Ahead of the 2024-25 summer season, Destination NSW joined cruise leaders this week at the 26th Australian Cruise Association (ACA) Conference in Adelaide and last week at the Cruise360 Australasia conference in Sydney.
The Australian Cruise Association Conference attracted more than 140 delegates from 4-6 September 2024, with the welcome event attended Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell.
Guest speakers included Holland America Group Director of Shore Excursions & Future Cruises Jessica Ashe, Norwegian Cruise Lines EVP and COO Chad Berkshire and Deloitte Access Economics Partner Adele Labine-Romain.
The Cruise360 Australasia conference and trade exhibition was held at the International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney on 30 August 2024.
It attracted almost 850 CLIA travel agents and cruise industry representatives and featured a conference program designed to equip travel agents with the latest insight to help them cater to new clients and grow their cruise business.
Attendees heard from cruise industry leaders including CLIA Chair and Carnival Corporation Country Manager Peter Little, Norwegian Cruise Line Vice President & Manging Director Ben Angell, Ponant Chief Executive Officer Deb Corbett and Royal Caribbean International Vice President & Managing Director Gavin Smith.
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia Managing Director Joel Katz (above) said: “Australia will host a total of 62 cruise ships over the 2024-25 summer season, which is among the busiest schedules we’ve seen in local waters.
“The number of ships is slightly down on the 70 hosted last year, but many are staying longer and making more calls. “The total number of visits will be up three per cent to 1904 port calls, which creates enormous tourism opportunities for local communities.”
Among the new arrivals are 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.
Queen Elizabeth will arrive in October for a home-porting season from Sydney, which will include the third edition of the Great Australian Culinary Voyage and the inaugural Australian Literature Festival at Sea.
Princess Cruises’ Crown Princess will also make her inaugural 113-night world voyage from Sydney in June 2025.
Cruise360 also featured the largest cruise trade exhibition ever held in the Southern Hemisphere, with 37 cruise lines taking part.
Next year's Cruise360 conference will span two days for the first time.
Mr Katz said: “There’s so much happening in cruise and we want to be able to offer more.”
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