Cruises from Sydney to Hawaii 2028

Where do these sailings go?

Sydney is the departure point for every sailing, and the routes span the full width of the Pacific. The majority are transpacific voyages — long, immersive crossings that include Honolulu and reach ports across the Pacific Basin. A handful of sailings head closer to home, calling through New Zealand or touching the islands of French Polynesia. One sailing goes much further — a round-the-world voyage that leaves Sydney and crosses three continents. If you've been weighing up a big trip, 2028 departures from Sydney offer the widest range of ambitions, from a leisurely Pacific island escape to an epic world circumnavigation.

Which cruise lines sail from Sydney to Hawaii in 2028?

Princess Cruises has the strongest presence, with the greatest number of sailings in 2028. Cunard follows with a handful of longer voyages, including round-the-world sailings. Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line and Royal Caribbean each contribute sailings that give you real variety in style, ship size and pace. CruiseAway also offers DreamAway Packages — cruise-inclusive bundles with flights, hotels and transfers already arranged, so the whole trip is handled in one booking.

Which ships are sailing?

Six ships are sailing these routes in 2028, each with a genuinely different character. Here's what makes each one worth knowing about.

Grand Princess — Princess Cruises

Grand Princess carries more sailings than any other ship. On deck, Movies Under the Stars lets you curl up under a blanket and watch a film with the ocean as your backdrop. The Princess app means you can order cocktails poolside or pizza to your cabin without queuing — just tap and wait. The Sanctuary is an adults-only retreat at the top of the ship, with sun loungers, light meals and unhurried ocean views. For cabin choices on Grand Princess, see the Grand Princess cabins and deck plans.

Royal Princess — Princess Cruises

Royal Princess is best known for the SeaWalk — a glass-bottomed walkway that extends 40 metres out over the ocean, with nothing between your feet and the sea below. The Sanctuary adults-only retreat gives you a quieter corner of the ship, with attentive stewards and open views. Evenings bring Movies Under the Stars on deck, duelling pianos at Crooners, and a dancing fountain light show. Browse the Royal Princess cabins and deck plans to find the grade that suits you.

Queen Elizabeth — Cunard

Queen Elizabeth is Cunard's Art Deco flagship, with chandeliers, a promenade deck and a dining room culture that hasn't changed since the golden age of ocean travel. White Star Service means your table — whether in the Britannia restaurant or the exclusive Queens Grill — is set precisely as you'd expect it to be. The Royal Court Theatre runs nightly shows, the Queens Room ballroom fills for dancing, and deck croquet is genuinely on the schedule on a sunny afternoon. See the Queen Elizabeth cabins and deck plans for full detail on grades and sizes.

Anthem of the Seas — Royal Caribbean

Anthem of the Seas suits families and active travellers well. The North Star pod lifts you above the ship for panoramic ocean views, while the FlowRider surf simulator, SeaPlex skating rink and circus classes keep everyone occupied. After a day of activity, the glass-domed Solarium pool is adults-only and genuinely peaceful. Browse the Anthem of the Seas cabins and deck plans before you book.

Celebrity Edge — Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Edge is built around its Infinite Veranda staterooms — the full cabin wall folds away to open your room to the sea air. On deck, the Magic Carpet is a cantilevered platform suspended 16 storeys above the water, used for al fresco dining with seafood and cocktails and unbroken sea views. Eden, a three-level living garden space, hosts live performance in a setting unlike anything else at sea. For cabin and deck detail, visit the Celebrity Edge cabins and deck plans.

Westerdam — Holland America Line

Westerdam carries around 1,916 guests — mid-sized by today's standards, which translates into genuinely attentive service. Guests consistently rate the crew 4.5 out of 5 stars. Billboard Onboard is a live music bar built around a rotating catalogue of pop and rock hits; the Crow's Nest panorama lounge is where most guests end up at sunset, craft cocktail in hand. The Westerdam cabins and deck plans show all available grades.

Cabin grades: what does each level give you?

Cabin grades vary by ship, but the four main types — inside, ocean view, balcony and suite — are consistent across the fleet. Below are the grades available on the 3 ships with the most sailings.

Grand Princess cabin grades

• Inside cabin IA (14.9 m²) — central mid-ship position with easy access to lifts and facilities; sleeps up to 4.
• Premium sea view O3 (19.1 m²) — floor-to-ceiling panoramic window with an unobstructed sea view and natural light all day; sleeps up to 4.
• Premium Balcony cabin B2 (25.5 m²) — floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors open to your own private balcony, giving an open-plan feel and more natural light; sleeps up to 4.
• Grand Suite S1 with private hot tub (67.8 m²) — the largest suite on the ship, with a private hot tub and considerably more space than any other category; sleeps up to 4.

Royal Princess cabin grades

• Inside cabin IA (15.4 m²) — the most affordable entry point, with minibar, safe and desk; sleeps up to 4.
• Sea-view cabin O6 (20.0 m²) — large panoramic forward-facing window; natural daylight and open-ocean sightlines that inside cabins can't match; sleeps up to 4.
• Deluxe Balcony cabin DA (23.4 m²) — your own private balcony for breakfast or sundowners; sleeps up to 4.
• Penthouse Suite S3 with aft balcony (54.5 m²) — the largest cabin on the ship, with significantly more living space than any mini suite or ocean-view grade; sleeps up to 4.

Queen Elizabeth cabin grades

• Britannia Inside cabin Deluxe GB (19.2 m²) — around 5 m² more spacious than standard inside cabins on the same ship; sleeps 2.
• Britannia Ocean-view cabin EB (18.3 m²) — a cabin window brings natural daylight and sea views that inside grades can't offer; sleeps 2.
• Britannia Club Balcony cabin A1 (24.0 m²) — a private balcony with fresh sea air and ocean views, exclusive to this Britannia category; sleeps 2.
• Queens Grill Grand Suite Q1 (127.7 m²) — an approximately 90 m² private balcony makes this the most spacious outdoor terrace on the ship, ideal for couples; sleeps 2.

What do the fares include?

Fare inclusions vary by cruise line and the tier you choose, so it's worth knowing what you're comparing.

Princess Cruises offers fare types including Princess Standard (cruise only, with packages 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. The Princess 2027–2028 season has full detail on what each tier covers.

Cunard fare types include the Cunard Fare — which gives you choice of stateroom number, priority for upgrades, a low 15% deposit with flexible balance payment, and complimentary shuttle buses at ports — and a Saver Fare for those happy to pay in full on booking in exchange for the lowest price. The Cunard 2027–2028 world cruise season covers long-voyage options in detail.

Celebrity Cruises offers cruise-only rates for maximum flexibility, a best-value tier with classic drinks and basic Wi-Fi included, and The Retreat — a suite-level experience with premium drinks, premium Wi-Fi, a private sundeck and exclusive dining.

Are there any discounts available?

Some sailings carry a reduction from the price previously listed for that cabin grade — up to 10% on the best-discounted departures, though most reduced sailings sit around 5% off. If you see a sailing marked down, it is worth acting: these reductions are applied to specific grades and can be withdrawn at any time. Fare types such as Saver fares and last-minute offers also appear across some cruise lines.

How do I get to and from the ship?

Every sailing departs from Sydney. If you live nearby, you can drive or take public transport to the terminal and be aboard the same day. From another Australian state, a short domestic flight is the simplest connection — and because most of these sailings are one-way, you won't need to fly back to Sydney either. Depending on where your voyage ends — Honolulu, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Seattle or Miami — a domestic or international flight home connects the two ends of the trip. Miami travellers should also note that Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) is about half an hour from Miami, so it's worth checking both for dates and prices. CruiseAway can arrange the connecting flights, hotels either side, transfers and tours as part of the same booking — so neither end of the trip is left for you to sort separately.

Planning a longer adventure from Sydney in 2028?

If a transpacific crossing isn't quite what you had in mind, there's a broader 2028 sailing programme to consider. All 2028 cruises gives you the widest view of what's departing that year. For Sydney departures heading in a different direction, Sydney to New Zealand sailings show what the neighbouring season looks like, and Sydney to New Zealand cruises covers the full, year-round range. The Fremantle to Singapore 2028 page is worth a look if you'd prefer a different Australian departure port. For Princess specifically, the Princess Australia 2026/2027 season shows how the programme builds across the years, while the Cunard 2025–2027 season covers Cunard's wider schedule. Celebrity fans may also want to browse Celebrity Edge Australia–New Zealand 2027–2028 sailings.