Australia is expected to be a significant source market for residential cruise newcomer Crescent Seas, according to its new ANZ Sales Ambassador Richard Davey.
Davey – a veteran of high-end cruise sales and formerly involved in selling The World residential ship – is now actively involved in bringing Crescent Seas to market. And he is confident the new product will prove popular with Australians, a view based on his history in cruise sales.
“Australia is expected to be a very good source market. It was for The World, and it has always been for Regent [Seven Seas Cruises] and Oceania [Cruises]. So I don’t see why this is not going to have Australia, once again, boxing above its weight,” he told LATTE in conversation during the recent Savenio Symposium 2025.
This strong outlook is supported by a clear alignment with Australian travel habits and the country’s deep-rooted cruising culture. “Anyone who’s got money wants to pay for a really nice suite. If they want the same cabin every time. then this is a unique way that you can have your same cabin all the time,” Davey explained. “I believe that the success of Regent and Oceania means that more of them will convert their cruising habit to having a residence.”
Crucially, the infrastructure and distribution channels already support this transition: “In Australia, the travel industry is very strong — and it’s even stronger now,” he added.
Describing his role with Crescent Seas as a “unique position,” Davey (pictured above, second from left, at the Savenio Symposium) likened his return to selling residential cruise to putting on an old glove. “The fact that I’ve done it before — it’s like riding a bike… it’s very exciting, and I’m very glad it’s happening,” he said.
The timing, however, is tight. Seven Seas Navigator, the ship that will showcase the project to Australian and New Zealand markets, is set to arrive in January. “That’s eight weeks away. So that’s pretty exciting,” he said. “It’s daunting at the same time, but we can do it.”
The role will see Davey draw on his established media contacts, travel trade relationships, and client base – all cultivated over years in both cruise sales and property-focused initiatives. “I specialise in luxury cruising. I have a good network of agents that I know, of clients that I have… and that’s going to help,” he shared.
Meanwhile, Davey will maintain his long-standing position as a travel advisor with Savenio as he takes on this new role. For, despite the scale and significance of the new project, he insists it’s not a choice when it comes to his professional aspirations. Indeed, the flexibility and entrepreneurial model that Savenio offers is a key factor in his ability to juggle both roles.
“If there was a restriction there, it would be a hard decision,” he admitted. “Because I love being at Savenio, and I don’t intend to ever leave.”
While Davey is not involved in pricing or commission structures yet, he remains confident the offering will appeal to the high-end market he knows so well. “It’s going to move really quickly,” he said. “And I’m ready for it.”
