I’ve told several of you over the years about my experience with cruising. About 20 years ago I thought I had better check out what this cruising lark was all about – this is around the time when ships started being based in Australia and that the Australian cruise market really started to take off. Up until then it was a matter of flying to Europe or Alaska or the Caribbean to join a cruise ship. How things have changed in the world of cruise and the options available to us close to home.

Anyway, here I am 20 years ago with two young children and a friend and her young son deciding to join us as we sailed out of Brisbane on a P&O 3-night cruise to nowhere. Before we had left port, my friend was lying on the pool lounge feeling seasick, the kids were having a ball, all running in different directions and I was observing the feel of a party boat, not my idea of a holiday. I hopped off thinking, I knew cruising wasn’t for me! A few years later saw me in Asia and with two young children learning to sail, I decided to brave the seas and joined a Star Clipper in the north Andaman Sea heading to Burma. Under sail and with 225 passengers, I soon worked out that this was a fabulous way to travel. Also, this is when the penny dropped: it is so important to match the right ship to the traveller.

The options are enormous, from sailing ships with under 40 passengers, or massive cruise ships with nearly 9000 passengers and everything in between! The standards and inclusions vary enormously too, so always be careful to compare similar styles, inclusions and standards.

The trend in cruising is two ways – massive ships with every mod con and entertainment you can imagine, a la Symphony of the Seas, with 23 swimming pools, numerous nightclubs, 23 food outlets and restaurants, waterslides, zipline rides, and flow rider surfing... The list of activities is endless. The destination for some is the ship, not where you are actually sailing.

The fastest growing sector is in the small ship area. Think authentic, interactive, immersive, and often luxury. Here we are talking about expedition cruising – there is Scenic Eclipse with her own submarine, Seabourn and Quarks Ultramarine with their own helicopter. Ponant’s newly refurbished flagship Le Ponant, which has been converted into a super luxury sailing yacht for a maximum 36 passengers and she is heading to Australia!

Over the coming summer we have a number of ships visiting our waters and it is a great time to snag a good deal. Whatever style you are looking for it is probably heading our way. Adults only Virgin Voyages on Resilient Lady, family and anyone cruises on Quantum of the Seas, sailing on the thinking man’s cruise line Viking, being pampered on luxury Regent Seven Sea and Silversea or hopping on one of our locally based ships. 

Contact Travelling Places
P: 07 5545 1600 E: travel@travellingplaces.com.au