Cruises from Sydney — December 2027

Where do December 2027 sailings from Sydney go?

December is one of the strongest months of the year for cruising from Sydney, with sailings heading to Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific and combined Australia and New Zealand itineraries. Most voyages are round trips returning to Sydney, but a share are one-way sailings ending in Auckland or Brisbane — on those, a short domestic flight connects the two cities, and our team can book that leg along with any hotels or transfers you need. Trips run from a quick 3-night getaway up to a 42-night voyage, with a median length of 10 nights — enough to settle into a proper holiday rhythm without taking up half your annual leave.

Which cruise lines sail from Sydney in December 2027?

Six cruise lines cover the December programme from Sydney. Carnival Cruise Line leads the way with the largest number of sailings, followed closely by Royal Caribbean. Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and Norwegian Cruise Line complete the lineup. Between them they cover everything from short Pacific escapes to longer New Zealand round trips, and from party-forward family ships to more refined, food-focused fleets. If you’re weighing up which line suits you best, our cruise specialists can talk you through the differences before you book.

If you’re also considering departures from further up the coast, cruises from Brisbane in 2027 run alongside the Sydney programme and are worth comparing for the right itinerary.

Ships sailing from Sydney in December 2027

The ships below are those confirmed on sale for December 2027 departures from Sydney. Each one has a distinct personality — we’ve called out what sets them apart so you can match the ship to the trip you actually want.

Carnival Adventure — Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Adventure is one of the most active ships in the December programme, with the highest number of departures from Sydney. If you travel with children or teenagers, it’s hard to look past the EDGE Adventure Park — zip-lining, rock climbing, abseiling and a flying fox all set high above the deck. When the sun goes down, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse and Bonsai Sushi handle the serious dining, while Blanc de Blanc Uncorked cabaret gives the evenings their own energy. Camp Ocean (ages 2–11), Circle C and Club O2 teen programmes keep younger guests genuinely occupied, while adults have the Serenity Retreat and Cloud 9 Spa to themselves.

Cabin grades on Carnival Adventure run from a compact Inside 4A (15 m², sleeps 4, with a walk-in wardrobe well suited to longer sailings) through to the Ocean-view Porthole PT (15 m², sleeps 4, with 2 round portholes giving natural light on the quieter lower decks). The Balcony 8A (16 m², sleeps 4) adds a private balcony with a glass folding door. At the top sits the Byron Beach Club Presidential Suite SB — at 58 m² it’s more than twice the size of a standard balcony cabin, with an expansive private balcony, dressing area and deluxe bathroom. Full details and Carnival Adventure cabin grades and deck plans are available to browse before you choose.

Carnival Splendor — Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Splendor is Sydney-homeported and a firm favourite for families who want big-ship fun without venturing too far from home. The Green Lightning waterslide and WaterWorks™ waterpark will keep active guests happy, and the retractable-roof midship pool means you’re never relying on the weather. Dining is a genuine strong point — Guy’s Burger Joint, Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse and Masala Tiger between them cover burgers, premium steak and Indian flavours. For a quieter side of the ship, Cloud 9 Spa’s Thalassotherapy pools and thermal suites sit alongside the adults-only Serenity Retreat.

• Cloud 9 Spa Inside 4S (inside, 16 m², sleeps 3) — includes priority spa reservations, unlimited access to thermal suites and 2 complimentary fitness classes
• Large Sea-view 6K (ocean view, 30 m², sleeps 4) — 10 m² larger than standard ocean-view cabins, giving noticeably more living space
• Balcony 8M with large balcony (balcony, 26 m², sleeps 4) — 9 m² more than the standard balcony cabin and a private outdoor area included
• Captain’s Suite CS (suite, 47 m², sleeps 5) — the largest accommodation on board, with a separate bedroom and living area

See the full range of Carnival Splendor cabins and deck plans to find the grade that matches your trip length and budget.

Planning a full December of Carnival sailings or want to compare the wider fleet? Browse Carnival Cruises in 2027 for the complete picture.

Anthem of the Seas — Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas is the tech flagship of the December programme. The North Star observation capsule holds the Guinness World Record for the tallest viewing deck at sea, rising 300 feet above the waterline — a fact worth knowing before you assume you’ve seen everything a cruise ship can offer. The RipCord by iFLY skydiving simulator and SeaPlex bumper cars underline the ship’s action-focused character, while the Two70° venue combines 4K immersive performances with Bionic Bar robotic cocktails in a single space that genuinely redefines what an evening at sea looks like.

Cabin grades on Anthem of the Seas:

• Inside with virtual balcony 1U (inside, 15.4 m², sleeps 4) — a high-resolution screen streams a live sea view directly into the cabin, giving the feel of a window at no extra balcony cost
• Ocean-view 2P (ocean view, 253 m², sleeps 4) — generously proportioned with a sofa and spacious living area
• Large Balcony 2G (balcony, 253 m², sleeps 4) — double sofa bed included, well suited to families or longer voyages
• Royal Loft Suite RL (suite, 152.4 m², sleeps 6) — a two-level maisonette with the bedroom on the upper level overlooking the living room below; the most spacious accommodation in the Royal Caribbean fleet

Full details at Anthem of the Seas cabins and deck plans.

Voyager of the Seas — Royal Caribbean

Voyager of the Seas brings the Studio B ice-skating rink — a genuine professional-standard venue with full choreography and costumes that you’d struggle to find on most cruise ships. Beyond the rink, the FlowRider surf simulator, Perfect Storm waterslides and a rock-climbing wall keep the action going on deck. On select South Pacific itineraries, Voyager passengers also get exclusive access to Royal Beach Club Lelepa, the South Pacific’s first private cruise beach destination — a meaningful point of difference if a South Pacific sailing is on your shortlist. Browse Voyager of the Seas cabins and deck plans before you decide on a grade.

For the broader Royal Caribbean lineup in the region, the Royal Caribbean cruise deals page covers all available sailings.

Celebrity Edge — Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Edge is the most architecturally unusual ship in the December programme. The Magic Carpet — the world’s first cantilevered floating platform — travels up and down the side of the ship across 16 storeys, serving at different heights as a bar, a restaurant and a dive platform. Infinite Veranda staterooms remove the traditional cabin wall entirely, merging the balcony and the room into one open space — a format that changes how a sea view actually feels from inside. Le Petit Chef delivers a 3D animated dinner show projected onto your dinner plate, while Eden’s three-level live-performance venue provides a very different kind of evening entertainment. Celebrity Edge 2027/2028 cruises from Sydney gives you the full set of departure dates and fares. Browse Celebrity Edge cabins and deck plans for stateroom options including the Infinite Veranda grades.

Norwegian Spirit — Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Spirit covers the Norwegian Cruise Line representation in December. The ship’s Spice H2O adults-only open-air beach club is NCL’s signature outdoor entertainment deck — Ibiza-style atmosphere on the water. A 2020 refurbishment added Onda by Scarpetta modern Italian dining to sit alongside the long-running Cagney’s Steakhouse, so the specialty dining offer is genuinely strong for a ship this size. The Stardust Theatre runs nightly productions including Blazing Boots, Palace of Lights and ELEMENTS! — a proper programme rather than a single-show rotation. Norwegian Spirit cabins and deck plans have full grade details if you want to compare options.

Other ships in the December programme

Princess Cruises sails with Grand Princess and Royal Princess — both suited to longer itineraries and carrying Princess’s own fare tiers (see below). Holland America Line’s Westerdam and Azamara Pursuit round out the programme with their own styles — Westerdam leaning into enrichment-focused cruising, Azamara into longer destination immersion. Cabin and deck plan details are available for Grand Princess, Royal Princess, Westerdam and Azamara Pursuit.

What fare types are available?

The fare structure varies by cruise line, so it’s worth knowing what each one actually covers before you compare headline prices.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean offers a standard Cruise Fare covering the sailing itself, a Solo/Single fare for solo travellers taking sole occupancy of a stateroom, and promotional fare types such as Last-Minute and early-booking offers. Specific promotions change regularly — our team can confirm what is currently combinable on your chosen sailing.

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity structures its fares into 3 clear tiers. The cruise-only rate gives you the lowest base price and lets you add extras later. The mid-tier value fare bundles a drinks package and basic Wi-Fi into one price. At the top, The Retreat combines premium drinks, premium Wi-Fi, suite accommodation, exclusive lounge and sundeck access, private dining and dedicated personal service — a genuinely full-service package for guests who want everything handled.

Princess Cruises

Princess offers a Standard fare (cruise only, with packages available to add) and the Princess Plus package, which includes 4 casual dining meals per voyage, beverages up to A$15 per drink (up to 15 per day), MedallionNet Max Wi-Fi, pre-paid crew appreciation, unlimited digital photos plus 3 prints, and reserved theatre seating. The Plus package is worth checking against the cost of adding those items individually. Princess Cruises Around Australia in 2027 and the Princess 2027–2028 season both cover the wider sailing programme for this fleet.

Are there discounts on December 2027 Sydney cruises?

A number of December sailings carry reduced fares. The maximum saving on any single departure reaches up to 43% off that cabin grade’s previously listed price — though that applies to 1 departure specifically. Most reduced sailings are discounted closer to 8%, measured from the cabin grade’s own prior price. It’s a useful reminder that the headline figure and the typical saving are two different things — and that checking individual sailings is always worth the time. Our team can tell you which departures carry the best current pricing on the grade you want.

Which cabin grade is right for your December cruise?

Choosing the right cabin grade is where the difference between an average trip and a great one is often made, especially on longer voyages. An inside cabin on a 3-night sailing is a perfectly sensible choice — you’re barely in the room. On a 10-night or longer voyage, a balcony or a suite changes the experience in a way that’s hard to overstate. Our Australian cruise experts are on hand seven days a week to help you weigh up the options across all the ships above, and to match the fare tier to what you actually need from the sailing. Whatever you settle on, we put the whole booking — cruise, flights, hotels, transfers and insurance — on a single itinerary through Cruise1st Packages.

Fares start from A$507 pp* across the December programme, based on 2 people sharing. Use that as an anchor, not a ceiling — the right grade for your trip may be different, and our team will give you the full range on any sailing you’re considering.

Make it a full holiday

If you’re flying into Sydney to board — whether from interstate or from overseas — we can book your flights, pre-cruise hotel, transfers to the terminal and any tours you want either side, all as part of one booking. For one-way sailings ending in Auckland or Brisbane, we handle the domestic flight home the same way, so there’s no loose end to sort yourself. We’re cruise specialists, and every booking we make is a cruise or a cruise-inclusive package — never a general travel agency approach where the cruise is just another line item.

Sailings are ocean voyages — all 34 December departures from Sydney are sea cruises, with no river itineraries in this programme.

Thinking about December — or a different time of year?

December is a popular month, but it isn’t the only option from Sydney in 2027. Easter 2027 cruises from Sydney suit travellers who prefer the autumn school-holiday window, and short cruises from Sydney in 2027 cover quick getaways across the year. For South Pacific cruises from Sydney in 2027, the dedicated page carries the full itinerary range. If you’d like to look at what sailed the year before to get a sense of route patterns, 2026 cruises from Sydney is a useful reference. The broader cruises hub covers all departures and destinations if you’re still deciding on the year or the region.

For the festive period specifically, Christmas cruises to New Zealand and Australia Christmas cruise deals are both worth a look alongside this page — as is our New Year cruises 2028 page for anyone thinking about extending the celebration into January. If Brisbane suits you better as a departure port, Christmas cruises from Brisbane runs a parallel programme, and Princess Cruises from Brisbane in 2027 covers that line’s Brisbane offering specifically. December cruises across all departure ports rounds out the picture if you’re open on where to sail from.

New Zealand deserves a mention in its own right — it’s the second most popular destination in the December programme from Sydney. New Zealand cruises in 2027 covers the full range of itineraries visiting the country, and cruises around Australia in 2027 is the place to look if a full circumnavigation or multi-port Australian voyage is on your radar. For a wider read on all cruises in 2027 across the fleet and the globe, that hub page brings everything together.

*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.