Have a merry Christmas – here’s my one big Santa wish on behalf of all Aussie cruisers

• ‘Tis the season to be merry, and more cruisers than ever are spending the season at sea.
• The good news is there are very few turkeys among cruise line offerings this year.
• But Editor in Chief Peter Lynch still has one big wish for Santa.

From all of us here at Cruise Passenger, we wish you a very happy holiday and safe sailing wherever you drop anchor this Christmas Eve.

It has been a big year. We farewelled P&O Australia, a brand that sailed into our national story 92 years ago. For generations, P&O wasn’t just a cruise line, it was a first holiday at sea, a rite of passage, a family tradition, and a gateway to the world. Its closure marked the end of an era, and while change is inevitable, it is impossible not to acknowledge the emotion and history that came with it.

But Carnival Cruise Line Australia has stepped forward, absorbing two former P&O ships and is now operating four vessels year-round in our market. It’s a significant commitment to Australian cruising, one that keeps ships home-ported, jobs local, and holidays accessible. In a year of transition, that stability has mattered.

Elsewhere, innovation and ambition have been on full display.

APT launched not one, but two of the most beautiful river ships anywhere in the world – designed by Australians, for Australians. These vessels reflect a deep understanding of how we like to travel: spacious, elegant, quietly luxurious, and thoughtfully connected to the destinations they explore. They are a powerful statement that Australian cruise brands can lead globally in design and guest experience.

At the boutique end of the spectrum, tiny Pearl Expeditions has launched its small luxury ship, proving once again that size is no barrier to vision. With a focus on intimacy, access, and adventure, Pearl’s arrival adds richness and diversity to our cruise landscape.

And closer to home, we continue to eagerly await the arrival of our first true luxury river ship on the Murray – a project long discussed, long delayed, and long deserved. When it finally arrives, it will feel like a milestone moment for domestic cruising.

Overseas, the cruise industry has continued to reinvent itself at remarkable speed. The big ships are redefining the party weekend, blending short, high-energy cruises with beach clubs, private islands, and curated experiences that appeal to new and younger audiences. Cruising is no longer just a holiday; it’s a lifestyle statement, a social experience, and a floating festival.

Asia and Japan, meanwhile, are booming. Demand has surged, itineraries have expanded, and ships are returning in force. These destinations remind us just how interconnected the global cruise ecosystem is – and how quickly momentum can build when conditions are right. Many Australians have discovered the delights of shorter flights and rich cultures.

As I write this, Carnival Adventure is heading for Vanuatu with sackloads of toys and presents. Who says the spirit of Christmas is dead?

And yet, for all the innovation, optimism, and resilience shown this year, there remains one issue that continues to cast a long shadow over Australian cruising.

So, Santa, if you’re listening, there is only one thing I really want in my stocking – and I’m certain I share this wish with the rest of the cruise industry.

Could you please have a quiet word with Federal Tourism Minister Don Farrell? And while you’re at it, could you arrange a proper, meaningful summit to finally address Australia’s long-running cruise regulation problems, so ships can return – quickly, confidently, and in greater numbers?

Don Farrell is the Grinch of this Christmas

Australia is one of the most desirable cruise destinations in the world. We have iconic cities, extraordinary coastlines, unique wildlife, world-class ports, and a population that genuinely loves cruising. What we lack is regulatory clarity, consistency, and urgency. The stop-start nature of policy, layered compliance, and unresolved legislative issues have made Australia a harder and more expensive place to deploy ships than it needs to be.

The result is not theoretical. It’s fewer ships, shorter seasons, reduced choice for consumers, and lost economic benefit for ports, regional communities, suppliers, and workers. Our reporter Tallis Boerne Marcus has done sterling work breaking this story for Cruise Passenger, and in recent weeks everyone from the boss of Carnival Cruise Line Australia to the international President of Princess has reiterated the same message: let’s meet, sort out a whole-of-government approach, and more ships will come.

Cruise brings billions into the Australian economy and supports tens of thousands of jobs – many in regions that rely heavily on tourism.

The industry is ready. The ships are ready. The demand is there. What’s needed now is leadership, collaboration, and a genuine commitment to solving problems rather than postponing them.

Christmas is a time for hope. A time to reflect on what we’ve lost, celebrate what we’ve gained, and look forward to what’s possible.

This year has shown us that the cruise industry is resilient, creative, and endlessly adaptable. It has also shown us that progress happens fastest when government and industry work together with a shared vision. New Zealand has shown the way.

So here’s to a Christmas filled with gratitude for the past, confidence in the future, and just a little faith in Santa’s influence in Canberra.

From all of us, thank you for your support and stories. Send us your Christmas pictures and comments – who love receiving them.

And very Ho Ho Ho on your personal high seas journey.

The Cruise Passenger Team