Major Cruise companies are sitting up and taking notice of what people are after when they want a luxury cruise.  One of the newest luxurious river cruise ships Panorama which will be launched in May in Germany, it will be one of many cruise ships coming into service as world demand for cruising goes through the roof.

Currently there is a growing demand from Australians in cruise type holidays, which have created more ships heading there for the 2011 – 2012 cruise season.  With the rush underway to vie for the Australian dollar this can only mean better deals, great facilities and overall fun filled holidays for more Australians to enjoy.

With the competition fierce already and more so since the recent announcements of 2 huge ships making Australia their home base there is a small problem that both are too big to fit under the Sydney Harbour Bridge!  As from October 2012 the lists of ships reads like the academy awards of the who’s who.  First up will be Carnival Spirit will be based in Sydney to take on the Pacific island cruise route, this 88,500 tonne girl can carry up to 2667 people.

The king of the castle would have to be the biggest ship ever to be based in Sydney is the Royal Caribbean International’s Celebrity Solstice this royal ship will be here for the 2012-2013-summer season.  This 3-year-old ship will be visiting Oz for the first time and she weighs in at a hefty 122,000 tonne.  A feature of this ship is the top deck Lawn Club featuring 0.4ha of not fake but real grass.

Features galore on this $750 million dollar lady from the penthouse suites complete with baby grand pianos, a total of 10 restaurants and what lady doesn’t want to have a martini in her hand when the sun goes down?  Well she can when she goes to the martini bar among its plethora of facilities.  Quite comfortably she can accommodate 2850 passengers.

The list of ships heading down under continues with a superliner Celebrity Century from the end of November this year.  Not to be out done Holland America Line is also sitting up and taking notice of Australia sending its liner Zaandam to join her sister ship Volendam, to sail from Australia together.

Avalon Waterways’ Panorama makes its maiden voyage in May and so much fan fare was made of her arrival that her cruises were all sold within a week.  It probably helped being on a luxury cruise that you would want to know that you had the choice of two full decks of suites featuring wall-wall panoramic windows that when the curtains are pulled back transforms the living space into an open air balcony.

Also knowing that the suites are 30 per cent larger than the standard cabins, other little extras on board such as an internet corner, Wi-Fi access, library, fitness centre, sun deck with whirlpool and an open air dining area.

With the current fleet of luxury ships racing towards Australian shores there is sure plenty of either exotic or pacific cruises that may well tempt you.  Deciding which ship will be your hardest choice as all are vying for your holiday dollars and they all will give you impeccable service and value for money