Australian cruisers are getting prices better than five years ago, we can reveal.
We spoke to industry experts who told Cruise Passenger that, because of Australia’s love affair with cruise, it’s cheaper to book here than in almost every other industry centre.
Bundles, packages, offers and low, low airfares are giving passengers unprecedented bargains.
There has been a long debate whether it is cheaper to book cruises from America and the United Kingdom.
But Cruise Passenger’s sources busted the myth and said it is the optimal time of Australians to cruise around the world.
And our own simple online checks produced instant savings against Asia sites of over $100 per person.
For instance:
- A 5-night Busan & Fukuoka Cruise on Legend of the Seas, calling at Tianjin in China, Busan in South Korea, Fukuoka in Japan.
Australian price: AU$885.85 per person, twin share
Singaporean price: SG$952.00 per person, twin share
“Because of Australian’s love of cruising, we get some of the best deals compared to cruisers in Asia, America and the United Kingdom. Five years ago, Australians were paying substantially more than Americans for a cruise,” said the source, who works for one of the major chains.
“The Asian market is relatively new so some cruises which Asians in China or Southeast Asia book are more expensive than say, if an Aussie books the same cruise.”
But she warned that each line is different and every country has different deals which they offer to its residents.
“A good example deals is Royal Caribbean’s 72-hour sale which is exclusive to Australians residents. Lines in different regions may offer different deals like onboard credit, gratuities, shore excursions and discounts.
“It is an amazing time for Aussies to buy cruise any where in the world because we are being offered great deals. In combination with cheap airfares and fantastic fly, stay, cruise and tour offers, there are plenty of deals which Australians can capitalise on. Even booking cruises in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean are becoming increasingly cheaper for us.”
Lines like Royal Caribbean, Azamara Club Cruises and Celebrity Cruisers give buyers an option to change the location of where they are booking from.
This allows passengers to carry out price comparisons before buying.
Cruise Passenger advises readers to check before they buy.
