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 per cent increase on the 1.32 million Australians who cruised in 2024 and overtakes the previous record of 1.35 million set in 2018.
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).
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.
The report shows most Australians still prefer to sail within Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, where 80.3 per cent of cruisers sailed.
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).
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.
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.”
