Cruises from Australia to New Zealand

What is a cruise from Australia to New Zealand?

These are all one-way ocean voyages that depart from an Australian port and disembark in Auckland. Itineraries range from short four-night crossings to voyages of 42 nights, with a median length of 14 nights — long enough to feel genuinely immersed in the journey. The vast majority depart from Sydney, with additional sailings from Melbourne and Cairns. Because every itinerary is one-way, the voyage finishes in New Zealand; a short domestic flight connects the 2 cities if you are heading home to Australia afterwards.

Why take a cruise from Australia to New Zealand?

Crossing the Tasman by ship is a genuinely different experience from flying. You wake up each morning to open ocean, with a full ship’s worth of restaurants, entertainment and deck space around you — and you arrive in New Zealand already rested rather than jet-lagged. Longer itineraries thread through the South Pacific en route, adding stops that simply cannot be reached any other way. For travellers based close to Sydney or Melbourne, the ship departs from a port you can reach by train or car; if you are flying in from another state, it is a short domestic hop rather than a long-haul journey.

Australia to New Zealand: where do these sailings go?

The itineraries on sale cover 3 broad regions, reflecting where the demand for this crossing is genuinely concentrated.

Australia and New Zealand

The largest share of sailings combines both countries in a single itinerary, calling at ports on the Australian coast before crossing the Tasman to New Zealand. These are the round-voyage option for travellers who want to experience both destinations without committing to a separate trip — and they suit anyone who wants a generous amount of sea time alongside port calls. Browse the full Australia and New Zealand cruise deals for everything in this region.

New Zealand

A strong selection of itineraries focuses entirely on New Zealand once the ship leaves Australian waters, spending the majority of the voyage exploring the country’s ports. These suit travellers who have already seen the Australian coast and want to go deeper into New Zealand. See all New Zealand cruise deals for the full range.

South Pacific

A smaller number of sailings head into the South Pacific before finishing in Auckland, making them ideal for travellers who want island stops woven into the crossing. All voyages end in Auckland.

When is a good time to cruise from Australia to New Zealand?

Sailings on sale depart from spring through to late summer in the Southern Hemisphere. That window — roughly October through to late autumn — aligns with New Zealand’s warmer months, when longer days make the most of time ashore. Spring departures tend to suit travellers who prefer a quieter ship and want to beat the peak holiday season; later summer sailings carry more families making the most of school holidays. The median voyage length of 14 nights means there is room in the schedule for both a quick Tasman crossing and a more leisurely multi-week itinerary depending on how much time you have. If your dates are flexible, last-minute cruise deals occasionally open up on this route as departure approaches.

Which cruise lines sail from Australia to New Zealand?

Princess Cruises leads this route by the number of sailings, followed by Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Silversea and Azamara. The mix spans mainstream ocean cruising all the way through to small-ship luxury, so whatever level of formality and inclusion you are looking for, there is a line that fits.

If you are planning a longer Australia cruise that starts before the New Zealand leg, or want to explore cruises from Australia more broadly, our team can build an itinerary around your preferred dates.

Cruise highlights: the ships on this route

Six ships between them account for the lion’s share of sailings. Here is what sets each one apart.

Norwegian Spirit — Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Spirit received a full refurbishment in 2020, and the results are felt most in the dining and entertainment lineup. Specialty restaurants now include Onda by Scarpetta for modern Italian and the enduring Cagney’s Steakhouse. On deck, the Spice H2O adults-only beach club creates an open-air atmosphere that feels genuinely different from a standard pool deck. The Stardust Theatre stages original productions — including Blazing Boots, Palace of Lights and ELEMENTS! — on most evenings. See Norwegian Spirit cabins and deck plans to find the grade that suits you.

Westerdam — Holland America Line

Mid-sized at 1,916 guests, Westerdam carries enough variety to feel spacious without losing the intimacy that Holland America is known for. Morimoto by Sea brings Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s Japanese cuisine on board, alongside Tamarind for pan-Asian fine dining. Evenings run from Rolling Stone Rock Room sing-alongs to Billboard Onboard sets and The Dam Band live performances — a genuine variety of styles rather than a single nightly show format. The quieter Azipod propulsion system means less vibration at the stern, which matters on a 14-night crossing. Check Westerdam cabins and deck plans for the full cabin breakdown.

Royal Princess — Princess Cruises

Royal Princess carries one of the most striking deck features at sea: the SeaWalk, an 18-metre glass-bottomed walkway that extends 40 metres above the ocean. Below decks, MedallionClass® OceanNow® lets you order food and drinks to any spot on the ship via the Princess app. Crown Grill and Sabatini’s cover the specialty dining, while the 24-hour International Café means there is always somewhere to eat regardless of the hour. Explore Royal Princess cabins and deck plans for sizing and location details.

Azamara Pursuit — Azamara

With space for just 777 guests, Azamara Pursuit operates on the boutique end of ocean cruising. The real selling point is the approach to ports: longer stays and regular overnights are standard, meaning you can genuinely explore rather than rushing back before the gangway lifts. Complimentary AzAmazing Evenings — exclusive cultural events ashore — are included in the fare, as are the Prime C and Aqualina specialty restaurants. See Azamara Pursuit cabins and deck plans for cabin options.

Silver Moon — Silversea

Silver Moon is Silversea’s newest ship, and every cabin comes with a personal butler as standard — which tells you a great deal about the level of service on board. Silversea fares on this route are fully all-inclusive: butler service, exceptional dining, unlimited wines and spirits, Wi-Fi and gratuities are all covered. The Plus fare adds a shore excursion credit and a fully refundable deposit. Review Silver Moon cabins and deck plans before you book.

Cruise highlights: New Zealand top destinations

Every sailing disembarks in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city and a natural gateway to the North Island. Auckland sits on an isthmus between 2 harbours, making it one of the more striking arrival experiences by sea. From there, travellers can extend their stay independently or as part of a Cruise1st Package that adds hotels and tours ashore. The broader New Zealand cruise destination page covers the country’s ports in more detail.

Cabin grades on this route

The ships offer a range of cabin types. Below is a selection across 3 of the ships to help you picture what is available.

Norwegian Spirit — cabin grades

• Family Inside cabin I4 (13.8 m²): Sleeps 4, making it a practical option for families or groups who want to keep costs down without booking separate cabins.
• Deluxe Sea-view cabin O3 (26.7 m²): The largest ocean-view grade on board at 26.7 m², sleeping 3 — nearly twice the footprint of a standard ocean-view cabin.
• Balcony cabin BA (15.9 m²): A private balcony with sea views, sleeping 3, that interior and ocean-view grades do not offer.
• Owner’s Suite SB with private aft balcony (56.2 m²): The most spacious suite on board, with a separate bedroom, living and dining area, and a walk-in wardrobe.

See the full Norwegian Spirit cabins and deck plans for every grade and location.

Westerdam — cabin grades

• Inside cabin I (13.0 m²): Sleeps 4 and includes complimentary 24-hour room service, which is not standard on all inside grades fleet-wide.
• Ocean-view cabin C (16.2 m²): Mid-deck positions offer stable motion and central lift access — a practical choice on longer crossings.
• Balcony cabin VA (21.0 m²): A private balcony for up to 4 guests, bringing fresh air and sea views that interior and ocean-view cabins do not have.
• Signature Suite SS (36.0 m²): Includes a hot tub bath with separate shower — bathroom comfort that standard balcony cabins cannot match.
• Pinnacle Suite PS (120.0 m²): The flagship suite, sleeping 4, with a private hot tub and exclusive comfort reserved for Pinnacle guests.

Full details at Westerdam cabins and deck plans.

What do the fares include?

Fare inclusions vary by cruise line and tier, so it is worth knowing what you are comparing before you book.

Princess Cruises offers a Standard base fare — covering the cruise itself — alongside the Princess Plus package, which adds 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 with 3 prints, and reserved theatre seating.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers a lowest base fare with no packages, as well as a Free at Sea bundle covering a Premium Beverage Package, a Speciality Dining Package, Wi-Fi, and shore excursion credits of US$50 per port. A Free at Sea Plus tier extends this further with dining at restaurants such as Cagney’s Steakhouse included.

Silversea fares on this route are all-inclusive as standard: butler-serviced suites, all dining, unlimited wines and spirits, Wi-Fi and gratuities are included. The Plus fare adds a shore excursion credit based on voyage length and a fully refundable deposit.

Our cruise experts can walk you through exactly what each tier covers so you are not surprised by extras on board. Call us seven days a week, or ask about a Cruise1st Package if you want flights, hotels and transfers bundled in from the start.

Prices and discounts

Fares start from A$607 pp* for the sailings on sale. A number of departures carry reductions — up to 43% on a single departure, though most discounted sailings sit around 7% off that cabin grade’s previous listed price. All reductions are measured against the price previously listed for that cabin grade on that specific sailing, so the comparison is like-for-like. If you spot a fare you like, it is worth enquiring promptly: availability at discounted rates can change quickly, and our team can tell you whether a better price is available through our Best Price Guarantee.

Make it a full holiday

Because every sailing is one-way — finishing in Auckland — most travellers need to think about the return leg as well as any nights at either end. Cruise1st can handle all of it: flights home from Auckland, a pre-cruise hotel night in Sydney or Melbourne, transfers to and from the port, tours ashore in New Zealand and travel insurance, all arranged as a single booking. Our Cruise1st Packages are designed exactly for this — a cruise-inclusive holiday rather than a cruise with a to-do list attached. Speak to our Australian cruise experts seven days a week to put it together.

Also worth exploring: New Zealand cruises from Brisbane, Brisbane to New Zealand 2027, Melbourne to New Zealand 2027 and Sydney to New Zealand 2027 for sailings narrowed by your home port. If you are open to longer Australian itineraries, see all cruises from Australia or browse the full Australian cruise range. For something seasonal, Easter 2027 cruises from Sydney and South Pacific cruises from Sydney 2027 are both worth a look. The Princess 2027–2028 season launch page covers the full Princess programme for those planning ahead.

*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.