Australia’s love affair with cruising is showing no signs of slowing down, with 1.32 million Australians taking an ocean cruise in 2024—a 5.9 per cent increase on the previous year, according to the latest data from Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).
The 2024 Source Market Report for Australia, released today, also revealed a 14 per cent rise in international cruise passengers visiting the region, with 247,000 overseas travellers cruising in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.
“More Australians are choosing cruising—both at home and abroad—which proves cruising remains one of the most rewarding ways to travel,” said Joel Katz, CLIA Managing Director in Australasia.
Regional cruising remains the top choice
Close-to-home itineraries were again the most popular, with 81.5 per cent of Australian cruisers sailing within Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. That’s up from 1.06 million passengers in 2023 to nearly 1.08 million in 2024.
Long-haul cruising is also on the rise, with 18.5 per cent of Aussies choosing to fly and cruise in destinations such as the Mediterranean, Asia, Alaska and the Caribbean. This marks a growing interest in international cruise travel compared to 15.2 per cent in 2023.
Younger cruisers making waves
The average age of Australian cruise passengers remained steady at 48.4 years in 2024, continuing a post-pandemic shift toward younger cruisers. One third of all Australian passengers were aged under 40, highlighting cruising’s broader generational appeal.
The average cruise duration was 8 days, down slightly from 8.1 days in 2023, reflecting the popularity of shorter, accessible itineraries.
Cruise market hits near-record highs
Key highlights from the report include:
- 1.32 million Australians cruised in 2024—approaching the all-time high of 1.35 million in 2018.
- Australia retains its position as the world’s fourth largest cruise market.
- Market penetration remains high, with nearly one in 20 Australians cruising in 2024.
- Globally, 34.6 million people took an ocean cruise in 2024—a new world record.
Industry calls for stronger regional support
While growth is strong, Katz cautioned that further development is needed to support long-term industry sustainability.
“Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific are top-tier destinations, but they remain challenging environments for cruise operators,” he said.
“We need collaborative action from governments, destinations and industry stakeholders to maintain and grow cruise ship deployment in the region.”
Previous CLIA and Australian Cruise Association (ACA) figures showed cruise tourism contributed over $8.43 billion to the Australian economy in 2023–24, supporting more than 26,000 jobs.
