Discount cruises

What are discount cruises?

Discount cruises are sailings where the fare has been reduced from its previous listed price for that cabin grade — not a separate category of holiday, just a better price on the same ships and itineraries. Reductions appear across every type of sailing: short domestic runs, longer Pacific round trips, and extended voyages to Southeast Asia and beyond. The mix on offer at any time spans lines ranging from mainstream ocean cruises to luxury small-ship expeditions, and durations from a long weekend at sea to grand voyages of three months or more. Prices start from A$198 pp*.

Where do these discount sailings go?

The biggest share of reduced-fare sailings head to destinations close to home. Australian coastal itineraries are the most numerous, followed by the South Pacific — island-hopping routes that suit first-timers and seasoned cruisers alike. New Zealand sailings are well represented too, with many combining both countries on a single voyage; see the Australia and New Zealand page for combined itineraries.

South East Asia is the fourth most popular region, and Polynesia appears regularly for travellers who want something more remote. Transpacific crossings also feature — typically one-way voyages linking Australia or New Zealand with ports on the US or Canadian Pacific coast, finishing in cities such as Honolulu or Vancouver. On those one-way sailings, a short domestic flight connects the two ends of the trip, and we can book that too.

Long-haul options

If you want to go further afield, there are also sailings to South America, the British Isles and East Asia. The vast majority of these departures leave from ports overseas — chiefly in the United States, Italy, Spain and Greece — so a flight is part of the trip. We can put the flights, hotels either side and transfers together as a single Cruise1st Package, so there is nothing left to piece together yourself.

Which cruise lines offer cheap cruise deals?

Royal Caribbean has the largest share of discounted sailings available, from mainstream ocean cruises with waterslides, surf simulators and ice rinks to premium options. Celebrity Cruises follows closely, with a strong selection spanning cruise-only rates right through to all-inclusive suite fares. Princess Cruises offers both standard and inclusive packages such as Princess Plus, which bundles casual dining meals, beverages and Wi-Fi into a single per-person rate. Norwegian Cruise Line rounds out the mainstream choices. For those looking at premium or luxury options on a reduced fare, Silversea features prominently — and last-minute Silversea deals in particular can represent significant value on all-suite ships.

Holland America Line and Azamara also appear regularly for travellers who prefer a smaller, more destination-focused ship. And if a river cruise appeals, AmaWaterways has options including European river cruise deals. Whatever you are comparing, our team can walk you through the fare tiers for each line so you know exactly what is included before you book.

What do cheap cruise deals actually include?

It depends on the fare tier you choose, and this is where talking to a specialist makes a real difference. Here is how the main lines structure their fares:

Royal Caribbean offers a base cruise fare, solo/single fares for guests sailing alone, and last-minute fares on select sailings. Fare types such as early booking bonuses — for example on-board credit on sailings booked well in advance — and limited-time promotional offers come and go throughout the year, so it is worth asking our team what is current when you enquire.

Celebrity Cruises offers 3 main fare tiers: a cruise-only rate (the lowest starting price, with add-ons chosen later); a best-value rate that bundles a drinks package and basic Wi-Fi; and The Retreat, their most inclusive tier, which adds premium drinks, premium Wi-Fi, suite accommodation, exclusive lounge access and dedicated butler service.

Princess Cruises starts with Princess Standard — the base cruise fare — and moves up to Princess Plus, which includes 4 casual dining meals per voyage, beverages up to A$15 each (with a daily limit), MedallionNet Max Wi-Fi, pre-paid crew appreciation, unlimited digital photographs plus 3 prints, and reserved theatre seating.

Knowing what each tier covers before you pick a cabin grade is exactly what our cruise deals team helps with — so you are not paying for inclusions you do not want, or missing ones you do.

Cheap cruise deals: which ships are worth a look?

Several ships sailing on reduced fares stand out for what they offer on board. These are some of the most active.

Luxury and premium ships

Seabourn Ovation is a classical luxury ship where elegant dining is included in the fare — no adding it on later. The largest cabin available, the Grand Wintergarden Suite, runs to approximately 115 m², has a private hot tub, a separate bedroom, a full kitchen and bar, and sleeps up to 4 guests. See the full range of Seabourn Ovation cabins and deck plans.

From Silversea, Silver Ray launched in 2024 and is one of the most spacious ships ever built, with a revolutionary layout of public spaces and suites offering 270-degree ocean views. The Owner’s Suite O2 gives 2 travelling parties or a family of 4 a 131 m² two-bedroom apartment at sea. Browse Silver Ray cabins and deck plans for the full picture. Sister ship Silver Nova carries a comparable Owner’s Suite with 2 bedrooms at 131 m², with separate living and sleeping areas across the same 131 m² footprint. Cabin details are on the Silver Nova cabins and deck plans page.

Silver Shadow is another Silversea option, while Seabourn Ovation covers guests who want a more intimate ship with a classical service style.

Celebrity Cruises ships on reduced fares

Celebrity Solstice underwent a significant revitalisation in 2026 that added Fine Cut Steakhouse, Trattoria Rossa for handmade pasta, and a redesigned Chef’s Table experience. The ship now offers The Retreat suite sanctuary and AquaClass wellness cabins as premium tiers — with exclusive dining at Luminae and Blu respectively — alongside a top-deck Sunset Park venue and the Boulevard Lounge. See Celebrity Solstice cabins and deck plans to compare grades.

Celebrity Infinity was comprehensively refurbished in 2024, bringing it up to current Edge-class standards. The Retreat enclave has its own private sundeck, Luminae restaurant and round-the-clock butler and concierge service; AquaClass staterooms include access to Restaurant Blu and the Persian Garden spa sanctuary. The Celebrity Infinity cabins and deck plans page breaks down every grade. Celebrity Eclipse also sails on discounted fares — see Celebrity Eclipse cabins and deck plans for options.

Royal Caribbean ships

Explorer of the Seas was refurbished in 2025 and now features a FlowRider surf simulator, The Perfect Storm dual waterslides, the Royal Promenade boulevard and an ice-skating rink with professional shows and open skating sessions — one of very few cruise ships anywhere with a rink on board. Compare accommodation on the Explorer of the Seas cabins and deck plans page. Freedom of the Seas is another Royal Caribbean option; see Freedom of the Seas cabins and deck plans for the cabin mix.

Where do discount cruises depart from?

For travellers based in or close to a major Australian port, some sailings require no flight at all — you can drive or take a train to the terminal and board the same day. Sydney and Brisbane are the most active Australian departure points, and there are also sailings from ports that may be a short domestic hop from your home city. We can bundle that domestic flight with your cruise if you need it.

For sailings originating overseas — the majority of what is on offer — the ship is the centrepiece of a longer holiday. Major embarkation ports include Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, Barcelona, Athens and Rome. Singapore is a popular starting point for Southeast Asian itineraries, and Hong Kong features for East Asian routes. We book the international flights, your hotel the night before embarkation, transfers between the airport and the port, and any tours along the way — all on one booking.

Family and solo travellers on a budget

Discounted fares are not just for couples. Several fare structures specifically accommodate solo travellers: Royal Caribbean’s single/solo fare removes the single-occupancy supplement that can otherwise double the cost of a cabin, and it is worth asking our team which other lines price solo-friendly fares at the time you enquire.

For families, ships like Explorer of the Seas — with its surf simulator, waterslides and ice rink — offer a lot of on-board activity included in the cruise fare. The luxury end of the market also caters to larger groups: the 2-bedroom Owner’s Suites on Silver Ray and Silver Nova sleep up to 4 guests in a 131 m² space, making a premium cabin a realistic option when the cost is split. Cheap Carnival cruises are another family-friendly option worth comparing, and Carnival cruises to Australia in particular offer a wide range of departure dates.

Sailings with included extras

A reduced fare does not always mean a bare-bones experience. More than half the sailings across this selection are offered on all-inclusive or fare-inclusive terms — meaning drinks, Wi-Fi or gratuities are folded into the price you see, rather than added at the end. Celebrity’s best-value tier, Princess Plus, and Silversea’s inclusive model all work this way. If you want to compare cruise-only rates against inclusive ones to see which gives better value for your travel style, our team can run that comparison with you.

Top alternatives for finding great cruise savings

Sometimes the best value comes from being flexible. A few approaches worth considering:

• Early-bird specials — book a future sailing well in advance to secure the lowest available cabin price, sometimes with on-board credit included.
• Cruise sale finder — filter by budget to find sailings within a set price ceiling.
• Princess Cruises deals and Royal Caribbean deals — line-specific pages that show reduced fares for those two lines in one place.
• Cruise deals from Brisbane in 2026 and cruise deals from Brisbane in 2027 — useful if you are departure-port specific.
• Cheap cruises from Sydney and discount cruises from Sydney — narrowed to Sydney departures for local travellers.
• Cruise offers and deals from Brisbane — all reduced fares leaving from Brisbane in one view.
• Christmas cruise deals for Australia 2026 — if your target travel window is the holiday season.
• Easter 2027 cruises from Sydney — for the school-holiday window.

If a specific season or departure window matters to you, the Australian cruises hub and the broader cruise deals pages carry the widest selection across all dates.

Make it a holiday

Cruise1st is a cruise specialist — every fare we quote is for a cruise or a cruise-inclusive package. Our team can wrap the whole trip around your sailing: international or domestic flights, hotels before and after you board, transfers between the airport and the port, tours at the destinations you visit, and travel insurance. It can be a simple bundle or a fully custom itinerary built around what you want. One booking, one team to call if anything changes.

The Princess 2027–2028 season sailings are now bookable as part of a package, and Celebrity Edge 2027 and 2028 departures from Sydney are available the same way. Our Australian cruise experts are available seven days a week to help you put it all 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.