Africa cruises departing from Australia

What does an Africa cruise from Australia actually look like?

Every sailing departs from Sydney and is one-way: your cruise ends in a different port from the one you board at. Say that plainly and plan around it — you will need a flight home from wherever the voyage finishes, and Cruise1st can book that alongside hotels and transfers so the whole trip sits on one booking. Voyages range from 40 to 129 nights, with a median around 65 nights, so these are genuine long-haul sailings suited to travellers with real time to spend at sea.

Where do these sailings go?

The routes fall broadly into two groups: those that stay closer to the Asia-Pacific region before heading west toward Africa, and the longer hauls that take in Europe or circle the globe entirely.

Close to home first — South East Asia and the Australian coast

The majority of sailings pass through South East Asia on their way west, which means rich port programmes through some of the most varied waters in the world before the voyage crosses the Indian Ocean toward Africa. A smaller number spend time along the Australian coastline or call into Australia and New Zealand ports before heading offshore. If you have always wanted to combine a coastal Australian cruise with an onward African adventure, these itineraries are the natural way to do it.

The long haul — round the world and the Mediterranean

For travellers with more time, there is a round-the-world sailing that calls at ports across multiple continents, and a Mediterranean routing that finishes in European waters. These are the itineraries for people who want to make the whole world the destination, not just one region.

Which ports do these sailings finish in?

Because all voyages are one-way, the disembarkation port is as important as where you board. Finishing ports include Cape Town, Southampton, Hamburg, Lisbon, Fort Lauderdale and Piraeus (the port for Athens). Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) and Miami are about half an hour apart, so a Florida finish can work from either — worth checking both if you are flying onward from there. Our team can arrange the return flight from whichever port your voyage ends at, along with a hotel if you want a night ashore before flying.

Which cruise lines sail to Africa from Australia?

Six cruise lines feature on these departures. Cunard leads by the number of sailings, followed by Holland America Line and Oceania Cruises. Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Seabourn represent the ultra-luxury end of the spectrum, while Princess Cruises offers its own mix of scale and itinerary flexibility. Three of the sailings across the programme are all-inclusive, so drinks, dining and gratuities are already covered in the fare — worth factoring in when you compare prices.

The ships sailing these routes

Queen Anne (Cunard, launched 2024) is the newest ship in the fleet and the one to watch if you want the freshest Cunard experience. The Mareel Wellness & Beauty Spa includes a Himalayan salt sauna, cold therapy room and hydrotherapy pool — a genuine retreat for a long ocean crossing. Five specialty restaurants cover Japanese, Italian and steakhouse dining among others, and the Bright Lights Society show bar brings world-class performers into an intimate, technology-led venue. For cabin options on Queen Anne, the Queen Anne cabins and deck plans page has the full breakdown.

• Britannia Inside (IA) — 13.7 m²: 24-hour cabin steward with daily turndown service.
• Britannia Deluxe Ocean-view (EA) — 21.9 m²: Around 3 m² more living space than a standard ocean-view, with a separate seating area.
• Britannia Club Balcony (A1) — 21.9 m²: Exclusive access to the Britannia Club Restaurant with a reserved table throughout the voyage.
• Queens Grill Grand Suite (Q1) — 133.8 m²: The largest suite on board — more than twice the size of the Master Suite.

Queen Victoria (Cunard) is known for its Royal Court Theatre, the first at sea to feature private boxes, where West End-style productions run nightly. The Winter Garden lounge, with its retractable glass roof and indoor water sculpture, is a signature architectural space you will not find anywhere else afloat. Dining follows Cunard’s three-tiered Grills system: Queens Grill, Princess Grill and Britannia Club are each tied to your stateroom category, so your table follows your cabin choice. See the Queen Victoria cabins and deck plans for the full range.

Seabourn Quest carries just 450 guests, and every suite has a private balcony, butler service and all fine wines and spirits included. The near 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio means attention that larger ships simply cannot match. At the heart of the ship, Seabourn Square replaces the traditional cruise desk with an open, café-style social lounge. The Seabourn Quest cabins and deck plans page shows the full suite categories, including the Grand Wintergarden Suite at approximately 115 m².

Volendam (Holland America Line) offers upscale French cuisine at Le Cirque and a lively programme of entertainment at the Frans Hals Show Lounge — a mid-size ship with a well-established personality. For suite and cabin details, see Volendam cabins and deck plans.

Coral Princess (Princess Cruises) has a slim hull that lets her reach narrower waterways and smaller ports that larger ships cannot access — genuinely useful on a long itinerary with varied ports of call. The Universe Lounge features three revolving stages used for cooking demonstrations, cabaret and fashion shows, which is a configuration unique at sea. The Coral Princess cabins and deck plans page covers all grades, including the Crown Grill steakhouse and The Sanctuary adults-only retreat on the top deck. For a closer look at the full Princess programme, the Princess Cruises 2027–2028 season page is worth a visit.

Marina (Oceania Cruises) is built around food in a way few ships can claim. The Culinary Center is the only cooking school at sea, with 24 professional stations and courses led by experienced chefs. Six gourmet restaurants are included in the fare, among them La Reserve by Wine Spectator for paired wine-and-tasting-menu evenings. The Privée private dining room — furnished by architect Dakota Jackson — seats up to 10 guests with 4 bespoke menu options. See Marina cabins and deck plans for the full picture.

What fare options are available?

Cunard offers several fare types including flexible fares (with choice of stateroom number, priority for upgrades, a low deposit and the ability to amend before the balance due date) as well as last-minute Saver fares that offer deeper savings in exchange for a pre-allocated stateroom and full payment on booking. Fare types such as OBC-and-drinks bundles, coach or parking add-ons are also available depending on the sailing.

On the Princess Cruises sailing, fare types include Princess Standard (the base cruise fare) and Princess Plus, which adds casual dining meals per voyage, beverages, MedallionNet® Max Wi-Fi, pre-paid crew appreciation, unlimited digital photographs and reserved theatre seating. Our team can walk you through which tier makes sense given what you plan to do on board.

Getting to Sydney — and home from wherever you finish

All sailings depart from Sydney. If you are based in Sydney, you board on your doorstep with no flight at all. If you are travelling from another Australian state, it is a short domestic hop rather than a long-haul journey — still the simplest way to reach a ship. Because every voyage is one-way, you will finish in a different city and need a flight back. Cruise1st can book that return leg alongside your hotels and transfers, putting the whole journey on one booking. Browse the full range of cruises from Australia if you want to compare other departure options.

Make it a full holiday

A long one-way voyage naturally calls for a holiday built around it rather than just a cruise ticket. Through Cruise1st Packages we can add flights, hotels, tours, transfers and insurance to your cruise — as a bundle or a fully custom arrangement. Our Australian cruise experts are available seven days a week to put it together, and our Best Price Guarantee applies throughout. Browse our cruise deals or take a wider look at cruises from Australia if you want to compare what else is on offer.

Explore Africa by region

Africa is not one destination — it is a continent of distinct coastlines and cultures. Whether you are drawn to the wildlife-adjacent ports of South Africa, the trading history of West Africa, the ancient cities of North Africa, the wildlife coasts of Eastern Africa or the dramatic scenery of Southern Africa, each region rewards a different kind of traveller. Our Africa destination guide is a good starting point if you are still deciding which coast to prioritise.