April 2028 cruises from Australia

Where do April 2028 cruises from Australia go?

April sits squarely in Australian autumn, and the departures reflect it: the bulk of sailings head into the warm waters closest to home — along the Australian coast, out into the South Pacific and across to New Zealand — while a small number of longer voyages push all the way across the Pacific. Sailings leave from Sydney and Brisbane, with durations running from short three-night getaways through to 24-night voyages, and a median of nine nights. Of the sailings on offer, 12 are round trips returning to the port you departed from, and 7 are one-way — so if you are looking at a one-way itinerary, factor in a domestic flight to connect the two ends.

Which regions are most popular in April 2028?

The clearest concentration is in Australian coastal waters and the South Pacific — that is where the majority of April 2028 departures are focused, and where the widest choice of ships and durations sits. Beyond that, French Polynesia draws a smaller but dedicated cluster of sailings, and a single transpacific crossing completes the picture for those wanting something much longer and further afield.

Close to home: Australia, the South Pacific and New Zealand

Australian coastal sailings are the biggest group on the page, departing from both Sydney and Brisbane. These round-trip voyages suit anyone who wants to board close to home without a flight at all — or, if you are travelling from interstate, a short domestic hop rather than a long-haul journey. The Australian itineraries vary in length and call at ports along the east and north coasts, making them a practical choice for a first cruise or a familiar favourite.

The South Pacific is the second major draw. Sailings from both Sydney and Brisbane head out into the islands, with disembarkation options including Lautoka, Fiji on some one-way routes. If you have always wanted to combine an island stop with a sea day or two to properly unwind, these itineraries are built for it.

French Polynesia sailings are fewer in number, but they attract a very specific traveller: someone who wants a longer voyage with a genuine sense of distance from everyday life. These tend to be one-way itineraries ending away from the Australian east coast, so connecting flights home are part of the plan — and our team can book those alongside the cruise, together with any hotels either side.

A single New Zealand sailing rounds out the close-to-home options for those who want to combine the Tasman crossing with autumn scenery on the other side.

The long haul: transpacific crossings

One transpacific sailing is available for April 2028 — a serious voyage for travellers who want to cover real ocean distance. One-way crossings of this kind typically end in a port well outside Australia, so a return flight is part of the journey. CruiseAway can arrange that flight, along with any pre- or post-cruise hotel nights and transfers, so the whole trip comes together in one place. Disembarkation ports for longer voyages include Honolulu and Seattle.

Which cruise lines sail in April 2028?

Five cruise lines operate April 2028 departures from Australia, led by Carnival Cruise Line with the most sailings of any line on the page. Royal Caribbean follows with a strong presence from Sydney, then Celebrity Cruises and Princess Cruises each with a handful of sailings, and Norwegian Cruise Line rounding out the choice with a mid-sized, relaxed alternative. Between them, these five lines cover everything from lively family ships with waterparks and comedy clubs to quieter, adults-focused vessels with flexible dining and premium inclusions. If you are weighing up which line suits your travel style, our cruise experts are the fastest way to narrow it down.

What are the ships like?

Six ships sail April 2028 departures from Australia. Here is what each one actually offers.

Carnival Encounter — Brisbane’s home ship

Carnival Encounter was purpose-built for Australian cruisers and sails year-round from Brisbane, which means the whole operation — from food and entertainment to the onboard culture — is shaped around an Aussie crowd. With over 60 daily activities available, from laser tag and waterslides to cooking classes, there is no shortage of ways to fill the day. Families work particularly well on this ship: Camp Ocean keeps kids genuinely entertained while adults retreat to the Serenity Retreat for something quieter. It is a lively ship, and it is designed to be.

Cabin options on Carnival Encounter run from compact to generous:

• Inside cabin 4A — 15 m², sleeps 4, with a walk-in wardrobe that makes it practical for longer voyages
• Ocean-view cabin with Porthole PT — 15 m², sleeps 4, with 2 round portholes bringing in natural light at a budget-friendly price
• Balcony cabin 8A — 16 m², sleeps 4, with a private balcony and direct access to fresh sea air without using the public decks
• Byron Beach Club Presidential Suite SB — 57 m², sleeps 4, the largest suite on board on Deck 15 with the highest position and finest views

See the full Carnival Encounter cabin grades and deck plans for more detail.

Carnival Splendor — sailing from Sydney

Carnival Splendor is one of Australia’s best-loved fun ships, sailing from Sydney to itineraries that take in the Great Barrier Reef, Vanuatu and New Zealand depending on the voyage. The Punchliner Comedy Club is a genuine highlight — live comedy at sea done properly — and the ship knows how to keep a party going well into the evening. Adults wanting to step away from the action can do so in the adults-only Serenity Retreat, while children have their own waterpark to conquer. It is a ship that works hard to make sure everyone on board finds their version of a good time.

Cabins on Carnival Splendor:

• Cloud 9 Spa Inside cabin 4S — 16 m², sleeps 3, with Cloud 9 Spa access included: priority reservations, unlimited thermal suite access and 2 complimentary fitness classes
• Large Sea-view cabin 6K — 30 m², sleeps 4, a full 10 m² larger than standard sea-view options, giving noticeably more living space
• Balcony cabin 8M with large balcony — 26 m², sleeps 4, with 9 m² more floor space than a standard balcony cabin and a private outdoor area
• Captain’s Suite CS — 47 m², sleeps 5, the largest suite on board with a separate bedroom and living area

Full details are on the Carnival Splendor cabins and deck plans page.

Celebrity Edge — a different kind of ship

Celebrity Edge brings something genuinely distinct to the Australian market. The Magic Carpet — a cantilevered outdoor platform suspended 16 storeys above the ocean — shifts between decks throughout the voyage, serving al fresco dining and cocktails with open sea views on all sides. The Infinite Veranda cabin design removes the traditional glass divide between your cabin and the ocean, so you wake up with the breeze already in the room. And Eden, a three-level living garden at the stern, hosts live performers throughout the day in a space that doubles as a bar, a restaurant and a spectacle. For the Celebrity Edge Australia and New Zealand 2028–2029 season, this ship is the headline act.

Cabins on Celebrity Edge:

• Deluxe Inside cabin DI — 18.8 m², sleeps 4, around 2 m² more spacious than standard inside cabins with a larger bathroom and more storage
• Deluxe Ocean-view cabin DO — 22.1 m², sleeps 4, the most spacious ocean-view option on the ship, 3–4 m² larger than standard
• Sunset Veranda Stateroom SV — 21.2 m², sleeps 4, with the largest balcony of any standard veranda cabin at approximately 8.3 m²
• Iconic Suite IC — 239.8 m², sleeps 6, the largest suite in the entire Celebrity fleet with 270° panoramic views from the highest position above the bridge, plus a private hot tub

Explore the Celebrity Edge cabins and deck plans before you choose.

Anthem of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas — Royal Caribbean from Sydney

Royal Caribbean’s 2 ships sailing in April 2028 both depart from Sydney. Anthem of the Seas is built around the idea that a ship should give you something to do — the North Star observation pod lifts passengers above the ocean in a glass capsule for views that are hard to find anywhere else at sea, while the SeaPlex delivers body-surfing on the FlowRider, skating and circus classes under one roof. After all that, the adults-only Solarium pool under its glass dome is exactly the right place to recover before a South Pacific port day. See the full Anthem of the Seas cabin grades and deck plans for cabin options.

Ovation of the Seas is Royal Caribbean’s second ship sailing from Sydney this April. Check the Ovation of the Seas cabins and deck plans for the full cabin breakdown.

Grand Princess — Princess Cruises

Grand Princess brings Princess Cruises’ signature relaxed pace to Australian waters. The Movies Under the Stars experience — a large outdoor screen on deck with blankets and the open sky above you — is the kind of thing that sounds simple and turns out to be one of the things passengers remember longest. The Princess app handles everything from ordering drinks poolside to pizza delivered to your cabin, removing the small friction points that add up over a long voyage. For those who want to step further back from it all, The Sanctuary on the top deck is an adults-only retreat with sun loungers, light meals and sea views over the Coral Sea. The Princess Cruises around Australia 2028 programme includes Grand Princess sailings across this season.

Check the Grand Princess cabins and deck plans for the full cabin breakdown.

Norwegian Spirit — a mid-sized alternative

Norwegian Spirit is the smallest and most intimate ship, and that is a genuine selling point for travellers who find the mega-ships overwhelming. The ship operates on Norwegian Cruise Line’s freestyle dining model — no fixed dining times, no assigned tables — so you eat at Cagney’s Steakhouse or Le Bistro when it suits you rather than when the schedule says. Spice H2O, the adults-only open-air beach club, is the social hub on sea days: sun loungers, cocktails and sea breezes without a waterslide in sight. Norwegian Spirit sails to the South Pacific and New Zealand in April 2028, making it a strong choice for anyone after a quieter ship on a well-travelled route. Cabin details are on the Norwegian Spirit cabins and deck plans page.

What fare types are available?

The range of fare structures across the five cruise lines means there is a meaningful choice to make before you book — not just which ship, but which version of the fare suits how you like to cruise.

Royal Caribbean offers a standard cruise fare alongside fare types such as last-minute offers and solo-traveller fares for single occupancy. An early booking option has historically included onboard credit for new bookings confirmed well in advance. Our cruise experts can run through which fare applies to your sailing and what each one covers.

Celebrity Cruises offers 3 clear tiers. The cruise-only rate gives you the lowest base fare and lets you add extras later. The mid-tier bundles classic drinks and basic Wi-Fi into a single price — straightforward if you know you will use both. The Retreat tier is the premium option: it covers suite accommodation, premium drinks, premium Wi-Fi, exclusive lounge and sundeck access, private dining and dedicated personal service, all in one fare.

Princess Cruises offers a Standard fare — the base cruise fare with no extras included — and a Plus package that adds 4 casual dining meals per voyage, beverages up to A$15 each (with a daily limit), MedallionNet Max Wi-Fi, pre-paid crew appreciation, unlimited digital photographs with 3 prints, and reserved theatre seating. The Plus package is worth comparing directly depending on how much you would spend on those items separately.

If you are weighing up inclusions across lines and ships, our cruise experts do this comparison regularly. It is often worth a conversation before you commit to a fare tier.

Are there any discounts on April 2028 sailings?

A number of April 2028 departures are available at reduced prices, with reductions measured from the price previously listed for that cabin grade on that sailing. The majority of discounted sailings carry reductions in the region of around 5%, with 1 departure reduced by up to 27%. Promotional fare types such as last-minute offers and early booking bonuses apply to select sailings — our cruise experts can tell you which departures currently carry a discount when you enquire.

Prices start from A$489 pp* across the April 2028 programme.

Make it a full holiday

CruiseAway is a cruise specialist, which means every booking starts with the cruise and builds outward from there. If you are flying to your embarkation port — whether that is a domestic hop from another state or a longer journey — we can book that flight alongside your cruise. For one-way itineraries that end in Honolulu, Singapore, Seattle or elsewhere, we arrange the return leg too, along with any hotel nights before or after the voyage and transfers between airport, hotel and port. Tours and shore excursions can be added to the package as well. It all goes on one booking, through one team.

Our DreamAway Packages are how we build cruise-inclusive holidays that cover flights, hotels, transfers and tours in a single price. If you prefer to put together a fully custom trip, our cruise experts work through the options with you directly. Either way, nothing gets left for you to sort out separately.

Which ports can I sail from?

All April 2028 Australia departures leave from either Sydney or Brisbane. Sydney carries the larger share of sailings, with ships including Celebrity Edge, Carnival Splendor, Anthem of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas departing from the harbour. Brisbane is home to Carnival Encounter, which sails year-round from there, plus additional departures for other itineraries.

If you live locally to either port, you can board without any flight at all — drive in, park, and you are on the ship the same day. If you are travelling from another state, a short domestic flight connects you to whichever port suits your itinerary. We can arrange that flight and any pre-cruise hotel night as part of your booking. Full port logistics — parking, transfers and getting to the terminal — are worth confirming in advance, and our team can advise on those specifics when you book.

Also sailing from these ports in April

Disembarkation ports for April 2028 sailings extend well beyond Australian waters on some itineraries. Singapore is a disembarkation point for repositioning voyages — a one-way sailing ending there pairs well with time in the city before a flight home, and we can book the hotel and the return leg as part of the same package. Honolulu and Seattle are the end points for longer transpacific crossings, while Lautoka, Fiji rounds out the South Pacific one-way options.

Planning a cruise between Singapore and Australia in 2028? We have a dedicated page for that route. Similarly, if a Fremantle to Singapore cruise in 2028 is on your radar, that itinerary is covered separately.

Planning ahead or looking at nearby dates?

If April 2028 is the target, you are already looking at the right page. But it is worth knowing what sits either side. Travellers who sailed in April 2027 — from Sydney or Brisbane — will recognise many of the same ships and itineraries this year. April 2027 Australia departures are still bookable if you want to compare seasons or travel with a group on different dates.

For a broader look at what is available across the year, the full 2028 cruises programme covers departures well beyond April. The cruise around Australia 2028 page is worth a look if you want a longer coastal voyage rather than a fixed-month departure. And if you are set on a cruise line rather than a date, the Princess 2027–2028 season launch and Princess Cruises 2028 pages cover that line’s full programme for the period.

Prefer to browse by season rather than month? Autumn cruises from Australia pulls together the wider autumn programme. And for Easter timing, the Easter cruises from Sydney page is a useful reference for planning around the school holiday window.

For the March departures immediately before this window, see cruises from Sydney in March and cruises from Brisbane in March — both give a sense of what sails in the weeks leading into April. The April cruises hub page and the April 2026 Australia archive are also available for comparison across seasons.

You can browse the full cruises from Australia programme, or start at the main cruises page to filter by line, duration or region.

*Prices are per person based on 2 people sharing, and are subject to change. This price is not kept up to date and therefore does not reflect live pricing and availability. Prices and any discounts shown were checked on 14 October 2026.

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.