New Zealand cruises 2027

Why New Zealand in 2027 is worth booking now

New Zealand sailings in 2027 run across a wide spread of itinerary lengths — from short four-night tasters to extended voyages of up to 79 nights, with a median of around 14 nights. The majority of sailings depart from Sydney, with additional departures from Brisbane and Melbourne — so if you’re near one of those cities you can board without a long-haul flight, and if you’re travelling from another state, it’s a short domestic hop to get to your ship. Prices start from A$607 pp*.

Where do New Zealand cruises go in 2027?

The Australia and New Zealand region accounts for the largest share of sailings, pairing both countries into itineraries that make the most of the Tasman Sea crossing. Close behind is a group of sailings focused on New Zealand itself, circling the North and South Islands and calling at a string of ports along the way. A smaller but popular group ventures further into Polynesia, while a handful of Transpacific sailings use New Zealand as either the starting or finishing point of a much longer Pacific crossing.

Close to home — New Zealand, the Pacific and Australia

For most Australian travellers, a New Zealand sailing is the kind of trip you can reach with a single domestic flight — or no flight at all if you’re in Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne. These itineraries concentrate on the coastlines and island groups that make this corner of the world distinctive: fiords in the south, harbours in the north, and island stops in between. The Australia and New Zealand combination routes give you the best of both countries in a single voyage, while the dedicated New Zealand routes are ideal if you want to go deeper and spend more time at sea around the islands.

The long haul — Transpacific sailings

A number of sailings use New Zealand as one end of a Transpacific crossing, finishing in ports such as Honolulu, Los Angeles or Vancouver. These are one-way voyages — the ship sets off from one side of the Pacific and ends on the other — so if you join at the New Zealand end, a domestic or international flight connects your home city to the embarkation port, and we can book that alongside your cruise. Many travellers turn it into a two-destination trip by adding a few nights in the arrival city before flying home.

Which cruise lines sail to New Zealand in 2027?

Princess Cruises leads the New Zealand programme with the largest number of departures. Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean both offer solid programmes, followed by Norwegian Cruise Line and Azamara Cruises. Cruise1st Package sailings bundle in flights, hotels and transfers from the outset for those who want everything arranged in one go. The mix gives you a genuine choice of style — from large resort-style ships to smaller, port-focused vessels that overnight in harbours rather than rushing through.

Which ships are sailing to New Zealand in 2027?

Royal Princess — Princess Cruises

Royal Princess has the largest number of New Zealand departures. One of its signature features is the SeaWalk — an 18-metre glass-bottomed walkway that sits 40 metres above the ocean, giving you an open-air view straight down to the sea below. On board, MedallionClass® OceanNow® lets you order food and drinks to wherever you happen to be on the ship using the Princess app. Specialty dining is anchored by Crown Grill and Sabatini’s, and the 24-hour International Café means there’s always something available regardless of the hour. See Royal Princess cabins and deck plans to find the grade that suits you.

Grand Princess — Princess Cruises

Grand Princess is a popular choice for sailings departing from Sydney and Brisbane. Crown Grill has been recognised by USA Today as the best cruise steakhouse at sea, and Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria rounds out the specialty dining. The Movies Under the Stars® poolside screen — with free popcorn and blankets included — is a particular draw on overnight voyages. MedallionClass OceanNow delivers the same app-based ordering experience as Royal Princess. Check Grand Princess cabins and deck plans before you book.

Celebrity Edge — Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Edge brings something genuinely different to the New Zealand season. The Magic Carpet — the world’s first cantilevered floating platform — travels up and down the hull across 16 storeys, functioning as a bar, a restaurant or a dive platform depending on where it stops. Infinite Veranda staterooms remove the fixed partition between cabin and balcony, so the whole outer wall opens up. The Eden venue across 3 levels stages live performances in a format unlike a conventional ship theatre. Browse Celebrity Edge cabins and deck plans to compare the Infinite Veranda grades against the suite options.

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. For something more active, the RipCord by iFLY skydiving simulator and SeaPlex bumper cars set it apart from most ships in this region. The Two70° venue delivers 4K immersive performances alongside Bionic Bar robotic cocktails. See Anthem of the Seas cabins and deck plans for the full stateroom breakdown.

Norwegian Spirit — Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Spirit underwent a comprehensive refurbishment in 2020 that added Onda by Scarpetta modern Italian dining alongside the long-standing Cagney’s Steakhouse. The Spice H2O adults-only open-air beach club is NCL’s signature outdoor entertainment deck, with an Ibiza-style atmosphere for evenings at sea. The Stardust Theatre stages original productions nightly. Review Norwegian Spirit cabins and deck plans when you’re ready to choose your stateroom.

Azamara Pursuit — Azamara Cruises

Azamara Pursuit carries just 777 guests, which means longer stays in port as standard — including overnights so you actually have time to explore. AzAmazing Evenings are exclusive cultural events ashore included in your fare, not an add-on. Prime C and Aqualina specialty restaurants are also included. For Princess Cruises Australia 2027 sailings on a different ship, or if you want to compare Azamara against the wider fleet, our team can walk you through the options. See Azamara Pursuit cabins and deck plans for stateroom details.

What cabin grades are available on New Zealand cruises?

Cabin choice shapes the whole holiday. Here is a summary of grades across the 2 main Princess ships — useful for comparing what you get at each level before you call.

Royal Princess cabin grades

• Inside cabin IA (15.4 m²) — the most affordable entry point, with minibar, safe and desk included, and a central position on board.
• Sea-view cabin O6 (20.0 m²) — a large panoramic window with a forward-facing view gives you natural daylight and an open sightline to the ocean that inside cabins can’t offer.
• Deluxe Balcony cabin DA (23.4 m²) — a private balcony for breakfast or sundowners, which inside and sea-view grades don’t have.
• Penthouse Suite S3 with aft balcony (54.5 m²) — the largest cabin on board, with significantly more living space than mini-suites and standard sea-view cabins.

Grand Princess cabin grades

• Inside cabin IA (14.9 m²) — sits on middle decks with minimal ship motion and central access to lifts and facilities.
• Premium sea view O3 (19.1 m²) — floor-to-ceiling panoramic window with unobstructed sea views and natural light directly into the cabin.
• Premium Balcony cabin B2 (25.5 m²) — floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors create an open-plan feel with more natural light than standard balcony grades.
• Grand Suite S1 with private hot tub (67.8 m²) — the largest suite on board, considerably more spacious than any other suite category.

What do New Zealand cruise fares include?

What’s covered varies by cruise line and the fare tier you choose, so it’s worth understanding the difference before you book.

Princess Cruises fare tiers

Princess offers 2 main tiers on these sailings. The Standard fare covers the cruise itself — beverages, Wi-Fi and crew appreciation are added on separately. The Plus fare bundles in 4 casual dining meals per voyage, beverages up to A$15 pp* each (up to 15 drinks per day), MedallionNet® Max Wi-Fi, pre-paid crew appreciation, unlimited digital photographs with 3 prints, and reserved theatre seating. The Princess 2027–2028 season launch has more on what’s included across the full programme.

Celebrity Cruises fare tiers

Celebrity’s cruise-only rate is the entry point — lowest fare, add extras as you like. The value tier brings classic drinks and basic Wi-Fi into one price. The Retreat tier is their premium suite experience: premium drinks and Wi-Fi, exclusive lounge and sundeck access, private dining and dedicated personal service. Celebrity Edge 2027–2028 sailings from Sydney gives a focused look at what’s available on that ship specifically.

Royal Caribbean fare types

Royal Caribbean offers fare types such as last-minute offers and early-booking bonuses, as well as solo fares for guests travelling alone. The right combination depends on when you book and how flexible your dates are — our team can compare options for your preferred sailing.

Are there discounts on New Zealand cruises in 2027?

A good number of sailings carry reduced pricing against the previously listed fare for that cabin grade. Savings on discounted departures are mostly in the single digits — around 8% is typical — though one sailing reaches up to 43% off. If a discounted sailing suits your dates, booking early gives you the best chance of securing that cabin grade before availability tightens. Our cruise deals page is updated regularly as new offers come through.

One-way or round-trip — which itinerary shape suits you?

Just over half the New Zealand sailings in 2027 are one-way voyages — the ship starts in one port and finishes in another. That’s worth knowing before you book, because it means arranging transport at both ends rather than returning to where you started. If your sailing disembarks in Honolulu, Los Angeles or Vancouver, a flight home is part of the plan. We can book that flight, along with any hotels you need either side, as part of a single holiday package — nothing left to sort separately. The remaining sailings are round-trips, returning to the same Australian port where they began.

How to book a New Zealand cruise for 2027

Cruise1st’s Australian cruise experts are available seven days a week to help you choose between itinerary shapes, cabin grades and fare tiers. If you want flights, pre- or post-cruise hotels, transfers or travel insurance added in, we can put the whole thing on one booking. Cruise1st Packages are built for exactly that. All bookings come with our Best Price Guarantee.

If you’re departing from Brisbane, a dedicated page covers Brisbane to New Zealand cruises in 2027 in more detail. From Melbourne, see Melbourne to New Zealand cruises 2027. From Sydney, Sydney to New Zealand cruises 2027 covers that programme specifically. All are part of the broader cruises from Australia in 2027 range.

You can also browse all cruises on our site, or explore our wider Australian cruise range if New Zealand is one of several destinations you’re considering. Looking at 2027 more broadly? Our 2027 cruises page covers the full global programme.

If the dates below don’t quite work, cruises from Brisbane in 2027 and Australia cruises in April 2027 may offer alternatives worth considering alongside the New Zealand programme.

*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.