Cruise around Australia 2026

What does a cruise around Australia in 2026 look like?

Sailings that circumnavigate or trace the Australian coastline are genuinely long voyages. The departures available for 2026 run from 17 nights up to 40 nights, with a median around 31 nights at sea. 3 of the 2 itineraries on sale are one-way, so the voyage finishes in a different city from where it begins — if you board in Sydney and disembark in Perth (Fremantle), a domestic flight connects the two, and we can book that for you along with any hotel nights either side. One round-trip sailing returns to its home port, which suits those who prefer not to mix cruise and air travel at all. All 2 sailings are ocean cruises.

Sailings depart from Sydney and Perth (Fremantle). If you live close to either port, you can join the ship with no flight at all — just a drive or a train journey down to the terminal. From another state capital, it is a short domestic hop rather than a long-haul flight, which is still the simplest way to reach a ship of this kind. Browse all 2026 cruises from Australia if you want to compare shorter or differently routed options alongside.

Which cruise lines sail around Australia in 2026?

Oceania Cruises leads the selection, with 2 departures aboard Riviera. Princess Cruises offers 1 sailing aboard Crown Princess, and Viking Cruises has 1 departure on Viking Orion. Each line takes a distinct approach to the voyage — from Oceania’s food-focused, intimate style to Princess’s well-known circumnavigation itineraries and Viking’s all-balcony, destination-led experience.

Ships sailing around Australia in 2026

Riviera — Oceania Cruises

Riviera carries 1,250 guests and is supported by around 800 crew members — a ratio that results in attentive, unhurried service you genuinely notice over a long voyage. All 6 gourmet restaurants on board are included in the fare, with no surcharges at any of them: Polo Grill, Toscana and Jacques are among the options, and you can dine where you choose on any night. The ship is also home to The Culinary Center — the only cooking school at sea — where hands-on classes run by expert chefs give you something to take home beyond the tan. For cabin options on Riviera, the Riviera cabins and deck plans page covers every grade and layout in detail.

Riviera cabin grades

• Inside cabin F — 16 m²: the entry grade, sleeping 2, with full access to all Oceania amenities and complimentary soft drinks and mineral water included daily.
• Deluxe Ocean-view cabin C — 22 m²: a floor-to-ceiling panoramic window gives unobstructed sea views and noticeably more natural light than an inside cabin.
• Concierge Level Verandah A1 — 27 m²: a private veranda with fresh air and sea views right at your door, with no need to cross public decks.
• Owner’s Suite OS — 185 m²: the largest suite on board, more than 4 times the size of a penthouse suite, sleeping 2 in exceptional space.

Crown Princess — Princess Cruises

Crown Princess is one of the few ships offering full circumnavigation itineraries around Australia, sailing from Sydney, Melbourne, Fremantle, Adelaide and Brisbane. The ship completed a 2025 dry dock in Singapore, and the results are evident throughout: Crown Grill and Sabatini’s lead a refreshed dining programme worth booking early, while O’Malley’s Irish Pub and a redesigned Gatsby’s Casino are among the updated entertainment and bar spaces. See the Crown Princess cabins and deck plans for the full layout.

Crown Princess cabin grades

• Inside cabin IA — 15.1 m²: situated on middle decks for smooth sailing, with central access to lifts and facilities. Sleeps up to 4.
• Sea-view cabin OB — 16.6 m²: a panoramic window with unobstructed sea views and natural daylight. Sleeps up to 4.
• Premium Balcony cabin B1 — 25.2 m²: a private outdoor area with table and chairs, giving direct access to sea air and views. Sleeps up to 4.
• Owner’s Suite S2 — 63.8 m²: the most spacious suite on board, significantly larger than the penthouse or premium suites, sleeping up to 4.

Viking Orion — Viking Cruises

Viking Orion is an all-suite, all-balcony ship — every cabin has a private outdoor space, so there is no tiered access to sea views. The Wintergarden wraps around the main pool in an airy, light-filled space well suited to long days at sea. The spa includes a sauna for those who want proper rest and recovery during a voyage of this length. See Viking Orion cabins and deck plans for cabin sizes and locations.

Viking Orion cabin grades

• Penthouse Veranda Stateroom PV1 — 31.4 m²: a private veranda and a complimentary bottle of champagne on arrival. Sleeps 2.
• Owner’s Suite OS — 120.5 m²: the largest accommodation on board — a separate bedroom, generous living room, dining area seating 6, private library, ocean-view dry sauna and a boardroom with vapour-light fireplace. Sleeps 2.

What’s included in the fare?

Oceania Cruises fares on Riviera include all dining across all 6 restaurants, with no cover charges ever — a significant saving on a voyage of 30-plus nights. 2 of the 2 sailings available are all-inclusive, so drinks, gratuities and more are covered from the outset.

For Princess Cruises around Australia in 2026, fare tiers vary. The Princess Standard fare covers the cruise itself, with the Princess Plus package available to add on. Princess Plus includes 4 casual dining meals per voyage, beverages up to A$15 each (up to 15 drinks per day), MedallionNet® Max Wi-Fi, pre-paid crew appreciation, unlimited digital photographs with 3 prints, and reserved theatre seating — a meaningful bundle for a long voyage. Ask our team which tier suits your travel style.

Is a 28-day cruise around Australia right for you?

A 28-day cruise around Australia is one of the most popular searches, and for good reason. A voyage of that length gives you time to settle into the ship’s rhythm, explore ports at a pace that is not rushed, and genuinely cover the breadth of the Australian coastline. The sailings on offer in 2026 run from 17 nights to 40 nights, so there is scope to go longer or shorter depending on your available time and budget. If you are weighing up whether a circumnavigation or a shorter coastal cruise is the better fit, our Australian cruise experts can walk you through both.

Cruises around Australia in 2026 — when do sailings depart?

Departures available for 2026 sail from October through to December. That window suits those who want to travel in the Australian spring and early summer, when conditions around the coastline are generally settled. Sailings at the later end of the window carry over into the Christmas and New Year period — if that appeals, there are also Australia Christmas cruise deals for 2026 and Christmas cruises in Australia 2026 worth exploring alongside.

For those with flexibility, cruises from Sydney in October 2026 and cruises from Sydney in November 2026 include departures on this route as well as shorter sailings if the full circumnavigation is more than you want to commit to this year.

Current deals on cruises around Australia 2026

Selected sailings carry a reduction from the price previously listed for that cabin grade. Discounts on this route tend to be modest — check with our team for the most current pricing on each departure, as availability at reduced rates moves quickly on long voyages where cabin numbers are limited. Our Best Price Guarantee means that if you find the same sailing for less, we will match it.

Make it a complete holiday

A cruise around Australia is a substantial trip, and the logistics around it are worth getting right. Cruise1st can add flights, hotels, tours, transfers and insurance around your sailing — either as a Cruise1st Package or built to your own itinerary. If your sailing ends in a different city — say, Perth (Fremantle) — we book the domestic connection home, any hotel nights either side, and any pre-cruise accommodation you need. Nothing is left as a problem for you to solve separately.

Explore similar cruise holidays

If you want to compare what else is sailing in 2026, these pages cover the closest alternatives:

• 2026 cruises from Sydney — the broadest view of what departs from the most popular embarkation port
• Princess Cruises 2026/2027 Australia season — the full Princess programme including shorter coastal sailings
• Princess Full Circle Pacific and sector sailings for 2026/2027 — for those who want to sail a portion rather than the whole circuit
• Australia and New Zealand cruises — sailings that extend the voyage across the Tasman
• New Zealand cruises in 2026 — if the New Zealand leg is what draws you most
• Christmas cruises to New Zealand — for the festive season at sea across the Tasman
• All cruises available in 2026 — every sailing across every destination and line for the year
• All cruise deals — the full search across all years and destinations

Planning further ahead? Princess Cruises 2027–2028 season is already open for bookings if 2026 does not work for your dates.