Australia will welcome a proud fleet of 62 spectacular cruise ships this summer, bringing billions of dollars in economic activity to dozens of ports and destinations around the country.
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Managing Director in Australasia Joel Katz said the 2024-25 summer would be another busy season for cruising, in line with strong consumer sentiment among Australian cruise fans.
“Australia will host a total of 62 cruise ships over the 2024-25 summer season, which is among the busiest schedules we’ve seen in local waters,” Mr Katz said. “The number of ships is slightly down on the 70 hosted last year, but many are staying longer and making more port calls. The total number of visits will be up 3% to 1,904 port calls, which creates enormous tourism opportunities for local communities.”
Among newcomers to the Australian cruise scene, this year will be Silversea’s Silver Nova, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Sun and Cunard’s Queen Anne, which will make their maiden visits in November, December and February. In January, PASPALEY PEARL by PONANT will embark on her inaugural season north of Australia, before operating in the Kimberley.
CLIA will host close to 850 delegates at its biggest-ever Cruise360 Australasia conference in Sydney today. A total of 28 speakers and panelists will participate, offering global insight to an audience of travel agents, cruise line executives, and industry stakeholders from across Australia and New Zealand.
Mr Katz said the intention to cruise remained strong among Australian travellers, according to CLIA research.
“Australia has always been one of the world’s most passionate cruise markets, and this enthusiasm continues,” Mr Katz said. “Of Australian travellers who have cruised previously, 77% say they will cruise again. Even among travellers who have never sailed before, 70% say they are open to taking their first cruise.”
A total of 25 CLIA cruise lines will operate ships in Australian waters between October and April, including:
Azamara Cruises’ Azamara Pursuit will sail a variety of cruises in the region, arriving in Geraldton in mid-December and then sailing the Great Australian Bight with visits to Albany, Esperance and Kangaroo Island before making her way across the Tasman for a series of New Zealand voyages. Pursuit will also be in Sydney Harbour over the New Year period and will cruise back through the Bight to Hong Kong as she departs Australia in late February. Azamara Onward will also sail in Australian and New Zealand waters from mid-February as a part of a World Cruise itinerary. The two ships will make a grand entrance into Sydney Harbour together on February 20.
Carnival Cruise Line is offering fun for everyone with an array of exciting itineraries across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. Carnival Luminosa arrives in Brisbane in November for her homeport summer season, while Carnival Splendor is based year-round in Sydney. Carnival Cruise Line delivers fun, memorable holidays to families and friends at great value.
Celebrity Cruises will return to Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific with the award-winning Celebrity Edge from 22 October. Showcasing the signature Edge Series for a second season, Celebrity Edge will embark on 17 sailings ranging from three to 14 nights. Departing from Sydney and Auckland, she will visit an impressive collection of 26 ports during her six months in region, from the dramatic landscapes of Dunedin to the pristine beaches of the Australian East Coast and Fiji. Celebrity Solstice will also return to local waters for two turns, departing from Sydney on 19 October for Asia and then on 9 April for Fiji and the Transpacific.
Coral Expeditions has 103 departures scheduled for 2024-25 across the purpose-built fleet of three Australian-flagged expedition ships, including the yacht-like Coral Discoverer (72 pax) and sister ships Coral Adventurer and Coral Geographer (120 pax). In its 40th year of operations Coral Expeditions has a record number of forward bookings. Along its position as the largest Kimberley cruise operator, Coral Expeditions will sail the Great Barrier Reef, Tasmania, Cape York and the Torres Straits and has increased to a six-departure season in Western Australia’s Abrolhos and Coral Coast.
Cunard is celebrating 100 years of sailing to Australia this summer. Queen Elizabeth will arrive in October for a homeporting season from Sydney, with the third edition of the Great Australian Culinary Voyage and the inaugural Australian Literature Festival At Sea being some of her season’s highlights. In February, the brand new Queen Anne will make her maiden voyage to Australia on her world cruise.
Disney Cruise Line is returning to Australia and New Zealand for a second season of cruises from October 2024 through to February 2025. The magical sailings aboard the Disney Wonder will bring enchantment and cherished Disney friends to local shores with itineraries ranging from two to seven nights, sailing from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland. The magic of Christmas will also be celebrated on board select sailings from 24 November 2024 to 3 January 2025. Guests will delight in enchanting holiday-themed entertainment plus meet some favourite Disney friends in their jolly holiday attire.
Heritage Expeditions Australasia’s only family-owned and -operated expedition cruise company celebrates its 40th anniversary with bucket-list voyages aboard its luxurious 140-guest flagship Heritage Adventurer. As Southern Ocean cruise pioneers, the line’s voyages will sail from New Zealand to the Subantarctic Islands of Australia and New Zealand, into the ‘heart of Antarctica’, the Ross Sea, along Australia's iconic Kimberley coast, and around New Zealand's three main islands. More intimate New Zealand cruises around Fiordland, Stewart Island and Marlborough Sounds are offered on the luxurious 18-guest expedition yacht Heritage Explorer.
Holland America Line’s Westerdam arrives in Sydney on 17 November for an exciting summer taking guests around Australia and New Zealand. Guests can choose from a range of enticing itineraries, including a 35-day circumnavigation of Australia departing 17 November, visiting stunning destinations including Cairns, Bali, Broome and Hobart.
MSC Cruises is preparing for its World Cruise 2025 which will see MSC Magnifica take a 116-night voyage around the world visiting 50 destinations across 21 countries and five continents. From 4 March, she will head Down Under to enjoy an extended tour of New Zealand and Australia as one of the last international ship visits to round off the cruise season.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Sun will make her Australian debut this summer, arriving in Brisbane on 18 December after a leisurely 18-day French Polynesia and South Pacific sailing. She will sail a selection of 12-to 15-day voyages between Australia and New Zealand, including a new collection of brand-first itineraries to the Great Barrier Reef and South Pacific between Cairns, Australia, and Lautoka, Fiji, which is also NCL’s first turnaround in both ports.
Oceania Cruises is preparing for an exciting return to Australia and New Zealand with the better-than-new Insignia, Regatta and Nautica all sailing in local waters. Sixteen destination-intensive itineraries will grace Australian and New Zealand ports, with 11 voyages embarking or debarking in Sydney or Auckland. A 34-day circumnavigation of Australia aboard Regatta during the festive season calls into Whitsunday Island (Airlie Beach), Cairns, Darwin, Fremantle, Melbourne and Burnie. Meanwhile, New Zealand highlights include the Bay of Islands, tastes of stunning wines in Napier, Wellington’s spectacular vistas, and Te Puia’s hot springs.
P&O Cruises Australia is set to embark on its final summer season at sea, offering over 80 sailings from Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth, visiting destinations such as the Pacific Islands, Great Barrier Reef, Moreton Island, Kangaroo Island, Tasmania, Exmouth, and more. In March 2025, Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter will join the Carnival Cruise fleet, sailing year-round from Sydney and Brisbane as Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter.
PONANT’s expedition vessels Le Jacques-Cartier and Le Laperouse will conclude their Kimberley season at the end of September 2024. Le Laperouse will then sail Cairns to Bali exploring Northeast Australia and Indonesia. Le Jacques-Cartier will explore Indonesia in October, and Australia's South Coast and Tasmania from December. From January, she will explore New Zealand with journeys from Auckland to Lyttelton and a new itinerary from Auckland to Cairns via New Caledonia. From December, Le Soléal will explore New Zealand, including two departures to its Subantarctic Islands, as well as Northeast Australia and Indonesia. In January, PASPALEY PEARL by PONANT’s new 30-guest expedition vessel, PASPALEY PEARL, will embark on her inaugural season in Raja Ampat and the Spice Islands, before turning to the Kimberley.
Princess Cruises has Royal Princess returning to Sydney for her second homeport season and she will be joined by Crown Princess and Diamond Princess. Crown makes her debut season in Australia, becoming the largest ship Princess has ever homeported here year-round. In June 2025, Crown Princess will make her inaugural 113- night world cruise voyage from Sydney.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Explorer will return to Australia and New Zealand for the third time, in December 2024, offering three captivating itineraries including a 16-night Bali to Sydney voyage, a 14-night festive season cruise from Sydney to Auckland, and another 14-night Auckland to Sydney sojourn. Meanwhile, Seven Seas Voyager sails into Australia in January 2025 on her Singapore to Sydney Pristine Australian Wilderness cruise, visiting Indonesian and Queensland ports on the way to Sydney, and embarks on an 18-night sailing from Auckland to Bali (Benoa) in March 2025.
Royal Caribbean looks forward to an unforgettable 2024-25 season sailing from Australia. The summer season features the return of two award-winning ships, Ovation of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas, alongside fan-favourite itineraries and more weekend sailings from Australian shores than ever before. Friends and families can soak up new sun-sations and choose from a variety of more than 40 domestic and international cruises on Quantum and Ovation to visit idyllic locales across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.
Scenic Luxury Cruises will operate the ultra-luxury Scenic Eclipse II in Australia, exploring the Great Barrier Reef, the Kimberley region, and the West Australian coastline, including the Abrolhos Islands. In New Zealand, the ship will cruise both the North and South Islands, including the beautiful Bay of Islands and Fiordland. In expedition mode, Scenic Eclipse II will venture into the rarely-visited East Antarctica and the Ross Sea, where passengers will experience the majestic ice landscapes and unique wildlife.
Seabourn cruises allow guests to experience bucket-list destinations while unwinding with stunning views from their suites. Seabourn Quest arrives in Melbourne on 10 January for a summer exploring the wonders of Australia and New Zealand. Quest follows Seabourn Pursuit’s majestic maiden season exploring the Kimberley in 2024.
Silversea will unveil its groundbreaking Nova Class ship, Silver Nova, with a spectacular debut in Australian waters at the end of 2024, marking the start of its Australia and New Zealand seasons. Silversea's cutting-edge ship will set new standards with pioneering sustainability, a brand new S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) program, and unparalleled wellness amenities. In addition to Silver Nova, Silver Muse will offer opulent voyages through Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania from December to March and deliver unforgettable experiences.
Other CLIA cruise lines visiting Australian waters this season include Aida Cruises, Costa Cruises, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, Hapag-Lloyd, Nicko Cruises, and P&O Cruises UK.
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