More Australians take Cruise Holidays than Travel to Bali!
More Australians now take cruise holidays than travel to Bali each year!
A couple weeks ago as a member of Cruiseco, I attended 2 days of product updates with various mid-range and luxury cruise lines. I have been selling cruises and inspecting various cruise ships for 15+ years. One of the first cruise ships I inspected in Melbourne was the Marco Polo - it is still sailing around and taking cruise passengers - but looks so passé compared to the newer cruise ships.
The cruise industry is huge, so many of the cruise lines have just built or are building new ships. Carnival Vista due to launch in 2016, will include things like Alchemy Bars with "mixologists" to mix your drinks, Make your Own Burger joints, IMAXs, Skyrides, Waterworks parks and Alfresco dining.
Royal Caribbean has the megaships Oasis and Allure that each take 5400 passengers, and they are building two more just like it. The Australian market has recently seen details of Ovation of the Seas that will launch in 2016. These megaships are great for families with all entertainment included in the cost of fare, things like rock climbing, ice skating, Dreamworks characters, Flowrider, Seaplex and skydiving - all onboard a cruise ship, who would of ever thought this 20 years ago!
MSC Cruise line is currently building 4 new mega ships, and Viking - famous for their River Cruises, is launching into Ocean cruises starting with 3 ships in the next 2 years, but plans to grow to a fleet of 24 ships.
Australia is a big market- Princess Cruises have 5 ships based in Australia for at least part of the year. Carnival has 2 ships based in Australia, one all year and the other in the summer season. Royal Caribbean will have 4 ships based in Australia this summer season October 15 - April 16, and 5 for the 16/17 season. Along with various other cruise lines regularly visiting our shores.
Soft adventure cruise is gaining popularity - smaller expedition cruises going to unique locations "off the tourist trail" with zodiacs and lecturers onboard.Asia is a also massive growing market for the cruise industry, great news for Australians with lots of interesting cruise itineraries close to home -including Indonesia, Philippines and Japan.
Cruising is fantastic value and there are some amazing itineraries. The style of one cruise line varies totally from another and even on the various ships within a cruise line. So whether you like an intimate luxury yacht experience with 60 others or a megaship with thousands of passengers offering boundless activities - I believe there is a cruise holiday to suite any client and budget. There is so much going on in the Cruise Industry that the above is just a tempter - I haven't even touched on the exciting updates in the luxury cruise or river cruise markets, so hope to share more with you in coming posts..