Cruise from Hawaii to Australia

Cruising from Hawaii to Australia explained

Every sailing departs from Honolulu and arrives in Australia — either Sydney or Brisbane. All 7 sailings are one-way, so the voyage finishes on Australia’s east coast and a short domestic flight connects you back to wherever you live. If you’re based in Sydney or Brisbane, you step off the ship and you’re home. If you’re travelling from Melbourne or another city, a quick domestic hop is all it takes. These are long, unhurried crossings — voyages run from 17 to 28 nights, with most sitting around 19 — so they suit travellers who want to genuinely see the Pacific rather than rush across it.

Where does a Hawaii to Australia cruise go?

The routes concentrate on three regions, and French Polynesia accounts for the majority of sailings. Here is what each part of the world looks like from the deck.

French Polynesia

Most Hawaii-to-Australia voyages pass through French Polynesia, and it is easy to see why. The combination of the Pacific crossing and island calls gives these itineraries a rhythm that is hard to find elsewhere: open-ocean sailing, then an arrival into waters that are genuinely vivid. If you have always wanted to see this part of the world without flying in and flying out, a repositioning voyage is one of the most practical ways to do it. Browse all Australia cruises to compare this route against others in the region.

South Pacific

A pair of sailings track a South Pacific routing — a broader sweep that takes in Pacific island groups on the way south. These tend to suit travellers who want variety across the crossing rather than a deeper focus on one archipelago. For more South Pacific options, the South Pacific cruises page is worth a look.

New Zealand

One sailing dips into New Zealand before reaching Australia, making it the longest natural extension of the voyage and a good choice if you want to combine both countries in a single trip. The voyage finishes in Australia, so New Zealand becomes part of the journey rather than a separate destination to plan around.

Which cruise lines sail from Hawaii to Australia?

Three major lines operate on this route, and each brings a different character to the crossing.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean has the most sailings, and two of its ships are worth knowing about in detail.

Ovation of the Seas accounts for the majority of Royal Caribbean’s departures here. The ship carries 18 different restaurants, a FlowRider surf simulator, and a skydiving experience over open ocean. For those who want a quieter evening after an active day, the robot bartenders at Bionic Bar are a genuine talking point. When you’re choosing your cabin, the Ovation of the Seas cabins and deck plans page shows the full layout. Cabin grades range from a compact but clever inside cabin with a virtual balcony — a 15.4 m² stateroom with a high-definition screen showing a live sea view — through to ocean-view cabins at 19.9 m², and all the way up to the 152.4 m² Royal Loft Suite, a two-level maisonette sleeping up to 6.

Anthem of the Seas contributes one sailing. Its North Star observation pod lifts guests above the ocean for a view of the Pacific that no other vantage point on the ship can match. The SeaPlex indoor activity complex — with its FlowRider, roller-skating rink and circus classes — keeps families busy across long sea days, while the adults-only Solarium pool under its glass dome is where you go when you want to be still. See the full range on the Anthem of the Seas cabins and deck plans page.

Royal Caribbean fare types include cruise-only options, last-minute fares and promotional offers such as reduced fares for third and fourth guests on select sailings. Our cruise experts can walk you through which fare type suits your group.

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises operates 2 sailings, with Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Solstice each taking one departure.

Celebrity Edge is the line’s headline ship on this route. Its Magic Carpet — a cantilevered platform that moves between decks and serves as a restaurant, bar and embarkation point — puts dining 16 storeys above the ocean when it is at its highest position. Staterooms in the Infinite Veranda category open the entire wall to the sea, so there is no glass between you and the morning air. Eden, the ship’s three-level living garden, stages immersive performances throughout the voyage. The Celebrity Edge cabins and deck plans page has the full stateroom breakdown, from the 18.8 m² Deluxe Inside up to the 239.8 m² Iconic Suite with its private hot tub and 270° panoramic views.

Celebrity Solstice was freshly revitalised in 2026, with new restaurants, redesigned staterooms and updated outdoor spaces. The Lawn Club — a real-grass deck space — and the Sunset Park live music venue give the ship a relaxed, resort-like quality across long Pacific days. Le Petit Chef’s 3D animated dining experience is a dinner unlike anything at sea. See stateroom options on the Celebrity Solstice cabins and deck plans page.

Celebrity fares range from the base best-rate fare (cruise and onboard activities, with extras added à la carte) through to the best-value All Inclusive fare, which bundles a classic drinks package and basic Wi-Fi into one price. At the top sits The Retreat — a suite-only experience with premium drinks, premium Wi-Fi, exclusive lounge access and dedicated personal service.

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises brings 1 sailing, with Coral Princess and Royal Princess each operating one departure. The Princess Cruises Australia 2026–2027 season covers a wide range of departures if you want to compare these crossings against Princess’s broader Australia programme.

Coral Princess has a narrower beam than many ships in this class, which allows it to call at smaller ports that larger vessels cannot reach. Three revolving stages in one venue host cooking demonstrations, cabaret and fashion shows, and The Sanctuary adults-only retreat on the top deck is available for those who want to be left alone with a lounger and attentive service. Explore stateroom grades on the Coral Princess cabins and deck plans page.

Royal Princess features the glass-bottomed SeaWalk — a walkway extending 40 metres beyond the hull, 28 metres above the sea — as well as Movies Under the Stars on deck, Crooners duelling pianos bar, and a dancing fountain light show each evening. The Sanctuary adults-only retreat is too. Full stateroom details are on the Royal Princess cabins and deck plans page.

Princess fare tiers include Princess Standard (the base cruise fare, with extras available to add) and Princess Plus, which bundles 4 casual dining meals per voyage, beverages up to A$15 each (with a daily limit of 15 drinks), MedallionNet Max Wi-Fi, pre-paid crew appreciation, unlimited digital photos plus 3 prints, and reserved theatre seating.

What are DreamAway Packages?

DreamAway Packages are CruiseAway’s own bundled holidays — cruise, flights, hotels and transfers priced together so there are no gaps to fill yourself. On a one-way itinerary like this one, where every sailing departs from Honolulu, that means we can book your outbound flight from your home city, a hotel in Honolulu if you want a night before boarding, and your transfers at both ends. The full range of available packages is on the DreamAway Packages page. You can also browse Hawaii to Australia cruises departing in 2026 or departing in 2027 if you have a specific year in mind.

Are there any discounted sailings?

Some sailings carry a reduced fare — measured from the price previously listed for that cabin grade on that sailing. Reductions reach up to 13% on one departure, though most discounted sailings are reduced by around 5%. Our cruise experts can confirm which departures are currently marked down and whether a last-minute or promotional fare applies to your preferred sailing.

Why book with CruiseAway?

Every sailing departs from the United States, so for most Australian travellers the cruise sits in the middle of a longer trip. CruiseAway is a cruise specialist — we book the whole journey, not just the cabin. That means flights from your home city to Honolulu, a hotel the night before if you want one, transfers at both ends, and travel insurance, all on a single booking. Our Best Price Guarantee backs every booking, and our cruise experts know these ships and itineraries in detail, so they can help you choose the cabin grade and fare inclusions that actually suit how you travel — rather than leaving you to work it out from a list of options.

If you are thinking about other long-haul repositioning voyages, it is worth comparing this route against a cruise from Australia to Europe or a cruise from Singapore to Australia. Closer to home, cruises around Australia in 2027 and cruises from Melbourne round out the options for travellers based on the east coast. For a wider view of what is available, cruises from Australia and Australia cruises cover the full range of departure ports and destinations. You can also explore all Hawaii cruises if you want to spend more time in the islands before heading south, or browse all cruises departing from Honolulu and arriving in Australia to compare every option in one place.

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.