Flags, music and a proud moment…Australia’s newest cruise line sets sail next week

• A brand new Aussie cruise line will set sail from Rome next week.
• It’s a bold move, and one already winning over new fans.
• My Cruises Michael Middleton describes to Editor-in-chief Peter Lynch how the launch next Tuesday will unfold.

When Explorations by Norwegian sets sail from Rome on September 1, Michael Middleton expects the moment to look – and sound – unmistakably celebratory. Huge Australian, New Zealand and British flags will fly above the ship, smaller Explorations flags will dress the decks, and guests will be invited to wear the line’s navy, white and gold.

A live band is preparing songs from each of its three key markets. “I’m pretty sure everyone will be dancing and singing along,” Middleton, My Cruises’ Global Head of Cruise, told Cruise Passenger in an exclusive interview. “We’re super excited by it.”

The party will mark far more than the departure of another ship. Explorations by Norwegian is Australia’s first new cruise line in decades. Its arrival is an important moment in local cruising history – and for Middleton, the culmination of two years spent turning a gap in the market into a ship carrying almost 700 guests.

“For us, it’s a really special moment,” he said. “To have 700 people on there that have all trusted us with this new product is impressive.”

Before the guests board, Middleton and his team will fly to Istanbul and spend four days sailing Regatta, the line’s first ship, to Rome. Explorations branding will be applied to the funnel and hull, a new production show installed and the team settled into the operation. Fitting the funnel logo alone requires three cherry pickers in Italy, at a cost Middleton describes as “phenomenal.”

How the line was born

The idea began in 2024, when My Cruises saw ships being redeployed and itineraries shortening. If existing lines were no longer offering the journeys its Australian customers wanted, Middleton’s team decided it should create something different.

The result blends ocean cruising’s social life, river cruising’s destination immersion and a taste of expedition travel through places such as Greenland, Iceland and the Amazon.

“It was almost: how can we blend the best of everything into one?” Middleton said. “It is all about cruising as we love it, but exploring the world a little bit differently.”

Regatta’s roaming itinerary is divided into 24 sectors each year. Guests can sail for about 10 days, combine favourite legs or remain aboard for the full Australia-to-Australia journey. Middleton rejects the idea that this is simply residential cruising.

The greater appeal, he says, is the ability to join several bucket-list experiences without repeatedly flying from Australia. One of his favourite combinations pairs Norway’s Northern Lights with London to Cape Town and a safari. Customers are also creating their own combinations; one couple will sail five sectors, return to Australia, then rejoin the following year.

“The first two sectors are completely sold,” Middleton said. “We don’t have a single cabin left on either of them.” Sailings through Christmas have only a handful of cabins remaining, while the Australian and New Zealand season has attracted strong British bookings. New York to London via Iceland and Greenland is also selling well.

Life on board

Life aboard has been designed for Australians, New Zealanders and Britons, travellers Middleton describes as lively, sociable and keen on good music. Entertainment will range from upbeat piano performances to production shows and a ship-wide ‘Shaken, Not Stirred’ James Bond evening, with themed cocktails, music and casino lessons. An exploration expert will present port briefings and talks on history, geography and culture from a new Explorations HQ. Shore experiences will be organised into classic, immersive and active categories.

The fare includes drinks, basic Wi-Fi, specialty dining, a US$50 shore-experience credit at every port and, crucially, free self-service laundry. Menus will run on rotations of up to 21 days, while two specialty restaurants can offer four cuisines on longer sectors.

With its 348 staterooms, Regatta’s intimate layout suits the experience Middleton wants to create. “Every time I’ve walked on board Regatta, it’s felt like a home at sea,” he said. “It has a feeling of opulence and luxury, but it’s not over the top. It has a feeling of comfort; it has a feeling of familiarity.”

My Cruises has committed to a second year, with departures on sale through August 2028. On launch day, however, Middleton will be watching the passengers.

“I can’t wait to see customers’ reactions once they’re on board,” he said. “I feel like we’ve created something special – what we’ve classed as a whole new era of cruising. That’s going to be the proud moment.”

Cruise director who is a little bit different

Forget the sequined trousers, poolside patter and well-worn dad jokes. The man chosen to help guests navigate the world aboard Explorations by Norwegian is a university professor, historian, best-selling author and international speaker – a more cerebral presence for a cruise line built around destination immersion.

Dr Dean Allen will join Regatta for her maiden Explorations voyage in Rome and remain aboard all the way to Sydney. His title is not cruise director, but resident Explorations Ambassador: part lecturer, part storyteller, part destination guide and, importantly, an accessible source of advice for guests throughout the journey.
“As a university professor and professional speaker who loves travel and exploring new destinations, this truly is my ideal job,” Allen tells Cruise Passenger from the UK.

Allen has taught at universities in South Africa, Britain, Ireland and Australia, including in Melbourne. He has written and spoken widely about history, society, conservation and culture, and spent the past four years as an enrichment speaker for international cruise lines. He has travelled to every continent by ship.

Most ships bring guest lecturers aboard for a limited subject or sector. Allen will become a familiar face, available for formal talks, conversations around the ship and consultations inside the new Explorations HQ.

“On other cruise lines there is rarely a destinations specialist on board,” he says. “I will be someone who can not only present travel information to the guests but will also be available to answer their questions and guide them to get the most out of their Explorations experience.”

His program will follow Regatta’s itinerary, using presentations, interviews and videos to introduce the history, people, wildlife and culture awaiting guests ashore. Allen also plans to interview senior officers about particular ports and arrivals.

“Imagine hearing from the captain about a particular port or arrival,” he says. “How exciting would that be?”
Allen knows enrichment can become repetitive on a long voyage. His answer is adaptability. Having addressed hundreds of shipboard audiences, he says every group has a different dynamic. His talks combine enthusiasm with education and can be adjusted to the guests or destination.

He also sees learning as a social catalyst. Longer cruises develop their own communities, and Allen plans events where guests can exchange ideas, discuss upcoming destinations and form friendships around a shared curiosity about the world.

That may be the best description of his audience: not passengers waiting to be entertained, but what Allen calls a “tribe of travellers.” His task is to give that tribe context, confidence and a richer understanding of every place it encounters.

“The camaraderie and community that I hope we will create on board will ensure that Explorations feels distinctly more personal,” he says.
No dad jokes required.

For more information on Explorations by Norwegian, click here.

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