As the summer sun sets in Europe and North America, the mercury starts to rise in the southern hemisphere – Australia and New Zealand. With the timing of the seasons reversed between northern and southern hemispheres, the cruise season starts Down Under as fall sets in the north. So, don’t be surprised with the number of ships cruising Australia and New Zealand.
The warm winds are estimated to bring a record summer cruise season with about 600 ships expected to anchor in this beautiful harbor in the coming months. As Australia’s love affair with cruising takes a more passionate turn, the number of cruisers from the continent may reach the one million mark a year earlier than 2016. This is the essence of “Australia’s cruising obsession may see a million passengers ship out in 2015” posted in The Daily Telegraph, Sydney – Lifestyle Section.
But a bumper season with more than 600 cruise ship port visits down under is likely to see passenger number achieve the milestone ahead of time.
Last year, 833,364 people hit the sea for a total of 8.7 million days.
The average ocean cruise lasted 10.5 days while river cruises stretched out for just over two weeks.
The massive surge in interest has made Australia the world’s leading cruise market in terms of growth and penetration, surpassing even North America…
Although South Pacific cruises still attract the lion’s share of the Australian market, river cruises were rapidly gaining interest.
The sailing season in Australia was marked by the gliding of mega cruise liners into the Harbor City last September 22, 2014. This includes the biggest and the brightest of the cruise ships like the Carnival Legend. This U.S.-based gigantic ship has gone through massive “Aussiefication” worth $47 million for her first sojourn Down Under.
As it left the Circular Quay for a 12-day cruise to the South Pacific, everything look Smooth sailing for Sydney’s biggest-ever cruise season according to The Daily Telegraph, Sydney – Lifestyle Section.
Like her sister ship the Carnival Spirit, the Legend features a water park with the mammoth Green Thunder waterslide, and a refurbished gym to please Aussies, who like to exercise more than other nationalities. Shades have been added to sun beds, lamb chops and Weet-Bix are now on the menu, and the crew has had a crash course in coffee making to please picky Aussie caffeine connoisseurs.
This is not the only exciting cruise ship to watch out for this sailing season. Most cruise companies are now rolling out a host of special deals during the Cruise Week and maybe over the entire season. According to The Daily Telegraph, Sydney – Lifestyle Section, there are 10 top cruising experiences for your bucket list:
Cruising out of Sydney
… During the peak cruising season – September to January – ships depart Sydney for the South Pacific and New Zealand on a daily basis… you also have the chance to sail out of one of the most spectacular harbours in the world. A sunset sail away past the Opera House is a must-do for any cruiser – it’s the best view in town.
Cruising out of Venice
… A cruise out of Venice, the City on the Water, is an experience like no other. Cruise ships currently dock in the terminal at the mouth of the Giudecca Canal. From there, the sail away takes you out of the Venice lagoon via the Grand Canal…
The bird’s eye view
… On the Allure of the Seas, one of the world’s biggest cruise ships, you can get a bird’s eye view of all the action on the zip line. Soar across the open atrium, looking down on the carousel and boardwalk nine decks below.
Caviar at sea
… Small ships such as Crystal Cruises and Seabourn have staff to guest ratios that enable everyone on board to be spoilt. .. If you’re not a big drinker, don’t worry – how about Caviar in the Surf? A Seabourn specialty, imagine swimming on an island to suddenly see staff in full uniform floating around with champagne and caviar on a surfboard.
Spa at sea
… Day spas and spa suites are serious business – when the Diamond Princess arrives down under this year, she’ll come with the world’s largest Japanese bath house at sea. Hot water Utaseyu showers, stone baths, open air hydrotherapy pools, day beds, rock gardens, saunas with floor to ceiling windows looking straight out to sea – everything you need for an onsen at sea.
This not the end of the pleasures you can experiences when cruising. Do you know that you can have lawn parties and other lawn activities on board Celebrity Solstice with its football field-sized patch of real grass on the upper deck? See the pyramids as well as temples by enjoying a cruise along the Nile River. Cruise under the Golden Gate Bridge and get a good view of this landmark known the world over. If you are an animal lover, Galapagos Island must be in your bucket list. Finally, another breathtaking sight close to home that you must not miss, the wild luxury of the Kimberley Coast with memorable stops to see the famous King George Falls, Mitchell Falls and Bungle Bungles.
As the people in the north prepare for a really nippy weather, the sun shines brightly Down Under. If you miss the sun, come to Australia and have Thanksgiving and Christmas away from traditions. Go cruising and the beach for a refreshing change.
