Classic International Cruises has reported a 7% rise in revenue in the 2011/12 Australia season with repeat rates as high as 62%.
As the cruise line’s Athena vessel left Fremantle on Saturday bound for Europe, managing director Grant Hunter declared it the most successful season in Australia for the company.
The six-month program from Perth and Adelaide saw average passenger repeat rates of 45% while 62% of passengers on the 38-night round trip from Perth to Japan had previously cruised with the firm, he said.
“Overall revenue is up 7% and the signs for an even better 2012/13 from Perth and Adelaide next summer are very strong,” Hunter said. “Onboard surveys showed 97.4% of passengers this summer intend to sail with us again.”
Athena’s current voyage from Fremantle to the UK via, for the first time, South Africa, is its most popular line voyage since it began operating in Australia in 2004, Hunter added.
He claimed forward bookings for the 2012/13 season were already strong with increasing numbers of east coast residents flying or travelling by train to join Athena.
The ship arrives in Perth on December 18 for a 17-voyage season.
