How are Kiwis and Australians cruising? That was the question that kicked off Cruise360 in Sydney this week, with leading cruise lines revealing guests from down under are booking earlier, sailing longer and moving away from the peak season.
And there’s also more demand for premium product.
Quark Expeditions president Sam Seward (pictured) says over the past 12 months, the expedition line has seen an increasing appetite from APAC travellers for more premium cabins.
He also reports more Kiwis and Australians as booking further out, and Azamara chief international sales officer David Siewers, also echoed that sentiment.
Siewers says the cruise line’s sales are up more than 70% over the same time last year for 2028 bookings, and Azamara is also ahead on 2027.
He attributes the trend to a desire to ‘get ahead of the economy’ as well as people just wanting something to look forward to.
. . . Seasons
A big shift is seasonality, with Helen Beck, md global commercial Windstar Cruises, saying the typical European peak season, Jul-Aug, is no more. She attributes this in part to the fact it’s getting to some 40 plus degrees in the region over this time.
The shoulder season, meanwhile, is selling out first, says Beck.
She also notes the European winter period becoming more appealing, a big change for the market. Oceania’s Steve Odell also noted that winter cruising in the Mediterranean was almost unthinkable 10 years ago.
The Cruise360 panel also highlighted the demand for longer cruises, as well as excitement for cruises that go to more unique destinations, and a widening of the expedition cruise audience, no longer just for the 55+ market.
