Cruises from Melbourne to Kangaroo Island

What’s it like to cruise from Melbourne to Kangaroo Island?

Departing from Melbourne, these sailings call at Kangaroo Island, including the port of Penneshaw, before continuing their itinerary. Voyages range from 4 nights to 21 nights, and the mix includes both round-trip sailings that return to Melbourne and one-way sailings that finish in Singapore — so it is worth checking the itinerary shape before you book. All sailings are ocean cruises, and both ships on offer are very different from one another, giving you a genuine choice of style and price point.

Which cruise lines sail from Melbourne to Kangaroo Island?

Two cruise lines operate these departures: Carnival Cruise Line and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. They sit at opposite ends of the cruise market, so the choice between them comes down to the kind of holiday you want. Carnival is a lively, activity-filled option with a wide range of dining and entertainment; Regent Seven Seas is a luxury all-inclusive line where almost everything is included in the fare from the outset.

Carnival Adventure

Carnival Adventure is Carnival Cruise Line’s ship on this route, and it brings a notably active on-deck experience to what is a relatively compact Australian itinerary. The EDGE Adventure Park sits high above the open deck and delivers zip-lining, rock climbing, abseiling and a flying fox — the kind of draw that makes a short voyage feel packed. In the evenings, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse and Bonsai Sushi give you proper sit-down dining options, and the Blanc de Blanc Uncorked cabaret keeps things going well into the night. Families travelling with children will find Camp Ocean (ages 2–11), Circle C and Club O2 running throughout the sailing, while adults looking for some quiet have the Serenity Retreat and Cloud 9 Spa to retreat to.

Cabin grades on Carnival Adventure run from compact inside rooms to a flagship suite:

• Inside cabin 4A — 15 m², sleeps 4, with a walk-in wardrobe and generous storage, well suited to longer voyages.
• Ocean-view cabin with Porthole PT — 15 m², sleeps 4, with 2 round portholes for natural light and characterful views from the quieter lower decks.
• Balcony cabin 8A — 16 m², sleeps 4, with a private balcony behind a glass folding door giving you direct outdoor access and open water views.
• Byron Beach Club Presidential Suite SB — 58 m², sleeps 4, with an expansive balcony, dressing area and deluxe bathroom — more than twice the space of a standard balcony cabin.

Seven Seas Splendor

Seven Seas Splendor represents a completely different approach. This is Regent Seven Seas’ flagship luxury ship, built around the promise of being the most inclusive luxury experience at sea — meaning that once you have paid your fare, almost all meals, drinks, excursions and gratuities are already covered. The ship is designed around generous space per guest, and the Regent Suite RS — at approximately 352.7 m² of living space plus a 120 m² private balcony — is one of the largest suites sailing anywhere in the world today. The one-way itinerary on Seven Seas Splendor finishes in Singapore, so if you are based in Melbourne or elsewhere in Australia, Cruise1st can book your return domestic or international flight alongside the cruise, keeping it all on one itinerary.

How much does a cruise from Melbourne to Kangaroo Island cost?

Fares start from A$650 pp* for the shortest departure, making this a genuinely accessible way to experience Australia by sea. At the other end of the scale, an all-inclusive sailing aboard Seven Seas Splendor reflects the premium, fully-loaded nature of the Regent product. Because these 2 sailings cover very different lengths and styles, the best approach is to compare them side by side — our team can walk you through what each fare includes and what is extra, so you are not caught out at the booking screen.

Is a flight needed to join the cruise?

All departures leave from Melbourne. If you live in Melbourne, you can reach the ship without a flight at all — by car, train or local transport, with no airport at either end. If you are travelling from another Australian city, a short domestic hop to Melbourne is all you need, which is a much simpler journey than flying internationally to join a ship. On the one-way sailing that finishes in Singapore, a domestic or international flight home completes the trip — and Cruise1st can book that alongside the cruise, along with a hotel in Singapore if you want to extend the stay before flying back.

Make it a full holiday

Cruise1st is a cruise specialist, which means every booking starts with the cruise and everything else — flights, hotels, tours, transfers, even travel insurance — can be added around it as a Cruise1st Package or a fully custom itinerary. If you are flying from interstate to Melbourne to join the ship, we can add a hotel the night before embarkation so you are not rushing. If you are sailing one-way to Singapore, we can arrange the return leg and anything you want to do at either end. Our Australian cruise experts are on the phone seven days a week, and every booking comes with our Best Price Guarantee.

For more sailing options from Melbourne, browse all cruises departing Melbourne or explore cruises around Australia to see what else is available across the season. If you are open to a shorter break, 3-day cruises from Melbourne are another option worth considering. Carnival Cruise Line also operates a wider range of Carnival cruises to Australia beyond this route, and you can see the full programme of Carnival cruises from Sydney if that port suits you better. For sailings across the rest of the region, see all cruises from Melbourne or browse cruise deals across every departure point.

*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.