Thread: Is Australia the Next Big Cruising Destination For Families?

In the Northern hemisphere winter the number of cruise ships coming to Australia has begun to grow. Although the trend previously was for retirees and couples to escape for a few weeks to a new destination; or for a world cruise to create a more interesting itinerary there has been a definite move to capture the family market. Royal Caribbean and P&O Australia have always branded themselves for families. With daily activities including basketball, rockclimbing, swimming, mini golf, and video arcades, the ships have also continue to promote and develop their Kids and Teen Club. Following the recent trends include Playstation competitions, karaoke, pizza parties and more, the parents are also happier with happy, busy and active kids, allowing them to take time to relax and enjoy adult company. Now with Carnival the Fun Ships sending Carnival Spirit Down Under from 2012 Australia is clearly being promoted as the new destination for families!


What makes Australia all the more so perfect is the country as a whole is geared towards families. Every port has numerous shore tour possibilities and many of them are suitable for families no matter how active they are, what they like or how old they are!


Australia is famous for its unique animals including kangaroos, koalas, Tasmanian Devils, Ringtail Possums, Wombats, Echidna and Platypus. You can’t find these animals in any other part of the world. In Hobart, Tasmania there are tours that go to Bonorong Wildlife Park which let you get up close and personal with the animals. For those ships staying overnight there is an evening tour so you can see them when they are most active! Or if you’re not too chicken, head up to the Top End of Australia to the ports of Darwin and Cairns and find out all about one of our fiercest animals – the crocodile!


Then there are the beaches! And what is more Australian than going to the beach and catching a wave. Surfing is a very popular sport for Australians. At Manly Beach, one of Sydney’s most famous beaches you can spend the day learning to surf. Expert instructors will teach you all the techniques and have you paddling out in the waves and standing up in no time. Their all day safaris are suitable for all beginners and even Mum and Dad can join in!


With Australia having such a huge coastline, there are beaches and watersports in every port. Cairns is a very well-known beach spot and famous for the Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven wonders of the Natural World. Take a boat out to the reef and go snorkelling or visit Green Island a coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef and a National Park. It’s the perfect place to relax on the beach or explore the reef in a variety of ways. Go underwater , see the fish and coral and not even get wet with a semi-submersible boat; hire a snorkel and head out to the beautiful, clear, blue water to see what lies below the surface. For the more adventurous try helmet diving - a great way to head deeper underwater and walk on the ocean’s floor and suitable for non-swimmers!


If you like to keep active there will be plenty of other options for you. Did you know that you can take a bike tour and ride over the famous “Coathanger Bridge” in Sydney. That’s right, peddle around the oldest city in Australia and find out about the history, the highlights and the convict history. Horseride through farmland and forests in Cairns, walk through forests on a 40m high bridge in the Tahune Forests in Hobart or learn how chocolate is made at the famous Cadbury’s chocolate factory.


With so many options the difficult part will actually end up being which cruise to choose and how to agree on your Shore Excursions.

We've always talked about how we'd love to go to Australia but for us it's way to long of flights to get there. Maybe once the kids are grown and out of the house and we're retired empty nesters....

We too have discussed going on a cruise down under. A major problem would be the cost of the flights -- much more than the fare for the cruise. So maybe we'll do this when our daughter is in college (assuming her tuition isn't using up all our money) and just the two of us would go.

Have never fancied Australia, but would love to visit New Zealand.