2026 cruises around Tasmania

What is a Tasmania cruise like in 2026?

Tasmania cruises in 2026 depart from Sydney and take in some of the most distinctive coastal scenery in the southern hemisphere. Itineraries range from 5 to 16 nights, with a median of 12 nights — long enough to properly settle into life at sea. Most sailings are round trips back to Sydney, while 3 of the 7 departures are one-way voyages finishing in Auckland, connecting the island with New Zealand in a single passage. For one-way sailings, a domestic or trans-Tasman flight links the two ends of the trip, and Cruise1st can book that for you alongside hotels and transfers so nothing is left to arrange separately.

All sailings are ocean cruises. The season runs from October through to December 2026, which means you’re travelling as the Australian summer builds — generally calm seas and long, bright evenings on deck.

Which lines sail to Tasmania in 2026?

Six cruise lines feature, ranging from large resort-style ships to boutique luxury vessels. Here is how the fleet breaks down:

• Regent Seven Seas Cruises — 2 sailings aboard Seven Seas Explorer, the line’s flagship all-inclusive ship
• Azamara — 1 sailing aboard Azamara Pursuit, a boutique vessel for 777 guests
• Princess Cruises — 1 sailing aboard Grand Princess, homeported in Australia for its local season
• Celebrity Cruises — 1 sailing aboard Celebrity Edge, the line’s Edge-class flagship
• Norwegian Cruise Line — 1 sailing aboard Norwegian Spirit
• Carnival Cruise Lines — 1 sailing aboard Carnival Splendor, Sydney’s home fun ship

Prices start from A$1,206 pp*, making Carnival the most accessible entry point, while Regent Seven Seas sits at the luxury end of the range. Across the 7 sailings, 5 are all-inclusive or semi-inclusive, so it’s worth comparing what each fare tier covers before you choose.

The ships: what you actually get on board

Seven Seas Explorer — Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Regent describes Seven Seas Explorer as offering “Unrivalled Space at Sea” — and the cabin sizes back that up. The Regent Suite RS measures 341 m² with a 131 m² balcony on the highest deck, which is unlike anything else sailing Australian waters this year. The all-inclusive fare covers virtually everything: shore excursions, speciality dining, drinks and gratuities are all bundled in. For cabin options and deck layouts, see the Seven Seas Explorer cabins and deck plans.

Azamara Pursuit — Azamara

With just 777 guests on board, Azamara Pursuit stays small enough to dock in ports larger ships cannot reach, and the line’s signature longer stays — overnights and late departures — mean you get genuine time ashore rather than a rushed hour at the pier. Complimentary AzAmazing Evenings (private cultural events included in your fare) and specialty restaurants Prime C and Aqualina are part of the package. Cabin grades on Pursuit run from a 14.7 m² inside cabin up to the 52 m² Club World Owner’s Suite. See the full range on the Azamara Pursuit cabins and deck plans page.

Carnival Splendor — Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Splendor is Sydney’s resident fun ship, and it shows in the on-board line-up: the Green Lightning waterslide and WaterWorks™ waterpark keep younger travellers occupied, while the retractable-roof midship pool works whatever the weather. Adults wanting quieter time have the Cloud 9 Spa™ with Thalassotherapy pools and the Serenity Retreat. Dining runs from Guy’s Burger Joint to the Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse and Masala Tiger. Cabin grades include:

• Cloud 9 Spa Inside (4S) — 16 m²: includes priority spa reservations, unlimited thermal suite access and 2 complimentary fitness classes
• Large Sea-view (6K) — 30 m²: 10 m² larger than standard ocean-view cabins, with a proper window
• Balcony cabin 8M with large balcony — 26 m²: 9 m² more than a standard balcony cabin, with a private outdoor space
• Captain’s Suite (CS) — 47 m²: the largest suite on board, with a separate bedroom and living area, sleeping up to 5

Full deck plans are on the Carnival Splendor cabins and deck plans page.

Celebrity Edge — Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Edge is best known for the Magic Carpet — the world’s first cantilevered floating platform — which moves up and down the hull serving as a bar, al fresco restaurant or dive deck depending on the time of day. Infinite Veranda staterooms open the full balcony wall so the room and the sea feel like one space. Celebrity offers 3 fare tiers on this sailing: a base rate that covers the cruise itself, an All Inclusive fare that adds a classic drinks package and basic Wi-Fi, and The Retreat — suite accommodation with premium drinks, premium Wi-Fi, exclusive lounge access and dedicated personal service. Cabin details are on the Celebrity Edge cabins and deck plans page.

Grand Princess — Princess Cruises

Grand Princess carries the Crown Grill steakhouse (named Best Cruise Steakhouse by USA Today) and Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria for specialty dining, plus the MedallionClass® OceanNow® system — order food, drinks or services from anywhere on the ship via the Princess app. Movies Under the Stars® brings a giant poolside screen with free popcorn and blankets on voyages from Sydney. Princess offers Standard and Plus fare tiers: the Plus package includes 4 casual dining meals per voyage, beverages up to A$15 each, MedallionNet® Max Wi-Fi, pre-paid crew appreciation, unlimited digital photos and reserved theatre seating. See all cabin grades on the Grand Princess cabins and deck plans page.

Norwegian Spirit — Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Spirit’s 2020 refurbishment added Onda by Scarpetta modern Italian restaurant and refreshed the ship throughout, while Cagney’s Steakhouse remains a fixture for specialty dining. The Spice H2O adults-only open-air beach club gives the ship its signature outdoor energy. NCL’s Free at Sea fare tier adds a premium beverage package, specialty dining, Wi-Fi and shore excursion credits for the first 2 guests — a strong value option for couples. Cabin and deck information is on the Norwegian Spirit cabins and deck plans page.

Where do Tasmania cruises go in 2026?

All 2026 Tasmania cruises depart from Sydney. From there, itineraries head south and west around Tasmania, with the majority staying within Australian waters. A smaller number extend the voyage across the Tasman to take in New Zealand, and one sailing covers both regions in a single combined itinerary — a good option if you want to see the best of Australia and New Zealand on one trip.

Round-trip sailings return to Sydney, so there’s nothing extra to arrange at the end. One-way voyages finish in Auckland — if you’re flying home from there, or continuing to explore New Zealand, Cruise1st can add the flights and any pre- or post-cruise hotel nights to your booking.

When is the right time to sail around Tasmania?

All 2026 departures leave between October and December, as the Australian spring turns to summer. The days are getting longer, the seas around the southern coast are generally calmer than in the winter months, and Tasmania’s wilderness landscapes are at their most lush. If you want more departure options — including 2027 sailings — 2027 cruises around Tasmania and 2028 cruises around Tasmania are both open for bookings.

Is a Tasmania cruise good for families?

It depends on the ship. Carnival Splendor is the standout family option: the WaterWorks™ waterpark, multiple pool decks and a wide range of casual dining venues make it genuinely easy to keep different ages happy. Grand Princess also suits families well — Movies Under the Stars and a large, varied ship mean there’s plenty to fill the days at sea.

At the other end of the scale, Seven Seas Explorer and Azamara Pursuit are designed for adult travellers wanting space, quiet and immersive shore time. Celebrity Edge and Norwegian Spirit sit in between — active and well-equipped, with options for most ages.

Fares, inclusions and what’s covered

5 of the 7 sailings are all-inclusive or carry a bundled fare tier, so it’s worth looking closely at what each covers before comparing headline prices. Regent Seven Seas and Azamara both include shore excursions, drinks and gratuities as standard. Celebrity, Norwegian and Princess each offer tiered fare types — such as base rates, drinks-inclusive and premium all-in options — so you can match the level of inclusions to your style of travel. Our cruise experts can walk you through the difference and help you find the fare that suits you, rather than the one that looks cheapest upfront.

One sailing carries a discount of up to 35% off the price previously listed for that cabin grade — worth checking if you’re flexible on dates. Our Best Price Guarantee means that if you find the same sailing cheaper elsewhere, we’ll match it.

Make it a full holiday with Cruise1st

We’re cruise specialists — every offer is a cruise or a cruise-inclusive package. Our team can add flights, hotels, tours, transfers and insurance around your cruise, as a bundle or a fully custom holiday. If you’re coming from interstate to join the ship in Sydney, we can sort the domestic flight and a hotel the night before. For one-way sailings ending in Auckland, we’ll book the return flight and any extra nights you want in New Zealand. Cruises from Sydney are our most popular departure point, and our Australian cruise experts are available seven days a week.

If Tasmania in 2026 isn’t quite the right fit, you might also want to look at cruises around Australia in 2026, all 2026 sailings from Sydney, or — if you’re planning further ahead — the Princess Cruises 2026/2027 Australia season and the Princess Cruises 2027–2028 season. For sailings over the Christmas period, see our Christmas cruises Australia 2026 page or Christmas cruises to New Zealand.

Departing from elsewhere in Australia? Cruises from Brisbane in 2026 and New Zealand cruises in 2026 may also be worth a look. You can browse the full range of cruises from Australia or all ocean cruises available through Cruise1st.

*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.

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.