What Happened to South Pacific Cruising?
March 4, 2026
16K views
Have South Pacific cruise itineraries become too predictable?
Australian cruisers often say the same thing — Noumea, Lifou, Mystery Island… repeat. But what happened to ports like Champagne Bay, Wala, Luganville, and the longer, more adventurous sailings of the past?
In this video, I examine how South Pacific cruising has changed over the past two decades — from the romantic itineraries of the late 1990s and 2000s to today’s simplified post-COVID routes.
Using recent reporting from Australian Broadcasting Corporation and historical context from previous Pacific cruise itineraries, we explore:
• Why some Pacific ports no longer appear on Australian itineraries
• Whether these destinations are actually closed — or simply overlooked
• The impact of ship size, risk, insurance, and infrastructure
• Whether cruise variety in the South Pacific has shifted to the premium and expedition market
• And whether demand from travellers could influence change
Are cruise lines underestimating Australian demand for more diverse Pacific itineraries?
Or is repetition simply what sells?
I’d love to hear your perspective in the comments.
Would you pay more for a broader South Pacific itinerary?
Or are you happy with the current rotation?
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Music by Master Planned Music
0:00 Introduction
1:10 Risk Averse
3:19 Go Lux or Expedition
4:11 ABC Investigation
6:25 The Future
8:55 Bloopers