Fly & cruise packages

What is a fly & cruise holiday?

A fly-cruise combines your international flights with an ocean cruise into one joined-up trip. You fly to the embarkation port, board the ship, and sail a region you’d take weeks to explore by land — then fly home at the end. The flight is part of the journey, not an obstacle to it. Sailings run from short breaks of 5 nights through to extended voyages of 96 nights, with a median of around 16 nights — long enough to cross a sea or two, short enough to plan around work.

Itineraries include both round-trip and one-way voyages. On a one-way sailing the ship begins in one port and ends in another, so a domestic connection links the two ends of the trip — we can book that too, as part of the same package.

Where do fly-cruise itineraries go?

The mix of sailings covers a wide spread of the world. The regions drawing the most interest cluster into two broad groups: destinations that feel close to home, and the genuinely long-haul routes that only a ship — and a flight to reach it — can unlock.

Close to home — Southeast Asia, the Pacific and beyond

Australia and the nearby Pacific are well served. Polynesia is a strong draw, with sailings threading through island groups that are genuinely hard to reach any other way. Singapore is one of the most popular embarkation points in the region — easy to fly to from any Australian city — and Southeast Asia itineraries spread out from there into some of the most varied cruising on offer.

Closer to home, Sydney features as both a departure and an arrival port, so depending on where you live it can mean no long-haul flight at all — or just a short domestic hop. Sailings also arrive into Auckland, which connects neatly to a post-cruise stay in New Zealand. The Australia and New Zealand combination is a natural pairing for a longer voyage.

Long haul — Asia, Europe and the transpacific

Japan is a standout destination, with itineraries sailing into Tokyo and Yokohama among others. The appeal is real: a ship can call at ports along the Japanese coast in a way no land itinerary matches for ease. East Asia and transpacific crossings round out the Asia-Pacific offer — the transpacific routes in particular suit travellers who want to combine time on the US west coast with a serious sea voyage.

Europe is well represented too. British Isles sailings are among the most popular longer itineraries, with embarkation from Southampton giving access to a full season of northern European and Atlantic coastline cruising. Mediterranean sailings depart from ports including Barcelona and Rome — we can add pre-cruise nights in either city to make the most of the flight. All-inclusive Mediterranean cruises in 2027 are a popular way to keep costs predictable across a longer European trip.

For those drawn to North America, Vancouver to Alaska sailings offer some of the most dramatic coastal scenery on the Pacific rim. Seattle and Honolulu also feature as embarkation and disembarkation points, and work well as city stopovers on either side of the cruise.

Which cruise lines offer fly-cruise packages?

The range of lines is wide, from premium and luxury to family-oriented ocean cruising. The lines with the strongest presence across these itineraries include Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, Viking Cruises and Celebrity Cruises. Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and others are also available. Each line has its own style, fare structure and onboard experience — our team can walk you through the differences before you commit.

What ships are sailing these routes?

Several ships stand out across these itineraries, and it is worth knowing what each one actually offers before you choose.

Sun Princess — Princess Cruises

New in 2024, Sun Princess is the largest ship Princess has ever built and the first in the fleet able to run on LNG as well as conventional fuel. The Dome is the headline feature: a multi-level glass-enclosed deck that works as a daytime pool area and transforms into a South Beach-style evening venue after dark. The Princess Arena delivers full-scale theatrical productions in a purpose-built performance space. If you’re considering a cabin, the Sun Princess cabin and deck plans show the full range.

Diamond Princess — Princess Cruises

Diamond Princess has a strong following on Japan itineraries, and not by accident. The Izumi Japanese Bath — described as the largest onsen at sea — offers steam rooms, saunas and hot tubs inspired by traditional bathing culture. Specialty dining runs from Chef Makoto Okuwa’s Makoto Ocean restaurant to Italian and Brazilian options. Skywalkers Nightclub sits 15 decks up with a full-panorama view and a dance floor that genuinely earns the altitude. See the Diamond Princess cabin and deck plans for the full layout.

Nieuw Statendam — Holland America Line

Designed by Adam D. Tihany and Bjørn Storbraaten, Nieuw Statendam is a Pinnacle-class ship built around atmosphere. A dramatic two-storey Wine Tower anchors the main dining room. The Tamarind pan-Asian restaurant — with its integrated seven-seat sushi bar — has been a Holland America signature since 2008. Music Walk brings together three dedicated live music clubs: Lincoln Center Stage, B.B. King’s Blues Club and Billboard Onboard. Cabin options on Nieuw Statendam range from a 13 m² inside cabin to the 120 m² Pinnacle Suite with hot tub — see the Nieuw Statendam cabin and deck plans for details.

Rotterdam — Holland America Line

The newest Pinnacle-class ship in the Holland America fleet carries 150 years of heritage behind her name — five legendary Rotterdam ships sailed before her. The Music Walk entertainment hub packs three iconic live music venues onto one ship: Billboard Piano Bar, Rolling Stone Rock Room and BB King Blues Club. Tamarind brings authentic Southeast Asian cuisine aboard, making her a natural fit for Asian itineraries. Browse the Rotterdam cabin and deck plans to compare grades.

Sapphire Princess — Princess Cruises

Refurbished in 2025, Sapphire Princess homeports in Fremantle for the 2027–28 season — which means travellers based in Western Australia can board without any flight at all, while those connecting from the east coast face a short domestic hop rather than a long-haul journey. MedallionClass technology means food, drinks and services can be ordered anywhere on the ship via a wearable Medallion, no app required. Post-refit specialty dining includes Crown Grill and Makoto Ocean Sushi by Chef Makoto Okuwa. Check Sapphire Princess cabin and deck plans before you book.