New year cruises 2028

Where do new year 2028 cruises go from Australia?

New year 2028 sailings from Australia concentrate on the waters closest to home. The largest share of departures explore the Australian coast itself — think multi-day voyages that weave between ports without a flight in sight. The South Pacific is the second most popular direction, drawing passengers who want tropical islands as the backdrop for the countdown. New Zealand sailings round out the mix, with some itineraries combining Australia and New Zealand in a single voyage. All of these are ocean cruises; every sailing is a sea cruise, with no river itineraries in the mix.

Sailings range from short 3-night escapes to extended 40-night voyages, with the median sitting at 10 nights — long enough to feel like a proper holiday, short enough to take over the Christmas and new year break. Prices start from A$662 pp* for the new year period, and a number of sailings carry discounts of up to 18% off that cabin grade’s previously listed price — though most reduced fares are closer to 7% off, so the headline figure reflects one outlier rather than a page-wide sale.

What are the main departure ports for new year 2028?

The great majority of new year 2028 sailings leave from Sydney, which handles the lion’s share of Australian ocean departures. If you live in Sydney or can reach it easily, you can be aboard without any flight at all. Brisbane is the second busiest departure port for this period, with a strong selection of Carnival and Royal Caribbean sailings. Perth (Fremantle) also features as an embarkation port, making it the most convenient option for West Australian passengers — a short drive to the terminal and you’re done. For those sailing one-way, several itineraries end in Auckland or Singapore, with a domestic flight connecting you home at the other end — something our team can arrange alongside the cruise itself.

If you’re not local to any of these ports, the domestic hop is still far simpler than a long-haul flight, and Cruise1st can book the connecting flight, a pre-cruise hotel and transfers so nothing falls through the cracks.

Which cruise lines have sailings over new year 2028?

Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line and Cruise1st Packages all have sailings over the new year period, but Carnival is the most active line across this window, with the most departures of any carrier. Here is a quick guide to who is sailing and from where.

Carnival Cruise Line — Sydney and Brisbane

Carnival Splendor is Sydney-homeported and well set up for Australian families and groups. The Green Lightning waterslide and WaterWorks™ waterpark keep the deck lively, the retractable-roof midship pool works whatever the weather, and dining runs from Guy’s Burger Joint to Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse to Masala Tiger. The Cloud 9 Spa™ adds Thalassotherapy pools and a thermal suite for those who want to dial down the pace. Browse Carnival Splendor’s cabins and deck plans to pick your grade before you call.

Carnival Encounter sails out of Brisbane and is built for families. The EDGE Adventure Park packs zip-lining, rock climbing, a flying fox and cargo-net racing into one outdoor complex. Camp Ocean looks after children aged 2–11 while Circle C and Club O2 run programmes for teens. On the food and entertainment side, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Bonsai Sushi Express and the Blanc de Blanc Uncorked cabaret headline a varied lineup. Check Carnival Encounter’s cabins and deck plans if you’re travelling with a group and need to sort out room grades.

Carnival Luminosa also sails over this period — see the full sailing list for itinerary details.

Royal Caribbean — Brisbane and Sydney

Voyager of the Seas is based in Brisbane and carries one feature you won’t find on most ships: Studio B, a full ice-skating rink with professional shows running nightly. Beyond that, the FlowRider surf simulator, Perfect Storm waterslides and a rock climbing wall make for an action-heavy ship. Voyager passengers sailing the South Pacific also get access to the Royal Beach Club Lelepa — the South Pacific’s first private cruise beach destination. See Voyager of the Seas cabin and deck plans for grade options.

Anthem of the Seas brings a different kind of ambition. The North Star observation capsule holds the Guinness World Record for tallest viewing deck at sea — 300 feet above the waterline. The RipCord by iFLY skydiving simulator and SeaPlex bumper cars add to the tech-heavy feel, and the Two70° venue delivers 4K immersive performances and a Bionic Bar where robotic arms mix the cocktails. Anthem of the Seas cabin and deck plans are worth a look if you want to weigh up the higher decks.

Ovation of the Seas is also part of the Royal Caribbean new year lineup — see individual sailing pages for its itinerary detail.

Norwegian Cruise Line — Australian waters

Norwegian Spirit carries 3 sailings over the new year window. The ship’s 2020 refurbishment brought Onda by Scarpetta modern Italian dining on board alongside the long-standing Cagney’s Steakhouse. The Spice H2O adults-only open-air deck gives the ship an Ibiza-style outdoor entertainment area unlike anything on the Carnival or Royal Caribbean ships. The Stardust Theatre stages original productions nightly. If you’re choosing between cabin grades, Norwegian Spirit’s cabin and deck plans set out all the options clearly.

Holland America Line — South Pacific and beyond

Westerdam offers a quieter, more considered pace. At 1,916 guests it is noticeably smaller than the Carnival or Royal Caribbean ships, and its Azipod propulsion keeps things genuinely peaceful at sea. Morimoto by Sea brings Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s Japanese cuisine on board; Tamarind provides pan-Asian fine dining alongside it. Evenings cycle through World Stage performances, Rolling Stone Rock Room sets, Billboard Onboard sing-alongs and live sets from The Dam Band. See Westerdam cabin and deck plans before booking.

Princess Cruises — including Fremantle departures

Princess Cruises brings 3 sailings to the new year 2028 window, including departures from Perth (Fremantle) — the only major carrier doing so over this period. The Princess Cruises from Fremantle 2028 page covers those itineraries in detail. The Princess 2027–2028 season launch is also worth browsing if you want to plan further ahead.

What fare types are available for new year 2028 cruises?

Fare options vary by line, and the difference between tiers can be meaningful. Here is a summary of what each major line offers for sailings.

Royal Caribbean fare tiers

Royal Caribbean offers a standard Cruise Fare as the base option. Fare types such as Last-Minute offers and promotional guest fares are also available on select sailings — our team can tell you which apply to a specific departure. Solo travellers can book a Single/Solo Fare covering single occupancy of the stateroom.

Norwegian Cruise Line fare tiers

Norwegian’s base tier (brochure) is a straightforward cruise-only fare. The NCLATSEA tier adds a Premium Beverage Package, a Speciality Dining Package, a Wi-Fi package and shore excursion credits of US$50 per port for guests 1 and 2. The NCLATSEAPLUS tier extends those inclusions across all guests on the booking. If you want drinks, dining and Wi-Fi sorted before you board, the bundle tiers are worth comparing against booking each element separately.

Princess Cruises fare tiers

Princess Standard is the base cruise fare — the cruise itself, with extras available to add. Princess Plus bundles four casual dining meals per voyage, beverages up to $15 each (up to 15 drinks per day), MedallionNet® Max Wi-Fi, pre-paid crew appreciation, unlimited digital photographs plus 3 prints, and reserved theatre seating. It is a strong package for those who want most things sorted in advance.

How do cabin grades compare across new year 2028 ships?

Each ship structures its cabins differently. Below are the grade options for the 3 ships where we hold full cabin detail.

Carnival Encounter cabin grades

• Inside cabin 4A — 15 m², sleeps 4, with a walk-in wardrobe that makes longer voyages noticeably more comfortable
• Ocean-view cabin with Porthole PT — 15 m², sleeps 4; two round portholes bring natural light at a lower price than a standard sea-view cabin
• Balcony cabin 8A — 16 m², sleeps 4; private balcony with direct sea views without using the public decks
• Byron Beach Club Presidential Suite SB — 57 m², sleeps 4; the largest suite on board, on Deck 15 with the highest deck position and the finest views

Full layout detail is on the Carnival Encounter cabins and deck plans page.

Carnival Splendor cabin grades

• Cloud 9 Spa Inside cabin 4S — 16 m², sleeps 3; includes priority spa reservations, unlimited thermal suite access and 2 complimentary fitness classes
• Large Sea-view cabin 6K — 30 m², sleeps 4; 10 m² larger than the standard ocean-view grades, which translates to noticeably more living space
• Balcony cabin 8M with large balcony — 26 m², sleeps 4; 9 m² more than the standard balcony grades, with a private outdoor area
• Captain’s Suite CS — 47 m², sleeps 5; the largest suite on board, with a separate bedroom and living area

See the Carnival Splendor cabins and deck plans for full deck-by-deck detail.

Norwegian Spirit cabin grades

• Family Inside cabin I4 — 13.8 m², sleeps 4; the flexibility of extra sleeping places for larger travel groups
• Deluxe Sea-view cabin O3 — 26.7 m², sleeps 3; the largest sea-view cabin on the ship, nearly twice the space of a standard ocean-view grade
• Balcony cabin BA — 15.9 m², sleeps 3; a private balcony with sea view that interior and ocean-view cabins cannot match
• Owner’s Suite SB with private aft balcony — 56.2 m², sleeps 2; the most spacious suite on board, with separate bedroom, distinct living and dining areas and a walk-in wardrobe

The Norwegian Spirit cabins and deck plans page shows exactly where each grade sits on the ship.

How to book smarter and get better value

Cruise1st’s Best Price Guarantee means you don’t need to shop around to know you’re paying the right amount. If you find the same sailing cheaper elsewhere, we’ll match it. Our Australian cruise experts are available seven days a week — they know these ships and these itineraries, and they can walk you through the fare tiers and cabin grades before you commit to anything.

For those who want everything sorted in one go, Cruise1st Packages combine your cruise with flights, hotels, transfers and tours as a single booking. That matters particularly on one-way itineraries — if your sailing ends in Singapore or Auckland, we handle the return flight and any pre- or post-cruise nights, so nothing is left for you to piece together separately. Our team can also add travel insurance to the booking.

On discounts: a number of sailings over the new year 2028 window carry reduced fares — up to 18% off on a single departure, with most discounted sailings sitting around 7% off that cabin grade’s previously listed price. It’s worth asking our team which specific sailings are currently reduced when you call.

Browse the full range of cruise deals or explore all cruises from Australia if you want to widen your search beyond the new year window.

Top destinations to pair with the new year countdown

Australia coastal voyages

Australian coastal cruises make up the biggest share of new year 2028 departures. These itineraries suit passengers who want the celebration without the complexity of an international trip — you board in Sydney or Brisbane, and the ship does the travelling. A cruise around Australia in 2028 is a logical step on from a shorter coastal voyage if you want to extend the holiday. Our Australia cruises page covers the full range of departures.

South Pacific islands

The South Pacific is the second most popular direction for new year 2028 sailings. Tropical islands in the lead-up to and just after the countdown are a natural draw. Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas adds something genuinely unusual here: exclusive passenger access to the Royal Beach Club Lelepa, the South Pacific’s first private cruise beach destination.

New Zealand

New Zealand cruises over the new year period give passengers a chance to ring in 2028 against dramatic coastal scenery. Some itineraries combine Australia and New Zealand in one voyage. If you’re sailing one-way and ending in Auckland, our team can book the return domestic flight back to your home city alongside the cruise itself. See also Australia and New Zealand cruises for combined itineraries.

Cruises from Brisbane in January 2028

Brisbane is the second busiest departure port for the new year 2028 window, with Carnival Encounter and Voyager of the Seas both homeported there. Cruises from Brisbane in January 2028 covers the full range of departures from that port, including sailings that run through into late summer. New year’s cruises from Brisbane narrows that further to the countdown period specifically. For anyone planning further ahead, cruises from Brisbane in March 2028 shows what follows the new year window.

New year’s cruises from Sydney

Sydney handles more new year departures than any other Australian port. New year cruises from Sydney covers the port-specific options in detail, and January cruises from Sydney extends the window into the weeks that follow. For passengers already thinking about Easter, Easter cruises from Sydney is the neighbouring occasion page.

What else is sailing in 2028?

If you’re open to sailing at other times across the year, the 2028 calendar has plenty of options. Carnival Cruises 2028 is the broadest view of what that line has on sale across the year. Cruise around Australia 2028 shows extended coastal voyages. Cruises from Singapore to Australia 2028 is worth considering if a repositioning voyage appeals — our team can book the outbound flight to Singapore alongside the cruise. 2028 cruises from Perth covers the full year’s West Australian departures, and 2028 cruises from Melbourne does the same for Victoria. For something further afield, Asia cruises 2028 and Alaska cruises 2028 are also available. The broader cruises from Australia and Australian departures pages cover the widest possible view if you’re still deciding on timing.

Browse Christmas and new year’s eve cruises if you want to extend the festive sailing from Christmas Day itself, or Christmas cruises from Brisbane if you’re based in Queensland. The full range of Australian cruises is also a good starting point if you haven’t fixed on a region yet.

*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.