Australians set new record for cruise holidays

April 15, 2026 – The number of Australians taking holidays at sea has surged to record highs, reaching 1.45 million people in 2025, according to figures released today by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

The result is a 9.5% increase on the 1.32 million Australians who cruised in 2024 and overtakes the previous record of 1.35 million set in 2018.

CLIA’s annual Source Market Report for 2025 shows Australia remains one of the world’s most enthusiastic cruise markets, with more than one in 20 Aussies taking a cruise last year. However, the data also confirms industry warnings that cruise fans are increasingly flying to other countries to sail, as Australia becomes less competitive among world cruise destinations.

CLIA Executive Director in Australasia Joel Katz said new levels of innovation among cruise lines and a strong focus on value for money were helping to drive Australia’s growing love of cruising.

“The number of Australians cruising is at record levels, and with around 80 new ships coming online worldwide over the next decade, this passion can only rise,” Mr Katz said. “However, Australia is struggling to attract ships to our own waters because of regulatory uncertainties and rising costs, so we are becoming uncompetitive as a destination and losing tourism to other countries.

“Cruising contributes $7.32 billion a year to the national economy and supports more than 22,000 Australian jobs, so it’s vital that we bring together Federal, State and Territory governments under a national action plan – so we can create greater regulatory certainty, restore Australia’s competitiveness, and attract more cruise tourism.”

CLIA’s report shows most Australians still prefer to sail within Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, but the portion who choose to sail in other parts of the world has risen to almost 20%. A total of 286,000 Australians cruised outside the local region in 2025, a 17% increase on the previous year.

Despite this trend, local cruising remains strong. While the number of ships sailing locally has declined due to regulatory uncertainties and rising costs, an increase in shorter itineraries has allowed more people to sail. A total of 1.16 million Australians cruised within Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific last year, an increase of 8%.

Meanwhile, the average age of an Australian cruise passenger continues to fall as cruise lines attract younger generations. The average age in 2025 was 47.3 years, down from 48.4 the previous year, and more than one third of cruisers were aged under 40.

Key findings from CLIA’s 2025 Source Market Report for Australia include:

• A record 1.45 million Australians took an ocean cruise during 2025, up 9.5% from 1.32 million in 2024, and beyond the previous record of 1.35 million set in 2018.
• A total of 1.16 million Australians cruised within Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, an increase of 8%. A total of 286,000 Australians cruised outside the local region in 2025, an increase of 17%.
• The portion of Australian cruisers who chose long-haul destinations over local cruises grew from 18.5% in 2024 to 19.7% in 2025.
• The average duration of an ocean cruise taken by Australians in 2025 was 7.5 days, down from 8.0 days in 2024. This reflects the increase in popular short-break options offered by cruise lines.
• The average age of an Australian cruise passenger in 2025 fell to 47.3 years, down from 48.4 the previous year. This continues a long-term global trend as cruise lines attract younger generations. More than one third of Australian cruisers (34.2%) were aged under 40 in 2025.
• The most popular cruise region for Australians in 2025 was Australia/New Zealand/South Pacific, where 80.3% of cruisers sailed, followed by the Mediterranean (6.3%), Asia (4.5%), Alaska (2.5%), the Caribbean (1.7%), Northern Europe (1.3%), Hawaii & the US West Coast (0.7%), and South America/Panama (0.4%). Others took Expedition Cruises (0.8%), and Trans-Atlantic & World Cruises (0.5%).
• The number of overseas visitors who cruised in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific was 241,000 during 2025. The largest portion of overseas visitors came from North America (144,000), followed by Europe (42,000), New Zealand (33,000), and Asia (15,000).
• Globally, a record 37.2 million people took an ocean cruise in 2025, an increase of 7.5% on the previous record of 34.6 million set in 2024.
• At 1.45 million passengers, Australia was again the world’s fourth largest cruise market in 2025, behind the United States (20.56 million), Germany (2.83 million) and the United Kingdom (2.47 million).

Download the 2025 Source Market Report infographic.