Early bird cruise specials

Where do the early bird specials sail?

Early bird cruise specials cover a wide spread of destinations, from sailings close to home through to longer voyages across Asia, the Americas and the Pacific. Australia and New Zealand lead the mix, with Australian waters and the New Zealand coastline attracting the strongest demand. South East Asia and the South Pacific are also well represented, alongside sailings to Japan and transpacific routes reaching across to the Americas. Sailing lengths range from 4 nights to over 90, with 11 nights a common middle ground — long enough to feel like a proper voyage, short enough to fit around most leave allowances.

Cruise specials

Close to home — Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific

The largest share of early bird sailings head into Australian waters or across the Tasman to New Zealand. These are the routes that need the least planning: if you live near Sydney or Brisbane, you can often board without a flight at all. From interstate, it is usually a short domestic hop rather than a long-haul journey — still by far the quickest way to reach the ship. If you are looking at a Sydney to New Zealand sailing, keep in mind that a good share of these are one-way voyages finishing in Auckland — a domestic flight connects the two ends, and our team can book that alongside your cruise so the whole trip is on one itinerary.

The South Pacific sits just beyond, with island itineraries of varying lengths suited to everyone from first-time cruisers to experienced travellers looking for something different. French Polynesia also features among the available sailings for those wanting a longer, more immersive Pacific voyage.

South East Asia is another popular early bird destination, with sailings using Singapore as a hub and ranging through the region. These are almost always fly-cruise combinations — our team can add international flights, pre-cruise hotel nights and transfers so you arrive relaxed and ready to board.

The long haul — Japan, Alaska and beyond

Japan is well represented among the early bird specials, with itineraries departing from Yokohama (Tokyo) and calling at ports across the country. These are the sailings that reward booking ahead: Japan voyages tend to attract strong demand and the best cabin grades go first. Hong Kong also features as a departure point for Asian itineraries, giving travellers from eastern Australia a convenient starting point after a relatively short international flight.

For those drawn further across the Pacific, transpacific sailings connect the Asia-Pacific region with the Americas, and Hawaii features as a destination on a number of itineraries. Closer to North America, Seattle and Vancouver serve as gateways for Alaska sailings — some of the most sought-after itineraries on any early bird list. A small number of sailings reach the Caribbean, rounding out the global spread.

Many of these long-haul routes are one-way voyages. That is not a complication — it is often what makes them so appealing — but it is worth knowing before you book. On a one-way sailing, the ship finishes in a different port from where it started; a domestic or international flight connects the two ends. Our team books the whole journey, including the return leg, so nothing is left for you to sort out separately.

Which cruise lines are on sale?

Royal Caribbean has the largest volume of early bird specials, followed by Celebrity Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Silversea. Azamara and Holland America Line also have sailings in the mix. Each line handles pricing and inclusions differently, and that is where booking with a specialist matters: our cruise experts know which fare tier suits your travel style and can explain what each one covers before you commit.

What do the fares include?

Royal Caribbean offers several fare types, including a standard cruise fare, solo traveller rates and fare types such as last-minute offers and early booking bonuses that carry onboard credit. The inclusions vary by fare, so it pays to ask our team which is best value for your sailing.

Celebrity Cruises runs 3 main fare tiers. The entry-level rate covers dining, entertainment and onboard activities, letting you add extras yourself. The mid-tier bundles a classic drinks package with basic Wi-Fi. At the top, The Retreat adds premium drinks, premium Wi-Fi, suite accommodation, an exclusive lounge and resort-style sundeck, and private dining — a fully inclusive experience for suite guests.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers a bare cruise fare at the lowest price point, or you can step up to a package that adds a drinks package, speciality dining, Wi-Fi and shore excursion credits per port. The premium tier extends that to the whole party on the booking.

Ships sailing these early bird specials

Several ships carry a strong share of the early bird inventory, and knowing what is on board helps you choose the right one.

Silversea Silver Ray

Silver Ray joined the Silversea fleet in 2024, making it one of the newest ships in the early bird specials. It is built around space — both on deck and in public areas designed from the ground up to feel open and sociable — and the suites feature 270-degree ocean views that put the sea front and centre wherever you are sitting. The Owner’s Suite O2 runs to 131 m² with 2 separate bedrooms, making it an excellent option for families or 2 couples travelling together.

Seabourn Ovation

Seabourn Ovation is a classically elegant luxury ship where elegant dining is included as standard — no à la carte surcharges to manage, no decisions about whether a restaurant is worth it. For those wanting the most space on board, the Grand Wintergarden Suite spans approximately 115 m² with a private hot tub, a separate bedroom, a generous living area and a full kitchen with bar — nearly twice the footprint of the Owner’s Suites.

Explorer of the Seas

Explorer of the Seas is Royal Caribbean’s activity-first ship: an ice rink with live shows, a surf simulator, twin waterslides and 10 dining spots covering everything from a quick bite to a proper sit-down dinner. The Royal Promenade boulevard runs the length of the ship, lined with bars, shops and live music at almost any hour. Cabin grades on Explorer of the Seas range from:

• Inside cabin with Promenade view (2T) — 15.5 m²: An interior window looks directly onto the Royal Promenade, so you have the buzz of ship life outside your cabin without paying a sea-view premium.
• Extra large ocean-view cabin (1K) — 30.5 m²: At nearly twice the size of a standard ocean-view cabin, this grade sleeps up to 6 and gives noticeably more room to move, with a direct sea view.
• Balcony cabin with sea view (1B) — 18.9 m²: Around 4–5 m² more spacious than a standard balcony cabin, with private outdoor space and an open sea view.
• Royal Suite (RS) — 117.1 m²: The largest suite on board, at roughly 3 times the size of a standard balcony cabin, sleeping up to 4 guests.

Mariner of the Seas

Mariner of the Seas suits active groups and families well: the FlowRider surf simulator, The Perfect Storm waterslides and glow-in-the-dark laser tag keep the daytime full, while the Royal Promenade delivers live music and casual dining into the evening. Jamie’s Italian, Izumi and Chops Grille mean dinner can be as relaxed or as special as the mood dictates. Check the Mariner of the Seas cabin and deck plans to compare grades before you book.

Silver Nova

Silver Nova is Silversea’s newest flagship, built to be the most spacious ship the line has ever launched. Its design incorporates new environmentally friendly technology, and its public spaces set a new standard for the fleet. View the Silver Nova cabin and deck plans for a full breakdown of suite grades and sizes.

Freedom of the Seas

Freedom of the Seas combines an ice skating rink with a 3D cinema, an open-air cinema screen and the Tropics bar for something cold after a warm day at sea. It is a ship that rewards having a loose plan and nowhere you have to be. The Freedom of the Seas cabin and deck plans show the full range of staterooms and suites.

Book now with CruiseAway

CruiseAway is a cruise specialist — every offer is a cruise or a cruise-inclusive package. Our DreamAway Packages let us build your cruise, flights, hotels, tours, transfers and insurance into a single booking, so there is nothing left loose at either end. Our cruise experts know these ships and fares in detail, and our Best Price Guarantee means that if you find the same sailing cheaper elsewhere, we will match it.

If you are sailing from Sydney or Brisbane, you may be able to drive or take a short domestic flight to the pier. If your cruise starts overseas — in Singapore, Yokohama or Vancouver, for example — we book the international flights, any hotel nights needed before or after, and the transfers between airport and port, all on one itinerary. For one-way sailings that finish in a different city, we add the return leg too, so the whole trip is sorted in one call.

CruiseAway is accredited with ATAS, giving you the assurance of a travel agent held to industry standards.

If you are thinking about a sailing around Australia in the coming season, the Princess Cruises Australia 2026–2027 season launch is worth a look, as is the dedicated cruise around Australia 2027 page for the full picture. For departures from Sydney heading to New Zealand, see cruises from Sydney to New Zealand and the Sydney to Hawaii 2027 options. Seasonal highlights around the major departure ports are covered on the Christmas cruises from Sydney 2026, Christmas cruises from Brisbane, December 2026 cruises from Sydney and December 2026 cruises from Brisbane pages. Browsing cheap cruises or the full discounted cruise listing will show you the broadest range of what is on sale.