The stats say it all - despite the GFC and despite the stale misconception that cruising is for fat old people, nearly half a million* Australians took a cruise last year, and those numbers are set to increase big time over the next 15 years.
Why? People are discovering that cruising in the 21st century is a holiday mode that has something for (almost) everyone.
As Grant Hunter, long-time MD of Classic International Cruises, tells Cruise Passenger magazine, "Cruising is no longer just for retirees. All demographic groups, particularly families, have embraced the all-inclusive nature, the value for money and the 'unpack once" advantages that cruising offers."
Looking to the future, industry expert Brett Jardine, GM of the International Cruise Council Australasia, says, "Statistics show Australian passenger numbers have grown by almost 20 per cent a year on average since 2002. That's a fantastic trajectory and we're expecting more growth over the next decade."
Cruise Passenger is the magazine of choice for all cruisers and discerning travellers looking to book exciting, new and different holidays. The Spring issue comes with the free annual River Cruise Guide: all you need to know about river voyages on the Nile, Yangtze, Mekong, Murray and more.
And, as always, Cruise Passenger is packed with fascinating features - the Spring issue includes:
* ADVENTURE: Sailing and scuba-diving in remote Fijian islands; voyage up the Mekong
* REGION SPOTLIGHT Freo, Geraldton, Albany - get to know a slice of Western Australia
* BORNEO, INDONESIA, PNG: Explore this region before it!s overrun by tourists
* MEDITERRANEAN VOYAGE: Snapshots from historic Greece, Malta and Italy
* PLUS: The latest in-depth ship, port and cruise line reviews
Cruise Passenger magazine has had a loyal following since its inception 15 years ago. Its founder, Gil McLachlan, CEO of the McLachlan Travel Group, says, "It is now indisputably the best cruise publication in the world."
Cruise Passenger magazine is available by subscription for $29.95 a year (call 1300 668 905,
www.cruisepassenger.com.au), at selected newsagents for $9.95 per issue and, for the first time, through ICCA travel agents across Australia.
Notes for Editors
Cruise Passenger magazine is Australasia"s number one publication for cruise enthusiasts. Launched in 1996, Cruise Passenger has a crew of highly experienced cruise-travel writers and each issue is packed full of must-read features on popular cruise regions, ocean, river and expedition cruising, land-based tour options, plus the chance to win thousands of dollars worth of fantastic prizes.
www.cruisepassenger.com.au
* According to statistics from the ICCA, 466,692 Australians took a cruise in 2010
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