Easter 2028 cruise deals

Where do Easter 2028 cruises go?

Easter 2028 sailings from Australian ports cover a wide range of distances and styles, from short getaways along the Australian coast to long transpacific crossings that end in Los Angeles, Vancouver or Honolulu. The bulk of departures leave from Sydney or Brisbane, with a handful sailing from Auckland. Voyages run from 3 nights up to 46 nights, with a median around 11 nights — long enough to feel like a proper break, short enough for those who can only get away over the long weekend. Roughly half the sailings are round trips that bring you back to your home port; the other half are one-way crossings where a domestic flight connects the two ends of the journey.

Close to home — Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific

The majority of Easter 2028 sailings stay within the South Pacific and Australasian region, which makes this an easy holiday to reach from any Australian capital. If you live near the port, it is a cruise with no flight at all. If you are travelling from another state, a short domestic hop is all that stands between you and the gangway.

Cruising around Australia

Australian coastal sailings are the most popular choice this Easter, with departures from both Sydney and Brisbane. These voyages suit travellers who want to explore their own continent from the water, often calling at ports they might not otherwise reach by land. Most are round trips, so you return to the city you left. If you are based in Sydney, cruises around Australia are particularly convenient — board at home and be at sea the same afternoon. If you’d like to plan further ahead, the cruise around Australia 2028 page covers the full season’s options.

South Pacific islands

A South Pacific sailing is the classic Easter option for Australian travellers: warm weather, island ports and a relaxed pace. Most depart from Sydney or Brisbane and run between 10 and 14 nights. These round-trip itineraries are well suited to first-time cruisers and families alike, and several ships sailing this region are purpose-built for the Australian market.

Australia and New Zealand combined

A combined Australia and New Zealand voyage gives you both countries in one sailing. These are typically longer itineraries and may be one-way, finishing in Auckland or returning to an Australian port. If the voyage ends in Auckland, we can book the return flight home as part of a Cruise1st Package, along with any hotel night you need before or after. New Zealand cruises in their own right are also available over the Easter window, with some sailings departing from Auckland.

The long haul — transpacific crossings and beyond

Easter is one of the most natural times of year to embark on a transpacific crossing — a proper ocean voyage that carries you from Australian or New Zealand waters all the way to the Americas. These sailings are almost always one-way, ending in ports such as Los Angeles, Vancouver or Honolulu. Because the voyage ends on the other side of the Pacific, the best approach is to plan the return flight as part of the same holiday. Cruise1st can arrange that, along with hotels either side and any transfers you need, so the whole trip sits on one booking.

For travellers with more time, a single round-the-world sailing also departs over the Easter 2028 window, calling at ports across multiple continents. These are long voyages — measured in weeks, not days — and suit experienced cruisers who want a single, all-encompassing journey.

Which cruise lines sail at Easter 2028?

Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line lead the Easter 2028 programme from Australia, each with a strong number of sailings and multiple ships in the region. Royal Caribbean offers a compelling mix of itineraries on two of its most feature-rich ships. Cunard brings its classic ocean liner experience, Celebrity Cruises adds a more contemporary premium option, and Norwegian Cruise Line rounds out the choice with a flexible, freestyle style of cruising.

On fare types: Princess Cruises offers structured tiers such as Princess Standard (the base fare) and Princess Plus (which adds beverages, Wi-Fi and casual dining meals). Royal Caribbean fare types include last-minute offers and early booking promotions. Cunard offers fare types such as its flexible Cunard Fare and last-minute Saver options. The specifics of what each tier includes are covered in detail in the ships section below.

Ships sailing over Easter 2028

Royal Princess — Princess Cruises

Royal Princess has the most sailings of any ship over Easter 2028, and it is easy to see why it is in such demand. The ship’s signature feature is the SeaWalk — an 18-metre glass-bottomed walkway that hovers 40 metres above the ocean, giving you a view straight down to the sea beneath your feet. It is one of the most dramatic experiences on any ship at sea.

Day-to-day life on board is shaped by MedallionClass® OceanNow® technology, which lets you order food and drinks to wherever you happen to be on the ship via the Princess app — poolside, on your balcony or anywhere else. Specialty dining includes Crown Grill and Sabatini’s, with the 24-hour International Café available for grazing around the clock.

Cabin options on Royal Princess run from compact insides to generous suites:

• Inside cabin IA — 15.4 m², sleeps up to 4. The most affordable entry point, with minibar, safe and desk. See all cabin grades and deck plans
• Sea-view cabin O6 — 20 m², sleeps up to 4. A large panoramic window with a forward-facing ocean view — natural daylight that inside cabins can’t offer.
• Deluxe Balcony cabin DA — 23.4 m², sleeps up to 4. Your own private balcony for breakfast or sundowners at sea.
• Penthouse Suite S3 with aft balcony — 54.5 m², sleeps up to 4. Significantly more living space than any mini suite or ocean-view cabin on board.

Princess Cruises offers 2 main fare tiers on these sailings. Princess Standard covers the cruise itself; drinks packages, MedallionNet Wi-Fi and crew appreciation can then be added. Princess Plus bundles 4 casual dining meals per voyage, beverages up to A$15 pp per drink (with a daily limit of 15 drinks pp), MedallionNet Max Wi-Fi, pre-paid crew appreciation, unlimited digital photos plus 3 prints, and reserved theatre seating. For those planning ahead, the Princess 2027/2028 season launch page has full details of the itinerary programme. You can also browse Princess Cruises from Fremantle in 2028 if western Australia is more convenient for you.

Carnival Encounter — Carnival Cruise Line

Based in Brisbane, Carnival Encounter is the natural choice for Queensland travellers who want to board at their home port. The ship is particularly well suited to families: Camp Ocean takes children aged 2–11, while Circle C and Club O2 keep teenagers entertained separately — meaning adults can actually relax while the kids are busy. The outdoor EDGE Adventure Park packs zip-lining, rock climbing, a flying fox and cargo-net racing into one complex.

Dining ranges from Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse and Bonsai Sushi Express to the Blanc de Blanc Uncorked cabaret dinner experience. Cabin choices on Carnival Encounter:

• Inside cabin 4A — 15 m², sleeps up to 4. A spacious inside cabin with walk-in wardrobe — good storage for longer voyages. See cabins and deck plans
• Ocean-view cabin with Porthole PT — 15 m², sleeps up to 4. Two round portholes bring natural light, with a characterful design at a budget-friendly price.
• Balcony cabin 8A — 16 m², sleeps up to 4. Direct access to fresh sea air and open views, without sharing the public decks.
• Byron Beach Club Presidential Suite SB — 57 m², sleeps up to 4. The largest suite on board, on Deck 15, with the highest vantage point on the ship.

Travelling from Brisbane in early 2028? The January 2028 departures from Brisbane and March 2028 departures from Brisbane pages cover the lead-up to Easter, so you can compare dates across the school holiday period. You can also see the full Brisbane cruise programme for more options.

Carnival Splendor — Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Splendor is Sydney’s home-port fun ship, and Easter is one of its busiest periods. The Green Lightning waterslide and the WaterWorks waterpark keep families occupied on sea days, while the retractable-roof midship pool means there is always somewhere to swim whatever the weather. Dining covers Guy’s Burger Joint, Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse and Masala Tiger. Adults wanting a quieter corner have the Serenity Retreat, while the Cloud 9 Spa features Thalassotherapy pools and thermal suites.

Cabin grades on Carnival Splendor:

• Cloud 9 Spa Inside cabin 4S — 16 m², sleeps up to 3. Includes priority spa reservations, unlimited thermal suite access and 2 complimentary fitness classes. See cabins and deck plans
• Large Sea-view cabin 6K — 30 m², sleeps up to 4. At 30 m² this cabin is 10 m² larger than standard ocean-view cabins, giving considerably more space for the same view.
• Balcony cabin 8M with large balcony — 26 m², sleeps up to 4. Offers 9 m² more than the standard balcony grade, with a private outdoor area to enjoy at sea.
• Captain’s Suite CS — 47 m², sleeps up to 5. The largest suite on board, with a separate bedroom and living area.

If you’re comparing Celebrity Edge 2027/2028 sailings from Sydney alongside Carnival Splendor, our team can walk you through the differences in style, inclusions and pricing.

Queen Elizabeth — Cunard

Queen Elizabeth is a different proposition entirely. The Art Deco interiors — chandeliers, a grand lobby and opulent fittings — are designed to evoke the golden age of ocean travel, and Cunard delivers on that promise consistently. Dining is divided across three dedicated restaurants by cabin grade: Britannia for most guests, with Princess Grill and Queens Grill reserved for suite passengers, each with its own White Star Service team.

Evening entertainment follows Cunard traditions: the Royal Court Theatre, nightly ballroom dancing in the Queens Room, and deck croquet. This is the ship for travellers who want formality, elegance and a sense of occasion, rather than waterslides and activity parks.

Cunard fare types on these sailings include the flexible Cunard Fare — which allows stateroom choice and priority upgrade consideration, a low 15% deposit, flexible balance payment and the ability to amend up to the balance due date — and the last-minute Saver Fare, which offers the lowest possible price in exchange for a pre-allocated stateroom and full payment on booking. Fare types also vary by what extras are bundled, such as drinks, onboard credit, coach transfer or car parking. See Queen Elizabeth cabins and deck plans for the full range of stateroom grades.

Anthem of the Seas — Royal Caribbean

Anthem of the Seas holds the Guinness World Record for the tallest viewing deck at sea: the North Star observation capsule rises 300 feet above the waterline and gives a 360-degree view of the ocean and horizon. Alongside that, the RipCord by iFLY skydiving simulator, SeaPlex bumper cars and the Two70° venue — which hosts 4K immersive performances and a Bionic Bar where robotic arms make the cocktails — make this one of Royal Caribbean’s most activity-packed ships.

Royal Caribbean fare types on these sailings include standard cruise fares, last-minute fares and solo traveller fares for guests taking sole occupancy of a stateroom. Promotional fare types such as early booking offers may also apply. See Anthem of the Seas cabins and deck plans to compare grades and positions on board.

Royal Caribbean also sails with Ovation of the Seas over the Easter 2028 window — worth considering alongside Anthem if you want to compare itineraries between the two ships. The Royal Beach Club Lelepa sailings page covers Royal Caribbean’s Pacific island access if that destination is part of what interests you.

Celebrity Edge — Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Edge introduced the Magic Carpet — the world’s first cantilevered floating platform — which travels up 16 storeys on the outside of the hull and serves as a bar, restaurant or embarkation platform at different times of day. Infinite Veranda staterooms are another design innovation: the entire balcony wall opens up, turning the boundary between cabin and open sea into something more like a continuous living space than a conventional balcony. The Eden venue across 3 levels hosts live performances of a kind you won’t find on most ships.

Celebrity Edge sails from Sydney over Easter 2028 — see Celebrity Edge 2028/2029 sailings from Sydney for the full programme, or compare it with earlier availability on the Celebrity Edge 2027/2028 Sydney page. Celebrity Edge cabins and deck plans cover every stateroom grade if you want to look at Infinite Veranda options in detail.

Additional ships sailing over Easter 2028 include Grand Princess, Norwegian Spirit, Westerdam and Ovation of the Seas. Each has its own style and itinerary range, and our team can talk through which suits your plans.

Are there discounts on Easter 2028 cruises?

A good number of Easter 2028 sailings carry reduced fares. Discounts are measured against the price previously listed for that cabin grade on that specific sailing — not against a brochure rate or an inflated reference figure. On the sailings where a reduction applies, the typical saving is around 9%, though one departure carries a reduction of up to 26%. If a specific sailing catches your eye, call our team and we can tell you whether a reduced fare is available on it.

What does an Easter 2028 cruise cost?

Prices start from A$521 pp* for the shortest sailings, with longer itineraries — particularly transpacific crossings and the round-the-world voyage — priced considerably higher. The price you see is per person based on 2 guests sharing; solo travellers should ask about single fares, which some lines offer as a dedicated fare tier rather than a supplement.

What the fare includes varies significantly by cruise line and by the fare tier you choose. Princess Plus adds drinks, Wi-Fi and dining meals to the base fare. Cunard’s Saver Fare gives the lowest price in exchange for a pre-allocated room and no flexibility on changes. Royal Caribbean fare types range from a straightforward cruise fare to promotional fares and solo rates. It is worth comparing what is bundled rather than looking at the headline price alone — our team can do that comparison for you across different lines and ships. For those watching the budget closely, cruises under A$999 pp* and cheap cruise deals from Sydney are also worth browsing.

Is Easter 2028 a good time to cruise as a family?

Easter school holidays make this one of the most popular family cruising windows of the year, and several ships on this programme are set up specifically for it. Carnival Encounter in Brisbane runs Camp Ocean for children aged 2–11, with Circle C and Club O2 keeping teenagers in a separate programme — giving parents genuine time to themselves. Carnival Splendor in Sydney has the WaterWorks waterpark and Green Lightning waterslide alongside the adults-only Serenity Retreat. Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas both carry a wide range of family activities, with the North Star capsule and the RipCord by iFLY simulator being genuine draws for older children and teenagers.

If you are travelling as a family, cabin grade matters more than it does for a couple — many cabins on these ships sleep up to 4 guests, and some suites sleep 5. Our team can help you work out which grade gives you the space you need at the right price point.

Which ports do Easter 2028 cruises sail from?

Most Easter 2028 sailings depart from Australian ports. Sydney has the highest number of departures, making it the most convenient base for New South Wales and ACT travellers. Brisbane is the second busiest departure point, with Carnival Encounter homeported there throughout the season. A smaller number of sailings depart from Auckland — useful for New Zealand-based travellers or those pairing the cruise with a trip across the Tasman.

Disembarkation ports for one-way sailings include Los Angeles, Vancouver and Honolulu. If your sailing ends in one of these cities, we can arrange the return flight to Australia as part of a Cruise1st Package, together with any hotel nights you want at either end.

Make it a complete Easter holiday

A cruise is rarely just a cruise — particularly over a school holiday period when many travellers are combining it with time in a port city, a pre-cruise night, or a flight from another state. Cruise1st can bundle your cruise with flights, hotels, tours, transfers and insurance, so everything sits on one booking and nothing falls through the gap between two separate reservations.

For sailings that end in Los Angeles, Vancouver or Honolulu, that means we book the return flight home, any hotel you need on arrival and the transfer to the airport. For Sydney or Brisbane departures where you are flying in from another state, it means we pick up the domestic leg too. Our Australian cruise experts are available seven days a week — call us before you book and we can put together whatever combination works for your Easter.

Other dates to consider

If Easter 2028 doesn’t quite work for your dates, there are strong alternatives either side of the window. Easter 2027 cruises from Sydney is the closest like-for-like comparison, and worth checking for anyone with some flexibility on the year. For the start of 2028, New Year 2028 cruises cover the summer holiday period. If you are based in or near Melbourne, 2028 cruises from Melbourne lists departures throughout the year. Perth-based travellers can browse 2028 cruises from Perth for western Australian departures. Tasmania is covered on the 2028 cruises around Tasmania page. For last-minute availability across the whole programme, last-minute cruise deals are updated regularly.

The broader cruises hub carries the full range of sailings if you want to search across all dates, regions and lines without a fixed window.

*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.