Ahoy there! It’s summer cruising season
Australians have more options for a holiday on the high seas than ever before. Is it time for you to test the water?
Five good reasons to take a cruise
Cruises offer a convenient and stress-free way to travel. Once on board, you can unpack just once and enjoy a range of amenities and activities without the hassle of constantly checking in and out of hotels or airports.
You get to visit many destinations in one trip. You can wake up in a different port of call every other day, allowing you to experience a diverse range of cultures, landscapes, and activities.
Ships are floating resorts, offering a wide array of activities and entertainment. From pools and water slides to theatres and casinos, they’ve got it all.
Most cruise ships have a variety of restaurants, from burger shacks to specialty dining venues with gourmet cuisine.
Cruises allow you to meet people from around the world. Onboard lectures, workshops, and cultural performances can enrich your understanding of the regions you visit, while shore excursions offer exciting immersive experiences.
The naysayers were wrong. Cruising has not only survived the pandemic, but it has thrived.
Although the big cruise companies suffered huge financial losses during the shutdown, business has recovered more quickly than anyone could have foreseen. This is especially the case in the United States and Europe, where things have been back to normal for the best part of a year.
Australia was late to rejoin the party. Some COVID-19 restrictions were only just lifted in the last week of August 2023, removing the need for passengers to show proof of vaccination and a negative rapid-antigen test, and wear masks while boarding.
That has happened just in time for an unparalleled summer cruising season featuring ships of all sizes, and itineraries for just about everyone, from large family groups to solo travellers.
Among the big-name brands, P&O Australia – whose Pacific Explorer, Pacific Encounter, and Pacific Adventure have been sailing domestic and South Pacific itineraries throughout the year – will be joined for the southern summer season by ships from Carnival and Royal Caribbean.
The latter’s Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas can hold almost 5,000 passengers per sailing, and they will be doing journeys out of Brisbane and Sydney respectively.
Royal Caribbean’s smaller Enchantment of the Seas will also be sailing out of Sydney, along with the Carnival Splendor, while Carnival Luminosa will be home-ported in Brisbane.
Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) will have sailings between Sydney and New Zealand on Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Spirit. Hip newcomer Virgin Voyages is also on its way for a series of Pacific Ocean sailings, along with ships from Princess, Celebrity, Cunard, Viking, Holland America, and Disney.
That’s just the big names. Various smaller, luxury, or expedition ships will also be sailing in and out of Australian ports over the next six to 12 months.
Cruise control
If you are interested in taking a cruise, National Seniors Travel’s website has a tool that allows you to search by destination, date, cruise line, ship, and departure port.
So much for quantity, what about choice? Well, when it comes to cruise holidays, that well-worn phrase, “something for everyone”, really is true.
If you think that cruising is not for you, take a moment to consider that your preconceptions about a holiday at sea may not hold water.
First up, it’s not a one-size-fits-all proposition: cruise ships come in many shapes and sizes and cater for different customers at different price points.
Want a fun experience for the whole family, complete with waterslides, dodgem cars, a circus school, wave simulator, and a roller rink on board, and exotic beaches at ports of call? Sure thing.
Or perhaps a more intimate, adults-only experience with Broadway-style shows, fine dining, luxurious spa treatments, and cultural experiences at your destinations? That’s available too.
Many seniors prefer a quieter holiday, so they avoid travel during school holidays and choose smaller ships that don’t have all the bells and whistles that appeal to younger people.
If you’re an active person, however, you might be interested in cruises offering physical excursions such as hiking, jet-skiing, and bungy jumping.
It’s here that a good travel agent comes in handy. They can keep an eye out for a ship or itinerary that suits you style and are often able to secure a better deal than you’ll get direct from the cruise company’s website.
And with so many cruise ships sailing in Australian waters in coming months, now is an ideal time to dip your toe in the water. The advantage of sailing locally is that you save on expensive international airfares.
If you enjoy the experience, then exotic destinations around the world – including classic cruise experiences in the Mediterranean and Caribbean – await.
