South Pacific cruises from Sydney 2028

South Pacific cruises from Sydney in 2028 — what’s on offer

Sydney is one of Australia’s most active cruise home ports, and in 2028 it is the starting point for a wide spread of ocean cruises heading into the South Pacific and beyond. The bulk of sailings are pure South Pacific voyages — island-hopping and tropical ocean crossings — while a strong group of transpacific departures push further into the wider Pacific region. Whether you live in Sydney or are flying in from another state, the appeal is the same: no long-haul international flight to reach the ship. If you are local, you walk on board. If you are travelling from interstate, a short domestic hop is all it takes to reach the terminal. You can find the full 2028 departures from Sydney alongside all South Pacific cruises in 2028 and the broader 2028 cruise programme.

Where do these sailings go?

The 2028 sailings from Sydney split across two broad directions, and it is worth understanding which suits you before you start comparing ships.

Close to home — the South Pacific, New Zealand and Polynesia

The largest share of departures head into the South Pacific. These are the voyages most people picture when they think of a cruise from Sydney: warm water, tropical island calls, and the kind of scenery that only opens up from the deck of a ship. Durations vary enough that you can find something to fit a fortnight’s leave or a longer escape — the median voyage runs around 14 nights, though itineraries extend well beyond that for those who want to go deeper.

A smaller number of sailings cover Australia and New Zealand waters, and at least one sailing ventures into Polynesia — a more remote corner of the Pacific that rewards those with the time to reach it. Some of these voyages are round trips returning to Sydney; others end at a different port, with a domestic flight connecting you home. We can book that flight, along with any hotels either side, as part of a single holiday.

The long haul — transpacific crossings

A meaningful number of departures are transpacific voyages — genuine ocean crossings that finish well beyond Australian waters. Disembarkation ports for one-way sailings include Auckland, Honolulu, Tokyo and others. These are not round trips: if you book one, you arrive somewhere new at the end and arrange your return from there — which is where we help, booking the return flight and any post-cruise hotels as part of your package.

Roughly 16 voyages in the 2028 mix are round trips that bring you back to Sydney, while 12 are one-way sailings ending elsewhere. It is worth knowing which you are looking at before you book.

Which cruise lines sail from Sydney to the South Pacific in 2028?

Princess Cruises leads the 2028 programme from Sydney, with the most departures of any line. Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Holland America Line and Carnival Cruise Line all contribute sailings, giving you a genuine range of styles — from family-friendly ships packed with onboard activities to more refined, mid-sized vessels with a quieter pace. Cruise1st Packages also appear in the mix, bundling cruise fares with flights, hotels and transfers into a single bookable holiday.

The ships sailing from Sydney in 2028

Grand Princess — Princess Cruises

Grand Princess carries the most sailings of any ship. The specialty dining alone makes her stand out: Crown Grill holds a USA Today ‘Best Cruise Steakhouse’ award, and Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria anchors the evening dining options alongside it. The MedallionClass® OceanNow® system — accessed through the Princess app — lets you order food, drinks and services to wherever you happen to be on the ship, whether that is your cabin or a sun lounger by the pool. Movies Under the Stars® adds a giant poolside screen with free popcorn and blankets for evening viewings at sea.

Grand Princess cabin options range from compact to spacious — see the full breakdown on the Grand Princess cabins and deck plans page:

• Inside cabin IA — 14.9 m², sleeps up to 4, positioned on middle decks for easy access and minimal ship motion
• Premium sea view O3 — 19.1 m², sleeps up to 4, floor-to-ceiling panoramic window with an unobstructed sea view
• Premium Balcony cabin B2 — 25.5 m², sleeps up to 4, floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors for an open, light-filled feel
• Grand Suite S1 with private hot tub — 67.8 m², sleeps up to 4, the largest suite on board with considerably more space than any other category

Royal Princess — Princess Cruises

Royal Princess brings one of the most dramatic ship features afloat: the SeaWalk, an 18-metre glass-bottomed walkway suspended 40 metres above the ocean. You can see the sea directly beneath your feet. MedallionClass OceanNow on-demand delivery works the same way it does on Grand Princess — order anything to anywhere on the ship via the app. Crown Grill and Sabatini’s return in the specialty dining lineup, with the 24-hour International Café available for grazing at any hour. For cabin options and deck plans, visit the Royal Princess cabins and deck plans page.

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, giving views that no other ship can match. On deck, the RipCord by iFLY skydiving simulator and SeaPlex bumper cars make her one of Royal Caribbean’s most activity-dense ships. In the evening, the Two70° venue delivers 4K immersive performances and Bionic Bar robotic cocktails in a single space that spans the full width of the stern.

Cabin grades run from practical interiors to a two-level suite — full details are on the Anthem of the Seas cabins and deck plans page:

• Inside cabin with virtual balcony 1U — 15.4 m², sleeps up to 4, with a high-resolution live sea-view screen in place of a window
• Ocean-view cabin 2P — generously proportioned with a spacious living area and sofa, sleeps up to 4
• Large Balcony cabin 2G — double sofa bed and a large balcony, sleeps up to 4, well suited to families or longer voyages
• Royal Loft Suite RL — 152.4 m² two-level maisonette, sleeps up to 6, with the bedroom on the upper level overlooking the living room below

Carnival Splendor — Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Splendor is Sydney-homeported and purpose-built for the Australian market. The Green Lightning waterslide and WaterWorks™ waterpark run all ages through their paces, while the retractable-roof midship pool keeps things going year-round regardless of the weather. Dining covers serious ground: Guy’s Burger Joint, Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse and Masala Tiger all feature. When the pace slows, Cloud 9 Spa™ offers Thalassotherapy pools, thermal suites and the adults-only Serenity Retreat. Cabin options for Carnival Splendor — including the Cloud 9 Spa Inside category with priority spa access included — are on the Carnival Splendor cabins and deck plans page:

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

Celebrity Edge — Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Edge introduced the Magic Carpet — the world’s first cantilevered floating platform — which travels up the side of the hull across 16 storeys, functioning as a bar, a restaurant or a dive platform depending on the time of day. The Infinite Veranda staterooms remove the traditional balcony divide, merging indoor comfort with open ocean air across the full width of the cabin. Eden’s three-level live-performance venue is unlike anything else at sea, and Le Petit Chef delivers an animated 3D dinner show. See full cabin details on the Celebrity Edge cabins and deck plans page. Celebrity also offers sailings from Sydney on Celebrity Solstice — cabin options are available on the Celebrity Solstice cabins and deck plans page.

Westerdam — Holland America Line

Westerdam carries around 1,916 guests — a genuinely mid-sized ship in an era of mega-vessels — with quieter Azipod propulsion and Holland America’s signature attention to craft throughout the interiors. Morimoto by Sea brings Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s Japanese cuisine on board, alongside Tamarind for pan-Asian fine dining. Evenings run from World Stage productions to Rolling Stone Rock Room and Billboard Onboard sing-alongs. Full cabin and deck information is on the Westerdam cabins and deck plans page.

What’s included in your fare?

Fare inclusions vary by cruise line and by the tier you choose, and picking the right one before you book makes a real difference to what you spend on board.

Princess Cruises offers a Standard fare (cruise-only, with packages available to add) and the Princess Plus package, which covers 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 with 3 prints, and reserved theatre seating — solid value if you plan to dine out and drink regularly.

Celebrity Cruises runs three tiers: a cruise-only rate that lets you add amenities later; a best-value tier that includes a classic drinks package and basic Wi-Fi; and The Retreat, which wraps premium drinks, premium Wi-Fi, suite accommodation, exclusive lounge and sundeck access, private dining and dedicated personal service into one package.

Royal Caribbean fare types include a standard cruise fare, a solo/single fare for guests travelling alone, and promotional fare types such as last-minute offers — terms and availability vary by sailing.

Are there deals on South Pacific cruises from Sydney in 2028?

A good number of 2028 sailings carry reduced fares against the price previously listed for that cabin grade. Most discounted sailings are reduced by around 8%, with one departure reaching up to 16% off its previous listed price. If you want help identifying which sailings currently carry the best reductions, our Australian cruise experts can check live pricing for you seven days a week.

Making it a full holiday

A cruise from Sydney is genuinely easy to reach from anywhere in Australia — a short domestic flight from any capital city is all it takes. But if you want to turn the trip into something more, Cruise1st can build the whole thing for you. Our team can add flights, hotels, tours, transfers and insurance around your cruise, either as a bundle or as a fully custom itinerary. For one-way sailings ending in Auckland, Honolulu, Tokyo or elsewhere, we arrange your return flight and any post-cruise nights at the same time, so you are never left with a loose end. Ask our Cruise1st Package specialists about what they can put together for your 2028 departure.

Also sailing in 2028 from Sydney

If you are weighing up other options for 2028, the full 2028 Sydney departures page covers every cruise line and destination. For specific departure months, April 2028 sailings from Sydney are worth a look, and there are also April 2028 cruises across Australia if you are flexible on port. The Princess 2027–2028 season launch page covers the full range of Princess departures for the period, and Celebrity Edge 2027/2028 sailings from Sydney go into more depth on that ship’s specific schedule. If you are planning a transpacific voyage in the other direction, cruises from Singapore to Australia in 2028 may also be relevant.

Sailing from a different port? Brisbane cruises and 2028 Melbourne departures both carry South Pacific options, and Princess Cruises from Fremantle in 2028 is worth comparing if you are based in Western Australia. For a narrower look at South Pacific cruises from Sydney in the previous year, the 2027 equivalents give a useful sense of what the itineraries typically look like.

For a longer voyage, cruises around Australia in 2028 and Sydney to New Zealand voyages in 2028 are both solid alternatives. And if you are thinking about the holiday season, New Year cruises for 2028 include departures from Sydney.

*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.