November cruises

Where do November cruises go?

November is one of the busiest months of the year for ocean cruising, and the range of destinations on offer reflects that. The Caribbean leads the way by a clear margin, with a very large share of sailings heading across the Atlantic or already in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea. The Western Mediterranean is also well represented, with sailings from ports in Spain and Italy. Transatlantic crossings pick up strongly in November too — ships repositioning from Europe to the Americas make for long, relaxed passages at sea. Closer to home, Australian coastal and Pacific itineraries offer a no-long-haul option for those who prefer to keep things straightforward. Most sailings are ocean cruises; a small number are river voyages.

Top cruise destinations for November

Close to home — Australia, the Pacific and Southeast Asia

For those sailing from Australian waters, November brings Australian coastal itineraries departing from Sydney and Brisbane, along with sailings into Polynesia and Singapore-based Southeast Asian routes. If you live close to one of these embarkation ports, you can be on board the same day you arrive — no international flight required. If you’re travelling from another state, a short domestic hop gets you to the port, which is still a far simpler journey than the long-haul flights most November itineraries involve. On one-way Pacific and Southeast Asian sailings, the voyage ends in a different port city from where it begins — a domestic connection links the two, and Cruise1st can arrange the whole thing.

Sailing from Sydney in November? You can also look ahead to cruises from Sydney in November 2027 if you’d like to plan further in advance, or check what’s available on Sydney cruises departing this November.

The long haul — Caribbean, Mediterranean and beyond

The bulk of November sailing goes long haul, and that’s where the widest choice sits. The Caribbean is the standout destination, with itineraries spanning the Western Caribbean, Southern Caribbean and the broader Caribbean region. Ships depart from Florida ports including Miami and Fort Lauderdale — those 2 ports are about half an hour apart, so it’s worth checking both for dates and prices when you’re comparing options. Port Canaveral and San Juan also feature as embarkation and disembarkation points.

In the Mediterranean, Barcelona is one of the most active embarkation ports, with Western Mediterranean and broader Mediterranean Sea sailings departing through November. Rome (Civitavecchia) also features among the busiest embarkation ports. Transatlantic crossings leaving European ports for Florida or the Caribbean are worth considering if you fancy a longer voyage — typically 12 days or more — with stretches of open ocean and a warm-weather arrival. South America sailings round out the longer-haul options, departing for itineraries along South American coastlines.

For flights, hotels either side and transfers to any of these ports, Cruise1st can put the whole journey on one booking rather than leaving you to piece it together.

November highlights

A good share of sailings depart from Florida, making November a natural month for Caribbean itineraries. Southampton also features as both an embarkation and disembarkation port, with a smaller number of sailings beginning or ending in the UK — useful for those connecting via London on a fly-cruise that starts in Europe. Durations across the board range from short breaks to extended voyages of up to 33 nights, with most sailings sitting around 7 nights. Spring in the southern hemisphere runs concurrently with November, which adds to the appeal of Australian and Pacific departures.

Discounts are available on a portion of sailings. Where a sailing has been reduced, the typical saving is around 11% off the price previously listed for that cabin grade — though one departure has been discounted by as much as 50%. Most sailings are priced at their standard rate, so reductions are worth checking individually rather than assuming they apply across the board.

What do Royal Caribbean fares include?

Royal Caribbean offers several fare types on its November sailings. The standard cruise fare covers the voyage itself, and an early booking bonus may apply to new bookings made on eligible departures, providing onboard credit split between the first 2 guests. Fare types such as last-minute offers are available on selected sailings, providing discounted pricing. Solo travellers can book a single-occupancy stateroom fare. Taxes, fees and port expenses are additional on all bookings. Our team can walk you through which fare suits your plans when you call.

What does Princess Cruises include?

Princess Cruises sailings come with a choice of fare tiers. The Princess Standard fare covers the cruise itself, with drinks, Wi-Fi and dining available as add-ons. The Princess Plus package bundles in beverages (up to A$15 per drink, up to 15 drinks per day), MedallionNet® Max Wi-Fi, pre-paid crew appreciation, 4 casual dining meals per voyage, unlimited digital photographs plus 3 prints, and reserved theatre seating. It’s a practical package if you’d otherwise be adding those items individually. If you’re planning a 2027 or 2028 sailing, Princess Cruises’ 2027–2028 season is also worth a look for availability and early pricing.

What does Norwegian Cruise Line include?

Norwegian Cruise Line gives you the choice between a straightforward base fare that covers the cruise with no packages attached, and bundled fare options that add specialty dining, a premium beverage package, Wi-Fi and shore excursion credits per port of call. The fuller bundle also applies the packages to all guests on the reservation, and the number of specialty dining meals scales with the length of the cruise. These are meaningful inclusions if you plan to eat at specialty venues or take shore excursions — and worth comparing against the base fare before you commit.

Cruise lines with sailings in November

The leading cruise lines for November departures are MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Lines, AmaWaterways, Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line. MSC is the most popular line this month by volume, with the widest spread of ships and itineraries. Royal Caribbean and Carnival between them cover a large share of Caribbean sailings. AmaWaterways specialises in river cruising, with a small number of river departures among the November options. Celebrity Cruises, Viking River Cruises and Explora Journeys also have sailings this month. Carnival’s Australian itineraries are worth a separate look if you’re after a departure closer to home — see Carnival Cruises to Australia for a full picture of what’s sailing.

Ships sailing in November

MSC World Europa

At 215,863 GT, MSC World Europa is MSC Cruises’ largest ship and one of the biggest vessels afloat. The centrepiece thrill is the Venom Drop @ The Spiral — an 11-deck stainless steel dry slide that is the longest of its kind at sea. Beyond the slides, Chef Niklas Ekstedt’s Chef’s Garden Kitchen brings Scandinavian open-fire cooking to sea, the Luna Park Arena features dodgems, and Guinness World Records live events run throughout the voyage. The ship carries 23 sailings.

MSC World Europa cabin grades range from compact interiors to a sweeping suite with a private whirlpool. See the full breakdown and MSC World Europa deck plans before you choose:

• Inside cabin Bella I1 — 15 m², sleeps up to 4 guests; 4 m² more spacious than the smaller inside cabins.
• Cabin with drop-down window front Fantastica OV2 — 20 m², sleeps up to 4; the drop-down window opens for fresh sea air, giving balcony-style living at no extra cost.
• Balcony cabin with promenade view Bella BC1 — 21 m², sleeps 2; looks out over the promenade deck with private outdoor space.
• Suite with private whirlpool Aurea — 72 m², sleeps up to 4; features a bedroom, living area and private wellness deck.
• MSC Yacht Club Owner’s Suite — 104 m², sleeps up to 4; floor-to-ceiling windows and more than four times the living space of a standard inside cabin.

Azura

P&O Cruises’ Azura was refreshed bow-to-stern in 2025, with new restaurants, bars, cabin décor and corridor carpets throughout. The result is a ship that feels considerably newer than its launch year. Sindhu serves modern Indian cuisine, and the Glass House wine bar is curated by TV personality Olly Smith. The 800-seat Playhouse theatre delivers West End-quality aerial acrobatics, and the SeaScreen open-air cinema on deck is worth a night under the stars. Azura carries 13 sailings, with most departing from Southampton.

Cabin grades on Azura — see full details including layouts on the Azura cabins and deck plans page:

• Larger Inside Cabin OB — 15 m², sleeps 2; located exclusively on Riviera Deck, making it easy to get your bearings from day one.
• Sea View Cabin LB — 15 m², sleeps 2; natural light and an unobstructed sea view, everything an inside cabin offers plus an outlook onto the water.
• Superior Deluxe Balcony Cabin DA — 29 m², sleeps 2; private balcony for sea air and open views.
• Penthouse Suite A1 — 69 m², sleeps 2; the largest suite on board, with a full separate lounge area and significantly more living space than standard suites.

MSC Sinfonia

MSC Sinfonia is a Lirica-class ship — a more compact size that lets her call at smaller harbours and ports that larger vessels simply can’t reach. On board, the Teatro San Carlo hosts Broadway-style productions nightly, and 94 balcony cabins give a good share of guests a sea view from their own outdoor space. The top-deck water park with slides and the LEGO and Chicco children’s zones make Sinfonia a practical choice for families. Sinfonia has 12 sailings. For deck-by-deck detail, see the MSC Sinfonia cabins and deck plans.

MSC Splendida

MSC Splendida is a Fantasia-class ship and every bit the classic large resort vessel — 5 pools, a Swarovski-adorned foyer, a Butcher’s Cut steakhouse, a 4D cinema and 20 bars and lounges including the Purple Jazz Bar and Club 33 disco. The Strand Theatre runs variety shows every night. The MSC Yacht Club offers a ship-within-a-ship experience: private pool deck, 24-hour butler service and the L’Etoile gourmet restaurant, all set apart from the main ship. Splendida carries 13 sailings.

Cabin grades on MSC Splendida — full layouts on the MSC Splendida cabins and deck plans page:

• Deluxe Inside Cabin Fantastica — 17 m², sleeps up to 4; lower to middle decks, a quieter position with less wave motion.
• Premium Ocean View Fantastica — 18 m², sleeps up to 4; exclusively on Deck 8, a central midships position with sea view.
• Balcony Aurea — 19 m², sleeps up to 4; private balcony for direct access to fresh sea air without passing through public decks.
• Grand Suite Aurea — 38 m², sleeps up to 4; generous room with seating area and sofa.
• MSC Yacht Club Executive & Family Suite with Balcony — 36 m²; a spacious suite with separate bedroom and lounge, suited to families or couples who value room to spread out.

MSC Virtuosa

MSC Virtuosa is home to Rob — the world’s first humanoid robotic bartender at sea — who pours cocktails at the MSC Starship Club and speaks 8 languages. Beyond that single piece of technology, the ship runs 7 specialty restaurants including Indochine (French-Vietnamese fusion), Butcher’s Cut and 2 Kaito Japanese venues. The 1,168 m² LED Galleria runs the full indoor length of the ship, with boutiques, bars and live entertainment every evening. Virtuosa has 11 sailings. Check the MSC Virtuosa cabins and deck plans for the full cabin breakdown.

Other ships sailing in November include MSC Preziosa, MSC Seaview, MSC Opera, EXPLORA II and Explora III. For cabin and deck detail on any of these, see the respective MSC Preziosa deck plans, MSC Seaview deck plans, MSC Opera deck plans, EXPLORA II deck plans and Explora III deck plans.

Make it a holiday

Almost all November cruises require an international flight — to Florida, Spain, Italy, France or elsewhere. Cruise1st can put the flights, pre-cruise hotel, transfers and any tours on the same booking as your cruise, so you arrive organised and nothing gets missed. Our Cruise1st Packages are designed exactly for this: one call, one booking, one point of contact if anything changes. Our Australian cruise experts are available seven days a week, and every booking is backed by our Best Price Guarantee.

If you’re sailing from Sydney or Brisbane, the logistics are simpler — a short domestic flight from your state capital gets you to the port, and we can add that to your booking too. The same applies to Singapore departures: a short flight north and you’re on board.

Cruises by month

November sits between a busy October and a peak December period. If your dates are flexible, October cruises offer a slightly broader range of Mediterranean options before the European season winds down, while December cruises shift heavily toward the Caribbean and Australian summer sailings. For Sydney-specific planning, cruises from Sydney in October 2026 and cruises from Sydney this November are both worth comparing. Christmas and New Year sailings from Brisbane and on Christmas and New Year itineraries generally open for booking well before December, so it’s worth locking something in if you’re planning to be on the water over the holiday period. For Christmas cruises to New Zealand or a Royal Caribbean Christmas cruise in Australia for 2026, dates fill up early — checking availability now rather than waiting is the sensible move. You can also browse all available cruises if you want to explore beyond November.

*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.