Exclusive cruise deals for Australians

Where do these cruise deals go?

The cruises cover a wide sweep of the world, from close-to-home sailings around Australia and the South Pacific through to longer voyages across the Pacific, around New Zealand and into Southeast Asia and Polynesia. For those ready to travel further, there are transpacific crossings, sailings to South America, the British Isles and the Mediterranean too.

Close to home — Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific

The largest share of sailings heads through Australian and South Pacific waters — a mix of round trips from Sydney and Brisbane and one-way voyages connecting Australian and Pacific ports. New Zealand sailings are popular year-round, with ships threading through harbour towns and coastal scenery on both islands. Shorter Pacific island runs suit a first cruise or a long weekend away from the office; longer itineraries take in multiple island groups across Polynesia and the broader South Pacific.

If you live close to a departure port, you can drive or take the train to the terminal and be at sea the same afternoon. If you are travelling in from another state, a short domestic hop is all that separates you from the ship — and our team can add that flight, plus any pre-cruise hotel, to your booking.

Further afield — Asia, the Americas and Europe

Transpacific sailings tend to be the most ambitious itineraries on the list, connecting Australia with ports across the Pacific on voyages that run well beyond a fortnight. Southeast Asian routes are a strong choice for travellers who want cultural variety — diverse ports, distinct cuisines and a mix of landscapes within a single itinerary. For something truly special, sailings to South America, the British Isles or the Mediterranean combine the cruise with a destination that justifies the flight to reach it. On any of those longer trips, our team books the flights, hotels either side and the transfers as one joined-up holiday.

Bear in mind that a good share of the itineraries here are one-way voyages — the ship leaves one port and ends in another. That is worth checking before you book, because you will need a return leg home. We can sort that for you: a domestic flight, an international connection or a hotel night at the far end, all on the same booking.

Which cruise lines have deals here?

MSC Cruises leads by number of sailings, with a wide range of itineraries and price points. Princess Cruises is one of the most popular choices for Australians, particularly for South Pacific and New Zealand routes — see the Princess Cruises deals page for the latest offers, or explore the Princess 2027–2028 season for forward planning. Viking Cruises and Viking River Cruises both feature strongly, with Viking’s ocean fleet known for its destination-focused itineraries and relaxed, inclusive style. Royal Caribbean brings its large-ship entertainment offering, while Holland America Line covers a broad range of longer voyages.

Beyond those six, lines including Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Oceania Cruises and others round out the mix, with fare types such as last-minute offers, early booking bonuses and added-value packages available across several lines.

What fare types are available?

The fare structure varies by cruise line, but the broad picture is consistent. Most lines offer a base cruise fare that covers your sailing, with optional packages — drinks, Wi-Fi, dining credits, crew appreciation — available to add on or already bundled into a higher tier.

Princess Cruises offers Princess Standard (cruise-only), Princess Plus (includes casual dining, beverages up to A$15 each, MedallionNet® Max Wi-Fi, pre-paid crew appreciation and reserved theatre seating) and Princess Premier above that.

Royal Caribbean fare types include standard cruise fares, last-minute rates and solo fares for guests travelling alone. Fare types such as last-minute offers and early-booking bonuses are available on select sailings — check individual sailings for what applies.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers a base fare alongside its Free at Sea package (specialty dining, beverages, Wi-Fi and shore excursion credits) and a Free at Sea Plus upgrade. The right tier depends on how much you plan to spend on board — our team can walk you through the maths before you commit.

Whatever line you are looking at, Cruise1st helps you weigh the fare inclusions against your own travel style so you are not paying for extras you will not use, or missing ones that would save you money on board.

Spotlight: ships worth knowing about

A few ships stand out for what they actually offer on board.

Queen Mary 2 — Cunard

Queen Mary 2 is the world’s only true ocean liner — purpose-built with a reinforced hull for open-ocean crossings, not adapted from a standard cruise ship. The ship carries the only planetarium at sea: Illuminations projects star shows as you sail, which is unlike anything else afloat. Evenings bring Royal Court Theatre productions and nightly ballroom dancing in the Queens Room. If you want to explore her cabins before booking, the Queen Mary 2 cabins and deck plans page has everything laid out.

Queen Elizabeth — Cunard

Art Deco interiors run throughout Queen Elizabeth — chandeliers, a grand lobby and fittings that recall the golden age of ocean travel. Dining is split across 3 restaurants by cabin grade: Britannia, Princess Grill and Queens Grill, each with its own dedicated White Star Service. Deck croquet, nightly ballroom dancing and the Royal Court Theatre are constants on every voyage. Her cabin and deck plan page shows how the grades are laid out across the ship.

Cabin grades on Queen Elizabeth

• Britannia Inside cabin Deluxe GB — 19.2 m², around 5 m² more than the standard inside cabins on the same ship, giving noticeably more room to move around.
• Britannia Ocean-view cabin EB — 18.3 m², with a cabin window that brings in natural daylight and a sea view that inside guests do not get.
• Britannia Club Balcony cabin A1 — 24 m², with a private balcony giving you your own outdoor space and fresh sea air.
• Queens Grill Grand Suite Q1 — 127.7 m² total, including an approximately 90 m² private balcony — the most generous outdoor space of any Queens Grill suite on board, ideal for two people who want room to relax at sea.

Azura — P&O Cruises

Azura completed a bow-to-stern refresh in 2025, with new restaurants, bars, cabin décor and updated corridors throughout. Sindhu serves modern Indian cuisine and the Glass House wine bar is curated by TV personality Olly Smith. The 800-seat Playhouse theatre hosts West End-quality aerial acrobatics, and the SeaScreen open-air cinema lets you watch a film on deck. See the Azura cabins and deck plans for more detail on her layouts.

Cabin grades on Azura

• Larger Inside Cabin OB — 15 m², located exclusively on Riviera Deck, which makes it easy to get your bearings and reach ship facilities quickly.
• Sea View Cabin LB — 15 m², with an unobstructed sea view and natural light through the window.
• Superior Deluxe Balcony Cabin DA — 29 m², with a private balcony for open sea views and fresh air.
• Penthouse Suite A1 — 69 m², the largest suite on board, with a full separate lounge area and significantly more living space than standard suites.

Nieuw Statendam — Holland America Line

Nieuw Statendam was designed by Adam D. Tihany and Bjørn Storbraaten, and the result is visible the moment you walk into the dining room — a dramatic two-storey Wine Tower is the centrepiece. The Tamarind pan-Asian restaurant includes a seven-seat integrated sushi bar, and the Music Walk hosts 3 dedicated live music venues: Lincoln Center Stage, B.B. King’s Blues Club and Billboard Onboard. Browse the Nieuw Statendam cabins and deck plans to see the stateroom options.

Seabourn luxury: Seabourn Ovation and Seabourn Quest

Both Seabourn ships offer an ultra-luxury, small-ship experience built around classical elegance and attentive service. Seabourn Quest carries just 450 guests, every suite has a private balcony and butler service, and all fine wines and spirits are included — the near 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio means you are rarely waiting for anything. Seabourn Square, the social heart of the ship, replaces the traditional cruise desk with an open café-style lounge. The Grand Wintergarden Suite GR on Seabourn Ovation runs to approximately 115–120 m² with a private hot tub, a separate bedroom, a generous living area and a full kitchen with bar. Cabin options for Seabourn Ovation are detailed on the Seabourn Ovation cabins and deck plans page, and for Seabourn Quest on the Seabourn Quest cabins and deck plans page.

Where do these cruises depart from?

Many sailings leave from Australian ports. Sydney is the most active departure point, with round trips back to Sydney as well as one-way voyages. Brisbane has a strong departure schedule too — there are deals departing Brisbane in 2027 and deals from Brisbane in 2028 if you are planning further ahead. If you are in Queensland and want something short, short cruises from Brisbane are worth a look.

A large share of sailings depart from international ports — the cruise is the centrepiece of a longer trip. Our team books the flights out, any hotel the night before, transfers to the ship and the return leg home, so nothing is left dangling. If a one-way voyage ends in a different city from where you started, a domestic connection home is easy to add at the same time.

How long are these cruises?

The range runs from short breaks of 4 nights up to extended voyages of 96 nights, with a median around 12 nights. A 12-night sailing gives you enough time to cover a genuine itinerary — several ports, a sea day or two, a proper sense of being away — without taking up most of your annual leave. Shorter sailings from 4 nights suit a long weekend or a taster voyage; anything from a fortnight upward suits travellers who want to cover real distance.

Can I book shore excursions with my cruise?

Yes. Our Cruise1st Packages can include tours and shore excursions alongside your cruise, flights, hotels and transfers — everything on one booking rather than spread across multiple providers. If you prefer to book excursions independently at each port, that is straightforward too; our team can advise on what tends to be worth booking in advance versus what is easy to arrange on the day.

Why book with Cruise1st?

Cruise1st is a cruise specialist, which means every offer is either a cruise or a cruise-inclusive package — not a side line alongside hotels and car hire. Our Australian cruise experts are on the phone seven days a week, before you book, to talk through itineraries, cabin grades and fare inclusions. We back every booking with our Best Price Guarantee, and our Cruise1st Packages bring flights, hotels, tours, transfers and insurance together around your cruise, as a bundle or fully customised to your trip.

Prices start from A$198 pp* for the shortest sailings, with a huge range of options at every budget above that. Whether you are after a cheap cruise from Sydney, a last-minute sailing or a forward booking on the Princess 2027–2028 season, our team helps you find the right fit and put the whole holiday on one booking.

Looking for something specific? You might also find what you need on our cruise deals and packages page, or browse top cruise deals for highlighted offers. If Easter timing works for you, Easter 2027 cruise deals are available too. For Queensland-based travellers, last-minute cruises from Brisbane are worth checking regularly. And if you are open to a longer itinerary, a cruise around Australia is a genuinely rewarding way to see the country from the water.

*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.