Cruise passenger and ship arrivals in Hawaii may have dropped in March but the latest annual figures show a different story.
According to Hawai’i Tourism Oceania, Australian travellers visiting Hawaii to take a cruise in 2013 increased by 45.1% compared to 2012.
In 2012, Australian cruise passenger numbers were up 23.3% on 2011.
These figures include disembarking/embarking and taking an inter-island cruise, whereas this year’s monthly figures applied only to passengers passing through US Customs in Hawaii and therefore do not include NCL’s Pride of America, which only sails within the state.
Ashlee Galea, country manager for Hawai’i Tourism Oceania (HTO), told Cruise Weekly: “Australian travellers are increasingly interested in taking a cruise holiday and this is reflected in the increase HTO have seen in visitors cruising to and from Hawai’i.
“Inter-island cruising also continues to increase in popularity,” she added.
“There is no surprise that this type of holiday is becoming more popular – for first-time visitors, it is a fantastic introduction to the diversity of the Hawaiian islands, and for repeat visitors, it is a different way to revisit Hawaii.”
MEANWHILE, statistics for Australians cruising to other destinations are due to be released this month in the annual industry report by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia.
Usually published by this time of year, CLIA gm Brett Jardine said 2013 source market data was “still being collated”.
CLIA is also set to release its inaugural economic impact study in Jun.