We’re ready: Australia’s cruise lines prepare to start sailing with new ships and itineraries

We're ready: Australia's cruise lines prepare to start sailing with new ships and itineraries

Australian-based cruise lines have spelt out exciting new options for 2021 as the expectation of a resumption reaches new heights. Princess, Carnival, P&O and Royal Caribbean have all announced their plans for 2021, as Cruise Lines International Association Australasia launched a campaign to press the government to lift the cruise ban. Australia’s hard-pressed travel agents … Read more

Coral Expeditions becomes the first Australian cruise line to set sail – with 46 “excited passengers”

Coral Expeditions becomes the first Australian cruise line to set sail - with 46 "excited passengers"

Cairns-based Coral Expeditions this week became the first to set sail since the coronavirus cruise ban seven months ago. The Australian flagged, Australian crewed Coral Discoverer, with 46 excited passengers and 20 crew,  sailed out from Cairns on Wednesday on the first of a new series of seven-night voyages to visit remote islands and reefs … Read more

Pacific Aria departs as P&O’s fleet refresh is brought forward

New P&O Australia fleet

P&O Australia has announced it has found a new buyer for the Pacific Aria, and the vessel will leave the fleet as early as next month. The announcement means P&O will have an almost completely refreshed fleet once cruising resumes, with only the flagship Pacific Explorer remaining. Pacific Dawn’s departure has already been announced – … Read more

EXCLUSIVE: One cruise line will pay up to $25,000 in COVID medical bills

Testing onboard a Dream Cruises ship

Over 80 per cent of Australia’s cruise passengers believe cruise lines should be responsible for the costs of testing for COVID-19 and for treatment on board, an exclusive Cruise Passenger survey has revealed. Only just under 5 per cent of 600 passengers who answered our survey question thought passengers themselves should pay for the tests and treatment. … Read more

How European sailings are saving the cruise industry

How European sailings are saving the cruise industry

More than 110 cruises carrying 55,000-plus passengers have already sailed successfully in Europe, spreading hope to other destinations like Australia that it is now safe to begin cruising. “These sailings give us confidence that we are on the right course,” says Cruise Lines International Association President and CEO Kelly Craighead says. Cruise lines have now pledged to 100 … Read more

Cruise lines reveal their health plans to beat COVID-19 and sail again

Apartments with balconies separated from each other

The world’s biggest cruise ship operators are this week presenting plans to safeguard passengers from the global pandemic in a bid to persuade the powerful US Centers for disease Control and Prevention to let them sail again. The Healthy Sail Panel, a group of globally recognised medical and scientific experts assembled by Royal Caribbean and … Read more

After millennials, drag and tattoo, now U by Uniworld tries teens

Celine Kaye

U by Uniworld, the river cruise line that is constantly reinventing itself, has now targeted perhaps the most difficult and dreaded market of all:  teens. The line which started out boldly chasing millennials and refusing boarding to anyone over 45 (a policy later abandoned)  will now welcome “Gen Z on U” – a family program … Read more