More and more Australians are opting to go on a cruise holiday, The Sydney Morning Herald has reported.

According to figures from the International Cruise Council Australasia, nearly half a million Aussies embarked on a domestic or international cruise last year, up 27 per cent on the previous year.

Australian cruise passenger numbers have also increased by more than 300 per cent since 2002, making Australia one of the fastest growing cruise markets in the world.

Ross Dowling, professor of tourism at Edith Cowan University, commented, “Today you’ve got ships home ported in virtually every major port, so it’s more accessible and affordable and Australians are cruising as a result.

“While Australians would seldom have considered a cruise 10 years ago, there’s now almost a culture of cruising.”

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