One year beyond the resumption of cruises in Australia, TravelManagers’ cruise product manager, Lia Malone, says the interest in cruise holidays is higher than ever.
“We’ve seen a 95 per cent increase in our annual cruise sales volume in the first five months of 2023, compared with the same period last year, with month-on-month growth throughout 2023,” Malone, said.
According to Malone, growth in the cruise sector is not solely due to an increase in the number of bookings (although 2023 year-to-date figures show this has risen by a healthy 13 per cent). More significant, she says, is the impressive 71 per cent increase in average value per booking.
“An increasing number of clients are enhancing their cruise holiday experiences by upgrading their choice of stateroom and selecting all-inclusive pricing options, with verandah or balcony staterooms currently our highest-selling category.”
Malone says river cruising continues to be a favoured choice with TravelManagers’ customers, who enjoy the smaller ship format that allows for a more intimate, all-inclusive experience. She identifies Europe as one of the current hottest destinations for cruises, with TravelManagers’ sales for this region having doubled, compared with the same period last year.
“Australia-based cruises are also playing a significant role in contributing to our overall growth.
“As evidenced by the increased number of cruise ships heading to Australia for the first time.”
Current booking trends show that most cruise customers are making their advance bookings for travel within a six- to twelve-month window, although the number of forward bookings that extend beyond twelve months remain at a consistent pace as well.
“The overall increase in demand for the cruise sector this year is complemented by a rising number of our personal travel managers’ (PTMs’) new cruise customers coming from referrals.
“We take this as testament to the expertise of our PTMs in delivering exceptional service that matches each client with the ideal cruise experience,” Malone, concluded.
