Sydney to New Zealand cruises 2028

Where do Sydney to New Zealand cruises go in 2028?

Sailings from Sydney to New Zealand in 2028 cover more ground than the name suggests. The majority head directly to New Zealand ports, making this the dominant route for the year. A second large group combines Australia and New Zealand in a single voyage — a great choice if you want to take in both countries without repositioning. A handful of longer sailings continue across the Transpacific, ending in ports such as Honolulu or Tokyo, while a small number venture into the South Pacific or as far as Polynesia. Whatever you’re drawn to — a classic New Zealand circuit or a long-haul ocean crossing — there’s a sailing in 2028 that fits.

Close to home — New Zealand and the Pacific

New Zealand sailings make up the largest share of what’s on offer from Sydney in 2028, and it’s easy to see why. Auckland is the most common disembarkation port for one-way voyages, meaning you can board in Sydney and step off in Auckland — or vice versa — with a short domestic flight at either end to connect the two cities. Round-trip sailings bring you back to Sydney, so no onward travel is needed at all.

Combined Australia and New Zealand voyages add breadth, taking in Melbourne and other Australian ports before crossing the Tasman. These suit travellers who want a genuine overview of both countries rather than a direct crossing. Durations across this group are generous — the median sailing runs to around 14 nights, though shorter options of 5 nights and longer voyages stretching to 96 nights are also available. Voyages in the South Pacific and Polynesia categories are rarer and worth investigating if you’re after something more unusual.

The long haul — Transpacific sailings from Sydney

A number of 2028 sailings from Sydney use the New Zealand leg as the opening chapter of a much longer journey across the Pacific. These transpacific crossings typically end in Honolulu or Tokyo, and they suit travellers who are happy to treat the voyage itself as the destination. One-way is the norm here, so you’ll want a flight home from the disembarkation port — something Cruise1st can arrange alongside the cruise as part of a complete holiday package.

Round trips and one-way voyages — which suits you?

More than half the 2028 sailings from Sydney are one-way, which means the voyage finishes somewhere other than where it started. For New Zealand sailings that typically means disembarking in Auckland, with a domestic flight connecting back to your home city. For transpacific voyages, the end point might be Honolulu, Tokyo, or Benoa, Bali. Cruise1st can book the return leg, any hotels at either end, and transfers, so you’re not left to piece it together yourself.

If you’d rather come home to Sydney with no connecting travel to arrange, 17 of the sailings are round trips. These are often slightly shorter and work particularly well as a first New Zealand cruise or as an add-on to an existing trip.

Which cruise lines sail Sydney to New Zealand in 2028?

Princess Cruises leads the field with the greatest number of departures, followed by Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Cruise1st Packages are also available, bundling your cruise with flights, hotels and transfers from the outset. Carnival Cruise Lines rounds out the choice for those after a more relaxed, value-focused sailing.

Princess is the most popular line for this route, with the Princess 2027–2028 season offering strong availability throughout the year. If you’re considering Princess Cruises from a western departure port, the Princess 2028 programme from Fremantle runs alongside the Sydney timetable and may suit travellers based in Western Australia.

The ships sailing from Sydney

Royal Princess — Princess Cruises

Royal Princess carries the largest share of Princess departures on this route. The ship is best known for its SeaWalk — an 18-metre glass-bottomed walkway suspended 40 metres above the ocean — which gives you a perspective on the sea you simply cannot get from a standard deck. MedallionClass® OceanNow® delivery means you can order food and drinks to wherever you happen to be on the ship via the Princess app, while Crown Grill and Sabatini’s cover the specialty dining side, with the 24-hour International Café always open for something lighter.

Cabin grades on Royal Princess

• Inside cabin IA (15.4 m², sleeps 4) — the most affordable way on board, with minibar, safe and desk included.
• Sea-view cabin O6 (20.0 m², sleeps 4) — a large panoramic window with a forward-facing ocean view; a real step up in natural light over inside cabins.
• Deluxe Balcony cabin DA (23.4 m², sleeps 4) — a private balcony for breakfast or sundowners that inside and sea-view cabins can’t match.
• Penthouse Suite S3 with aft balcony (54.5 m², sleeps 4) — at 54.5–63.4 m², significantly more living space than any mini suite or standard cabin on board.

Full deck plans and all cabin categories for Royal Princess are on the Royal Princess cabins and deck plans page.

Celebrity Edge — Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Edge is one of the most distinctive ships on this route. Its Magic Carpet — the world’s first cantilevered floating platform — moves between decks and serves as bar, restaurant or dive platform depending on the time of day. Infinite Veranda staterooms open the entire balcony wall, so the boundary between your cabin and the ocean effectively disappears. Eden’s three-level live-performance venue is worth a look whatever your taste in entertainment. For more on Celebrity Cruises sailings broadly, the Celebrity Edge 2027/2028 programme from Sydney and the Celebrity Edge 2028/2029 sailings from Sydney cover the full range of departures.

Cabin grades on Celebrity Edge

• Deluxe Inside cabin DI (18.8 m², sleeps 4) — around 2 m² more spacious than a standard inside cabin, with a larger bathroom and more storage.
• Deluxe Ocean-view cabin DO (22.1 m², sleeps 4) — the most spacious sea-view cabin in the category, around 3–4 m² larger than standard ocean-view options.
• Sunset Veranda Stateroom SV (21.2 m², sleeps 4) — the largest balcony of any standard balcony cabin, at approximately 8.3 m² versus around 3.7 m² in other veranda grades.
• Iconic Suite IC (239.8 m², sleeps 6) — the largest suite in the Celebrity fleet, with a private hot tub and panoramic views spanning 270° from the highest point above the bridge.

See all deck options on the Celebrity Edge cabins and deck plans page.

Grand Princess — Princess Cruises

Grand Princess runs a solid programme of New Zealand and combined Australia and New Zealand sailings from Sydney. Crown Grill has been recognised by USA Today as a top cruise steakhouse, and Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria rounds out the specialty dining lineup. MedallionClass OceanNow delivery works the same way as on Royal Princess — order from the app, receive anywhere on board. Movies Under the Stars® — the giant poolside screen with free popcorn and blankets — is a particular highlight on voyages of this length.

Cabin grades on Grand Princess

• Inside cabin IA (14.9 m², sleeps 4) — located on middle decks, with minimal ship motion and central access to lifts and facilities.
• Premium sea view O3 (19.1 m², sleeps 4) — floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows for an unobstructed sea view with natural light directly into the cabin.
• Premium Balcony cabin B2 (25.5 m², sleeps 4) — floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors give more natural light and an open-plan feel compared with standard balcony grades.
• Grand Suite S1 with private hot tub (67.8 m², sleeps 4) — the largest suite on board at 67.8 m², considerably more space than any other suite category on Grand Princess.

Explore all grades and decks on the Grand Princess cabins and deck plans page.

Westerdam — Holland America Line

Westerdam is a mid-sized ship carrying 1,916 guests, which keeps the atmosphere noticeably quieter than the largest vessels on this route. Azipod propulsion means smoother, quieter sailing — particularly noticeable on the longer crossings from Sydney. On board, Morimoto by Sea brings Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s Japanese cuisine alongside Tamarind pan-Asian fine dining. Evenings run the full spectrum from Rolling Stone Rock Room sessions to Billboard Onboard sing-alongs and The Dam Band live performances — enough variety to fill a fortnight without repetition.

Cabin and deck details for Westerdam are on the Westerdam cabins and deck plans page.

Seven Seas Mariner — Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises positions Seven Seas Mariner as a fully inclusive luxury experience, with generous cabin sizes and a ratio of space to guests that keeps the ship feeling unhurried throughout a voyage. For travellers who want everything arranged in advance and a high level of personal service at sea, this is the most premium option on the Sydney–New Zealand route in 2028.

See full deck information on the Seven Seas Mariner cabins and deck plans page.

Anthem of the Seas — Royal Caribbean

Anthem of the Seas brings a very different personality to the route. The North Star observation capsule holds a Guinness World Record for the tallest viewing deck at sea — 300 feet above the waves — and the RipCord by iFLY skydiving simulator makes it one of Royal Caribbean’s most activity-focused ships afloat. The Two70° venue combines 4K immersive performances and a Bionic Bar in one space. Full cabin options are on the Anthem of the Seas cabins and deck plans page.

What’s included in the fare?

What you get with your base fare depends on the cruise line and the fare tier you select. Here’s how the main lines on this route handle inclusions:

Princess Cruises fare tiers

Princess offers a Standard fare that covers the cruise itself, with the Princess Plus package available to add on. Princess Plus brings four 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 photos plus 3 prints, and reserved theatre seating. It’s a practical bundle for most travellers and works out well across a 14-night voyage. A Princess Standard fare lets you add only what you’ll actually use.

Celebrity Cruises fare tiers

Celebrity’s cruise-only rate is the entry point — you add packages later. Their mid-tier bundles classic drinks and basic Wi-Fi into one price. At the top end, The Retreat delivers premium drinks, premium Wi-Fi, suite accommodation, exclusive lounge and resort-style sundeck access, private dining and dedicated personal service. Celebrity’s suite experience is genuinely distinct from the standard cabin offering.

Norwegian Cruise Line fare tiers

Norwegian offers a base fare covering the cruise itself, alongside fare types such as their at-sea package, which adds beverage and dining packages, Wi-Fi and shore excursion credits for guests one and two. A premium version of the at-sea package extends these benefits to all guests on the booking. Norwegian also offers promotional fare types that vary — our team can confirm what’s current when you call.

Are there any discounts on Sydney to New Zealand sailings?

A number of 2028 sailings from Sydney carry a reduction from their previously listed cabin-grade price. Discounts run up to 21% on a single departure, though that headline figure applies to just 1 sailing. Across the discounted sailings as a group, the typical reduction is around 5%. If a specific departure catches your eye, it’s worth checking current pricing with the Cruise1st team — discounts shift as sailings fill.

What’s it actually like sailing to New Zealand from Sydney?

Boarding in Sydney means you’re on the water within hours of departure, with no airport queues at either end of the journey. If you live in Sydney, the whole trip starts at the terminal. If you’re coming from another state, a short domestic flight into Sydney is all it takes — and Cruise1st can book that alongside your cruise and any pre-departure hotel night you need, so nothing is left hanging.

The Tasman crossing is a proper ocean passage, and these voyages are best appreciated by travellers who enjoy time at sea as much as time in port. The ships on this route are well equipped for it — there’s enough on board to keep the days interesting whether you’re sailing for 5 nights or well beyond the two-week mark.

How to book a Sydney to New Zealand cruise with Cruise1st

Cruise1st is a cruise specialist — every offer is a cruise or a cruise-inclusive package. Our Australian cruise experts are available seven days a week and know this route well. Whether you’re after a straightforward round-trip sailing, a one-way crossing to Auckland with a flight home, or a full transpacific voyage continuing to Honolulu or Tokyo, we can put it together for you.

Our Cruise1st Packages bundle flights, hotels, tours, transfers and insurance around your cruise — as a fixed package or built to your own requirements. The Best Price Guarantee applies across all bookings. You can browse all 2028 cruises from Sydney or explore the broader 2028 cruise programme if you’re still deciding on the route. Our team is happy to talk through the options across any of these cruises before you commit to anything.

Sailings departing at other times of year

If you’re flexible on timing, the February 2028 departures from Sydney and April 2028 sailings from Sydney are worth a look alongside the full 2028 programme. For Sydney cruising in spring, South Pacific sailings from Sydney in 2027 and Easter 2027 departures from Sydney offer an earlier start if 2028 is too far ahead. The short cruises from Sydney in 2027 are also worth browsing if a shorter voyage suits your schedule better. Travellers considering other Australian departure cities can explore 2028 cruises from Melbourne, Brisbane sailings in January 2028 or cruises around Australia in 2028.

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.