P&O's record-breaking cruise season starts now!
By: Louise Goldsbury, Cruise Weekly

Australia's cruise season has kicked off, with more local ports, ships and destinations than ever - while Carnival Australia will carry a record number of passengers on its P&O, Princess, Seabourn and Cunard ships.

The nation's largest cruise operator, Carnival Australia, has revealed that a record 190,000 passengers will sail on its ships locally during the next six months.

The figure is almost double the number of passengers carried by Carnival five years ago, when the company began "planting the seed" to attract more Australians to cruising.

Jenny Lourey (pictured), senior vice president, Carnival Australia, which operates Cunard, P&O, Yachts of Seabourn and Princess Cruises, told Cruise Weekly that this summer was set to be a "bumper season".

"Cruising has come a long way in Australia and its popularity is higher than ever," she said.

"It was only 2007 when we launched Pacific Dawn, bringing in the first modern ship with balconies, and Sun Princess was launched here in the same season; then last year was Dawn Princess and this year it's all about Pacific Jewel. So we've been planting the seed of growth for five years."

Lourey said that ultimately she would like to see cruises as part of every Australian's holiday.

"We now have ships from all ports in Australia and offer more choice for consumers, with new homeports, a lot more new and interesting itineraries, and of course, more new ships."

Carnival's upcoming cruise season will see its 12 ships making a record 217 visits to ports around the country. Highlights include the maiden Fremantle and Adelaide visits of Queen Mary 2, the debut of superliner Pacific Jewel in Dec and the inaugural Australian visit of the world's newest luxury cruise ship, Seabourn Odyssey.

The four new ports for the season are Christmas, Norfolk and Phillip islands and Newcastle.

"We think it will be a very exciting six months, not only for passengers at sea but also for spectators on land, as there'll be a continual parade of ships through our ports," Lourey said, adding: "It's very exciting for people to have new places to go."

The expansion of cruise itineraries also means economic benefits will be delivered outside major ports, with cruising expected to contribute about $1 billion to the Australian economy in 2009.

The season kicks off on 16 Oct when Dawn Princess arrives in Sydney, returning from her 104-night world voyage.

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