Fewer ships, more port calls during 2024-25 Australian cruise season

‘The total number of visits will be up 3% to 1,904 port calls, which creates enormous tourism opportunities for local communities,’ said Joel Katz, MD, Cruise Lines International Association Australasia.

Newcomers

Among newcomers will be Silversea’s Silver Nova, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Sun and Cunard’s Queen Anne, which will make their maiden visits in November, December and February respectively.

In January Paspaley Pearl by Ponant will embark on her inaugural season north of Australia, before sailing in the Kimberley.

Highlights

Twenty-five lines will operate ships in Australian waters between October and April, with many highlights that include:

* Azamara Cruises’ Azamara Pursuit arrives in Geraldton in mid-December and will then sail the Great Australian Bight with visits to Albany, Esperance and Kangaroo Island, before making her way across the Tasman Sea for a series of New Zealand voyages.

Pursuit will also be in Sydney Harbour over the New Year period and will cruise back through the Bight to Hong Kong as she departs Australia in late February.

Azamara Onward will also sail in Australian and New Zealand waters from mid-February as part of a world cruise.

The two ships will make a grand entrance into Sydney Harbour together on February 20.  

* Cunard is celebrating 100 years of sailing to Australia this summer.

Queen Elizabeth will arrive in October for a home-porting season from Sydney, with the third edition of  the ‘Great Australian Culinary Voyage’ and the inaugural ‘Australian Literature Festival at Sea.

In February Queen Anne will make her maiden voyage to Australia on a world cruise.

* Heritage Expeditions, New Zealand’s only family-owned and operated expedition cruise company, celebrates its 40th anniversary with bucket-list voyages into the heart of Antarctica aboard its 140-passenger Heritage Adventurer.

* Holland America Line’s Westerdam will make a 35-day circumnavigation of Australia departing Sydney November 17.

* Oceania Cruises’ Insignia, Regatta and Nautica will all be sailing in local waters this summer.

* P&O Cruises Australia wil be no more when Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter join the Carnival fleet in March.

* Princess Cruises’ Crown Princess will make her inaugural 113-night world voyage from Sydney in June.

* Viking's Viking Venus will make a 31-night ‘Grand Australia Circumnavigation’ from Sydney on January 20.