Line – Carnival Spirit
- Celebrity Cruises – Celebrity Solstice
- Costa Cruises – Costa Luminosa
- Crystal – Crystal Symphony
- Cunard – Queen Elizabeth (read about Single Supplement options)
- Cunard – Queen Mary 2 (read about European itineraries)
- Cunard – Queen Victoria
- Fred Olsen Cruise – Black Watch
- Hapag-Lloyd Cruises – Europa
- Hapag-Lloyd Cruises – Europa 2
- Holland America Line – Maasdam
- Holland America Line – Noordam
- NCL – Norwegian Star
- Oceania Cruises – Insignia
- Oceania Cruises – Sirena
- P&O Cruises Australia – Pacific Aria
- P&O Cruises Australia – Pacific Dawn
- P&O Cruises Australia – Pacific Eden (read about Cairns departures)
- P&O Cruises Australia – Pacific Jewel
- P&O Cruises Australia – Pacific Pearl
- P&O Cruises World Cruising – Arcadia
- P&O Cruises World Cruising – Aurora
- Ponant – L’Austral
- Princess Cruises – Dawn Princess
- Princess Cruises – Emerald Princess (read about what’s on board)
- Princess Cruises – Golden Princess
- Princess Cruises – Pacific Princess
- Princess Cruises – Sea Princess
- Princess Cruises – Sun Princess
- Regent Seven Seas – Seven Seas Voyager
- Regent Seven Seas – Seven Seas Navigator
- Royal Caribbean – Ovation of the Seas
- Royal Caribbean – Voyager of the Seas
- Royal Caribbean – Legend of the Seas
- Royal Caribbean – Radiance of the Seas
- Royal Caribbean – Explorer of the Seas
- Seabourn – Seabourn Encore
- Silversea – Silver Whisper
- Silversea – Silver Discoverer
Where are Australians cruising to?
To dig a little deeper on our growing national obsession with cruising, we’ve got some fascinating facts for you.
As destinations, Australia and the South Pacific dominate the oceans when it comes to cruising. Tied in third place is New Zealand and Europe, closely followed by Asia.
Australia and South Pacific cruise numbers
The South Pacific held it’s number one spot as Australia’s favourite cruise destination with over 383,000 passengers choosing the idyllic island playgrounds.
Where are we cruising from?
If you reside in New South Wales, then you’re among the most passionate of cruiselovers. Queensland has the highest growth-rate though thanks largely to new ships calling Brisbane home and the new P&O base in Cairns.
Length of cruise
On average, we spend up to two weeks at a time on the open oceans.
Cruise growth globally
Thanks to the rising tide of Asian river cruise options, passenger numbers have grown a whopping 71.5%! Australia recorded a significant 42.2% growth in passenger numbers.
Are you lucky enough to have booked a cruise this summer?
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MAIN IMAGE COURTESY PRINCESS CRUISES
