August cruises 2027up to -49%

Where do August 2027 cruises go?

August is one of the widest-ranging months for ocean cruising available through Cruise1st. The Mediterranean leads the way, with sailings across both the broader Mediterranean Sea and the western Mediterranean attracting the largest share of departures. Alaska and the west coast of Canada follow closely, with Norway making up a strong third. Further afield, Japan, South East Asia and the British Isles round out a month that genuinely spans the globe. Whether you want fjords, ancient ruins, glaciers or tropical harbours, August has a sailing to suit.

Which destinations are most popular in August?

Looking at where the month’s cruising is actually concentrated, the picture is clear. The Mediterranean draws the largest number of departures — sailings loop through the western Mediterranean and fan out across the wider sea, finishing in ports such as Civitavecchia (Rome) and Barcelona. If you want a European city break on either side, our team can add flights, hotels and transfers as part of a Cruise1st Package.

Alaska and the west coast of Canada

Alaska cruises are at their peak in August, with sailings from Vancouver heading north through glacier-carved coastline. Many of these are one-way voyages that finish in a different port from where they start, so a domestic connection at one end is worth planning in advance — our team can book that alongside the cruise. Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises both have a strong presence in this region.

Norway

Norwegian fjord itineraries are well represented in August, with sailings departing from Southampton and other northern European ports. Several of these end in a different city — Copenhagen, for instance — so a short domestic hop may connect the two ends. Our team can arrange that too. Explore the full Norway cruise range for more options.

Japan and South East Asia

Japan cruises in August give you an introduction to the country’s ports and coastal culture that land travel alone cannot replicate. Sailings typically embark or disembark in Tokyo or Shanghai, and as these depart from Asia, most Australian travellers will need a flight to join the ship — something we can arrange as part of a complete holiday package. China sailings follow a similar pattern. South East Asia itineraries offer a similar fly-cruise structure, with a relaxed pace through regional ports.

Which other regions sail in August?

Beyond the headline destinations, August also brings sailings across the British Isles, a handful of Transatlantic crossings and a small number of Australian coastal departures. River cruising is also part of the picture: Viking River Cruises and AmaWaterways both operate European river itineraries in August, though these make up a small share of the total. If you are considering a river sailing, it is worth knowing these tend to be one-way voyages along a river corridor rather than round-trip ocean cruises.

Which cruise lines have August 2027 sailings?

Several major lines have a healthy spread of August departures. Here is how the leading names shape up, in order of availability:

• Viking River Cruises — leads by volume in August, primarily with European river itineraries
• MSC Cruises — a wide choice of Mediterranean sailings, including departures from Civitavecchia (Rome)
• Royal Caribbean — strong across Alaska and the Mediterranean, with a range of fare types to choose from
• Norwegian Cruise Line — a solid selection across multiple regions
• Princess Cruises — covers Alaska, the Mediterranean and beyond, with multiple fare tiers available
• AmaWaterways — European river voyages for travellers who prefer waterway itineraries

Holland America Line, Celebrity Cruises and Viking Cruises also have August departures. Our Australian cruise experts can talk you through what each line does differently and help you choose the one that fits your travel style.

Ships sailing in August 2027

Several well-known ships have August sailings, each with a distinct character on board.

MSC Magnifica

MSC Magnifica is one of the most distinctive Mediterranean ships in the fleet. The MSC Aurea Spa sets it apart — a salt grotto and Kneipp thermal circuit that you won’t find on most ships of this size. Up in the evenings, the Royal Theatre seats 1,200 guests for large-scale stage productions, and a 4D cinema adds another option for film fans. Travellers who want to step up from a standard cruise experience will find the MSC Yacht Club worth looking at: it operates as a private enclave with its own sundeck, pool, restaurant and around-the-clock butler service. See the MSC Magnifica cabins and deck plans before you decide.

MSC Magnifica cabin grades

• Inside cabin Bella I1 — 13 m², sleeps up to 4
• Ocean-view cabin with sea view O1 — 14 m², sleeps up to 4, with a window onto open water
• Suite Aurea SP3 — 35 m² balcony suite, sleeps up to 4, the largest in its category on board
• MSC Yacht Club Executive & Family Suite with Balcony — 32 m² plus a 12 m² private balcony, sleeps up to 4, with full Yacht Club access
• Super Family cabin FLA — 30 m², sleeps up to 5, twice the floor space of a standard balcony cabin

Sun Princess — new in 2024

Sun Princess joined the Princess Cruises fleet in 2024 as the line’s Sphere class flagship and, at 177,882 GT, the largest Princess ship ever built. The Dome is the centrepiece: a multi-level glass-enclosed deck that shifts from a daytime pool area to a South Beach-style evening venue as the sun goes down. The Princess Arena delivers large-scale stage productions in a purpose-built performance space. Check the Sun Princess cabins and deck plans for a full breakdown of grades and layout.

Queen Elizabeth

Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth is built around a very particular idea of ocean travel. Art Deco interiors — chandeliers, a grand lobby, richly detailed fittings — run through the whole ship and set a tone that is hard to find elsewhere. Dining is tiered by cabin grade: Britannia, Princess Grill and Queens Grill each have their own room and their own dedicated White Star Service team. Evenings bring nightly ballroom dancing in the Queens Room, deck croquet and performances in the Royal Court Theatre. If classic ocean liner traditions matter to you, this ship delivers them consistently. Browse the Queen Elizabeth cabins and deck plans to find the grade that suits you.

Enchanted Princess

Enchanted Princess carries Princess Cruises’ MedallionClass OceanNow® platform, which means you can order food, drinks or any shipboard service from wherever you happen to be on board, using the wearable Medallion device. The SeaWalk glass-floor walkway and cantilevered SeaView Bar both project out over open ocean from the top deck — a genuinely different experience from a standard promenade. For something more structured, the 360: An Extraordinary Experience is a 7-course immersive dining concept that uses storytelling, projection and technology across the full meal. See the Enchanted Princess cabins and deck plans for cabin options.

Seabourn Ovation

Seabourn Ovation is a luxury small-ship option for August. The experience is built around elegant, inclusive dining — all main dining is complimentary — and classical, understated service. The Grand Wintergarden Suite (grade GR) is around 115–120 m², featuring a separate bedroom, a generous living area, a full kitchen with bar and a private hot tub; it sleeps up to 4. For those who want the space of a small apartment at sea without the fuss of a large ship, this is a compelling option. See the full Seabourn Ovation cabins and deck plans.

Other ships with August sailings include Rotterdam, Jewel of the Seas, MSC Divina, MSC Sinfonia and EXPLORA IV. If you want to explore cabin grades and deck layouts for any of these, the EXPLORA IV cabins and deck plans, MSC Divina cabins and deck plans, MSC Sinfonia cabins and deck plans, Jewel of the Seas cabins and deck plans and Rotterdam cabins and deck plans are all on our site.

What fare options are available in August 2027?

Different cruise lines structure their fares differently, and knowing what is included before you book can make a real difference to what you actually spend on board.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean offers several fare types in August, including a standard cruise fare, a solo/single-occupancy fare and last-minute pricing on select departures. Fare types such as early booking bonuses and promotional offers appear from time to time — our team can tell you what is available when you call. The Royal Caribbean August deals page is also worth checking for current offers on August departures.

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises operates a clear tiered system. The Princess Standard fare is the base cruise fare, covering your sailing without extras. The Princess Plus package adds 4 casual dining meals per voyage, beverages up to A$15 each (with a daily limit of 15 drinks), MedallionNet Max Wi-Fi, pre-paid crew appreciation, unlimited digital photographs plus 3 prints, and reserved theatre seating. If you are travelling as a couple and plan to dine around and have a few drinks each day, Plus typically works out well. The Princess 2027–2028 season has further detail on what is available.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line offers a lowest fare option (cruise only, no packages), a mid-tier package that adds a beverage package, a dining package, Wi-Fi and shore excursion credits of US$50 per port, and a premium tier that extends those dining privileges to all guests in the stateroom with a broader selection of speciality restaurants. For a longer itinerary where you plan to eat out of the main dining room regularly, the inclusive tiers can simplify the budget considerably.

Where do August 2027 cruises sail from?

The majority of August sailings depart from ports in Europe and North America. Amsterdam, Southampton, Athens (Piraeus), Budapest, Miami and Rome (Civitavecchia) are all well-represented embarkation points in August. A small number of sailings depart from Australian ports — if you live close to one of those, no flight is needed at all. For the rest, a short domestic hop gets you to an international gateway and we can arrange the full journey — flights, hotel the night before if you need it, and transfers to the port — as a single Cruise1st Package.

Sailings finishing in a different port from where they start — a one-way itinerary ending in Copenhagen or Barcelona, for instance — mean a return flight home from the disembarkation city. We can book that connection at the same time as the cruise so there is nothing left for you to arrange.

Can I cruise in August without a long-haul flight?

For most Australian travellers, August cruises involve a flight to an overseas embarkation port. That said, a small number of departures leave from Australian waters — if you are local to the embarkation port, those sailings need no flight at all. If you are travelling from another state, a short domestic hop is usually all that stands between you and the ship. Our team regularly puts together fly-cruise combinations that handle flights, pre-cruise hotels and port transfers as one booking, so there is no juggling of separate reservations.

How much do August 2027 cruises cost?

August prices start from A$415 pp* for shorter sailings, with longer itineraries and luxury ships at the upper end of the range. Voyage lengths run from 4 nights up to 64 nights, with a median of around 9 nights — long enough for a proper holiday without requiring extended leave. Well over half the August sailings currently carry some form of reduced pricing, though the level of saving varies considerably by ship and sailing date. Our Australian cruise experts can find the best available fare for your chosen dates when you call.

All-inclusive fare options — covering drinks, dining and gratuities in a single price — are available on a significant share of August sailings, particularly on Seabourn Ovation and through Norwegian Cruise Line’s bundled fare tiers. If budgeting on board matters to you, it is worth asking about these when you enquire.

Make it a full holiday

Cruise1st is a cruise specialist — every booking starts with the sailing, and we build the rest of the trip around it. Our team can add flights, hotels, tours, transfers and insurance to any cruise, either as a ready-made Cruise1st Package or as a fully custom itinerary. If you need a hotel in Rome the night before you board, a transfer from the airport to the pier, or a post-cruise extension in Barcelona, we handle all of it. One call, one booking, one itinerary.

Our Australian cruise experts are available seven days a week — before you book, while you are deciding, and if anything needs adjusting. We are ATAS and CLIA members, so you are booking with accredited cruise specialists who know these ships and itineraries in detail.

Explore more August cruise options by line and region

If you know which line or region you want, these pages take you straight there. Carnival Cruises to Australia is worth a look if you are after a closer-to-home option. For the all-inclusive 2027 Mediterranean range, that page has the full selection. Princess fans can explore the full Princess Cruises Australia 2027 programme, including sailings from Brisbane, departures from Fremantle and Princess cruises to Tasmania. For Pacific and South Pacific options, South Pacific cruises from Sydney in 2027 covers that region in detail.

Explore more cruise options by month

August not quite right? If you have flexibility, September cruises follow straight on — the Mediterranean and Alaska programmes continue into the new month. Cruises from Brisbane in September 2027 is a strong option if you prefer to depart closer to home, and the Princess September offers page is worth checking if you are weighing up that line specifically. For those thinking further ahead, winter cruises open up a different set of regions entirely. You can also browse the full cruise search or our cruise deals page for the widest view of what is available.

*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.