The Cruise Market In Australia Shows A Strong Rebound

Statistics produced by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia show that consumer interest in sailing is on the upswing.

CLIA commissioned an independent worldwide consumer research investigation, demonstrating rising interest in cruise vacations in Australia and the United Kingdom.

According to survey responses, consumer confidence among Australians who have taken cruises in the past has returned to pre-pandemic levels. Eighty-one percent of cruisers say they are likely to take another vacation on the high seas within the next few years, up significantly from the 73% measured a year ago and almost matching the 82% recorded before the pandemic hit in December 2019.

Sixty-five percent of Australians (both cruisers and those who have never been on a cruise before) said they were “likely” or “very likely” to book a cruise in the next two years, which is up from 64% before the pandemic in December 2019 and significantly higher than the 53% who said the same thing in November 2021.

To demonstrate the economic effect of cruising, 90% of Australian cruisers spent at least one night on land in their embarkation port before sailing, with 27% staying three or more. CLIA also reported that 82% of Australians who cruised in the previous six months used a travel agency to book, which is significantly higher than the global figure of 65%, and that 91% of those who cruised stated they felt “secure” or “very safe” on board.

CLIA MD Joel Katz praised the findings, calling them “a strong sign of cruising’s resiliency” ahead of the summer season in Australasia, when 20 CLIA cruise companies will operate.

“Sentiment has climbed even higher in other countries where cruise operations have been running for some time, so we can be confident of a similar rise in our region as we move forward.” Katz also praised the productiveness of September’s four-week Cruise Month event, which brought together cruise lines, travel agents, and cruise lovers to celebrate the return of cruising to local waters after an absence of one since 2019.

He said that the tourism sector and cruise passengers have “amplified the effort via their own channels” on social media to show their enthusiasm for Cruise Month 2022.

“The sight of magnificent international cruise ships back in Australian and New Zealand waters has created a huge sense of anticipation, and cruise lines are reporting good demand for cruising over the coming summer and into the future,” he said.