Mixing it up: cruising’s emerging players & destinations to watch in 2024-25

A new brand, familiar names and, best of all, a diverse mix of itineraries awaits in 2024-25 cruising Asia Pacific.

Best of British

A new name in cruise that’s heading Down Under soon is UK-based Ambassador Cruise Line.

With roots firmly in traditional British hospitality, Ambassador’s small ship Ambience will sail into Australian waters for the first time in February 2024 on the Grand Round the World Cruise. The full 120-night voyage departs London Tilbury in early January 2024 . . . and Aussies need not fly to London first to experience this fantastic itinerary as Sydney is the official embarkation/disembarkation port in Australia.

The world cruise has scheduled transit visits to Melbourne, Adelaide and Fremantle, where there’s an 11-hour stopover on March 3, before departing for Lombok, Indonesia. Other highlights of the voyage include Colombo, the Maldives, Seychelles, Mombasa in Kenya, Cape Town, Rio de Janeiro, Marrakech in Morocco, and Lisbon (34 ports in 24 countries in total).

Ambitiously, the Ambassador brand launched in mid-2021 when parts of the cruise industry were still reeling amid the pandemic. Its fleet comprises two ships in the small to mid-size range — Ambience with a capacity of 1400 passengers and Ambition 1200 passengers — pitched as a “premium value” cruise line for over-50s. But it’s also offering limited “multigenerational” sailings as part of its 2024-25 season, and a selection of themed cruises.

Guests can expect classic British decor, traditional English pub-style bars like the Raffles Bar, modern British cuisine at Buckingham Restaurant and The Borough Market, afternoon high tea, West End-style shows and much more. And, of course, the “warmest welcome at sea”.

There are plenty of other itineraries of varying lengths including the British Isles, Mediterranean, Caribbean, the Arctic and Africa. For further details, visit ambassadorcruiseline.com.

Sky’s the Limit

Captain Cook Cruises Fiji is about to reset operations with the introduction of the MS Caledonian Sky for year-round cruising in the South Pacific.

The ship has been a regular feature over many years in the Kimberley on expedition cruises. Family-run Captain Cook Cruises Fiji will take over operations of the ship on a long-term charter basis, replacing the MV Reef Endeavour, from November this year.

Caledonian Sky will sail expeditions of Fiji departing Nadi in what Captain Cook says will elevate the on-board experience “into the most remote and beautiful parts of Fiji, Tonga and Samoa”.

Current itineraries include short cruises to Mamanuca (for great snorkelling and diving) and volcanic Yasawa islands (for hiking and swimming). From April 2024, and in addition to these cruises, Caledonian Sky will sail seven-night Northern Lau and Southern Lau itineraries, plus 14-night voyages through Lau to Tonga and Samoa.

The line will have an expanded expedition team of marine biologists and cultural experts, and a fleet of 10 Zodiacs.

Captain Cook Cruises Fiji executive chair Allison Haworth West says Caledonian Sky sets the benchmark for premium expedition cruising in Fiji.

“The arrival of MS Caledonian Sky will see an expansion in our small ship expedition cruise programs and allow us to share more exquisite and remote locations with our guests, who’ll travel in elegant comfort,” she says.

The company says the intimate experience will remain a key feature with Caledonian Sky’s capacity of 114 passengers across 57 ocean-view suites, with private balconies — that’s boutique comfort without compromising its ability to get into tight areas the bigger ships can’t. The ship was last refurbished in 2019 and will undergo further improvements before the start of Fiji expeditions, including the installation of a spa bath on the sundeck.

Captain Cook Cruises already visits about 90 of Fiji’s 300-plus islands. All cruises offer water and beach activities including swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, snorkelling and glass-bottom boat tours over pristine coral reefs.

MS Caledonian Sky has sailed in the Kimberley for many years under the APT banner and replaces MV Reef Endeavour, which will operate until November before leaving Fiji. Visit captaincookcruisesfiji.com.

Comic Capers

At the opposite end of the cruise spectrum, family-friendly Disney Cruise Line has announced a second season of Disney Magic at Sea sailings in Australia and New Zealand, from October 2024 to February 2025 “by popular demand”.

There are two to seven-night itineraries on offer with departures again from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and Auckland, aboard Disney Wonder.

The 2024-25 season includes ports of call at Hobart (four nights from Melbourne ending in Sydney); Auckland (five nights from Melbourne); and Noumea, New Caledonia (six nights from Sydney).

On board there’ll be family meet-and-greet opportunities with some of the world’s best known and loved film characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars; deck parties; special gala dinner performances; and Broadway-style Disney musicals including the classic Frozen: A Musical Spectacular.

Disney CL will also be based in Singapore for year-round sailings for at least five years from 2025, as announced earlier this year.

The line’s senior vice-president and general manager Sharon Siskie says: “We were thrilled by the incredible response to our inaugural sailings in Australia and New Zealand and can’t wait to return in October 2024.”

Bookings for 2024-25 have opened. Disney’s inaugural summer season this year from the East Coast starts on October 28.

Details and schedules at DisneyCruiseLine.com/AUNZ.