Cunard breaks records. Viking is 70% sold out. The luxury boom is gripping Australian cruisers and 2025 suites are running out

• Luxury cruise is growing fast in Australia – with cruise lines reporting high booking numbers.
• If you want to cruise luxury in 2025, availability is starting to run out.
• Cruise experts believe it’s as Australians seek longer itineraries, different destinations, and more personalised experiences.

The luxury boom is real, and cruisers will have to act fast if they don’t want to miss out. Cruise lines such as Viking, Regent Seven Seas, and Cunard are seeing sales skyrocket, and other brands are seeing their more luxurious suites booking out.

Leading experts across the cruise landscape told Cruise Passenger why they think this is happening, believing that Aussies are searching longer sailings, more exciting destinations and a more personalised experience, which can be more difficult to find on family and mid-range ships.

Different destinations could be a particularly big draw, with passengers recently expressing they want more of a variety in Australian itineraries. There has been overwhelming feedback from cruisers that generally sail with Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, P&O or Carnival that they want greater diversity in cruise destinations.

Luxury ships are smaller and can fit into more ports. They also generally offer a greater variety of ports and offer more ‘off-the-track’ locations.

Luxury suites are selling out fast

Celebrity Edge has already sold out the majority of its top suites for the season ahead, Viking is 75% sold out and Silver Nova the new Silversea ship is nearly all booked out as well. Furthermore, Regent Seven Seas is low on remaining availability for the Aussie season ahead.

This taste for luxury is expanding to river cruising as well, with APT’s new river ships all sold out and Viking itineraries across ocean and river are 70% sold out for 2025. 

Luxury success is extending not to just to the upper echelons of luxury, but also premium and luxury offerings on cruise lines like Cunard.

Cunard has smashed its record bookings for a year, with 2024 bookings increasing 23% in 2023. The cruise line booked 73,000 more guests than in 2023 from January to October. 

The success has been helped along by Queen Anne, Cunard’s brand new ship that recently debuted. 

The cruise line has also invested in longer itineraries, which are proving popular with Cunard and across the upper premium and luxury markets in general.

Katie McaAlister president of Cunard said: “As we look ahead to 2025, we are proud to report record-breaking bookings that demonstrate the continued strength of Cunard’s commercial performance. 

“As an iconic British brand with growing international appeal, Cunard continues to attract travelers from across the globe who are drawn to the timeless elegance and modern luxury we provide”

Cruise Traveller Managing Director Joseph O’Sullivan told Cruise Passenger earlier this year, that luxury and small ship cruising appeared to be on the rise, and all the numbers are backing that up.

“As CLIA has reported in its latest figures, the small ship cruise market has expanded robustly, and as experts in this space…the demand for a small ship, boutique, expedition, and ultra-luxury cruises has, clearly, never been higher, driven by travellers’ desire to travel with fewer people to more unique destinations on more immersive itineraries.”

Expert cruise agent, Kelly Henderson from ILoveCruising also noted that Aussies are flooding towards luxury.
“Since cruising has returned post Covid, I’m seeing a huge shift in the luxury and small ship cruising market. I’m seeing a much larger number of clients choosing this cruising for a number of reasons.

“I’m seeing an increased desire for levels of luxury and comfort, fewer passengers meaning less chance of potential onboard illness, better itineraries which means better excursions seeing more locations in depths and more included in the fare with often everything on board and even excursions, already included. 

A Regent Seven Seas spokesperson adds that Australians are booking more luxurious suites, sailing for longer and sometimes even booking back-to-back voyages. Furthermore, bookings are strong, with only a few select cruises remaining.

“Sales for close-to-home sailings around Australia have been very strong for Regent Seven Seas.

“Australians are increasingly looking towards luxury cruises as a preferred choice for unique and memorable holidays. This trend has been growing over the last few years, especially as the luxury cruise industry has evolved to cater to a broader range of personalised tastes and interests, from culinary and wine to wellness, local and sustainable experiences.  

“Several factors contribute to the popularity of luxury cruises among Australians, including proximity to the hidden gems in our own backyard, as well as increased port access, with Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne being some of the busiest in the world. Regent’s extraordinary holiday experience, highlighting Immersive Exploration, Heartfelt Hospitality, luxurious space, and Epicurean Perfection, all under The Most Inclusive Luxury Experience, reflects our dedication to continuously redefine luxury at sea.

“This is evidenced by our recent booking trends. Australian guests tend to book our higher level suites first and they sail for longer, often bookending two or even three voyages together – or adding on an immersive multi-day land program to extend their stay in destination.”