Agents bookings show first-timers are outnumbering veteran cruisers – Reece and Bec explain why

Agents bookings show first-timers are outnumbering veteran cruisers - Reece and Bec explain why

Agents are reporting new-to-cruise clients are booking up in record numbers, with one saying first timers now outnumber regular passengers. And ironically, the new and enhanced health protocols which make cruise safer than hotels are being cited as the reason. One of the newby cruisers is Reece Hammond and his fiance Bec. Mr Hammond, a … Read more

Want to grab a cruise on a mega ship right now? Here’s how you can do it

Want to grab a cruise on a mega ship right now? Here's how you can do it

Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas is ready to welcome Australian cruisers for its Singapore homeporting season. Aussies looking to cruise overseas can head to Singapore to enjoy Asia’s largest and most technologically advanced cruise ship. Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas has arrived in Singapore, and will be commencing voyages on 11 April 2022 … Read more

Dare to compare: Coral Princess vs Enchantment of the Seas

Coral Princess

It’s finally happening! Australia’s Cruise ban has been lifted and two major cruise companies have confirmed itineraries from Australian ports.  Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean revealed this week, Australian and New Zealand voyages for 2022 and 2023 for both the Coral Princess and Enchantment of the Seas.  Coral Princess will start sailing from Brisbane on … Read more

Royal Caribbean’s first South Pacific private destination is back on track

Royal Caribbean's first South Pacific private destination is back on track

On the heels of announcing its return to Australia with two ships starting in October, Royal Caribbean has revealed new details of the cruise line’s pandemic-delayed private island destination under development in the South Pacific. As early as next spring, select Royal Caribbean cruises out of Australia will include an automatic beach day on Lelepa, … Read more

Royal Caribbean announces action-packed 2023/2024 – and a new ship down under

Royal Caribbean announces action-packed 2023/2024 - and a new ship down under

Royal Caribbean is keeping the good news rolling, announcing their program for the 2023/2024 Australian season. With Ovation and Quantum of the Seas being joined by a down under debut from Enchantment of the Seas. The itineraries stretch along the coastline of Australia, the highlights of New Zealand and beautiful islands of the South Pacific.  … Read more

When can you board a cruise in Australia? Here’s what the lines are saying

When can you board a cruise in Australia? Here's what the lines are saying

After news that Australia’s ban on cruise was finally lifting, the first question was: “When can I get on a locally based ship?” The first international cruise line to arrive will be Ponant, when expedition ship Le Laperouse cruises out of Darwin on April 28, with Le Soleal set to join from May 28.  That’s … Read more

We’re back! How cruising returned and what we told Chanel Nine about what happens next

We're back! How cruising returned and what we told Chanel Nine about what happens next

After an incredible two years, the Federal Government ended the ban on foreign-flagged ships this week – and instantly, the phones started ringing around the country’s travel agents. A huge majority of Cruise passenger readers – over 80 per cent – told us they supported the move, and almost 70 per cent were waiting for … Read more

Cruise lines extend their cancellation policies to entice cruisers to book

Cruise lines extend their cancellation policies to entice cruisers to book

Several cruise lines have increased their cancellation policies to encourage consumers to book.  Whilst some cruise lines are allowing late and close-to-sailing booking cancellations on bookings through to March 31, 2022, Holland America Line has gone a step further and has extended their ‘Flexible Cancellation Plan’ until May 31, 2022. Cancellations must be made up … Read more