Bad cruise news just keeps coming, Australia is quietly undergoing a cruise crisis. Post COVID, we had a roaring success, but at the moment we are seeing a huge decline.
There will be no more visits from Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady – remember the excitement when the all-adult cruise ship visited Freo in April 2024. I loved photographing her and writing about her and our readers all 4,500 of them enjoyed the article!
She home-ported in Melbourne for just one season in 2023-24. Then Virgin pulled out of Australia for good.
And the Queens, so sad, I just love their red funnels and sleek hulls. Queen Elizabeth will no longer home-port in Melbourne or Sydney. The Queens will only visit Australia on world cruises after the end of this season, and there are no visits to Freo this season.
Disney Wonder will no longer home-port in Melbourne after February 2026. In addition to this loss, Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean have all reduced ship capacity in Australia. During the 2023-24 season, 18 cruise ships home-ported in Australia, it’s down to 12 this season. By 2026-27 there will be a 35% decrease across major cruise lines or a decrease of 17,712 passengers.That means, 17,712 Australians wont be able to sail unless they fly.
Why is this happening?
It appears that Australia is becoming a less and less profitable destination for cruise lines to operate in:
- Virgin Voyages blamed the security situation in the Red Sea and having to sail around Africa instead of coming through the Sues Canal.
- The Australian dollar is weak – most cruise lines operate in US dollars.
- Fuel costs are rising.
- Ships have to travel long distances between ports in Australia and Fremantle is very remote.
- Cunard’s ‘formal attire’, gala evenings, white glove service, afternoon tea and string quartets do not appeal to many Aussies except those who prefer elegance. Their class-based system is reminiscent of golden age ocean liners and doesn’t sit well with many cruisers.
- Itineraries never change around Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific and doesn’t encourage repeat customers.
Despite the reduction in available cruises, according to CLIA – Cruise Lines International Association – there was a 10% increase in Aussies cruising within Australia in 2024, with 70 ships visiting Australian ports. It’s down to 63 this season. In March, we reported on P&O Australia being absorbed into Carnival Cruise Line and we farewelled Pacific Explorer.
So what does this all mean for Fremantle and WA cruisers?
It looks like fewer and fewer large ships will be visiting Fremantle. So those of you who enjoy domestic cruising, you’ll need to book further in advance. Last minute deals, and solo specials are now a thing of the past.
The only royal visit to Freo this year is the Crown Princess. She is due in on Monday, 13 October at 6.30am and leaves later the same day at 6pm. Keep an eye out for our story on her arrival!
She left New York on August 20 on a 54-day one way cruise. She heads to Sydney from here on a 11-day one way cruise.
By Jean Hudson @jeansodyssey.
Jean Hudson is our Shipping and Sailing Correspondent and also a regular feature writer and photographer here on the Shipping News. You may also like to follow up her informative Places I Love stories, as well as other feature stories and Freo Today photographs, right here.
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