AUSTRALIAN CRUISE GROUP – OUR HISTORY
For about 40 years, Australian Cruise Group has been helping people experience Australia from the water.
What began with a single floating restaurant on Sydney Harbour has evolved into one of Australia's leading cruise and marine tourism businesses. Along the way, we've introduced new cruise concepts, built iconic Sydney Harbour brands and expanded into a nationwide platform connecting travellers with exceptional on-water experiences across the country.
It's a journey shaped by innovation, passion and a belief that some of Australia's best experiences are found on the water.
THE EARLY YEARS
The Australian Cruise Group story began long before the company adopted its current name.
In the 1970s, entrepreneur Brian Gray saw Sydney Harbour as more than a beautiful backdrop… it was an untapped destination for dining and entertainment. His first venture transformed a former Stockton ferry into a floating restaurant, giving Sydneysiders a completely new way to enjoy the harbour.
Building on its success, he launched the ‘Pittwater Princess’ in 1979, Sydney's first purpose-built cruising restaurant with à la carte dining. It was an idea that helped redefine harbour dining and laid the foundations for a business that would continue to innovate for decades.
Those early successes led to the establishment of ‘Blue Line Cruises’ in 1983. As harbour cruising grew throughout the 1980s, the company expanded its dining and sightseeing experiences, helping shape Sydney Harbour into one of Australia's premier cruise destinations.
A defining milestone came in 1987 with the launch of ‘Sydney Showboats’. Combining harbour dining with a live cabaret show aboard an authentic paddlewheeler, it created an experience unlike anything else on Sydney Harbour and remains one of the city's most recognisable cruise brands today.
A NEW CHAPTER
The next chapter began in the mid-1990s when ‘Blue Line Cruises’’ was acquired by Accor Hotels.
Around the same time, Sudhir Warrier arrived in Australia as an international student and began working aboard Sydney Harbour cruise vessels as a waiter. His passion for the industry, combined with years of hands-on operational experience, saw him rise through management before being appointed Chief Executive of Blue Line Cruises in 1998.
Under his leadership, the company continued to evolve. ‘Magistic I’ launched in 2001, followed by ‘Magistic Two’ in 2003, introducing a new generation of modern catamaran cruises with spacious viewing decks, contemporary dining and increased capacity for sightseeing and special events.
In 2005, Sudhir Warrier acquired ‘Blue Line Cruises’, marking the beginning of a new era of independent growth.
The following year, the company launched the ‘Jet Cruiser’, expanding beyond traditional sightseeing and dining cruises to include an exhilarating high-speed harbour adventure.
Another major milestone followed in 2011 with the acquisition of ‘Ocean Spirit Cruises’. More than simply adding another business, it brought together the company's cruise operations, online marketing and technology capabilities under a single vision, laying the foundation for Australian Cruise Group.
BECOMING AUSTRALIAN CRUISE GROUP
As the business grew beyond a single cruise operator, it adopted the name ‘Australian Cruise Group’ in 2011, a reflection of a broader vision for the future.
The company continued investing in new experiences, launching Clearview Glass Boat Cruises in 2016. With its contemporary interiors and floor-to-ceiling glass windows, Clearview redefined premium harbour dining, offering uninterrupted views of Sydney Harbour in a purpose-built glass vessel.
Today, Australian Cruise Group proudly operates three flagship Sydney Harbour brands: Clearview Glass Boat Cruises, Sydney Showboats and Magistic Cruises. Together, they offer everything from sightseeing and dining cruises to private charters, weddings, corporate events and Sydney's most celebrated special event cruises.
EXPANDING ACROSS AUSTRALIA
While Sydney Harbour remains at the heart of the business, Australian Cruise Group has steadily expanded its reach across the country.
In 2012, the company began building partnerships with travel agents and tourism businesses around the world, helping more international visitors discover Australia's remarkable waterways.
Building on these relationships, Australian Cruise Group launched its national booking platform in 2015. Rather than operating only its own cruises, the business began connecting travellers with trusted regional operators, making it easier to discover, compare and book exceptional cruise and marine experiences in one place.
This marked an important evolution… from a Sydney Harbour cruise operator to a nationwide marketplace supporting Australian marine tourism.
Today, travellers can explore and book experiences across many of Australia's most iconic destinations, including the Whitsundays, Cairns, Port Douglas, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Hervey Bay, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Broome and many more.
LOOKING AHEAD
Australian Cruise Group continues to evolve while remaining true to the principles that shaped the business from the beginning: creating memorable experiences on the water, supporting Australia's cruise tourism industry and connecting travellers with the country's most remarkable waterways.
From pioneering floating restaurants on Sydney Harbour to a nationwide platform showcasing Australia's best cruise and marine experiences, our journey reflects a long-standing passion for helping people experience Australia from the water.
