DreamAway Packages from CruiseAway

What is a DreamAway Package?

A DreamAway Package is a cruise holiday built around you. CruiseAway’s team takes a sailing you love and surrounds it with everything the trip needs: flights to the embarkation port, hotel nights before or after, airport and port transfers, and tour add-ons along the way. You pay one price, deal with one booking, and get one team of cruise specialists looking after the whole thing. Every offer is a cruise or a cruise-inclusive package — there is no accommodation-only or flights-only option.

Where do DreamAway Package sailings go?

These sailings span some of the most rewarding itineraries available to travellers departing or arriving at ports across the Pacific, Asia and Europe. The spread runs from shorter Australian coastal voyages of around 12 nights to grand transpacific crossings of up to 117 nights, with a median voyage length of 19 nights. More than 3 in 5 sailings are one-way itineraries, so the ship itself is part of the journey from one destination to another.

Close to home — Australia, the Pacific and South East Asia

The largest group of sailings stays in the waters closest to home. Australian itineraries range from coastal circuits to Great Barrier Reef voyages, sailing in and out of Sydney. If you live near the port you can drive or take the train; from another state it is a short domestic hop rather than a long international flight — and on a one-way voyage, a quick connecting flight links the two ends. Pair a Princess Cruises Australian season sailing with a hotel night in Sydney and you have a complete holiday without a single complicated transfer to arrange. If you want to combine an Australian cruise with a side trip to New Zealand, sailings from Sydney to New Zealand are a popular extension.

South East Asia itineraries make up another strong strand of the programme. These voyages typically start or finish in Singapore, making them natural anchors for a longer trip through the region. We book the flights, hotels and transfers on either side so the cruise sits neatly in the middle of a full Asia holiday.

French Polynesia sailings round out the near-Pacific options, offering a more remote and island-focused alternative for travellers who want warm water and unhurried ports of call.

The long haul — Japan, the Mediterranean and beyond

Transpacific sailings are the single biggest segment, connecting the Asia-Pacific region with the Americas in voyages that often span several weeks. These crossings suit travellers who want the journey itself to be the destination, rather than flying over the ocean to reach a ship. Transpacific cruises frequently start from Yokohama (Tokyo) or Sydney and finish in ports on the US west coast, including Seattle.

Japan is equally strong. Cruises to Japan give you the chance to spend days at sea between cultural port calls, letting the ship do the travelling while you focus on exploring ashore. Sailings calling at Yokohama (Tokyo) are the most common gateway.

For European itineraries, the Mediterranean Sea and Western Mediterranean together account for a large share of sailings. These voyages typically embark at Barcelona, Rome (Civitavecchia) or Athens (Piraeus) and finish at ports including Southampton or Amsterdam. Because these are predominantly one-way voyages, one end is the start of your flight home and the other is where you land — we book both, along with hotels at each end.

British Isles sailings and Norway voyages add a northern European dimension, finishing in Southampton or sailing round the British coastline. Transatlantic crossings bridge Europe and the Americas for travellers who want a true ocean passage.

Which ships sail on DreamAway Packages?

Several well-known ships operate DreamAway Package itineraries, ranging from mid-sized vessels with a relaxed feel to large modern ships with a full range of onboard experiences. Here is what to expect from the ships with the most sailings.

Norwegian Spirit — Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Spirit is a mid-sized ship with a relaxed, no-fixed-dining style that suits longer Pacific and New Zealand voyages well. Adults can spend afternoons at Spice H2O, an open-air beach club with cocktails and sea breezes. For dinner, Cagney’s Steakhouse and Le Bistro offer sit-down dining whenever you choose — not at an assigned time. Evening entertainment runs at the Stardust Theatre. Cabin grades on Norwegian Spirit include:

• Family Inside cabin I4 — 13.8 m², sleeps 4. A practical inside cabin with extra sleeping capacity for groups or families.
• Deluxe Sea-view cabin O3 — 26.7 m², sleeps 3. The largest sea-view grade on the ship, with nearly twice the space of a standard ocean-view cabin.
• Balcony cabin BA — 15.9 m², sleeps 3. Your own private balcony with sea views, a step up from inside and ocean-view options.
• Owner’s Suite SB with private aft balcony — 56.2 m², sleeps 2. A full suite with separate bedroom, living and dining area, and a walk-in wardrobe. See Norwegian Spirit cabins and deck plans for the full layout.

Grand Princess — Princess Cruises

Grand Princess is a familiar ship for Australian voyages, known for outdoor deck experiences including a movies-under-the-stars screen on the open deck and The Sanctuary, an adults-only top-deck retreat with sun loungers, light meals and ocean views. The Princess app lets you order food and drinks to wherever you are on the ship. Cabin grades on Grand Princess include:

• Inside cabin IA — 14.9 m², sleeps 4. Located on middle decks for easy access to lifts and facilities.
• Premium sea view O3 — 19.1 m², sleeps 4. Floor-to-ceiling panoramic window with an unobstructed sea view.
• Premium Balcony cabin B2 — 25.5 m², sleeps 4. Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors and a private balcony with open-plan feel.
• Grand Suite S1 with private hot tub — 67.8 m², sleeps 4. The largest suite category on the ship. See Grand Princess cabins and deck plans for the full breakdown.

Quantum of the Seas — Royal Caribbean

Quantum of the Seas operates shorter Pacific sailings suited to travellers who want a taste of the ocean without a long voyage. The iFLY skydiving simulator and the North Star observation pod are among the ship’s distinctive features, while the Two70° venue uses a wraparound screen across the full rear wall for evening performances. For cabin options, see the Quantum of the Seas cabins and deck plans.

Valiant Lady — Virgin Voyages

Valiant Lady is an adults-only ship in every respect — every restaurant, bar and event is designed for grown-up travellers. More than 20 specialist restaurants are included in the fare, from Korean BBQ to Italian to Mexican, with no surcharge at the door. The Red Room hosts theatrical performances and The Manor is the ship’s nightclub. Cabin options are on the Valiant Lady cabins and deck plans page.

Nieuw Statendam — Holland America Line

Nieuw Statendam’s interior was designed by Adam Tihany and Bjørn Storbraaten, and it shows — every lounge and corridor has a considered, gallery-like feel. The two-storey Wine Tower is the ship’s centrepiece, with a sommelier-guided experience that makes evenings memorable. Tamarind’s seven-seat sushi bar and the Music Walk, where live blues, pop and chamber music play each evening, round out the onboard offer. Check the Nieuw Statendam cabins and deck plans for cabin grades and sizes.

Carnival Sunshine — Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Sunshine carries a 3-deck adults-only Serenity Retreat for those who want a quieter space away from the main pool. The Speedway Splash water feature is one of the ship’s newer additions. Cabin grades on Carnival Sunshine include:

• Inside cabin with Porthole PT — 16 m², sleeps 4. Two circular portholes bring daylight into an otherwise inside cabin.
• Sea-view cabin 6A — a large picture window with unobstructed sea views and natural light.
• Balcony cabin 8A — 17 m², sleeps 4. Private balcony for direct outdoor access without sharing a deck.
• Captain’s Suite CS — 47 m², sleeps 5. Separate walk-through bedroom plus a spacious living room with sofa and armchairs. See Carnival Sunshine cabins and deck plans for the full layout.

What are the current CruiseAway deals on DreamAway Packages?

DreamAway Package fares start from A$2,599 pp* and cover a wide range of itineraries, voyage lengths and cabin grades. Fare types such as early-saver and last-minute offers appear regularly across the programme, so the price you see today can be worth acting on. Our cruise experts can tell you which fare types are available on your preferred sailing and what each one includes — some cover dining, some cover drinks, and some are room-only, so the headline figure alone does not always tell the full story. All prices are per person based on 2 people sharing.

A small number of all-inclusive sailings are part of the programme, where most onboard spending is covered by the fare. If that style of cruising appeals, our team can filter the options for you.

Make it a complete holiday

Most DreamAway Package sailings start or finish at an international port in the United Kingdom, Greece, Singapore or the United States — which means a flight is involved for the majority of travellers. CruiseAway can book those flights as part of the same package, alongside hotels at either end, port and airport transfers, and travel insurance. You pay one amount, deal with one team, and the whole trip is joined up from door to ship and back again.

For sailings that start or finish in Australian ports — particularly in Sydney — local travellers may not need an international flight at all. If you are in the same city as the embarkation port, the ship is the only transport you need. From another state, a short domestic connection gets you to the pier, and we can book that too as part of the package.

Whatever the itinerary, our cruise experts help you choose the cabin grade and the fare inclusions that fit your budget and travel style, and put it all on one booking. Browse our full cruises listing to see what else is available alongside the DreamAway programme.

Sailings close to home — Australian departures

If you are based near a major Australian port, a DreamAway Package cruise can begin the moment you step aboard. Cruise packages from Sydney are among the most popular starting points, covering Australian coastal routes and onward Pacific voyages. For a longer Australian circuit, a cruise around Australia is a substantial voyage that takes in multiple Australian ports without a single international flight. The 2027 Australian cruise programme is also worth browsing for upcoming departures. Departures from Melbourne and other ports feature across the programme too.

One-way itineraries finishing in Sydney are a practical option for travellers joining from overseas — the domestic flight at the end is far shorter than the long-haul return would otherwise be, and we book it as part of the package. For last-minute options, last-minute cruises from Sydney are updated regularly. And for a popular short extension, cruises from Sydney to New Zealand in 2027 pair well with an Australian leg.

Christmas and summer sailings

The DreamAway programme includes voyages over the Christmas and summer period, with sailings across Australian waters, the Pacific and longer transpacific routes. Christmas cruises from Sydney in 2026 are particularly popular and tend to fill early, so booking ahead is worthwhile. Our cruise experts can advise on availability and which fare types offer the most flexibility for holiday-period travel.

New Zealand itineraries are also a natural fit for the Australian summer travel window. New Zealand cruise packages and Sydney to New Zealand sailings make a strong two-week option when Australian schools are on holiday.

*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.