Cruises from Brisbane in December 2027

December cruises from Brisbane in 2027 — what’s sailing?

Brisbane is one of Australia’s busiest cruise departure ports, and December 2027 brings a strong selection of sailings across three cruise lines: Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises. Most itineraries are round trips back to Brisbane, though 1 sailing ends in Sydney — handy if you’d rather fly home from there. Voyage lengths run from 2 nights up to 13 nights, with the middle of the range sitting at 7 nights, so there’s something workable whether you want a quick summer escape or a proper fortnight away. Browse the full range of cruises or narrow it down to departures from Brisbane.

Where do December sailings from Brisbane go?

The itineraries fan out in 3 directions from the port, with Australia and the South Pacific accounting for the lion’s share of departures.

Australian coastal sailings

The largest group of December sailings from Brisbane hugs the Australian coast — a relaxed way to see the country without any long-haul flying. These round trips are ideal if you’re based in Brisbane or making a short domestic hop from another state; you board, sail, and return to the same port. If you want to go deeper into what’s available around the country, the cruise around Australia 2027 page covers the full range. For a dedicated Princess Cruises itinerary around Australia this season, see Princess Cruises around Australia in 2027.

South Pacific islands

The South Pacific is the second-biggest draw in December, with island itineraries that make the most of summer conditions in the Southern Hemisphere. These sailings pair naturally with Brisbane as a port — no need to reposition the ship, and no need for you to fly anywhere. Learn more about the region on the South Pacific destination page, or see how Brisbane compares with South Pacific sailings from Sydney in 2027.

Australia and New Zealand combined

A smaller number of sailings link Australia with New Zealand, giving you both countries on a single voyage. If a trans-Tasman itinerary appeals, it’s worth looking at the broader Australia and New Zealand cruises page, or the dedicated Brisbane to New Zealand 2027 page for more options in that direction. If New Zealand at Christmas is the draw, Christmas cruises to New Zealand covers that specifically.

Which cruise lines sail from Brisbane in December 2027?

3 cruise lines have December 2027 departures from Brisbane, led by Carnival Cruise Line as the most popular choice this month.

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival has the most December departures from Brisbane, spread across 2 ships that are both based here year-round. See the full Carnival 2027 programme for the wider picture.

Carnival Encounter is the family-focused choice. The EDGE Adventure Park packs zip-lining, rock climbing, a flying fox and cargo-net racing into one outdoor complex on the upper decks — kids and teenagers will barely want to come inside. The Camp Ocean kids club caters for ages 2–11, with Circle C and Club O2 programmes for teens, making this ship a practical pick for families sailing over the school holidays. When it’s time to eat, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Bonsai Sushi and Blanc de Blanc Uncorked cabaret give adults plenty to look forward to after the kids turn in. See the Carnival Encounter cabin grades and deck plans to find the right fit.

• Inside cabin 4A — 15 m², sleeps 4, with a walk-in wardrobe; suits longer sailings where storage matters
• Ocean-view cabin with porthole (PT) — 15 m², sleeps 4; 2 round portholes bring natural light at a budget-friendly price
• Balcony cabin 8A — 16 m², sleeps 4; private balcony with direct sea air, away from the public decks
• Byron Beach Club Presidential Suite (SB) — 57 m², sleeps 4; the largest suite on board, on Deck 15, with the finest views

Carnival Luminosa leans into the adult experience. The Alchemy Bar, RedFrog Rum Bar and Piano Bar 88 give you a different mood every evening, while the Cloud 9 Spa thermal suites and adults-only Serenity Retreat offer proper downtime at sea. Specialty dining runs to Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Bonsai Sushi Express and the Seafood Shack. Check the Carnival Luminosa cabin and deck plan page for grades and layouts.

• Inside cabin 4A — 14 m², sleeps 4; lower-to-middle deck position for a quieter, steadier ride
• Inside cabin with window 4K (obstructed view) — 17 m², sleeps 4; floor-to-ceiling window with natural light at a keener price than an unobstructed sea view
• Balcony cabin with extended balcony 8J — 31 m², sleeps 2; 10 m² more outdoor space than a standard balcony, ideal for longer sunbathing sessions
• Vista Suite GV — 53–68 m², sleeps 2; the largest suite category, almost 3 times the floor area of a standard inside cabin

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean brings 2 ships to Brisbane in December 2027, both known for the range of on-board activity they pack in. Explore the full Royal Caribbean cruise deals page for background on the fleet.

Ovation of the Seas is the bigger and busier of the 2. It carries 18 different restaurants, a surf simulator, a skydiving experience and cocktails mixed by robot bartenders at the Bionic Bar. The Ovation of the Seas cabin and deck plans show the full range of grades, from the 15.4 m² inside cabin with virtual balcony (a live HD sea-view screen at inside-cabin price) through to the 152.4 m² Royal Loft Suite — a two-level maisonette sleeping up to 6.

Voyager of the Seas rounds out the Royal Caribbean Brisbane offer with 1 December sailing. The Studio B ice-skating rink hosts professional shows — a rarity at sea — alongside a FlowRider surf simulator, Perfect Storm waterslides and a rock climbing wall. Voyager passengers also get exclusive access to Royal Beach Club Lelepa, the South Pacific’s first private cruise beach destination. Cabin options are on the Voyager of the Seas cabin and deck plans page.

Royal Caribbean fare types include a standard cruise fare, a Solo/Single fare for guests taking the cabin alone, and promotional offers such as last-minute deals and 3rd and 4th guest pricing on select sailings. Our team can tell you which fares apply to any specific departure.

Princess Cruises

Grand Princess covers the Princess Cruises departures from Brisbane in December 2027. Crown Grill — recognised by USA Today as a top cruise steakhouse — and Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria anchor the specialty dining. MedallionClass® OceanNow® lets you order food, drinks and services anywhere on the ship through the Princess app, and Movies Under the Stars® — a giant poolside screen with free popcorn and blankets — is a highlight on voyages along the Australian coast. See the Grand Princess cabin and deck plans for layout detail. The Princess Cruises from Brisbane 2027 page shows the full season’s availability from this port, and Princess Cruises deals covers the fleet more broadly.

Princess offers 2 main fare tiers for these sailings. The Standard fare covers the cruise itself, with drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities available to add. The Princess Plus package bundles 4 casual dining meals per voyage, beverages up to A$15 each (up to 15 per day), MedallionNet® Max Wi-Fi, pre-paid crew appreciation, unlimited digital photographs plus 3 prints, and reserved theatre seating — a useful package if you’d rather pay upfront than tally up extras on board. For the broader Princess 2027–28 season, the Princess Cruises 2027–2028 season launch page has the details.

Are there cruise deals and discounts in December 2027?

A selection of December 2027 Brisbane sailings carry a reduced price — up to 31% off the price previously listed for that cabin grade on that sailing, though that top figure applies to 1 departure. Most discounted sailings are reduced by around 8%, so the savings are real but realistic. If finding the keenest fare matters to you, our Australian cruise experts can check what’s available across the lines and lock it in under our Best Price Guarantee.

Getting to Brisbane for your cruise

If you live in Brisbane or nearby, these sailings need no flight at all — you drive or take public transport to the port and board. If you’re coming from interstate, a short domestic hop gets you there, and that’s still a much simpler journey than travelling to an overseas embarkation port. We can add your domestic flight, a pre-cruise hotel night and a transfer to the terminal alongside the cruise, keeping everything on one booking. For the 1 sailing that ends in Sydney rather than returning to Brisbane, a domestic flight between the 2 cities connects the voyage neatly — and we can arrange that too.

Make it a full holiday with Cruise1st Packages

A cruise from Brisbane in December doesn’t have to begin and end at the gangway. Through Cruise1st Packages, our team can add flights, hotels, tours, transfers, train travel and insurance around the sailing — either as a bundle or as a fully custom itinerary. If you’re planning to extend your trip before or after the cruise, or want to turn it into a family summer holiday, talk to our specialists and we’ll put it together. You can also check last-minute cruise deals from Brisbane if you’re flexible on timing, or browse short cruises from Brisbane if a 2–4 night sailing is more what you have in mind.

Christmas and New Year cruises from Brisbane

December sailings naturally cover the Christmas and New Year period, and Brisbane departures are a popular way to spend the festive season at sea. For Christmas cruises from Brisbane more broadly, or Christmas cruises around Australia in 2027, those pages pull together the widest choice. If New Year’s Eve on the water is the aim, New Year’s Eve cruises and New Year cruises in 2028 are worth a look too.

Planning ahead — other months and nearby ports

December isn’t the only option from Brisbane in 2027. The full year of Brisbane cruises in 2027 shows everything available from this port across the calendar. If you’d like to see what’s sailing right after December, January 2027 departures from Brisbane are on the menu too. Alternatively, if you’re open to other Queensland and Australian departure points, the Australian cruises hub covers the whole country. For a December sailing that doesn’t tie you to Brisbane, the broader December cruises page covers all ports.

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.