EOFY cruise sale: 10 best deals ending June 30 – and how to get a genuine bargain

• It’s the end of the financial year (EOFY) on Wednesday – but there is still time to bag a bargain.
• We’ve found some of the best deals on offer, from local cruises to international journeys.
• Our editor in chief, Peter Lynch, also gives you the rules of ensuring you’ve got a bargain.

Cruise lines and travel companies across Australia have launched some of their biggest End of Financial Year (EOFY) sales, with discounts of more than $2,000, bonus onboard credit, reduced deposits and free flights all on offer before sales finish on June 30.

While EOFY has traditionally been associated with bargains on cars and electronics, it has also become one of the busiest booking periods for the travel industry as operators compete to secure holidays for 2026 and beyond.

For travellers, it’s an opportunity to lock in prices now and travel later.

“It’s really about booking now and travelling later,” says Peter Lynch, Editor in Chief of CruisePassenger.com.au. “Travel companies understand Australians are watching their budgets, so they’re offering reduced deposits, bonus inclusions and some genuinely substantial discounts to encourage people to book ahead.”

Cruising remains one of the easiest holidays to budget for because accommodation, meals, entertainment and transport between destinations are bundled into one fare.

But the headline discount shouldn’t be the only factor travellers consider. “The real value often comes from what’s included—flights, hotels, drinks packages, WiFi, shore excursions and onboard credit can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars once you’re travelling,” he says.

Cruise Passenger’s top EOFY cruise deals

1. My Cruises – Save an extra $1,000

One of the strongest deals available is from My Cruises, which is offering readers an additional $1,000 off selected cruise packages.

Eligible packages include:

• Norwegian Cruise Line’s Hawaiian Islands Escape 2026, including flights, five hotel nights, a seven-night cruise aboard Pride of America, drinks package, specialty dining, Wi-Fi and shore excursion credits.
• Norwegian Cruise Line’s Immersive Japan Discovery 2026.
• Avalon Waterways’ Prague, Danube River & Munich river cruise.
• Avalon Waterways’ Amsterdam, Rhine River, Milan & Lake Como river cruise.

Visit: mycruises.com.au

2. Flight Centre – Antarctica Expedition

For travellers wanting a true bucket-list adventure, Flight Centre is offering savings of up to $2,085 on a 17-night Hurtigruten Expeditions voyage aboard MS Fridtjof Nansen.

From $17,399 per person, the package includes return flights to South America, all meals, beer, wine and spirits throughout the voyage and an expedition cruise from Ushuaia to Montevideo.

3. Flight Centre – Japan Cherry Blossom Cruise

Cherry blossom season is one of Japan’s most sought-after travel experiences.

Princess Cruises’ 12-night Japan Explorer sailing departs Yokohama on 17 March 2027 from $2,799 per person twin share, including meals and US$305 onboard credit.

The cruise aboard the Sapphire Princess departs from Yokohama and visits places like Nagoya, Kobe, Tokushima, Nagasaki in Japan as well as Busan in South Korea.

4. Flight Centre – Pacific Family Cruise

Families can cruise the South Pacific aboard Carnival Splendor from $3,598 for a family of four.

The nine-night Sydney return cruise includes all meals and AU$400 onboard credit per stateroom. The island adventure visits Lifou Island, Mystery Island and Noumea. The sailing departs September 18, 2026.

5. Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises is offering up to $1,000 on board credit on selected close-to-home voyages, with some itineraries also featuring free fares for third and fourth guests, making it an attractive option for families.

Princess is offering savings on itineraries in Europe, Alaska, Asia and Japan.

6. Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises’ EOFY promotion includes up to 75% off the second guest, plus savings of up to A$1,000 per stateroom on selected sailings through 2028.

Some of the itineraries include close-to-home sailings like an 11-night Great Barrier Reef cruise that visits Airlie Beach and Port Douglas.

There are also sailings to New Zealand which visit Auckland, Tauranga, Christchurch, Dunedin as well as scenic cruising through the Dusky, Doubtful and Milford sound.

7. Viking

Luxury line Viking is encouraging travellers to think ahead by releasing many of its 2027 ocean, expedition and river cruises at current pricing, allowing guests to lock in next year’s prices before increases take effect.

If you purchase a 2027, 2028 or 2029 cruise, you will pay 2026 prices.

For instance, there is a new Antarctic Circle itinerary which departs Buenos Aires in Argentina before visiting Ushuaia and then an exploration of The White Continent.

8. Royal Caribbean

Tropical Island EOFY Sale—featuring up to $1000 in instant savings and half‑price deposits on 2026–27 South Pacific sailings. Kids can sail for just $59 a day.

There’s a fabulous eight-night South Pacific cruise on Anthem of the Seas which visits Noumea in New Caledonia as well as Port Vila and Mystery Island in Vanuatu priced from $1449 per person.

9. Scenic

Scenic is offering a range of early booking incentives across its luxury river cruise and expedition portfolio, including added-value inclusions on selected departures.

The luxury line has newly released departures available from 2027 to March 2029 which includes voyages in the Kimberley, Japan, East Antarctica and beyond.

If you take advantage of the Super Earlybird savings, guests also receive a bonus helicopter flightseeing experience.

10. APT

APT’s Last Minute Travel Deals include savings and bonus inclusions on selected river cruises and touring packages throughout Europe and Asia.

Flights are included in most of APT’s deals. Spend the holiday season visiting European Christmas markets. APT’s Festive Christmas Markets with Christmas & New Year’s Eve Cruise departs on December 11 and includes flights.

The voyage departs Berlin and visits Dresden, Prague, Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Passau, Salzburg, Regensburg and more.

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How to make sure you’re getting a genuine bargain

• Compare complete packages, not just cruise fares. Flights, hotels and transfers bundled together can deliver much better value than booking separately.
• Book now and travel later. Many EOFY deals only require a deposit before June 30, with travel taking place in 2026 or 2027.
• Be flexible with flights. Flying on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Saturdays is often cheaper than travelling on Fridays or Sundays.
• Read the fine print. Check blackout dates, cancellation conditions and booking deadlines before committing.
• Look beyond the fare. Included drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities, onboard credit and shore excursions can add thousands of dollars in value over the course of a holiday.

With many of the industry’s biggest EOFY promotions ending on June 30, travellers have just days left to secure some of the year’s best cruise bargains before prices return to normal.