Christmas cruises 2027 from Australia

Where do Christmas cruises from Australia go in 2027?

Christmas 2027 sailings from Australia concentrate in 3 regions: coastal Australia, the South Pacific islands and New Zealand. Most are round trips, so you leave and return to the same port — ideal if you’re driving or catching a short domestic flight to the ship. A small number are one-way voyages finishing in a different city, where a quick domestic flight connects the two ends. Every sailing is an ocean cruise; there are no river itineraries in this collection. Durations run from short 2-night escapes up to 16-night voyages, with a median of 8 nights — long enough to feel like a proper holiday, short enough to fit around school holidays and family commitments.

Explore the full range of cruises we offer, or browse all cruises from Australia if you’d like to see what’s sailing beyond the Christmas window.

Sailing close to home — Australia, the South Pacific and New Zealand

Every departure leaves from an Australian port, which means no long-haul flight to a foreign embarkation city. If you live near the port, it’s a cruise with no flight at all — drive in, park up, walk aboard. If you’re coming from another state, it’s a short domestic hop: far less hassle than flying internationally to join a ship.

Australia coastal sailings

The largest share of Christmas departures stays in Australian waters, making these the most straightforward choice for anyone who wants to board and be at sea within hours. Sydney is the dominant embarkation port for this region, with sailings also leaving from Brisbane, Fremantle and Melbourne. These voyages suit first-time cruisers and families who want the reassurance of familiar waters, and they suit experienced cruisers who simply want a beautifully relaxed Christmas without a connecting flight. If you’re planning around Sydney specifically, the Christmas cruises from Sydney 2027 page narrows things down further — and for Brisbane departures, Christmas cruises from Brisbane covers the port in detail.

South Pacific islands

The South Pacific collection puts tropical island stops at the centre of your Christmas itinerary. These sailings leave primarily from Sydney and Brisbane, heading out into the Pacific for 8 nights or more. If you’ve been thinking about a South Pacific cruise in 2027 but haven’t fixed on Christmas as the moment, the broader cruises around Australia 2027 page shows what’s available across the year.

New Zealand

A smaller but genuinely appealing slice of the programme heads across the Tasman to New Zealand. These are typically longer voyages — the kind that fill the full Christmas and post-Christmas stretch. If New Zealand is your destination of choice, cruises from Sydney to New Zealand in 2027 goes into much more detail on that specific route.

Which ports can I sail from this Christmas?

Five Australian ports are represented across the Christmas 2027 programme:

• Sydney — the largest departure hub, with sailings leaving from both the main Overseas Passenger Terminal and White Bay. If you’re based in NSW or flying in, Sydney gives you the widest choice of ships and itineraries. See Christmas cruises from Sydney 2027 for a dedicated view of what’s leaving from here.
• Brisbane — Queensland’s main cruise port, well suited to families and South Pacific sailings. Christmas cruises from Brisbane covers this port in full. You can also browse cruises from Brisbane in December 2027 if you want to see the wider December window alongside the Christmas-specific sailings.
• Perth (Fremantle) — the western gateway, with a smaller selection of departures for West Australian travellers who’d rather not cross the country to board a ship.
• Melbourne — Melbourne contributes one departure to the Christmas programme, making it worth checking if you’re based in Victoria.
• White Bay, Sydney — a second Sydney terminal used by some departures, particularly Carnival ships.

If you’re not local to any of these ports, CruiseAway can book the domestic flights and any pre-cruise hotel night as part of your package — nothing is left for you to arrange separately.

Which cruise lines are sailing Christmas 2027?

Six cruise lines cover the Christmas 2027 programme from Australia, led by Carnival Cruise Lines as the most active line this season, followed by Royal Caribbean. Princess Cruises brings a strong showing, particularly for Australian coastal and New Zealand itineraries. Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Holland America Line each add their own flavour to the mix.

If you’re a Princess loyalist planning around the Australian season, the Princess Cruises Australia 2026/2027 season launch page and the Princess 2027–2028 season launch set out the full picture of what the line is deploying. Norwegian fans can find dedicated Norwegian Christmas and January cruises information too.

The ships sailing Christmas 2027

Six ships have the most sailings in this window. Here’s what each one is actually like — because the right ship makes as much difference as the destination.

Carnival Adventure

Carnival Adventure sails from Sydney and is built for Australian tastes — fresh local produce, relaxed service and a programme that keeps every age group occupied. Thrill-seekers can zip-line and climb above deck, while those who’d rather wind down can settle into a movie under the stars on the open deck. The split works particularly well for families: Camp Ocean keeps younger guests entertained while adults claim a sun lounger at the adults-only Serenity Retreat — two completely different holidays happening on the same ship at the same time.

Cabin grades on Carnival Adventure range from compact to genuinely spacious:

• Inside cabin 4A — 15 m², sleeps 4, with a walk-in wardrobe and generous storage for longer voyages
• Ocean-view cabin with Porthole (PT) — 15 m², sleeps 4, with 2 round portholes bringing natural light on Decks 1–2
• Balcony cabin 8A — 16 m², sleeps 4, with a private balcony via glass bifold doors and sea views that interior guests simply don’t have
• Byron Beach Club Presidential Suite (SB) — 58 m², sleeps 4, with an expansive balcony, dressing area and deluxe bathroom — more than twice the size of a standard balcony cabin

For a full breakdown of decks and cabin layouts, see the Carnival Adventure cabins and deck plans.

Carnival Encounter

Purpose-built for Australian guests and sailing year-round from Brisbane, Carnival Encounter is the natural choice for Queensland-based families this Christmas. With over 60 daily activities — laser tag, waterslides, cooking classes and more — you’re never short of something to do, though the Serenity Retreat is there when you want to do absolutely nothing. Camp Ocean handles the children; the adults get their own space. It’s a genuinely well-balanced ship for a family Christmas at sea.

Cabin options on Carnival Encounter:

• Inside cabin 4A — 15 m², sleeps 4, with a walk-in wardrobe ideal for two weeks of luggage
• Ocean-view cabin with Porthole (PT) — 15 m², sleeps 4, with 2 round portholes and a budget-friendly step up from inside
• Balcony cabin 8A — 16 m², sleeps 4, with a private balcony and sea air without using the public decks
• Byron Beach Club Presidential Suite (SB) — 57 m², sleeps 4, on Deck 15 — the largest suite on board with the highest position and finest views

Full cabin and deck detail is on the Carnival Encounter cabins and deck plans page.

Grand Princess

Princess Cruises’ Grand Princess brings a notably different atmosphere to Christmas: quieter, more considered, with touches that regular Princess guests will recognise immediately. Order cocktails by the pool, pizza to your cabin or a meal from the buffet with a tap on the Princess app — no queuing, no waiting. The Sanctuary is an adults-only retreat at the top of the ship, with sun loungers, light meals and peaceful views. And on deck at night, the Movies Under the Stars screen brings that particular magic to Great Barrier Reef voyages.

Cabin grades on Grand Princess:

• Inside cabin (IA) — 14.9 m², sleeps 4, on middle decks with minimal motion and central access to lifts and facilities
• Premium sea view (O3) — 19.1 m², sleeps 4, with floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows and unobstructed sea views directly into the cabin
• Premium Balcony cabin (B2) — 25.5 m², sleeps 4, with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that create an open-plan feel beyond what a standard balcony offers
• Grand Suite S1 with private hot tub — 67.8 m², sleeps 4, the largest suite on board with considerably more space than all other suite categories

Browse Grand Princess cabins and deck plans to compare grades in detail before you book. Princess Cruises also has a dedicated Princess Cruises from Brisbane 2027 page if you’re planning around that port.

Ovation of the Seas

Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas is the high-energy option in the Christmas fleet. With 18 different dining venues, a surf simulator, a skydiving experience and cocktails mixed by robot bartenders, it delivers the kind of variety that fills a 10- or 12-night sailing without any sense of repetition. This is a ship that rewards guests who want to do something different every day. See the Ovation of the Seas cabins and deck plans to find your cabin grade.

Voyager of the Seas

Voyager of the Seas sails from Brisbane and packs a real ice rink, waterslides and a West End-scale production theatre into one hull. For families, the adults-only Solarium gives parents genuine breathing space while Adventure Ocean’s age-specific activities keep younger guests completely absorbed. The ship also calls at Royal Beach Club Lelepa — the South Pacific’s only private cruise beach, exclusive to Royal Caribbean guests — which makes it a meaningful draw for the South Pacific itinerary specifically.

For cabin-level detail, visit the Voyager of the Seas cabins and deck plans page. Carnival also deploys Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Splendor in this season; see the Carnival Luminosa 2027 page for more on that ship’s programme.

Anthem of the Seas

Sailing from Sydney, Anthem of the Seas is the Royal Caribbean ship that keeps everyone in the family moving. The North Star pod lifts guests above the ocean for views that are hard to describe without hyperbole, while the FlowRider surf simulator, the SeaPlex skating rink and circus classes mean the children won’t sit still for long. Adults who want the opposite experience head to the glass-domed Solarium — a heated indoor pool that feels entirely separate from the energy elsewhere on board.

Find your grade on the Anthem of the Seas cabins and deck plans page. Norwegian Cruise Line also sails in this window — Norwegian Spirit is the ship to look at, with Norwegian Spirit cabins and deck plans available if you want to compare grades.

What fare options are available for Christmas 2027?

Fare structures vary by cruise line, and understanding what each tier actually covers can make a meaningful difference to the final cost. Here’s how the 3 main lines structure their fares.

Royal Caribbean fare types

Royal Caribbean offers several fare structures for its Christmas 2027 sailings, including a standard cruise fare with an Early Booking Bonus (onboard credit for bookings made well in advance), a Last-Minute fare for later bookings at discounted rates, a Solo/Single fare for guests travelling alone in their own stateroom, and promotional fare types such as reduced rates for third and fourth guests. These can shift with availability, so our cruise experts can tell you which tier applies to the sailing you’re considering at the time you book.

Princess Cruises fare types

Princess Cruises builds its Christmas 2027 fares around 2 main tiers. The Princess Standard fare is the base cruise price — the cruise itself, with beverages, Wi-Fi and crew appreciation available to add separately. The Princess Plus package steps up to include 4 casual dining meals per voyage, beverages up to A$15 per drink (up to 15 drinks per day), MedallionNet Max Wi-Fi, pre-paid crew appreciation, unlimited digital photographs with 3 prints, and reserved theatre seating. For many guests, the Plus package works out to better value than adding each element individually. Promotional fare types such as Drop N Go and limited-time offers appear periodically — our experts can advise on what’s active when you’re ready to book.

Celebrity Cruises fare types

Celebrity Cruises runs 3 tiers on its Christmas 2027 sailings. The best-rate (cruise-only) tier gives you the lowest fare and lets you add amenities separately. The best-value tier bundles in a classic drinks package and basic Wi-Fi in one price. At the top, The Retreat covers suite accommodation, premium drinks, premium Wi-Fi, exclusive lounge and sundeck access, private dining and dedicated personal service — a notably different holiday from the standard fare. Celebrity Edge is the Celebrity ship in this season; the Celebrity Edge cabins and deck plans page covers all grade options.

Are there discounts on Christmas 2027 cruises?

A number of sailings in this window are reduced from their previously listed prices. Discounts reach up to 31% on a single departure, though that figure applies to one sailing only — across the discounted sailings as a group, the typical reduction is around 8%. Savings are measured against the price previously listed for that cabin grade on that specific sailing, so the reduction is real and not measured against any inflated reference price.

Our Best Price Guarantee means that if you find the same cabin on the same sailing at a lower price elsewhere after booking with CruiseAway, we’ll match it. It’s worth booking early on popular Christmas departures — Sydney and Brisbane sailings in particular tend to fill quickly as the school holidays approach.

All-inclusive fares are available on a portion of the Christmas 2027 sailings, covering drinks, gratuities and other inclusions depending on the line and fare tier. If that matters to you, our cruise experts can filter to those specifically.

Make it a full Christmas holiday

A cruise is often just the centrepiece of a longer trip — and that’s where CruiseAway’s specialists earn their keep. If you’re flying to the embarkation port from another state, or if you’re on a one-way itinerary finishing in a different city, we can book the domestic flights, a hotel the night before departure, transfers to and from the terminal, and travel insurance, all as one booking. You don’t hand over money to five different companies and hope it all fits together — you book once, and we hold the pieces.

Our DreamAway Packages are built specifically for this: cruise plus the elements around it, at a single price, with our team doing the logistics. If you’d rather build something custom, that works too. Every booking comes with the Best Price Guarantee and access to cruise experts who know these ships and these itineraries from first-hand experience.

If you’re comparing Christmas 2027 options against other times of year, all 2027 cruises from Australia gives you the full picture. For the neighbouring December window — including sailings that depart slightly outside the Christmas dates — December cruises from Sydney (covering the 2026 equivalent season) shows how that window typically shapes up.

Planning to sail Christmas from a specific port? Christmas cruises from Sydney 2027 and Christmas cruises from Brisbane narrow the choice by embarkation. If you want to compare Christmas sailings across other years or departure points, the broader Christmas cruises hub and the Christmas cruises from Australia collection both give useful context. Carnival loyalists can also explore Carnival cruises from Adelaide 2026–2027 for a different port angle on the same fleet.

Whatever you’re after this Christmas — a short 2-night coastal hop or a full 16-night Pacific adventure — CruiseAway can put the whole thing together. Talk to our cruise experts, tell them the port, the budget and the people coming, and let them find the sailing that actually fits.

Where a discount is shown, it is a reduction from the price previously listed for that cabin grade on that sailing, not a comparison between cabin grades or against a brochure rate. Discounts and prices shown are not kept up to date: the reduction available now may be smaller, or may have ended, and prices may have changed.