Voyager and Explorer of the Seas in Sydney Harbour.
About this time every year, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia releases its report on the previous year's cruise stats. Every year the report reveals that record numbers of us took to the world's oceans – and we certainly did it again in 2015.
Altogether, 1,058,781 Australians went on a cruise, with a 42 per cent hike in domestic cruise passenger numbers contributing significantly to the result. On a world scale, the 14.6 per cent annual growth was the second-highest recorded by an international cruise region; China's growth rate was a huge 40.3 per cent.
Commenting on the report's findings, CLIA Australasia chairman Steve Odell said we are responding to the increasing array of cruises on offer.
Koningsdam's dining room.
"In 2015 we saw a range of new shorter coastal cruises sailing from Australian home ports and these have clearly captured the imagination of Australians, who see them as a new way to explore their nation," Odell said.
"What's more, many of these cruises are calling at regional ports around the coastline, creating a lot of chatter and enticing more Australians to try a holiday at sea, while also injecting valuable dollars into local economies."
There's no doubt the cruise industry – the most successful sector of Australian tourism – is making megabucks. According to Ann Sherry, Carnival Australia's executive chairman, it generates $3.6 billion in total economic activity nationally and supports 15,000 full-time jobs.
Colin Jacob.
"With its seven distinctive cruise brands [P&O Cruises Australia, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises UK and Seabourn], Carnival Australia is delighted to have contributed significantly to the latest surge in passenger numbers and the dramatic geographic expansion of cruising across Australia," said Sherry.
"In recent years, we have opened 14 new destinations to cruise ship visits while home porting ships in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Fremantle, Melbourne and, later this year, in Cairns, our first regional port to have a ship home ported."
However, not all the record-breaking figures are being celebrated. Carnival Australia and Royal Caribbean submitted a report to NSW's Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART), pointing out that Sydney is now the most expensive of all the ports that Carnival ships visit worldwide. Costs at key ports in New Zealand, America and Europe are 30 to 50 per cent lower than those at Sydney and Sydney's share of the cruise growth is declining compared to Melbourne and Brisbane.
Aqua Expeditions has partnered with Room to Read, a non-profit organisation that promotes education and literacy.
The discussion about how to improve Sydney Harbour's capacity to host cruise ships is set to continue for some time to come – let's hope it's not a case of killing the goose that's laying the golden egg.
MEET THE CREW
NAME Colin Jacob, from Mauritius
Princess Charlene.
POSITION Food and beverage manager, Holland America Line's Koningsdam
MY JOB I'm responsible for all the food and beverage requirements for our guests and crew, and also for the budget for the hotel department.
A TYPICAL DAY On embarkation day I'm up at 5.30am as we have a turnaround time of about three hours between guests leaving by 9.30am and the next guests boarding from 12.30pm. That involves offloading and reloading goods, ensuring all crew and guest venues are open, cleaned and ready, and preparing for the safety drill. I go off duty some time after the main dining room closes at 9.30pm.
FAVOURITE CRUISE MOMENT I've done three opening cuises for Carnival Cruise Line but the christening of Koningsdam by Queen Maxima was a standout.
FAVOURITE CRUISE PORTS Venice; and Cadiz, in Spain, for its mixed cultures and fabulous food.
INSIDER TIP Never stop travelling! Every cruise is special and offers the opportunity to experience different cultures.
TIP
If you are on any special diet – vegetarian, kosher, gluten-free, etc – let your travel agent or cruise line know when you make your booking, then check with the restaurant manager on board to confirm that your requirements have been recorded.
NEWS
Life-changing adventures
Aqua Expeditions, which operates boutique, luxury expeditions on the Amazon and Mekong rivers, has partnered with Room to Read, a non-profit organisation that promotes education and literacy. Aqua Expeditions founder and CEO, Francesco Galli Zugaro, said he is proud to be involved with Room to Read through his successful Aqua Mekong cruises. Room to Read has provided Aqua Expeditions with copies of Khmer and Vietnamese children's books published by their team and guests will be invited at no cost to bring a book with them to donate to a child in need when they visit local communities. Room to Read has benefited 10 million children across 17,500 communities in Asia and Africa and aims to reach 15 million children by 2020. See aquaexpeditions.com.
Royal godmother for Seven Seas Explorer
There's only a month to go until Regent Seven Seas Explorer is christened at a gala evening ceremony in Monte Carlo. Princess Charlene of Monaco will be the ship's godmother and world-famous Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli will take to the stage for a spectacular 40-minute performance during the event. "Her Serene Highness' stature, her career as a world-class athlete and her charitable endeavours via the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation are inspiring achievements and we are overjoyed she has agreed to act as godmother for Seven Seas Explorer," said Steve Odell, senior vice president and managing director Asia Pacific for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. The spectacular 750-passenger ship's maiden voyage is scheduled for July 20, 2016. See rssc.com.
Dream Cruises
Genting Dream, the first ship in the new Asian line Dream Cruises' fleet, will start sailing regular one- to seven-night itineraries out of Hong Kong in November this year. Dream Cruises is part of the company that owns luxury line Crystal Cruises and is designed to be "Asian at heart and international in spirit". Genting Dream will accommodate 3400 passengers and 2000 crew; more than 70 per cent of its staterooms will have private balconies, 100 connecting staterooms offer flexible accommodation for families and groups, and there will be 35 restaurants and bars serving up a range of Asian and international cuisines. Highlights include six waterslides, a ropes course, 18-deck-high zip-line and two mini-submarines that carry four passengers and a pilot. See dreamcruiseline.com.
DEAL OF THE WEEK
Cruise specialist ecruising.travel is offering discounts of up to $8270 on its 31-night package that includes 25 nights cruising on board Norwegian Getaway from Miami to Copenhagen with port visits in Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Estonia, Russia, Finland and Sweden. Three nights accommodation in both Miami and Copenhagen and return flights are included. Departing Australia April 27, 2017; from $6789. Phone 1300 369 848, see ecruising.travel.
MORE DEALS
FLIGHT CENTRE Spend 15 days cruising Europe aboard APT's luxurious AmaReina and receive return airfares to Europe from $995 a person when you book by July 4, 2016. The Budapest to Amsterdam cruise departs on November 11, 2017 and includes excursions, transfers, meals and onboard drinks. From $6495; phone 1300 939 414 and quote deal code 4135694, or see flightcentre.com.au.
WORLD EXPEDITIONS is offering savings of up to $USS7050 a person on its epic 32-day Antarctica voyages, departing January 13 or February 15, 2017. The itineraries involve wildlife encounters, whale sightings and a visit to the Ross Island research stations. Book by August 3; from $US19,950. Phone 1300 720 000, see worldexpeditions.com.
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