AdvertisementTravel newsCruises Fewer big ships: Australia’s cruising boom may finally be over Brian Johnston September 23, 2025 — 3:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Got it ShareThe number of large cruise ships homeporting and cruising in Australia is steadily falling. Has the heyday of big-budget ship cruising in Australia reached its peak wave? However, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has frequently bemoaned Australia’s high operating costs and port fees, bureaucratic complexity, and tight terminal access in Sydney. AdvertisementThat means you’ll have fewer choices of cruise lines, ships and itineraries, which are increasingly linking fewer ports.