Cruise holidays from Australia and around the world

What kinds of cruises can I find?

Whether you want a short Pacific island escape or a longer voyage that crosses an ocean, the range on offer is wide. Sailings run from 4 nights up to 96 nights, with a median of 12 nights — long enough to feel like a genuine holiday without committing to months at sea. Most are ocean voyages, with destinations spanning Australia, the South Pacific, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, Polynesia and well beyond into the Americas, the British Isles and the Mediterranean.

A significant share of itineraries are one-way sailings rather than round trips, so it is worth noting which end you board and which end you disembark before you plan your travel. On a one-way voyage, the ship finishes in a different city and a domestic flight typically connects the two — something our team can arrange as part of the same booking.

Where do these cruises go?

The mix leans closest to home, with Australian coastal voyages and South Pacific itineraries making up the largest share of what is available. New Zealand is well represented too, with sailings that typically follow the coastline and call at a string of scenic ports. Southeast Asia and Polynesia round out the near-region options.

Close to home — Australia, the Pacific and New Zealand

If you are after a cruise that keeps you in this part of the world, cruising around Australia is a strong starting point: itineraries hug the coastline with ports spread across the country, so the right departure is often close to where you already are. For those in or near Sydney, sailings from Sydney are among the most popular on the site, with round-trip options that let you leave and return to the same terminal. Brisbane departures cover a similar range, and Melbourne sailings are a solid option for Victorian travellers.

The South Pacific draws travellers who want warm islands without a long-haul flight. Polynesia adds a further layer of remoteness for those who want fewer fellow tourists and more open ocean. New Zealand sailings tend to appeal to travellers who want dramatic coastal scenery — fiords, working ports and cities you can walk from the ship — across a typical two-week voyage.

The long haul — Asia, Europe and the Americas

Transpacific sailings bridge Australia and the Americas — these are generally one-way crossings, ideal for anyone planning a longer trip that combines both sides of the Pacific. We can book the connecting flights, hotels either side and transfers as one package, so the logistics sit with us rather than you. South America, the British Isles and the Mediterranean all appear in the mix for travellers who want to pair a cruise with a longer international trip — and our team handles those combinations regularly.

For Southeast Asia, sailings from Singapore are the most practical option for Australian travellers flying into the region. Hong Kong, Tokyo and other Asian ports also appear as embarkation points across the programme.

Which cruise lines have availability?

MSC Cruises leads the range by volume, followed closely by Royal Caribbean and Viking Cruises. Princess Cruises and Holland America Line both carry substantial programmes, with Viking River Cruises rounding out the top six. It is worth noting that Viking River Cruises operates inland river itineraries rather than ocean voyages — if you are looking specifically for ocean sailing, the other lines on this list are the place to start.

Beyond those six, lines such as Celebrity Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Viking Cruises all feature across the programme. The range spans mass-market to ultra-luxury, so whether you are after a lively ship with a wide choice of dining and entertainment or a small, quiet vessel with a near 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio, there is something here.

What are the ships actually like?

A few standout ships give you a sense of the range available.

Seabourn Quest — ultra-luxury, small ship

Seabourn Quest carries just 450 guests, and every suite comes with a private balcony, butler service and all fine wines and spirits included. The crew-to-guest ratio is close to 1:1, which means service that feels personal rather than hotel-scale. The Seabourn Square social hub replaces the traditional cruise desk with an open café-style lounge — a deliberately relaxed approach to being at sea. For cabin planners, the Seabourn Quest deck plans and cabin grades are worth a look.

Seabourn Ovation — classic luxury

Seabourn Ovation shares the same elegant ethos as Quest — exclusive, classical experiences with complimentary fine dining included in the fare. At the top of the cabin range, the Grand Wintergarden Suite runs to around 115 m², has its own private hot tub, a separate bedroom, a generous living area and a full kitchen with bar. Explore the full range on the Seabourn Ovation cabins and deck plans page.

Azura — P&O Cruises, refreshed for 2025

Azura completed a bow-to-stern refit in 2025, with new restaurants, bars, cabin décor and corridors throughout. On board you will find Sindhu for modern Indian cuisine, the Glass House wine bar curated by TV personality Olly Smith, and an 800-seat Playhouse theatre featuring West End-quality aerial acrobatics. There is also a SeaScreen open-air cinema on deck. Cabin grades on Azura cover:

• Larger Inside Cabin OB — 15 m², exclusively on Riviera Deck, straightforward to navigate to ship facilities
• Sea View Cabin LB — 15 m², natural light and an unobstructed sea view onto the water
• Superior Deluxe Balcony Cabin DA — 29 m², private balcony with sea air and open views
• Penthouse Suite A1 — 69 m², the largest suite on board with a full separate lounge area

Full details are on the Azura cabins and deck plans page.

Queen Elizabeth — Cunard, classic ocean liner

Queen Elizabeth wears Art Deco interiors throughout — chandeliers, a grand lobby and fittings that echo the golden age of ocean travel. Three separate restaurants serve guests by cabin grade: Britannia, Princess Grill and Queens Grill, each with Cunard’s dedicated White Star Service. The Royal Court Theatre, nightly ballroom dancing in the Queens Room and deck croquet are Cunard traditions you will find on every voyage. Cabin grades include:

• Britannia Inside cabin Deluxe GB — 19.2 m², around 5 m² larger than the standard inside cabin on the same ship
• Britannia Ocean-view cabin EB — 18.3 m², a window that brings natural daylight and sea views inside
• Britannia Club Balcony cabin A1 — 24 m², a private balcony with fresh sea air, exclusive to this category
• Queens Grill Grand Suite Q1 — 127.7 m², including an approximately 90 m² private balcony — the largest outdoor space of any Queens Grill suite

See all grades and deck layouts on the Queen Elizabeth cabins and deck plans page.

Nieuw Statendam — Holland America Line

Nieuw Statendam is a Pinnacle-class ship designed by Adam D. Tihany and Bjørn Storbraaten, with a dramatic two-storey Wine Tower anchoring the main dining room. The Tamarind pan-Asian restaurant includes a seven-seat integrated sushi bar — Holland America’s signature Asian dining venue. Music Walk gives you three live music clubs in one stretch: Lincoln Center Stage, B.B. King’s Blues Club and Billboard Onboard. Deck plans are on the Nieuw Statendam cabins and deck plans page.

Rotterdam — Holland America Line

Rotterdam honours five legendary ships that bore the same name before her and carries 150 years of Holland America heritage. Her Music Walk entertainment hub brings together the Billboard Piano Bar, Rolling Stone Rock Room and BB King Blues Club in one venue. The Tamarind restaurant delivers Holland America’s signature Southeast Asian dining at sea. Full cabin details are on the Rotterdam cabins and deck plans page.

What fare types are available?

Fare structures vary by cruise line. Royal Caribbean regularly offers fare types such as last-minute pricing and reduced fares for third and fourth guests sharing a cabin — worth checking if you are travelling as a group or family. Princess Cruises sells at two main levels: Princess Standard (the base cruise fare, with packages available to add) and Princess Plus, which bundles casual dining meals, beverages up to A$15 per drink with a daily limit, MedallionNet Wi-Fi, pre-paid crew appreciation, unlimited digital photographs and reserved theatre seating into one upfront price. Celebrity Cruises offers a base-rate fare for travellers who prefer to select extras themselves, an All Inclusive fare that bundles a classic drinks package and Wi-Fi, and The Retreat — a suite-level fare that includes premium drinks, premium Wi-Fi, exclusive lounge and sundeck access and private dining.

Our team can walk you through what each fare tier actually covers before you book, so you are not paying for inclusions you will not use — or missing ones you will.

What do prices start from?

Fares start from A$198 pp* for shorter sailings. The price you see is per person based on 2 people sharing a cabin. Across the programme, a mix of fares and promotions — including last-minute offers and reduced fares for additional guests — means the range is wide. Our Best Price Guarantee means that if you find the same sailing cheaper elsewhere, we will match it.

How do I get to the ship?

That depends on where you are and where the ship departs. If you live close to a departure port — Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne or Fremantle — you may be able to reach the terminal by car or public transport with no flight at all. If you are travelling from another state, a short domestic hop is usually straightforward and far less involved than an international flight.

For sailings that depart from overseas ports — Miami, Southampton, Barcelona, Rome, Athens or Fort Lauderdale, among others — the cruise is the middle of a longer trip. Through Cruise1st Packages, we can book your international flights, pre- and post-cruise hotels, airport transfers and tours as a single bundle. That way the whole holiday — not just the ship — sits on one booking with one team behind it.

On one-way sailings, the ship finishes in a different city to where it started. Rather than leaving you to work out the return leg separately, we can include a connecting flight home as part of the package.

Specific departures worth knowing about

If you have a particular port or season in mind, there are dedicated pages that go deeper. Cruises from Sydney and round-trip Sydney sailings cover the most popular Australian departure. Brisbane cruises in 2027 and short cruises from Brisbane are useful if Queensland is your starting point. Easter 2027 sailings from Sydney are worth checking early — school holiday periods tend to fill faster than the rest of the calendar. For those open to a late decision, our last-minute cruise deals update regularly and can offer strong value. Short cruises of 4 to 7 nights are a practical option for a first sailing or a quick break between longer commitments.

For Christmas at sea, Royal Caribbean Christmas cruises in Australia for 2026 are already on sale. The Princess Cruises 2027–2028 season is also open for booking, covering Australia, the South Pacific and New Zealand with Grand Princess, Royal Princess and Sapphire Princess.

Why book with Cruise1st?

Cruise1st is a cruise specialist — every booking we take is a cruise or a cruise-inclusive package. Our Australian cruise experts are on the phone seven days a week, before you book, to help you compare ships, cabin grades and fare tiers side by side. We are accredited with CLIA and ATAS, and our Best Price Guarantee means you are not paying more than you need to.

Through Cruise1st Packages, we can build the whole holiday around your sailing: flights, hotels, tours, transfers, train travel and insurance — arranged as a bundle or a fully custom itinerary. Most cruise lines offer a range of cabin grades and fare inclusions that look similar on the surface but are genuinely different in practice. Getting that choice right before you board is where a specialist adds the most value — and it costs nothing extra to call us.

*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.