Melbourne to Adelaide cruises

A coastal hop between two iconic cities

Sailing from Melbourne to Adelaide along Australia’s southern coastline puts the Great Australian Bight on your horizon and the open Southern Ocean off the rail. It is a genuinely different way to travel the route — no airport queues, no baggage carousels, and a ship’s deck to stand on as you watch the coastline ease past. All sailings on this route depart from Melbourne; some call at Adelaide and end their voyage there, while others continue onward to Sydney or as far as Singapore, so the itinerary you choose shapes how long the journey takes. If Melbourne is home, you join the ship on your doorstep. If you are flying in from another state, it is a short domestic hop to the embarkation port — and because these are one-way sailings, a connecting flight from Adelaide (or wherever the voyage ends) is a natural finish to the trip. Our team can arrange that flight, plus hotels on either side, as part of a Cruise1st Package.

Why it is worth taking the long way by sea

The drive between Melbourne and Adelaide takes roughly nine hours. The train takes longer. The flight is an hour but misses everything in between. A cruise takes the scenic route at sea, and depending on the sailing you choose, that can mean anywhere from 2 nights to 25 nights aboard — the median voyage on this route runs to 21 nights, which points to itineraries that do far more than shuttle between the two cities. Many of these sailings are longer coastal or round-Australia voyages that happen to call at Adelaide along the way, so you get the full benefit of extended time at sea without a flight in the middle. If a longer voyage appeals, our cruise around Australia page covers the broader options sailing the full circuit.

Which cruise lines sail from Melbourne to Adelaide?

The route is served by 4 cruise lines, ranging from mainstream to ultra-luxury. Princess Cruises has the most sailings here, with 2 departures aboard the Grand Princess. Carnival Cruise Line sails one departure aboard Carnival Adventure. At the luxury end, Regent Seven Seas Cruises sails aboard the Seven Seas Splendor, and Silversea contributes one sailing aboard Silver Moon.

Grand Princess — Princess Cruises

The Grand Princess carries 2 sailings on this route. Specialty dining is anchored by Crown Grill — recognised by USA Today as one of the best cruise steakhouses afloat — and Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria. The MedallionClass® OceanNow® system lets you order food, drinks and services to wherever you are on the ship via the Princess app, which is a genuine convenience on a longer voyage. Movies Under the Stars® brings a giant poolside screen with free popcorn and blankets on select voyages.

Princess offers 2 main fare tiers on these sailings. Princess Standard is the base cruise fare covering the sailing itself, with packages available to add. Princess Plus bundles 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 photos plus 3 prints, and reserved theatre seating — solid value if you plan to use the bar and the Wi-Fi regularly.

Cabin grades on Grand Princess — from inside to suite — run as follows:

• Inside cabin IA (14.9 m², sleeps 4) — positioned on middle decks for minimal ship motion and central access to lifts and facilities. See the full layout on the Grand Princess cabins and deck plans.
• Premium sea view O3 (19.1 m², sleeps 4) — floor-to-ceiling panoramic window with an unobstructed sea view and natural light direct into the cabin.
• Premium Balcony cabin B2 (25.5 m², sleeps 4) — floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors that give an open-plan feel and more natural light than a standard balcony.
• Grand Suite S1 with private hot tub (67.8 m², sleeps 4) — the largest suite on board, with considerably more space than any other suite category and a private hot tub on the balcony.

Carnival Adventure — Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Adventure brings a lively, activity-heavy experience to the route. The EDGE Adventure Park delivers zip-lining, rock climbing, abseiling and a flying fox — all above the open deck. Families are well catered for: Camp Ocean runs for ages 2–11, Circle C and Club O2 cover teenagers, while adults have the Serenity Retreat and Cloud 9 Spa to themselves. Dining ranges from Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse to Bonsai Sushi, with Blanc de Blanc Uncorked cabaret adding an evening entertainment option.

Cabin options on Carnival Adventure:

• Inside cabin 4A (15 m², sleeps 4) — walk-in wardrobe and generous storage, well suited to longer voyages. Full details on the Carnival Adventure cabins and deck plans.
• Ocean-view cabin with porthole PT (15 m², sleeps 4) — 2 round portholes on the quieter lower decks, with natural light and a characterful view.
• Balcony cabin 8A (16 m², sleeps 4) — private balcony with glass folding door giving direct access to your own outdoor space.
• Byron Beach Club Presidential Suite SB (58 m², sleeps 4) — flagship suite with an expansive balcony, dressing area and deluxe bathroom; more than twice the footprint of a standard balcony cabin.

Seven Seas Splendor — Regent Seven Seas Cruises

The Seven Seas Splendor sails as one of the most spacious ships afloat in the luxury segment. The standout option for those wanting maximum space is the Regent Suite RS — at approximately 352.7 m² of living space and a 120 m² private balcony, it offers almost 100 m² more than the next suite category down. See the full range of suite options on the Seven Seas Splendor cabins and deck plans.

Silver Moon — Silversea

Silver Moon is Silversea’s newest ship in its fleet, and every cabin comes with a personal butler as standard. The all-inclusive fare covers butler-serviced suites, exceptional dining, unlimited wines and spirits, onboard gratuities and Wi-Fi. Silversea also offers an enhanced All-Inclusive Plus fare, which adds a fully refundable deposit and a Shore Excursion Credit based on voyage length and region. Cabin grades and suite layouts are detailed on the Silver Moon cabins and deck plans page.

Are there any discounted sailings on this route?

Prices on these sailings start from A$387 pp*, with 1 sailing carrying a reduction of up to 13% from the price previously listed for that cabin grade — so it is worth checking individual departure dates as you browse. Our Best Price Guarantee means that if you find the same sailing cheaper elsewhere, we will match it.

Make it a holiday

Because this is a one-way voyage, there is always a journey at one end that needs sorting. If you are local to Melbourne, you walk or drive to the terminal. If you are flying in from another state, a short domestic hop gets you there — and our team can book that flight alongside your cruise. When the voyage ends, whether in Adelaide, Sydney or Singapore, we can arrange the onward flight home, any hotels on either side and transfers between airports and ports, all on one booking. That is what a Cruise1st Package covers. Our Australian cruise experts are on hand seven days a week to help you put it together.

Not sure which voyage length suits you? The 3-day cruises from Melbourne page covers shorter coastal options, while the cruise around Australia page covers the longer circuit. If your destination is flexible, Melbourne to New Zealand and Melbourne to Perth are two further routes to consider. You can also browse the full range of cruises from Melbourne or explore cruise deals across all routes and lines.

For voyages continuing to or from Adelaide, the Princess Cruises 2027–2028 season launch page shows what is new for that programme. And if you are drawn to the ultra-luxury end of the market, the full range of Silversea sailings around Australia is worth a look alongside what is.

Browse all cruises to compare routes, or start with the Melbourne to Adelaide sailings above and call our team to talk through the options.

*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.