The cruising scene is once again flourishing, with big-name new players and the next generation of ships taking it to grander levels. And judging by what’s in store in 2024-25 and beyond, this is an industry that’s going to even more places and doing it in style. In the current Australian cruising season alone we’ve seen:
• Disney Cruise Line waving its wand to bring its ‘Disney Magic at Sea’ and the Disney Wonder to Australia for the first time, instantly turning kids, tweens and teens (and many of their parents) into cruising converts.
• Sir Richard Branson sweeping into Sydney Harbour aboard the Resilient Lady, painting the town in Virgin Voyages’ corporate red, announcing itself as a fun-andfunky contender in the adults-only (18+) cruising market.
• Celebrity Cruises celebrating the Australian debut of the first of its Edge Series ships, Celebrity Edge, complete with its ‘Magic Carpet’ – a cantilevered floating platform that scales the ship’s exterior, attaching itself to decks to provide extra venue and viewing space.
• German brand nicko cruises visiting Australia for the first time with its flagship ocean vessel, Vasco da Gama.
