The Rich List: why this season has more luxury vessels in Australia than ever before

• Australia is seeing more luxury ships coming to our shores than ever.
• Luxury cruising can offer more value than you think, due to the inclusions.
• Here’s a rundown on luxury cruises in Australia and some suggested deals worth exploring.

Aussies are known to value the finer things in life and have always been a large luxury travel market, and that attitude is increasingly shifting towards the seas, with all sorts of luxury cruise lines set to bring in ships for the season ahead.

The ultra-luxury line Regent Seven Seas will see three ships stopping by, another three each from Ponant, Seabourn and Silversea, will touch down on shores, Oceania will bring two, and plenty more luxury cruise lines such as Azamara, Viking and Crystal Cruises will also have ships coming through.

While some cruise lines that sail larger ships have been getting cold feet about visiting Australia, such as Cunard and Disney Cruises, luxury lines appear to be having no such problem.

Cruise Passenger called this rise previously, noting that more and more Aussies were opting for the more intimate service and more exotic itineraries that only luxury and small ship cruising can offer.

And a recent trade conference in Australia, Cruise 360, saw luxury as a topic of debate. A key session was “Elevated Growth: Unlocking the Luxury Cruise Market”, delivered by Steve Odell, Senior VP International & Consumer Sales for Regent Seven Seas Cruises & Oceania Cruises.

Odell cited research estimating 6.6 million potential luxury cruise customers globally, with about half a million in Australia, and that in the coming years, there will be many new ships entering the market; about a third of new ships are expected to cater to smaller-guest experiences.

The luxury cruise segment is expected to grow at 10 % as the overall cruise market expands.

Lisa Pile, Vice President Sales and General Manager, Asia Pacific for Regent Sven Seas and Oceania Cruises said: “Seven Seas Explorer will sail into Australian waters in December 2025 from Bali on the Sojourn to Oz sailing, before sailing over to Auckland and then onto Singapore.

“Seven Seas Navigator will visit Sydney in January 2026 sailing from Singapore, to then also cruise to Auckland and onto Bali in March.

“Our most exciting visit will be Seven Seas Mariner as she will be making her way to Sydney waters in March 2026, following a major re-design.

“She will be sailing from Auckland on 6 March, arriving in Sydney on 10 March, where she will dock overnight, before departing the following day to sail north to Cairns and onto Bali. The sailing, Kiwi Charm and Aussie delights, is 18 nights in duration with up to 30 shore excursions included.”

Cruise Traveller, a cruise agency based around luxury and expedition sailings, Managing Director Joseph O’Sullivan said luxury sailing continues to grow in Australia.

“As CLIA has reported in its latest figures, the small ship cruise market has expanded robustly, and as experts in this space…the demand for a small ship, boutique, expedition, and ultra-luxury cruises has, clearly, never been higher, driven by travellers’ desire to travel with fewer people to more unique destinations on more immersive itineraries.”

Expert cruise agent Kelly Henderson of ILoveCruising reported similar results. “Since cruising has returned post Covid, I’m seeing a huge shift in the luxury and small ship cruising market. I’m seeing a much larger number of clients choosing this type of cruising for a number of reasons.

“Clients are moving more towards this type of cruising to see new places, experience new things, and have more focus on them. They’re not getting lost in the buffet on board or lost in the hallways trying to find their rooms.

“Luxury and small ship cruises have proved that focusing more on personalized experiences, catering to individual preferences and offering bespoke services that enhance the overall experience.”

Before you go diving in and join the luxury wave yourself, a key point to understanding how luxury cruising works in Australia is to know about Australia’s Kimberley season. 

The Kimberley 

One of the most sought after areas to cruise in Australia is The Kimberley. Up in the far north of Western Australia, it’s one of Australia’s most spectacular regions, where the outback meets wild orange cliff faces and bright coral reefs. 

Kimberley itineraries generally run between Darwin and Broome, and given that only smaller ships can access the most stunning parts, they generally take place on smaller ships of a couple of hundred passengers maximum.

The important thing to note is that the peak of the Kimberley season runs from April to September, when dryer weather in Australia’s northern region allows for a comfortable visit. This is in contrast to Australia’s main cruise season, which runs over the spring and summer, from about September to March. 

In fact, a key part of Australia’s luxury cruise growth is that more ships that visit the Kimberley will be hanging around and embarking on other itineraries around Australia.

Cruise lines that you can trust for a Kimberley experience including Seabourn, Coral Expeditions, Ponant, Silversea, True North and more. 

Therefore, if you’re looking for a summer cruise, the Kimblerey won’t be your move, but it’s worth considering when planning out your next cruise, as it remains the expedition cruise hub of Australia.

A summer cruise

If you’re hoping to cruise luxury this summer, there’s still plenty on offer, and there’s a lot to choose from. 

If you want to reach for the upper tiers of luxury you’ll look towards Regent Seven Seas or Silversea. 

To try and get the luxury experience on a budget you might opt for Azamara Cruises or Oceania. 

Lines like Silversea, Seabourn, Ponant, Coral Expeditions and Scenic are all primed for adventure and offer a great option for expedition cruising. 

Crystal Cruises and Viking offer classic cruise ship elegance, bringing a more traditional feel to their ships. 

Why make the leap to luxury 

• If you’re a constant cruiser and you feel like itineraries are getting stale, luxury cruises can take you to completely new and fresh destinations.
• While the fare is generally a lot more than other cruises, there are also lots more inclusions, with things like drinks, wifi, shore excursions and more often rolled into the price. If you find yourself spending a lot onboard already, you might be surprised to find out that luxury doesn’t come as much more as you’d think.
• Get a completely new take on what it means to cruise, and the amount of space and attention to detail you can experience at sea.
• Forget about itemising and carefully budgeting your cruise, enjoying having everything truly included.

Who is sailing in Australia

Regent Seven Seas

As mentioned, Regent Seven Seas falls in the very upper tiers of luxury, This season we’ll see Seven Seas Explorer, Seven Seas Navigator and Seven Seas Mariner drop past our shores. 

The best deal: This 18-night Auckland to Bali sailing starts from $9370 (approx), offering about $500 per night for pure luxury at sea.

Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises doesn’t quite have the inclusions or intimacy of the very top luxury lines, but it offers a significant step up in luxury, dining and personal service than the larger family ships. Oceania Riviera and Oceania Regatta will both be paying a visit to Australia this summer.

The best deal: This long 24-day voyage from French Polynesia to Bali starts from around $8100, less than $340 per night.

Azamara Cruises

Azamara offers the bridge between premium cruise lines such as Celebrity Cruises and more luxury cruise lines such as Silversea. While deals are thinner on the ground than usual due to strong bookings for the season ahead, Azamara is a great option to get your first taste of luxury, without breaking the bank.

The best deal: This 16-night sailing out of Melbourne on Azamara Pursuit offers a more comfortable and intimate way to see New Zealand, starting from around $7200 or around $450 a night.

Silversea

Silversea is perfect for those who want to reach for those upper tiers of luxury, but also want to keep adventure at the core of their travels. Silversea is known for having great expedition teams that show you new ways to connect with your destination. This season we’ll see Silver Nova, Silver Moon and Silver Dawn come past our shores.

The best deal: This 16-day Melbourne to New Zealand sailing starts from about $9500, around $600 a night.

Viking Cruises

Viking Cruises are often preferred by, well, Viking cruisers. The reliability of the experience draws a lot of repeat customers who are familiar with and enjoy the Viking experience. It’s a great option for something focused around elegance and comfort, and is constantly top-rated by guests. Viking Venus and Viking Orion will be joining Australia this summer.

The best deal: This 16-day Bali to Sydney sailing starts from $10,500, around $650 a night.

Crystal Cruises

Crystal Serenity will make her way to Australia this season, bringing Crystal’s known brand of ultra-luxury and elegance, but with a slightly more adventurous touch than Crystal Cruises used to carry. 

The best deal: This short but sweet eight-night sailing from Auckland to Melbourne starts from around $8150, or just over $1000 per night.

Ponant

While Ponant does have the luxury and dining you’d expect of a top-class cruise line, it’s all about the exploration. You won’t quite be showered with options you’d get on Regent or Viking, but expect far ranging and exotic itineraries. Aussie shores will see Le Soleal, Le Jacques Cartier and Le Commandant Charcot this season. 

The best deal: This 10-day sailing from Cairns to Dunedin starts from around $4300, about $430 per night.

Seabourn 

Seabourn is right up there as far as luxury goes, combining the intimacy of carefully crafted service, entertainment and dining, with expedition equipment and offerings. This summer we’ll see Seabourn Pursuit, Seabourn Quest and Seabourn Encore.

The best deal: This epic 16-day sailing from Bali to Sydney starts from about $15,000, or about $930 a night.

Scenic 

Scenic aims to combine truly six-star luxury with a deep and immersive expedition experience, with zodiac teams carrying all the latest equipment, even submarines. Scenic Eclipse promises an unforgettable experience.

The best deal: This massive 20-day sailing from Papeete through to Panama starts from about $24,500, or about $1250 a night. 

Coral Expeditions 

Coral Expeditions is Aussie owned and operated. It’s known for the small-ship luxury experience and particularly exploratory itineraries, often cruising to places you wouldn’t have even thought of visiting.

The best deal: Get a totally new take on Tasmania with this 10-night sailing from $8870, or about $880 per night.