The falling price of airfares makes it the best time for Aussies to cruise overseas. Cheap fuel, fierce competition and a weaker dollar has sent air tickets plunging to some of their lowest levels – and experts predict they could go even lower.
Australians can get prices from Sydney to LA for less than $900 and Melbourne to London for as little as $1,255. Cruisers can then sail from Southampton on a number of cruise lines like P&O UK, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Silversea, Ponant and Regent Seven Seas.
Or, cruisers looking to capitalise on the cheap airfares can fly from Adelaide to Hong Kong and cruise to destinations in Japan and Korea for the Asian wave season.
Flight Centre Head of Leisure and Travel Tom Walley told local news media that these prices were the lowest he has seen in 30 years.
“We’ve seen airlines respond to market conditions like increased competition and reduced fuel prices with amazing airfares not seen before,” said Mr Walley.
“Even looking back just 12 months, an airfare to South America for under $1,300 return was unheard of, now that’s the type of price you can expect to pay.”
The cheapest flights, Mr Walley said, were on Asian routes. Particularly because of the emergence of budget airlines like Scoot, AirAsia X, Cebu Pacific and Tigerair, premium airlines have also had to force their prices down.
“Right now, we have return flights to Bali from Perth priced from just $320, which was previously unheard of and about half the price of the average airfare to Bali five to six years ago,” he said.
“It’s a very exciting time of the industry when pricing has never been better the quality of travel products is extremely high and more people can get out and explore the world.”
Cruise from Singapore
Sail from Singapore and visit exotic destinations around Southeast Asia including Phuket in Thailand, Langkawi, Penang and Port Klang in Malaysia and Bali before sailing to Perth. The cruise is onboard the Sun Princess. The 12-night cruise is priced from $866 per person, twin share. For more information, click here.
Cruise from Hong Kong
This 14-night cruise onboard the Celebrity Millennium from Hong Kong calls at a number of ports in Vietnam and Thailand. You can sample some traditional Vietnamese dishes like pho, a beef noodle soup dish and see the temples in Bangkok. The cruise is priced from $2,089 per person, twin share. The cruise departs on October 30, 2016. For more information, click here.
Cruise from Southampton
Depart Southampton onboard P&O UK’s Azura and call at European destinations like Vigo, Oporto and Cherbourg on a seven-night cruise. You’ll also call at Portugal’s capital Lisbon where you can experience some of the best European culture has to offer. The cruise is priced from just $849 per person, twin share. The cruise departs on October 21, 2016. For more information, click here.
Cruise from Los Angeles
Sail around the Mexican Rivera from just $576 per person. The cruise onboard Princess Cruises’ Ruby Princess departs Los Angeles and calls at Puerto Vallarata, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas before sailing back to Los Angeles. The cruise departs November 26, 2016. For more information, click here.
Sydney to LA – $892
Melbourne to London – $1,255
Sydney to Singapore – $476
Perth to Bali – $278
Sydney to New York – $1,383
Brisbane to New York – $1,139
Adelaide to Hong Kong – $775
Sydney to Hawaii – $746
All prices are economy return fares through Flight Centre.
