Cruises from Brisbane in January 2028

What are the cruises from Brisbane in January 2028?

January 2028 departures from Brisbane are all round-trip sailings — you leave from the port and return to it, with no one-way logistics to arrange. The 14 sailings on offer split between two main regions: Australian coastal routes and the South Pacific. Carnival Cruise Line leads the way with the largest share of sailings, followed by Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises. Voyage lengths run from short 3-night breaks up to 14-night holidays, with a median length of 6 nights — a range that suits both first-timers and those who want a proper stretch at sea. Prices start at A$576 pp*.

Why are January sailings from Brisbane so popular?

January sits squarely in the Australian summer, and Brisbane is one of the country’s most convenient embarkation ports. If you live in South East Queensland, you can drive or take the train straight to the terminal — no airport, no luggage check-in queues, no early-morning flights. If you are travelling from interstate, Brisbane is a short domestic hop rather than a long international journey, and Cruise1st can book that connecting flight, along with any hotels you need the night before, so it all sits on one booking. That combination — easy access, warm weather and a strong lineup of ships — is what keeps January so consistently in demand.

Where do these cruises go?

The two regions covered from Brisbane in January 2028 are Australia and the South Pacific, and between them they account for every sailing on offer.

Australian coastal sailings

The majority of departures stay in Australian waters, making these ideal if you want to explore home waters in comfort. Round-trip from Brisbane, these itineraries visit coastal destinations without requiring a passport — a practical advantage that appeals to a wide range of travellers. If you are considering a longer cruise around Australia in 2028, these sailings are a good introduction to the style of holiday on offer.

South Pacific sailings

The South Pacific routes head out into open ocean and call at island destinations that sit well beyond the everyday. These sailings tend to run a little longer and suit travellers who want more time at sea between stops. Browse the full range of South Pacific cruise deals if this direction appeals.

Which ships sail from Brisbane in January 2028?

Four ships cover the January 2028 programme from Brisbane. Here is what each one offers.

Carnival Encounter

Carnival Encounter is Brisbane’s home Carnival ship and the one with the most family-focused setup. The EDGE Adventure Park packs zip-lining, rock climbing, flying fox and cargo-net racing into one outdoor complex — a strong draw for families travelling with older children and teenagers. Younger kids are well looked after too, with Camp Ocean (ages 2–11), Circle C and Club O2 running structured programmes throughout the voyage. At dinner, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse and Bonsai Sushi Express sit alongside the Blanc de Blanc Uncorked cabaret for a varied evening lineup. See the full range of Carnival Encounter cabins and deck plans before you book.

• Inside cabin 4A — 15 m², sleeps 4, with a walk-in wardrobe for longer voyages
• Ocean-view cabin with Porthole PT — 15 m², sleeps 4, two round portholes bring natural light at a budget-friendly price
• Balcony cabin 8A — 16 m², sleeps 4, private balcony with direct sea air and views
• Byron Beach Club Presidential Suite SB — 57 m², sleeps 4, the largest suite on board, positioned on Deck 15 with the finest outlook on the ship

Carnival Luminosa

Carnival Luminosa brings a more adult-relaxation focus alongside its full family programme. The Cloud 9 Spa™ thermal suites and hydrotherapy pool pair with the adults-only Serenity Retreat — so while the ship is lively enough in the bars, there is a genuine quiet corner if you want one. On the drinking side, the Alchemy Bar craft cocktails, RedFrog Rum Bar and Piano Bar 88 karaoke give you a venue for every mood. Dining runs to Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Bonsai Sushi Express and the Seafood Shack. Check the Carnival Luminosa cabins and deck plans to find your ideal grade.

• Inside cabin 4A — 14 m², sleeps 4, positioned on lower to middle decks for a quieter ride
• Inside cabin with window 4K (obstructed view) — 17 m², sleeps 4, floor-to-ceiling window with partial obstruction — natural light at an affordable price
• Balcony cabin with extended balcony 8J — 31 m², sleeps 2, the extended balcony adds 10 m² of outdoor space over a standard balcony cabin
• Vista Suite GV — 53–68 m², sleeps 2, the largest suite category and almost 3 times the space of a standard inside cabin

Ovation of the Seas

Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas is the most activity-focused ship in this January lineup, with 18 different restaurants on board and the option to surf and sky-dive in the middle of the ocean. The robot bartenders at the Bionic Bar are a genuine talking point. Fare types available on Royal Caribbean sailings include last-minute offers and fares for solo travellers, as well as early-booking options — our team can walk you through which applies to your dates. The Ovation of the Seas cabins and deck plans show the full range of grades.

• Inside cabin with virtual balcony 1U — 15.4 m², sleeps 4, HD screen showing live sea views delivers an ocean-view experience at an inside price
• Large Ocean-view cabin 3M — 19.9 m², sleeps 4, approximately 4 m² larger than a standard ocean-view cabin
• Balcony cabin with obstructed view 1E — 18.4 m², sleeps 4, lifeboat obstruction brings a meaningful price saving over an unobstructed balcony
• Royal Loft Suite RL — 152.4 m² across two levels, sleeps 6, the largest suite on board and three times the living space of the owner’s suite

Grand Princess

Princess Cruises’ Grand Princess covers 2 sailings in January 2028. The Crown Grill steakhouse — recognised by USA Today as the Best Cruise Steakhouse — and Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria anchor the specialty dining offering. MedallionClass® OceanNow® lets you order food, drinks and services to wherever you happen to be on the ship through the Princess app, which changes how relaxed a sea day feels. Movies Under the Stars® — a giant poolside screen with free popcorn and blankets — is a genuine crowd favourite. See the Grand Princess cabins and deck plans for the full picture.

Princess Cruises fare tiers on these sailings include the Princess Standard base fare and the Princess Plus package. Princess Plus covers 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 plus 3 prints, and reserved theatre seating — a solid bundle if you plan to use the dining and bar options regularly. Our team can compare both tiers for your specific sailing and tell you which works out better value for the way you cruise. You might also want to look at the broader Princess Cruises 2027–2028 season launch for additional itinerary options.

Are there any discounts on January 2028 Brisbane sailings?

A number of the sailings carry reduced pricing, with discounts measured against the price previously listed for that cabin grade on that sailing. Reductions across the discounted sailings typically run around 11%, with up to 24% off on one departure. If timing is flexible, our team can check which specific departures are reduced at the point you call — promotions such as last-minute fares and early-booking offers come and go, and it pays to ask.

How to book a January 2028 cruise from Brisbane with Cruise1st

Cruise1st is an ATAS-accredited cruise specialist, and our Australian cruise experts are available seven days a week to help you choose between ships, cabin grades and fare inclusions. We back every booking with our Best Price Guarantee. Through Cruise1st Packages, we can add flights, hotels, tours, transfers and insurance around your cruise — as a bundle or built to your itinerary — so the whole holiday sits on one booking rather than across several different accounts. If you are flying into Brisbane from another state, that domestic flight can be part of the package too.

You can also explore all cruises from Brisbane across every season, or browse short cruise deals from Brisbane if a 3- to 5-night sailing is what you have in mind. For last-minute cruise deals from Brisbane, our team can check what is still available at short notice.

Thinking about other months? Cruises from Brisbane in March 2028 are available if January does not quite work. The broader cruises from Brisbane in 2028 page covers the full year’s programme, and Carnival Cruises 2028 shows the complete Carnival lineup across all departure ports for the year. If Princess is your preferred line, Princess Cruises 2028 covers the full season, and Princess Cruises from Brisbane narrows it to this port specifically.

For context on what January looks like across all Australian departure ports, January cruises gives the wider picture, and January cruises from Sydney is worth a look if you have flexibility on which city you sail from. If you are considering the start of the year more broadly, New Year cruises 2028 covers sailings departing around the holiday period. Princess Cruises around Australia in 2027 is also worth bookmarking if you are planning ahead across both years.

Browse all available cruises across every line and region, or return to the Australia cruise deals hub for the full picture of what is sailing from Australian ports in 2028.

*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.