Melbourne Cup cruise from Sydney

What is a Melbourne Cup cruise from Sydney?

A Melbourne Cup cruise combines two of Australia’s great pleasures: a voyage along the coast and the excitement of racing’s most famous day. Sailings depart from Sydney — either the main terminal or White Bay — and call at Melbourne, giving you race week on the ground before the ship continues on its way. Itineraries run from 6 nights up to 36, with a median around 14, so whether you want a quick coastal hop or a longer voyage that takes in Australia and New Zealand, there is something here that fits.

Which cruise lines sail to Melbourne for the Cup?

Princess Cruises leads the field with the most departures, followed by Carnival Cruise Lines and Holland America Line. Cruise1st Packages — cruise plus flights, hotels and transfers — are also available. Between these lines you get a real choice of style: Princess for the MedallionClass® tech and specialty dining, Carnival for the on-deck fun and family programmes, and Holland America for a more refined, mid-sized ship experience.

How do I get to Sydney for the cruise?

If you live in Sydney or nearby, you can be on board with no flight at all — just a car or taxi to the terminal. If you’re travelling from another Australian state, it’s a short domestic hop rather than a long-haul journey, and we can arrange that flight, a hotel the night before, and your transfer to the wharf as a single booking. On one-way itineraries that finish in Auckland or Perth (Fremantle), a domestic flight connects you back home — and we can book that return leg at the same time.

Where do these voyages go?

Most sailings focus on Australia, sailing the east coast and calling at Melbourne for race week. A strong second group extends the voyage into Australia and New Zealand, with some itineraries finishing in Auckland rather than returning to Sydney. One departure ends in Perth (Fremantle), making it a genuine coast-to-coast crossing. Roughly half the sailings are round-trip back to Sydney; the other half are one-way, so it’s worth checking the disembarkation port before you book.

Which ships are sailing?

Several well-known ships cover these departures, each with a distinct character.

Grand Princess

Grand Princess brings the Crown Grill steakhouse — rated by USA Today as the best cruise steakhouse — and Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria for specialty dining. MedallionClass OceanNow® lets you order food, drinks and services to wherever you are on the ship via the Princess app. Cabin choices on Grand Princess range from a compact inside to a 67.8 m² Grand Suite with a private hot tub:

• Inside cabin IA — 14.9 m², sleeps 4, centrally located on middle decks for easy ship access
• Premium sea view O3 — 19.1 m², sleeps 4, floor-to-ceiling panoramic window with unobstructed sea views
• Premium Balcony cabin B2 — 25.5 m², sleeps 4, floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors and an open-plan feel
• Grand Suite S1 — 67.8 m², sleeps 4, private hot tub, the largest cabin on the ship

Browse the full Grand Princess cabins and deck plans to find your ideal grade.

Royal Princess

Royal Princess is best known for its SeaWalk — an 18-metre glass-bottomed walkway suspended 40 metres above the ocean — which is one of the most dramatic features on any ship at sea. OceanNow on-demand delivery and Crown Grill specialty dining are both on board. Cabin grades run from:

• Inside cabin IA — 15.4 m², sleeps 4, minibar, safe and desk included
• Sea-view cabin O6 — 20 m², sleeps 4, large panoramic window with forward-facing open-ocean views
• Deluxe Balcony cabin DA — 23.4 m², sleeps 4, private balcony for breakfast or sundowners
• Penthouse Suite S3 — 54.5 m², sleeps 4, aft balcony with significantly more living space than any balcony cabin

See the Royal Princess cabins and deck plans for a full breakdown.

Carnival Splendor

Carnival Splendor is Sydney-homeported and built for fun. The Green Lightning waterslide and WaterWorks™ waterpark keep all ages busy, while the retractable-roof midship pool means you’re swimming regardless of the weather. Guy’s Burger Joint, Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse and Masala Tiger cover the dining spectrum, and Cloud 9 Spa™ has Thalassotherapy pools and thermal suites for a quieter afternoon. Check the Carnival Splendor cabins and deck plans before you book.

Carnival Adventure

Carnival Adventure raises the adventure bar with its EDGE Adventure Park: zip-lining, rock climbing, abseiling and a flying fox, all above the deck. Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Bonsai Sushi and Blanc de Blanc Uncorked cabaret make evenings interesting, while Camp Ocean (ages 2–11), Circle C and Club O2 look after younger guests so adults can head to the Serenity Retreat. View the Carnival Adventure cabins and deck plans for grade-by-grade detail.

Westerdam

Holland America’s Westerdam carries 1,916 guests — mid-sized by today’s standards — and the quieter Azipod propulsion makes for a noticeably smooth passage. Morimoto by Sea brings Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s Japanese menu on board alongside Tamarind pan-Asian fine dining. Evenings fill up with the World Stage, Rolling Stone Rock Room, Billboard Onboard sing-alongs and live sets from The Dam Band. Cabin options include:

• Inside cabin I — 13 m², sleeps 4, complimentary 24-hour room service included
• Ocean-view cabin C — 16.2 m², sleeps 4, middle-deck position with stable ship motion
• Balcony cabin VA — 21 m², sleeps 4, private balcony with sea views
• Signature Suite SS — 36 m², sleeps 3, hot tub bath and separate shower
• Pinnacle Suite PS — 120 m², sleeps 4, private hot tub and the most space on the ship

See the full Westerdam cabins and deck plans to compare grades.

Sapphire Princess

Sapphire Princess was refurbished in 2025 and homeports Fremantle for the 2027–28 season. MedallionClass with OceanNow delivery means food, drinks and services come to you via a wearable Medallion — no app required. The refit added Crown Grill steakhouse and Makoto Ocean Sushi by Chef Makoto Okuwa as new specialty venues. See the Sapphire Princess cabins and deck plans for full cabin detail.

What do Princess Cruises fares include?

Princess Cruises offers 2 main fare tiers on these sailings. The Princess Standard fare covers the cruise itself; drinks, Wi-Fi and dining extras are added on. The Princess Plus package is the popular step up — it includes 4 casual dining meals per voyage, beverages up to A$15 each (up to 15 per day), MedallionNet® Max Wi-Fi, pre-paid crew appreciation, unlimited digital photographs with 3 prints, and reserved theatre seating. It’s worth comparing both tiers before you book, because the Plus package often works out more cost-effective once you add up what you would spend on board anyway. Our Australian cruise experts can walk you through which tier suits your travel style.

Are there any fare discounts available?

Some sailings carry a reduction from their previously listed cabin-grade price. At the top end, 1 departure is reduced by up to 22%; most discounted sailings sit closer to 9% off. Fare types such as early-saver and last-minute offers appear from time to time, so it’s worth checking back if you’re flexible on timing. Our Best Price Guarantee means that if you find the same sailing cheaper elsewhere, we’ll match it.

Make it a full holiday

Cruise1st is a cruise specialist — every offer here is a cruise or a cruise-inclusive package. Our team can build a full holiday around your sailing: domestic or international flights, a hotel in Sydney the night before, transfers to the wharf, tours ashore and travel insurance, all on one booking. If your itinerary ends in Auckland or Fremantle, we sort the return flight home at the same time. Call our Australian cruise experts seven days a week, or browse cruise deals from Sydney to see what else is sailing.

If you are planning further ahead, all-inclusive cruises from Sydney are worth a look, as are South Pacific cruises from Sydney in 2027 and the broader Princess 2027–2028 season. Prefer a shorter break around the same time of year? The Easter 2027 cruises from Sydney page and our short cruises from Melbourne listings cover that ground. For longer voyages, see our 14-day cruises from Sydney options.

You can also browse the full range of Sydney to Melbourne cruises year-round, or see all Carnival cruises to Australia for a wider choice.

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.