Thanks to the drop in local cruise ship capacity, one of the buzziest terms of this year’s Wave Season is Fly Cruising.
But many fear flying to a cruise destination will add thousands to the cost of their holidays.
Some lines are offering included flights, like Princess’ Ezair. Because the costs are negotiated by the cruise lines, Fly Cruise airfares are usually better than anything available in the open marketplace, particularly when it comes to Business Class.
However, the majority of overseas cruises still have passengers booking their own flights, and because cruise seasons align with the most expensive times to fly outside of Christmas, that extra cost can really sting.
We had a look at the top for regions Australians are flying to for their cruises, New Zealand (84.8%), the Mediterranean (5.3%), Asia (2.5%), and Alaska (1.9%) according to CLIA, and how to get on the right path for a better deal.
New Zealand
With New Zealand and the South Pacific the obvious number one cruising destination for Aussies, let’s start with Qantas current sale on flights. As a rule Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to have cheaper fares, so aim for midweek departures and returns where possible.
If you’re flying between now and early December this year, or between January and August next year, you can currently secure a Business Class seat for $1,199 return from either Sydney or Melbourne, which is between $500 and $1200 cheaper than comparable airlines like Air NZ.
For economy you’re looking at a reasonable $519 return from Melbourne and $509 from Sydney, however this is a sale price so you will want to move swiftly.
The Mediterranean
We’ve found that the best deals and flight experience from Australia are via Doha, flying with Qatar airways. With five planes taking off from Hamad airport in Doha every three minutes, the Qatari capital is one of the most frequent stops between Australia and Mediterranean countries.
Qatar Airways has Complimentary Accommodation for passengers who have a transit time of 8 to 24 hours, but even intentionally booking flights with a day or two layover is an excellent idea if you have the time and can cut flight costs significantly.
For high European summer 2025, with stopovers no longer than six hours, Qatar has economy flights to Nice (France) $1,808 return, with the best comparable flights on Qantas (with only one stopover) were $2,321.
For economy to Barcelona the best flights we could find with reasonable, single stopovers were $1,850 return with Qatar, $2,081 with Emirates and Qantas (both stopping over in Dubai) for $2,479AU.
Finally Venice from Sydney with Qatar in the middle of June is $1,947 return, compared to Emirates $2,458 and $2,835 with Qantas.
If you join Qatar’s free Privilege Club (part of the oneworld network) they will also usually offer an upgrade option at a hugely reduced rate 24 hours before your flight – and it gives you luxe little extras like priority boarding and a wider meal choice.
If the Middle Eastern region route makes you nervous at the moment, carriers like Cathay Pacific and Singapore Air, and KLM also fly to the Med via alternative routes, however they tend to have at least two layovers and the flights are considerably more expensive.
Japan and China
With so many flights between both Sydney and Melbourne to Tokyo, finding a good deal to fly direct is a lot easier and again more luxurious options could be back on the table. Japanese airline ANA has Business Class flights to Japan for the wildly popular Spring season (March – May) nonstop between Sydney and Tokyo (Haneda) for under $6,000 return.
On the other hand, if you’re on a tight budget, flying with a stopover in cities like Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, or Hong Kong – budget airlines like AirAsia or Scoot will offer much lower fares with stopovers. Jetstar also has regular flight sales to eight different airports in Japan, leaving Australia from Cairns, Brisbane and Sydney.
If your cruise has you flying to Shanghai during the high season, Malaysia Airlines has Business Class seats for under $4,000 return and economy for $1980 return, with a stop over in Kuala Lumpur, which are almost half the cost for the same dates on Qantas.
Alaska
From the polar bears to the Borealis, Aussies love an Alaskan tour. Here the cruise season is May through September with July and August being the highest season, attracting the most travellers.
Both cost and flight time between Sydney and Anchorage fluctuate wildly depending on who you fly with. United or Delta might save you up to $500 but adds an average of five extra hours to your total trip – and more often than not, an extra layover.
The best single stopover (Vancouver, with a three hour wait time) deals we could find were with Air Canada, which were $450 cheaper than the next comparable carrier with economy seats in the high season for $1904 return, with a premium economy option for $6070 return.
Our final tip is one you’ve heard a million times before but bears repeating: the earlier you book, the more you save. Booking travel early is common sense in an industry that thrives – and profits – on chaos, so always book your flights at the same time you do your cruise for the biggest saving.
* Costings based on searches made Thursday, Oct 11th 2024 and are subject to fluctuate according to airlines so are indicative only.
