Summer cruises departing December 2026 to February 2027

Where do summer cruises go?

Summer sailings departing between December 2026 and February 2027 spread across a wide arc of the globe, from ports close to home right through to the Americas and beyond. South East Asia leads the mix, followed by New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific — and for those willing to travel further, the Caribbean, Japan and South America all feature strongly. Here is how the destinations break down.

Close to home — South East Asia, New Zealand and the Pacific

The largest share of summer cruising is concentrated in South East Asia. Voyages in this region range from short getaways to immersive multi-week itineraries, with Singapore and Hong Kong among the most active disembarkation ports. If you live near a major eastern-seaboard city, Singapore is a relatively short flight, and we can add that flight, plus any pre-cruise nights, to your booking through a DreamAway Package.

New Zealand is the second great draw of the southern summer. Sailings here operate in both directions — some are round trips, others are one-way voyages — so a cruise that starts in one New Zealand port may well finish in another city entirely. If that’s the case for you, a short domestic flight connects the two, and we can arrange it. For something that stays closer to Australian shores, Australia coastal voyages and South Pacific island itineraries round out the near-home options.

If you are based near Sydney, some sailings depart right from the harbour — no flight at all. From another state, it’s typically a short domestic hop to the port rather than any kind of long-haul journey. We can add that connecting flight, along with a hotel the night before if you want to make an early-morning embarkation stress-free.

The long haul — Caribbean, Japan, South America and beyond

For those making a full international trip of it, the Caribbean is the most popular long-haul destination in this window. Most Caribbean sailings depart from Florida: Miami and Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) are about half an hour apart, so it is always worth checking both for dates and prices. Port Canaveral is another active Florida hub. We book the flights from Australia, hotels on either side and transfers to the port, so you arrive at the ship ready to go.

Japan sailings offer a very different pace — a chance to cruise into ports that reward slow exploration, combined with the onboard comfort of a full ocean ship. South America and transpacific crossings are also available for travellers who want a genuinely long voyage, while Hawaii features for those who want a Pacific island experience west of the Americas. Transatlantic crossings also appear in the mix for the adventurous.

Which cruise lines sail in summer?

MSC Cruises is the most popular line this summer by number of sailings, followed closely by Royal Caribbean. Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Holland America Line all have strong programmes, with Celebrity Cruises, Oceania Cruises and Explora Journeys also sailing. Carnival Cruise Lines rounds out the major players. Each line brings a distinct style, from MSC’s large-ship entertainment and family facilities to Explora Journeys’ boutique ocean-club approach — our cruise experts can help you work out which suits your travel style.

Are these cruises one-way or round trips?

These sailings are a genuine mix of both shapes. A good number return to the port they leave from, but a large share are one-way voyages — the ship finishes in a different city from where it began. That matters for planning, so it is always worth checking the itinerary before you book. On a one-way sailing, a domestic or international flight home is part of the trip; we can book that return leg, along with any hotels you need at either end, so the whole journey is joined up.

Featured ships sailing this summer

Crown Princess — Princess Cruises

Crown Princess is a natural fit for Australian summer cruising. The ship can circumnavigate Australia in a single epic voyage, calling at Sydney, Melbourne, Fremantle, Adelaide and Brisbane along the way. On board, the style is relaxed — unhurried dining, live shows and service that feels personal rather than processed. Families are well looked after: younger guests have their own dedicated clubs (the Treehouse, Lodge and Beach House), while adults who want a quieter moment head to The Sanctuary, a peaceful deck retreat reserved for grown-ups. Cabins on Crown Princess run from compact insides to a generous Owner’s Suite:

• Inside cabin IA — 15.1 m², sleeps up to 4, located on middle decks with easy access to lifts and facilities
• Sea-view cabin OB — 16.6 m², sleeps up to 4, panoramic window with an unobstructed sea view and natural daylight
• Premium Balcony cabin B1 — 25.2 m², sleeps up to 4, private outdoor area with table and chairs for sea air and open views
• Owner’s Suite S2 — 63.8 m², sleeps up to 4, the most spacious suite on board, significantly larger than the penthouse or premium suites

See the full layout on the Crown Princess cabins and deck plans page. For a deep dive into Princess Cruises’ Australian season, the Princess Cruises Australia 2026–2027 season launch page has the full picture, and the Princess Cruises summer 2027 programme covers the summer sailings specifically.

Azura — P&O Cruises

Renewed inside and out in 2025, Azura carries fresh restaurants, bars and cabins throughout. Evenings on board have genuine range: the 800-seat Playhouse hosts West End-quality aerial acrobatics, while the SeaScreen shows films under the stars on deck. The Glass House wine bar, curated by TV wine expert Olly Smith, offers perfectly matched pairings that give a sea day a very pleasant shape. Cabin grades on Azura:

• Larger Inside Cabin OB — 15 m², sleeps 2, exclusively on Riviera Deck — a single location that makes it straightforward to find your bearings
• Sea View Cabin LB — 15 m², sleeps 2, natural light and an unobstructed sea view, everything an inside cabin offers plus an outlook onto the water
• Superior Deluxe Balcony Cabin DA — 29 m², sleeps 2, private balcony with sea air and open views not available in inside or sea-view grades
• Penthouse Suite A1 — 69 m², sleeps 2, the largest suite on board with a full separate lounge area

The Azura cabins and deck plans page has the full grade-by-grade breakdown.

MSC World Europa — MSC Cruises

One of MSC’s largest and most feature-rich ships, MSC World Europa brings a vast range of dining, entertainment and pool options suited to extended sea days. For cabin choices and deck layouts, visit the MSC World Europa cabins and deck plans page.

MSC Preziosa — MSC Cruises

From the moment you step aboard, crystal staircases and an Italianate piazza set the tone. Sea days on MSC Preziosa are anything but slow: a 120 m waterslide, 4D cinema, Formula 1 simulator and Broadway-style shows fill the hours, so there is always something happening regardless of the weather outside. Guests who want an entirely different level of privacy and service can book into the Yacht Club, where a private butler, an exclusive pool and gourmet dining become the daily routine. See grade details on the MSC Preziosa cabins and deck plans page.

MSC Opera — MSC Cruises

MSC Opera is smaller than the line’s mega-ships, which means it can call at ports where larger vessels simply cannot dock — a real advantage on itineraries where the draw is the destination rather than the ship itself. Evenings run from a jazz bar with a Cotton Club atmosphere through to a proper disco or a theatre show; kids have LEGO zones, VR gaming and age-specific clubs. See what is available on the MSC Opera cabins and deck plans page.

Explora Journeys ships

Explora Journeys offers a boutique ocean-club experience across its fleet. EXPLORA I and EXPLORA II are both sailing this summer — EXPLORA II carries an Owner’s Residence of 183 m² of interior space plus a 132 m² terrace, positioned across the full width of the stern, making it the largest living space on the ship by a considerable margin. Cabin details for EXPLORA II are on the EXPLORA II cabins and deck plans page. EXPLORA III is also part of the summer programme; for cabin options, see the EXPLORA III cabins and deck plans page. For fare and availability options across the Explora Journeys fleet, the Explora Spontaneous Summer Invitation is worth exploring alongside this page.

What fare types are available?

The right fare depends on the cruise line and how much you want included before you board. Here is a quick overview of what the main lines offer this summer:

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean offers fare types such as a standard Cruise Fare with early-booking onboard credit, Last-Minute fares for flexible travellers, and promotional types — for example BOGO-style and reduced-fare offers for third and fourth guests. Solo travellers can also find a dedicated single-occupancy fare. Taxes, fees and port expenses are additional on all grades.

Princess Cruises

Princess sails with two main tiers. Princess Standard is the base fare covering the cruise itself, with packages available to add on. Princess Plus includes four 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 photographs and 3 prints, plus reserved theatre seating. It is the middle tier and suits most travellers who want drinks and Wi-Fi sorted without managing a tab at sea. Last-minute Drop N Go fares with the Plus package are also offered on selected sailings.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian keeps it simple: a base Brochure fare covers the cruise only, while the Free at Sea and Free at Sea Plus tiers bundle a premium beverage package, speciality dining, Wi-Fi and shore excursion credits. The Plus tier extends speciality dining across the full length of the cruise and is worth considering on longer sailings where dining out each evening adds up.

What does CruiseAway add to your booking?

We are cruise specialists — every booking we make is a cruise, or a cruise built into a larger holiday. Our cruise experts know the ships and itineraries well, and they can help you choose the cabin grade and fare tier that genuinely fits your trip rather than the one that is easiest to sell. For most summer sailings, which depart from international ports, that means a flight from Australia is part of the picture. We can pull the flights, pre-cruise hotel, transfers and any tours into a single DreamAway Package — one price, one booking reference, one team available if anything needs adjusting.

Our Best Price Guarantee means that if you find the same cruise cheaper elsewhere, we will match it. That applies whether you are booking a short South Pacific voyage or a longer transpacific crossing.

Popular departure ports this summer

Most summer sailings depart from ports in Florida and the Caribbean for the Americas itineraries, with Sydney and Brisbane the most active Australian departure points for regional cruising. Singapore serves as the main hub for South East Asian voyages. Brisbane sailings are particularly popular with Queensland travellers — Carnival cruises from Brisbane are a strong option if you want to board close to home. Sydney sailings are covered in depth on the Sydney cruise port page, and if you are considering a New Zealand voyage starting from Sydney, the Sydney to New Zealand cruises page has the focused options. The Sydney to Hawaii 2027 page covers that specific routing if Hawaii is on the list.

For Florida sailings, Miami and Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) are roughly half an hour apart — it is always worth checking both, as the same cruise line may depart from either on different dates. We book airport transfers to both ports and can advise on which suits your routing from Australia.

Planning around Sydney in December? The Sydney December 2026 departures page has the dates, and the Christmas cruises from Sydney 2026 page covers the festive window specifically. Brisbane travellers over the same period can browse Christmas cruises from Brisbane or the Brisbane January 2027 page for the new year options. If New Year’s Eve at sea appeals, the New Year’s Eve cruises page pulls together those sailings in one place.

For the broadest view of what is available to book, including sailings beyond this window, the full cruises page is the place to start.

Thinking about 2027–2028?

If you want to plan further ahead, the Princess Cruises 2028 summer season is already open for bookings, and the Cunard 2027–2028 world cruise season launch is worth a look for anyone considering a longer voyage. The Cruise Around Australia 2027 page covers Australian coastal itineraries in full across the year, and the Sydney January 2027 page narrows things down to that specific month if you have a firm travel window in mind.