The demand for cruising to Asia is not quite where it was pre-pandemic, but cruise lines are gearing up for a massive comeback in Asian cruising this year.
This is especially exciting for South African cruise fans, not just because of their pent-up demand for cruising to exotic destinations but also because of visa-free travel to many parts of the region.
“The lull in travel to the Far East is certainly over. It is business as usual for us with Asia. From a cruise line perspective, all our brands have reintroduced the destination. From a demand perspective, it has come back with a bang,” says Thaybz Khan, Head of Product at Cruises International.
Asia is a popular cruise option for South Africans because it is largely visa-free, Khan adds, noting that Cruises International has seen an uptake in both individual and group bookings lately, especially for Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas. The ship will sail from Singapore to Penang, Malaysia; then Phuket, Thailand; and back to Singapore again from June 1-5 this year, with inside cabins rates starting from R13 000 per person.
However, this segment of the cruising market still has a long way to go before it exceeds pre-pandemic levels. In a recent poll on Travel News, agents were asked if cruising to Asia had returned fully post-pandemic. Only 23% responded ‘yes’.
Nonetheless, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) remains very optimistic in its outlook, given Asia’s easy access, especially from the US.
“Asia is guaranteed to increase in popularity. For local cruise enthusiasts priming their sea legs for the 2023 cruise season, there's a wide selection of Asia cruise itineraries from international brands to choose from,” says Kevin Bubolz, VP and MD Continental Europe, Israel, Middle East and Africa.
As for cruising in general for the South African market, he says: "With major ship innovations, immersive itineraries, and exciting port-rich sailings, cruising is set to be one of the most popular, versatile, and cost-effective options for South African travellers in 2023.”
The CLIA recommends that bookings be made as early as possible to avoid disappointment this year, with lead times now months or even years in advance. This is especially important for the local market, as South Africans need to take visa applications into consideration.
Looking ahead to the rest of 2023 and beyond, Bubolz believes that South Africans will increasingly book cruise holidays due to their value for money and overall convenience.
Development Promotions is definitely seeing an uptake in cruise bookings for the Asia region, especially for cruises in Japan and south-east Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore).
However, as it was one of the last areas to restart travel fully, following a two-and-a-half-year suspension of sailing, many cruise lines did not include previously their popular south-east Asia itineraries in their late 2022/early 2023 deployment.
Development Promotions told Travel News cruising in Asia demand exceeded supply, and several lines were unable to fulfil many clients’ requests. The good news is that most Asian countries are now open to cruise ships, specifically Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. Along with the opening of the new season, cruise lines have also introduced new itineraries along with new ships to these regions. These include Tokyo and Singapore for the summer season, from April to September this year.
Holland America Line also restarted its Asia cruises in early February, and MS Westerdam is currently enjoying its first Cherry Blossom cruise season, cruising from Tokyo, in three years.
Costa Cruises too has announced its return to service in Asia with the Costa Serena, with sailings announced for June to September.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Jewel will be offering Asia cruises from November 2023 to March 2024. From October 2024 to May 2025, Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Sky will debut in Asia and sail to the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Japan. It will be NCL’s very first call in Akita, Japan. Norwegian Spirit will embark on a brand-new voyage from Australia to Asia on December 7, 2024.
