May cruises 2027 up to -48%

May 2027 draws cruisers to some of the world’s most rewarding waters. The biggest share of May sailings heads to Alaska and the west coast of Canada, followed by a strong showing across both the Mediterranean Sea and the western Mediterranean — with the British Isles, Japan and Australia rounding out a broad and varied month. Itineraries range from 4 nights to 40 nights, with a median of 8 nights, and sail with lines including Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Viking Ocean Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and AmaWaterways.

Where do May cruises go?

May is one of the broadest months for ocean cruising. The destinations below reflect where May sailings are genuinely concentrated — and that concentration matters when you’re choosing where to go.

Alaska and West Canada

Alaska dominates May cruising, and it is easy to see why it draws so many itineraries. Ships sail from Vancouver, Canada and Seattle, making this an accessible choice whether you connect via a short domestic flight or a transpacific journey. If you’re local to the west coast of North America, cruises departing in May from Pacific ports put you straight on board without a lengthy trip. If you’re travelling from another state or territory, a single flight to Vancouver or Seattle is all that stands between you and the glaciers. Many Alaska itineraries are one-way — finishing in a different port from where they began — so a domestic connecting flight links the two ends rather than a return journey on the same route.

Mediterranean Sea and western Mediterranean

The Mediterranean accounts for a strong share of May sailings, split across the broader sea and the western basin in particular. Key embarkation ports include Barcelona and Rome (Civitavecchia), with Southampton also appearing as a home port for some itineraries. For those flying in, CruiseAway can arrange flights, pre-cruise hotels in any of these cities and transfers to the port — everything packaged so the holiday begins the moment you land, not the moment you board. Mediterranean cruises in 2027 draw a broad mix of lines and ship sizes, from intimate vessels that slip into smaller harbours to larger ships with full resort amenities.

British Isles

The British Isles draw a solid share of May itineraries, sailing from Southampton among other ports. These voyages tend to suit travellers who want a longer flight offset by a multi-week itinerary — and because the British Isles circuit often returns to its starting port, it is a tidy round trip once you’ve made the journey over. Our team can connect the flights and hotels on both ends.

Japan

May is a rewarding time for Japan cruises, with sailings calling at ports including Tokyo. Japan itineraries require a flight from Australia, and CruiseAway can build the full trip — combining flights, a night or two either side of the cruise, transfers and the voyage itself into one package.

Close to home — Australia

A smaller share of May sailings operates in Australian waters. For travellers based close to the embarkation port, these are cruises with no international flight at all — you drive or take a domestic hop to the pier and you’re away. See the full range of Australian cruises in 2027 if you want to explore what’s on closer to home.

Which cruise lines sail in May 2027?

Viking River Cruises, Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Viking Ocean Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and AmaWaterways all have May departures on sale. Between them they cover river and ocean itineraries, though the vast majority of May sailings are ocean voyages — just 2 river sailings appear in the mix. That’s worth knowing if you’re specifically after a river cruise: AmaWaterways specialises in this style, while the other lines focus on ocean voyages.

What are the ships like?

Several ships stand out in the May 2027 programme. Here’s a closer look at a handful, from a newly launched flagship to a compact luxury yacht.

Sun Princess — Princess Cruises

Sun Princess is the newest and largest ship in the Princess fleet, having entered service in 2024. The Dome — a Santorini-inspired pool space by day — transforms into a vibrant entertainment venue each evening, and with 29 dining options and 5 pools, there is always something new to discover on board. If you want to explore which cabin suits you best, the Sun Princess cabins and deck plans are a good place to start. Princess Cruises also has a dedicated 2026/2027 season launch worth exploring for further itinerary options.

Queen Elizabeth — Cunard

Step aboard Queen Elizabeth and into Art Deco splendour — chandeliers, a promenade deck and the full ceremony of Cunard’s White Star Service. Your table in the Britannia, Princess or Queens Grill restaurant is set exactly as you’d imagine it should be. After dinner, the Royal Court Theatre offers a full evening’s entertainment, or you can dance in the Queens Room ballroom or take to the deck for a game of croquet. Queen Elizabeth carries 14 May sailings, and the choice of cabin grade makes a real difference to the experience:

• Britannia Inside cabin Deluxe GB — 19.2 m², sleeping 2, offering notably more space than the standard inside grade on the same ship.
• Britannia Ocean-view cabin EB — 18.3 m², sleeping 2, with a window for natural light and sea views.
• Britannia Club Balcony cabin A1 — 24.0 m², sleeping 2, with your own private balcony and sea views — a step unavailable to inside or ocean-view guests in Britannia.
• Queens Grill Grand Suite Q1 — 127.7 m², sleeping 2, with an exceptionally large private balcony of approximately 90 m², the most generous outdoor space of any suite on board.

See the full Queen Elizabeth cabins and deck plans for dimensions, layouts and positions across the ship.

MSC Sinfonia — MSC Cruises

MSC Sinfonia is a Lirica-class ship — intimate enough to call at ports that larger vessels miss, but well-equipped enough for families and couples alike. A top-deck water park, an enlarged Aurea Spa and 94 balcony cabins sit alongside Broadway-style evening shows and dedicated zones for younger guests. Cabin grades span a useful range:

• Junior Inside Cabin Fantastica — 13 m², sleeping up to 4, positioned on a middle deck for a quieter, more central location.
• Premium Ocean View Fantastica — 22 m², sleeping up to 4, offering considerably more living space than the junior ocean-view grade.
• Junior Balcony Cabin Fantastica — 13 m², sleeping up to 3, with a private balcony giving direct access to fresh air and views.
• Suite SM1 — 22 m², sleeping 2, with significantly more space than the ship’s standard inside cabins.

Check the MSC Sinfonia cabins and deck plans for a full breakdown of layouts and positions.

Seabourn Ovation — Seabourn

For those after an exclusively luxury experience, Seabourn Ovation delivers elegant, all-inclusive dining and a refined atmosphere throughout. The Grand Wintergarden Suite — at approximately 115 m², with a private hot tub, separate bedroom, generous living area and a full kitchen with bar — is one of the most generous suites at sea. See Seabourn Ovation cabins and deck plans for the full suite of options.

Nieuw Statendam and Zuiderdam — Holland America Line

Holland America Line brings 2 ships to the May programme. Nieuw Statendam is noted for its dramatic two-storey Wine Tower, its Tamarind restaurant with a hand-rolled sushi bar, and interiors designed by Adam Tihany and Bjørn Storbraaten. Zuiderdam carries original art throughout every corridor and public space, and most staterooms include a private verandah — a level of outdoor space that would cost considerably more on many other ships. Both ships are known for Holland America’s unhurried pace: proper restaurant dining, attentive service, and a rhythm that suits travellers who want to genuinely relax. Deck plans for Nieuw Statendam and Zuiderdam are available if you want to compare cabin positions.

What do May cruise fares include?

What’s covered by your fare depends on the cruise line and the fare tier you select. Here’s what to expect from the main lines featured this month.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean offers several fare tiers for May 2027 sailings. The BOGO offer gives the second guest up to 60% off. A Savings Fare includes a balcony upgrade on select ships and sailings. A Last-Minute Fare provides discounted pricing on listed sailings and can be combined with other offers. A 3rd and 4th guest promotion is also available on select sailings, providing a reduced cruise fare for additional cabin occupants (taxes, fees and port expenses apply to all guests). Our cruise experts can walk you through which combination works best for your travelling party.

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises offers a choice between the Standard fare (cruise only, with packages available to add) and the Princess Plus package, 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 photographs plus 3 prints, and reserved theatre seating. The Plus package delivers solid value if you plan to use the dining and drinks allowances — our team can help you work out which tier suits your travel style. Royal Caribbean sailings from Brisbane are also worth a look if you want to compare lines and departure options.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line gives you a choice from the base Brochure fare (cruise only) through to the Free at Sea and Free at Sea Plus tiers. Free at Sea includes a speciality dining package, a wi-fi package, a premium beverage package and shore excursion credits of US$50 per port. Free at Sea Plus extends the dining package to cover all guests on the reservation, with the number of speciality dining meals scaling with the length of the cruise. If you’re torn between fare levels, our cruise experts can help you compare the total cost of each option against how you plan to spend your days at sea.

Make it a full holiday

Almost all May cruises require a flight — departures spread across the United States, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom — so the cruise is typically the centrepiece of a longer trip rather than a standalone voyage. CruiseAway can bring everything together in one booking: flights from any Australian gateway, pre- and post-cruise hotels, transfers between the airport and the port, tours at the ports you’ll visit, and travel insurance. A DreamAway Package is the simplest way to do it — one reference number, one team to call, and no loose ends to chase yourself.

For the small share of sailings that depart from Australian ports, there may be no international flight involved at all. Whether you live near the pier or need a domestic connection to reach it, we can add whatever pieces are missing — a hotel the night before, a transfer from the airport, or simply the cruise itself.

What does May cruising cost?

May 2027 sailings start from A$319 pp*. Prices vary significantly by itinerary length, cruise line, ship and cabin grade — a 4-night sailing in an inside cabin sits at a very different price point from a 40-night voyage in a suite. More than half the sailings on sale carry a reduced rate, so there are genuine savings to find if you book with a degree of flexibility. Our Best Price Guarantee means that if you find the same cabin and sailing cheaper elsewhere after booking with CruiseAway, we’ll match it. Browse cheap cruises or the full range of Australian market cruises if you want to compare across the board.

Thinking about the month before or after?

If May doesn’t quite fit your plans, April cruises offer a very similar range of destinations with itineraries across the Mediterranean and Alaska already open. Sailing in autumn more broadly also throws up some compelling options. If you have a specific port in mind, cruises from Sydney in April 2027 and April 2027 cruises in Australian waters are both worth a look — as are the dedicated pages for cruises from Sydney in May 2027 and cruises from Sydney in May 2026 if you’re comparing years or planning well in advance.

*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.