Norwegian Cruise Line calls for Aussies to take cruising abroad
Aussies are being urged to consider cruising further afield amid rising port costs, particularly in Sydney, as Norwegian Cruise Line supercharges its fleet.
Australians are being urged to consider cruising further afield amid rising local port costs, as the world’s third-largest cruise line company supercharges its fleet.
Recent decisions by Virgin Cruises Australia to exit the local market, coupled with rival P&O’s rebranding and the loss of one ship, and Princess cruises decision to take some capacity out of the local market, has led Norwegian Cruise Line vice-president and managing director Asia-Pacific Ben Angell to call on Australians to consider the burgeoning fly cruise offshore market.
Cruise lines are being hammered, particularly in Sydney, by the high costs and lack of cruise berths, with the NSW government unwilling or unable to come up with a solution.
“Whilst there are undoubtedly challenges in the local cruising sector there is almost uncapped opportunity for growth in the Fly Cruise market,” said Mr Angell, adding that with NCL’s eight new cruise ships on order the Fly Cruise market will be the Miami-based line’s focus to get more Australians cruising not only domestically but also in international waters.
“In 2023, 85 per cent of Aussies who cruised did so within Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific. Just 200,000 cruised in other parts of the world. This versus 10 million Australians who travelled overseas in 2023, of which some 5 million plus are travelling for leisure,” he said.
NCL is expanding its fleet to 27 ships from 19 as others retreat.
“We have an opportunity to rebalance the narrative not to the detriment of domestic cruising, but there is a real opportunity to spread the convenience message of cruising and drive the growth of Australian cruising outside of their domestic bubble,” Mr Angell said.
“If we lift our eyes up and look further afield, there is almost untapped opportunity for cruising growth from Australia. I would love to get to a place where more Australians consider a cruise holiday as part of their international holiday plans,’’ he said.
Norwegian Cruise Line will launch its next big cruise ship Aqua in March 2025 followed by Luna which will be followed by a further two prima class ships which will be delivered during 2028 followed by another four vessels.
Mr Angell said the travel trade was starting to refocus.
“In the past they might have focussed more heavily on domestic cruise opportunities but now they are looking at a more balanced focus between domestic and international Fly Cruise.
“We are starting to see a switch in focus,” he said.
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