Hello

First, a big thank you for continuing to read Cruise Passenger’s stories. As Australia’s oldest and widest-read independent cruise publication, we truly treasure the time you spend with us.

Today, we present the inaugural edition of Luxury – our newsletter designed for readers who are a little more discerning.

We all know cruise is growing in Australia. But perhaps what isn’t so well known is that the luxury sector is experiencing the strongest expansion of all.

Australians and New Zealanders are being tempted by more luxury experiences than ever. Some 120,000 baby-boomers will retire each year for the next decade. That’s a lot of people with a little more time for travel, and often a tidy sum to spend on it.

Small wonder we are getting so much attention!

Those involved in convincing us their brand has that extra edge spend a lot of time agonising over what luxury actually means.

Crystal Cruises believes it’s about personal service. Silversea thinks its about authenticity. APT, Australia’s own luxury travel brand, says its about ensuring everything on your holiday is included so you can enjoy the moment and not worry about your wallet – “living life fully”, they call it. In today’s always-on world, time is also luxury. And there, we most certainly agree.

But luxury isn’t that hard to define.  It’s not about conspicuous consumption. It’s about exceptional service, excellence in everything you do and those very special moments that make life-time memories.

Our 2019/20 cruise season, starting in October, will see more vessels from luxury lines than ever. The likes of Cunard, Crystal, Ponant, Silversea, Regent Seven Seas, Oceania and others are stationing their ships in our waters and sailing more itineraries around our shores.

They offer amazing amenities, fabulous cuisine and shore excursions that go beyond the icons now struggling with overtourism. Inclusions make them a strong value proposition.

Just because you are interested in the finer things in life doesn’t mean you don’t care what you pay. Our newsletter will help you pick you way through the promises and make wise choices.

We hope you enjoy this new addition to our stable of cruise publications.

Smooth sailing!

Peter Lynch and the Cruise Passenger team