Cruises to Australia

Where do cruises to Australia go?

The mix of destinations on offer is genuinely broad. Coastal Australian voyages are the most popular, with sailings calling at ports around the continent — many of them departing and arriving at Sydney or Brisbane. The South Pacific and New Zealand account for a large share of the options too, giving you a route that pairs Australia with the wider Pacific region. Further afield, transpacific crossings link Australia with North America, while Fiji and Hawaii feature as waypoints on longer voyages. A smaller but well-regarded selection sails toward Japan and the Singapore corridor.

Sailings run from short four-night coastal breaks through to extended voyages of several weeks — the median sits around 12 nights, which suits a proper holiday rather than a long weekend. If you want a deep dive into the continent’s coastline, our cruise around Australia 2027 page covers dedicated circumnavigation-style itineraries, including a 28-day cruise around Australia for those who want the full picture.

Close to home — coastal Australia, the South Pacific and New Zealand

For most readers, the most convenient sailings leave from an Australian port and stay within the region. Australian coastal cruises tend to depart from Sydney or Brisbane, with Perth (Fremantle) also featuring for those on the west coast. If you live near the departure port, you can drive or take the train to the wharf — no flight involved. From another city, it is a short domestic hop rather than a long-haul journey, and we can include that connecting flight in your booking alongside any pre-cruise hotel night.

The South Pacific is a natural extension — warm water, reef systems and volcanic scenery that rewards a longer voyage. New Zealand itineraries are among the most popular options, particularly the classic route linking Sydney with Auckland; our cruises from Sydney to New Zealand page has the full selection. Fiji features on some Pacific itineraries too — the Sydney to Fiji route is a favourite for a first Pacific sailing. Fiji cruises and South East Asia sailings round out the close-to-home options.

The long haul — transpacific, Singapore, Japan and beyond

A significant share of sailings are one-way voyages rather than round trips, so it pays to check before you book. On a transpacific crossing, for example, the ship might leave Sydney and finish in Los Angeles — or the reverse — and you would connect home with a domestic or international flight from whichever end suits you. We can book that flight alongside the cruise, together with hotels either side and transfers, so nothing is left loose.

Cruises from Singapore to Australia are a popular way to combine Southeast Asia with an Australian arrival — and we have dedicated pages for Singapore to Australia in 2026, 2027 and 2028 if you have a specific year in mind. Sailings via Hawaii are another long-haul option, with departures covered in our Hawaii to Australia 2026 and 2027 pages. For Japan itineraries, a small but well-curated selection pairs Japanese port calls with an Australian conclusion.

Which cruise lines sail to Australia?

Princess Cruises is the busiest line and offers the widest range of Australian itineraries. The Princess Cruises Australia 2026–2027 season launch is a good starting point if you want their full programme, and the 2027–2028 season launch covers what comes next. Carnival Cruise Line runs a strong Australian programme — built specifically for this market, with local produce, laid-back service and departures from Sydney and Brisbane. Cunard brings its signature White Star Service to the region, with Queen Elizabeth a recurring presence. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises both maintain solid Australian schedules, while Regent Seven Seas Cruises caters to those who want a more inclusive, smaller-ship experience.

Ships sailing to Australia

Grand Princess (Princess Cruises) leads the way in sheer volume of departures. On deck, the Movies Under the Stars screen is a highlight on Great Barrier Reef voyages — curl up under a blanket and watch a film while the ship sails north. The Princess app lets you order food and drinks to wherever you are on the ship, and the adults-only Sanctuary retreat on the top deck offers sun loungers, light meals and sea views away from the bustle. Browse Grand Princess cabins and deck plans to find the right grade for your trip.

• Inside cabin IA — 14.9 m², positioned on the middle decks for minimal motion and easy access to lifts
• Premium sea view O3 — 19.1 m², floor-to-ceiling panoramic window with unobstructed sea views
• Premium Balcony cabin B2 — 25.5 m², floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors and an open-plan feel
• Grand Suite S1 — 67.8 m², the largest suite on board, with a private hot tub and space for up to 4 guests

Carnival Adventure is built squarely for the Australian market — fresh local produce, a zip-line above the deck for thrill-seekers, Movies Under the Stars for those who prefer to unwind, and Camp Ocean for younger guests while parents claim a sun lounger at the adults-only Serenity Retreat. Check Carnival Adventure cabins and deck plans before you book.

• Inside cabin 4A — 15 m², with a walk-in wardrobe and generous storage for longer voyages
• Ocean-view cabin PT — 15 m², two round portholes for natural light on the lower decks
• Balcony cabin 8A — 16 m², glass bifold door opening directly to your own outdoor space
• Byron Beach Club Presidential Suite SB — 58 m², a flagship suite with expansive balcony and dressing area

Celebrity Edge (Celebrity Cruises) is the ship for those who want something genuinely different at sea. The Magic Carpet — a cantilevered platform that moves between decks — functions as a restaurant, bar and event space suspended 16 storeys above the water. The Infinite Veranda design means your balcony can be opened wide to bring the outdoors in. See the full range on the Celebrity Edge cabins and deck plans page.

• Deluxe Inside cabin DI — 18.8 m², around 2 m² larger than a standard inside cabin
• Deluxe Ocean-view cabin DO — 22.1 m², the roomiest sea-view grade on the ship
• Sunset Veranda Stateroom SV — 21.2 m², with the largest balcony of any standard veranda category
• Iconic Suite IC — 239.8 m², panoramic 270° views from the highest position above the bridge, private hot tub, sleeps 6

Queen Elizabeth (Cunard) brings Art Deco grandeur to the Australian run — the Britannia Restaurant, Queens Grill and Royal Court Theatre give the voyage a sense of occasion that is hard to replicate. See Queen Elizabeth cabins and deck plans for the full stateroom range.

Royal Princess is Princess Cruises’ other strong performer on Australian routes, with the glass-bottomed SeaWalk extending 40 metres over the ocean and The Sanctuary adults-only retreat offering a quieter way to spend a sea day. The Royal Princess cabins and deck plans page has all grades listed. Anthem of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) and Norwegian Spirit also sail these waters — Norwegian Spirit’s adults-only Spice H2O beach club and a freestyle dining approach (including Cagney’s Steakhouse and Le Bistro) suit those who prefer to set their own pace rather than follow a fixed schedule. Browse Norwegian Spirit cabins and deck plans for more detail.

Carnival Splendor rounds out the Carnival presence on Australian waters. Cabin options are detailed on the Carnival Splendor cabins and deck plans page.

What fare types are available?

The fare structure varies by cruise line, and choosing the right tier at the start can save you money and remove surprises later.

Princess Cruises offers a Standard base fare alongside the Princess Plus package, which bundles 4 casual dining meals per voyage, beverages up to A$15 each (up to 15 per day), MedallionNet Max Wi-Fi, pre-paid crew appreciation, unlimited digital photos plus 3 prints, and reserved theatre seating. Standard covers the cruise itself, with Plus and Premier available to add on separately.

Cunard offers the flexible Cunard Fare — choose your stateroom number, pay a 15% deposit, and amend your booking up to the balance due date. Complimentary shuttle buses at ports are included. A Saver fare offers lower pricing for guests who pay in full at booking and accept a pre-allocated stateroom.

Royal Caribbean carries fare types such as last-minute offers and early-booking bonuses — our cruise experts can walk you through what is available on your chosen sailing and which combines best with your travel dates.

Are there any deals on cruises to Australia?

Discounted sailings are a regular feature across this page, with reductions measured from the price previously listed for that cabin grade on that sailing. Savings of up to 46% appear on a small number of departures, though most reduced sailings sit closer to 10% off — so if you spot a departure at a steeper discount, it is worth booking promptly. Our Best Price Guarantee means that if you find the same cabin on the same sailing cheaper elsewhere after booking with us, we will match it.

All-inclusive sailings — where drinks, dining extras or other inclusions are built into the fare — are available across a good spread of lines and departure dates. Regent Seven Seas Cruises, in particular, operates on a fully inclusive model. Our cruise experts can point you to the fares where the inclusions make the most sense for your style of travel, including last-minute cruises from Sydney if your dates are flexible.

Which ports do cruises to Australia depart from?

Sydney is by far the busiest embarkation port for sailings. Brisbane is a strong second choice, and a worthwhile starting point if you are travelling from Queensland — and cruises from Brisbane in January 2027 are worth browsing if you have the summer holiday period in mind. Perth (Fremantle) covers the west coast. Auckland, Singapore and Los Angeles also serve as embarkation points for transpacific and Asia-routed itineraries.

Because Australia is a large country and these sailings depart from different cities, we never assume you live next door to the port. If you are in the same city, you can often come straight to the wharf. From another state, a short domestic flight is usually all it takes — and we can include that in your booking through a DreamAway Package, along with any pre-cruise hotel and transfer.

Is a cruise to Australia suitable for families?

Several ships cater well for families travelling with children. Carnival Adventure’s Camp Ocean programme gives younger guests their own structured activities and social space, freeing adults to use the Serenity Retreat. Grand Princess offers a similar split, with children’s facilities and the top-deck Sanctuary for adults. Royal Princess and Anthem of the Seas both carry family-oriented programming alongside quieter areas for those travelling without children. Regent Seven Seas and Cunard lean toward adult travellers — Queen Elizabeth in particular suits those who want a more formal, measured pace.

Make it a full holiday

CruiseAway is a cruise specialist — every offer is either a cruise alone or a cruise built into a wider package. Our team can add flights, hotels, tours, transfers and insurance around your cruise, as a bundle or a fully custom itinerary. That is particularly useful on one-way sailings, where the ship finishes in a different city from where you boarded: we book the connecting flight home as part of the same booking, so you are not left to arrange it separately.

Browse the full cruise holiday range, or explore our Australian cruise deals for a curated selection of well-priced departures. Our cruise experts are available to talk through any sailing and help you find the cabin, the fare and the itinerary that suit you best.

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.