South Pacific cruises 2028

Where do South Pacific cruises go in 2028?

South Pacific sailings in 2028 cover a wide spread — from island-hopping itineraries close to home right through to transpacific crossings and full round-the-world voyages. Durations run from 7 nights up to 182 nights, with a median of 26 nights, so there is something here whether you want a fortnight in the islands or a genuinely epic journey. About half the sailings are round trips and half are one-way, which is worth knowing before you book. You can browse the full range of cruises or read on for a region-by-region guide.

Close to home — the South Pacific and Polynesia

The largest concentration of 2028 sailings heads into the South Pacific — archipelagos, coral-fringed islands and the kind of blue water that makes a long voyage feel effortless. These are the itineraries that depart from Sydney and Brisbane, so if you live near either port you can board without a flight. If you’re travelling from another state, a short domestic hop is all it takes — far simpler than reaching any European or American embarkation port.

For dedicated island voyages, Polynesia sailings bring some of the most remote and rewarding island groups on earth within reach. These itineraries tend to be longer — the distances are real — and they suit travellers who want to go beyond the standard South Pacific circuit. Australia and New Zealand sailings round out this group, ideal if you want a coastal itinerary that takes in both countries without crossing an ocean. For those thinking about a voyage that stays closer to Australian shores, cruise around Australia 2028 options are also available.

One-way itineraries in this group often finish in a different Australian or New Zealand port from where they depart. If your sailing ends in Auckland, for instance, a domestic or trans-Tasman flight connects you home — and we can book that flight, along with any pre- or post-cruise hotel nights, as part of the same holiday.

The long haul — transpacific crossings and round-the-world sailings

The second-largest group of 2028 sailings are transpacific crossings — voyages that use the Pacific Ocean as the journey itself, not just a backdrop. These typically depart from Australian ports and finish on the west coast of the United States, or the reverse. Disembarkation ports include Los Angeles, so if the crossing ends there, your return leg is a long-haul flight — one we can book alongside transfers and a hotel either side, so nothing is left for you to sort separately.

Round-the-world voyages make up a significant share of the 2028 programme, with itineraries calling at ports across multiple continents. These are the longest sailings on offer — stretching well beyond 100 nights for some departures — and they include embarkation options from Southampton as well as Australian ports, giving UK-based travellers or those planning a fly-in start point an alternative to boarding at home. Cruises from Brisbane in January 2028 and cruises from Brisbane in March 2028 include departures in both the South Pacific and transpacific categories.

Which lines are sailing the South Pacific in 2028?

Princess Cruises leads the 2028 South Pacific schedule by volume, with the broadest choice of departure ports and itinerary lengths. Cunard and Royal Caribbean both have strong programmes, including round-the-world options. Regent Seven Seas Cruises brings a luxury all-inclusive angle, while Holland America Line offers a more classic, mid-sized ship experience. Cruise1st Packages let you combine any of these lines with flights, hotels and transfers as one booking.

If you’re comparing lines, the Princess 2027–2028 season is one of the broadest in the region, and Carnival cruises 2028 are worth a look if you want a livelier, more casual atmosphere at sea. For travellers interested in Sydney departures specifically, 2028 cruises from Sydney cover multiple lines and regions in one place.

What ships are sailing the South Pacific in 2028?

Queen Anne — view cabins and deck plans

Queen Anne entered service in 2024 as the newest ship in the Cunard fleet, and her 2028 South Pacific sailings are among the most talked-about departures of the year. The Bright Lights Society show bar brings state-of-the-art technology and world-class performers to the heart of the ship each evening. For those who want to unwind properly, the Mareel Wellness & Beauty Spa includes a Himalayan salt sauna, cold therapy room, hydrotherapy pool and thermal suite — a serious spa, not a token one. Dining runs across five specialty restaurants: Aji Wa for Japanese cuisine, Tramonto for Italian, and Sir Samuel’s steakhouse among them.

Cabin grades on Queen Anne include:

• Britannia Inside cabin IA — 13.7 m², sleeps 2. A personal cabin steward is available around the clock with daily turndown service.
• Britannia Deluxe Ocean-view cabin EA — 21.9 m², sleeps 2. Around 3 m² larger than standard ocean-view cabins, with a separate seating area.
• Britannia Club Balcony cabin A1 — 21.9 m², sleeps 2. Exclusive access to the Britannia Club Restaurant with a reserved table for a more intimate dining experience.
• Queens Grill Grand Suite Q1 — 133.8 m², sleeps 2. The largest suite category on board — more than twice the size of the Master Suite.

Grand Princess — view cabins and deck plans

Grand Princess sails from Brisbane and Sydney on South Pacific and transpacific itineraries. The Crown Grill — named by USA Today as the best cruise steakhouse — and Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria anchor the specialty dining options. The MedallionClass® OceanNow® system means food, drinks and services come to wherever you are on the ship, ordered via the Princess app. And for the evenings when you simply want to sit outside, Movies Under the Stars® — a giant poolside screen with complimentary popcorn and blankets — is a genuinely popular feature on longer voyages.

Cabin grades on Grand Princess include:

• Inside cabin IA — 14.9 m², sleeps 4. Positioned on middle decks for minimal ship motion and central access to facilities.
• Premium sea view O3 — 19.1 m², sleeps 4. Floor-to-ceiling panoramic window with an unobstructed sea view.
• Premium Balcony cabin B2 — 25.5 m², sleeps 4. Floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors give a more open feel than standard balcony cabins.
• 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.

Coral Princess — view cabins and deck plans

At 91,627 GT, Coral Princess is smaller than most modern cruise ships — and that is a genuine advantage in the South Pacific, where her slim profile lets her reach narrow waterways and small island ports that larger vessels simply cannot access. The Universe Lounge features three revolving stages used for cooking demonstrations, cabaret and fashion shows — a configuration unique at sea. The Sanctuary, an adults-only retreat on the top deck, adds a quieter space for longer passages. The Princess cruises from Fremantle in 2028 include Coral Princess options worth comparing.

Cabin grades on Coral Princess include:

• Inside cabin IA — 14.5 m², sleeps 4. Middle deck positions offer minimal motion and easy access to central ship areas.
• Sea-view cabin O5 — 19.7 m², sleeps 4. Large panoramic window with natural daylight and unobstructed sea views.
• Premium Balcony cabin B1 — 23.0 m², sleeps 4. Approximately 50% more space than standard balcony cabins — worth it on longer voyages.
• Premium Suite S5 — 43.7 m², sleeps 4. Considerably larger than a mini-suite, with a spacious living area and separate seating zone.

Royal Princess — view cabins and deck plans

Royal Princess carries one of the most dramatic structural features at sea: the SeaWalk, an 18-metre glass-bottomed walkway that sits 40 metres above the ocean. It is the kind of thing you either love or find yourself edging across nervously — either way, it makes an impression. MedallionClass OceanNow on-demand delivery works across the ship, and Crown Grill and Sabatini’s cover the specialty dining bases, with the 24-hour International Café handling everything in between. The Crown Princess 2028 programme is another Princess option worth comparing if Royal Princess dates don’t work for you.

Seven Seas Splendor — view cabins and deck plans

Seven Seas Splendor sails for Regent Seven Seas Cruises and brings a fully inclusive luxury approach to the South Pacific. Every suite includes veranda access, and the fare structure is designed so that almost everything — dining, drinks, excursions and more — is covered before you board. If you want to know exactly what you’re spending before you leave home, this is the model that delivers it.

Westerdam — view cabins and deck plans

Holland America Line’s Westerdam carries 1,916 guests — mid-sized by today’s standards — and runs with Azipod propulsion that keeps noise and vibration noticeably lower than conventional systems. Morimoto by Sea brings Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s Japanese cuisine on board alongside Tamarind pan-Asian fine dining. Evenings fill up between the World Stage, the Rolling Stone Rock Room, Billboard Onboard sing-alongs and live sets from The Dam Band. It is a ship with genuine variety, and the quieter feel suits long transpacific crossings well.

Other ships on 2028 South Pacific sailings include Anthem of the Seas from Royal Caribbean — view Anthem of the Seas cabins and deck plans — as well as Carnival Splendor (cabins and deck plans), Carnival Encounter (cabins and deck plans), and MSC Magnifica (cabins and deck plans).

What do the fares include?

Fare inclusions vary by cruise line and by the tier you choose, so it pays to know what each covers before you compare prices.

Princess Cruises

Princess offers 2 main fare structures. The Princess Standard fare covers the cruise itself; drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities are available as add-ons. The Princess Plus package builds in significantly more: 4 casual dining meals per voyage, beverages up to A$15 each (with a daily limit of 15 drinks), MedallionNet® Max Wi-Fi, pre-paid crew appreciation, unlimited digital photographs plus 3 prints, and reserved theatre seating. If you want everything included from day one, Princess Plus is the tier that delivers it. Fare types such as early-booking and last-minute offers are also available on select sailings.

Cunard

The standard Cunard Fare includes the choice of stateroom number, priority for upgrades, a low 15% deposit with flexible balance payment, the ability to amend your booking up to the balance due date, and complimentary shuttle buses at ports. A Saver Fare is available for last-minute bookings at a lower price, in exchange for a pre-allocated stateroom and a non-refundable, non-amendable booking. Fare types such as on-board credit and drinks inclusions are available on select sailings.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean fares include the cruise and port access. Solo travellers have a dedicated fare tier. Fare types such as last-minute offers and early-booking bonuses are available on select sailings — worth checking if your dates are flexible.

Are there discounts on South Pacific cruises 2028?

Around half the 2028 South Pacific sailings carry a reduced price compared to the price previously listed for that cabin grade on that sailing. Reductions reach up to 16% on a single departure, though that figure applies to 1 sailing; most reduced sailings sit around 8% off. If you see a sailing that looks right, it is worth booking rather than waiting — the inventory on longer and more popular itineraries moves steadily throughout the year. Our Best Price Guarantee means that if you find a lower price elsewhere after booking with Cruise1st, we’ll match it.

What does it cost to cruise the South Pacific in 2028?

Fares start from A$1,045 pp* for shorter South Pacific itineraries, with longer transpacific and round-the-world voyages priced considerably higher to reflect their duration. The cabin grade you choose makes a significant difference: an inside cabin on Grand Princess sits at a very different price point from a Grand Suite with a private hot tub, even on the same sailing. Our Australian cruise experts can walk you through the options across all grades and fare tiers, seven days a week, so you’re comparing like with like.

27 of the 2028 South Pacific sailings are all-inclusive or carry meaningful fare inclusions — particularly through Regent Seven Seas Cruises and the Princess Plus tier — which changes the value calculation when you factor in drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities.

Which ports do 2028 South Pacific sailings use?

The main embarkation ports are Sydney and Brisbane, which together account for the majority of Australian departures. If you live in either city, you can drive or take the train to the terminal — no flight required. From other states, a domestic flight is the most practical connection, and we can book that as part of your overall holiday package.

Auckland features as both an embarkation and a disembarkation port on several itineraries, making it a natural choice if you want to combine a New Zealand visit with your cruise. Los Angeles is the primary US west coast port for transpacific crossings, and Southampton appears as an embarkation option on a handful of round-the-world departures. Papeete, Tahiti is also used as an embarkation point on Pacific itineraries — particularly for Polynesia-focused sailings — and reaching it from Australia involves a flight that we can arrange as part of your booking. The cruise from Singapore to Australia 2028 is a further option for those wanting a fly-in start in South East Asia.

Make it a holiday

Cruise1st is a cruise specialist — every booking is a cruise or a cruise-inclusive package. Our team can wrap flights, hotels, tours, transfers and insurance around your sailing, whether that means a single hotel night before you board in Sydney or a full multi-destination itinerary either side of a transpacific crossing. If your sailing disembarks in Los Angeles or Southampton, we’ll sort the return journey too, so nothing is left as a loose end. Talk to our Australian cruise experts seven days a week, or explore Cruise1st Packages to see what a fully bundled holiday looks like.

Thinking about 2027 or a different region?

If 2028 South Pacific dates don’t line up, there are related options worth exploring. New Year cruises 2028 include Pacific departures that bridge the two years. For the neighbouring season, Princess cruises from Brisbane in 2027 and Singapore to Sydney cruises in 2027 are popular alternatives. Sydney to Hawaii cruises 2027 cover a related transpacific route, and Melbourne to New Zealand cruises 2027 suit those who want a shorter round trip. For a summer holiday feel at sea, Easter cruises 2027 from Sydney remain one of the most searched South Pacific departures of the year. If Australia coastal itineraries interest you alongside the Pacific, Christmas cruise 2027 Australia options are also available, and Alaska cruises 2028 make a strong comparison for those drawn to the Pacific but open to a different destination entirely. For a broader 2028 view, all 2028 cruises gives you the complete picture across every region.

Travellers based in Melbourne, Perth or Tasmania can check 2028 cruises from Melbourne, 2028 cruises from Perth and 2028 cruises around Tasmania for departures closer to home. The Celebrity Edge 2028/2029 cruises from Sydney page covers a further set of Pacific-adjacent sailings for those comparing lines. And for those weighing up Royal Caribbean and Celebrity 2028 sailings side by side, that page brings both lines together. South Pacific cruises from Sydney 2028 narrows the selection to Sydney departures only, which is the fastest way to compare if that is your preferred port. For those open to a cruise in April 2028, there are options spanning both the South Pacific and broader Australian region.

*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.