- Next year promises to be a stellar year for the Australian cruise industry.
- After the turmoil of 2026, more cruisers have returned to local destinations and ships – meaning ships will book out quickly.
- Here’s our guide to the best cruises to book right now.
Australians are booking cruises earlier than ever before. After the turmoil at the start of 2026 and stories of the homeported fleet’s depletion, experienced cruisers have learnt one important lesson: if you wait, someone else will book your cabin or suite.
That is why 2027 is already shaping up to be one of the most exciting years for Australian cruising in more than a decade.
There are genuine reasons for optimism. Princess Cruises is expanding its Australian presence again. Royal Caribbean will finally open its long-awaited private beach destination at Lelepa in Vanuatu. Perth regains homeported cruising. Luxury expedition ships are flocking to the Kimberley.
Around Australia voyages continue their remarkable revival. And Australians will enjoy more choice than they have had since before the pandemic.
Not everything has returned to normal. Port charges remain among the highest in the world, governments are still debating regulation, and Australia has fewer ships than before Covid. But the direction is encouraging.
Cruise lines are investing again. Ports are competing for more ships – Sydney is encouraging winter cruising with special port charges next year. And Australians continue to book cruises in record numbers.
Whether you’re planning your first cruise or your fiftieth, these are the voyages we believe deserve a place on your shortlist for 2027.
Please note: prices may change so check your CLIA travel agent or the cruise line’s website for the latest.
Why 2027 could be Australia’s best cruise year
For several years, Australia has watched as ships headed for Europe, Alaska and the Caribbean.
Demand remained strong, but capacity shrank. Now the pendulum is beginning to swing back.
Princess Cruises is once again basing three ships in Australia, restoring thousands of additional berths. Western Australia finally welcomes the return of homeported cruising when Sapphire Princess arrives in Fremantle. Adelaide and Melbourne gain more local departures, while Brisbane continues to establish itself as one of Australia’s most important family cruise ports.
Luxury cruising is booming as Regent Seven Seas, Ponant, Seabourn, Scenic, Silversea and Coral Expeditions all expand Australian programs, particularly in the Kimberley.
Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean’s long-awaited Royal Beach Club at Lelepa could change cruising in the South Pacific forever. Private destinations have transformed Caribbean cruising.
If Lelepa proves equally successful, expect other cruise lines to explore similar concepts in our region. Carnival Australia is already trialling a cabana rental system on Moreton Island in Queensland.
For Australian travellers, this means more choice, more competition, but also more reasons than ever to book early.
Cruise Passenger’s best cruises for Australians in 2027
Best new cruise experience
Royal Caribbean – Royal Beach Club Lelepa
Seven nights | Brisbane return | Voyager of the Seas | From $1,228
The most talked-about cruise destination of 2027 isn’t a new ship. It’s a beach club on an island – Vanuatu.
Royal Caribbean’s Royal Beach Club at Lelepa has been years in the making and represents one of the biggest investments ever made in South Pacific cruising.
The exclusive destination promises white-sand beaches, local cultural experiences, food and the kind of resort atmosphere that has made Royal Caribbean’s Caribbean private islands so successful. And it’s all included in your fare.
Being among the first Australians to experience Lelepa will undoubtedly become one of cruising’s hottest tickets next year.
Why we’d book it: History doesn’t come along very often. These inaugural Lelepa cruises will become the voyages people talk about. And Royal’s President Michael Bayley is promising a distinctly Australian experience.
Best family cruise
Carnival Splendor – New Zealand
10 nights | Sydney return | From $1,439
Ok, we’ve been writing about Carnival’s chequered reputation among cruisers for years. The line uses former P&O Australia and Carnival ships and Cruise Passenger’s readers are divided about the experiences on board.
But no one disputes they represent very good value. And families love value. This itinerary delivers it in abundance.
Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin, Fiordland National Park and days at sea combine into one of the best-priced overseas holidays Australians can buy. At around $140 a night, accommodation, meals, entertainment and transport all come bundled together.
You can read our reviews of Carnival Splendor here.
Why we’d book it: New Zealand continues to be one of the world’s great cruise destinations, and few holidays offer this much value.
Best value cruise
Carnival Adventure – Sydney to Singapore
14 nights | Departs January 2027 | From $1,473
Sometimes repositioning cruises become the bargains of the year. This is one of them.
Carnival Adventure heads north via Airlie Beach, Darwin, Bali and Lombok before arriving in Singapore.
For little more than $100 per day, travellers receive two weeks aboard one of Australia’s favourite family ships while visiting some of Asia’s most fascinating destinations.
Even better, Singapore provides the perfect gateway for an extended Asian holiday.
Why we’d book it: Extraordinary value, unusual ports and the flexibility to continue travelling through Asia.
Best cruise for first-timers
Princess Cruises – Tasmania Explorer
10 nights | Brisbane return | Grand Princess | From $1,989
If you’re wondering why experienced cruisers keep returning to Princess, this itinerary provides the answer.
Great Oyster Bay, Hobart and Port Arthur showcase Tasmania at its finest before visits to Sydney and Eden complete an outstanding domestic itinerary.
Princess continues to excel at Australian coastal cruising. The line is a consistent winner of our Readers’ Choice Awards – and it is now officially Australia’s oldest cruise line, having been in our waters for an incredible 50 years.
Why we’d book it: Tasmania has quietly become one of Australia’s finest cruise destinations – scenic, great food and ports.
Best South Pacific Cruise
Royal Caribbean – Anthem of the Seas
Nine nights | Sydney return | From $1,798
If you prefer departing from Sydney, Anthem offers one of the strongest South Pacific itineraries available. Alongside Lelepa, you’ll visit Port Vila and Mystery Island, combining exciting new experiences with classic island favourites.
At under $200 per night, it’s difficult to argue with the value. And Anthem of the Seas offers all the amazing experiences, from FlowRider to iFly, that Royal Caribbean has become renowned for.
Why we’d book it: New destination, proven favourites and one of Royal Caribbean’s most popular ships.
Best luxury cruise
Oceania Vista – Papeete to Sydney
February 2027 | From $13,500
Luxury cruising isn’t just about beautiful suites. It’s about extraordinary itineraries. And I’ve been pushing for Tahiti ever since I spent Christmas on the Paul Gauguin, a Ponant Expeditions ship synonymous with the South Pacific, several years ago.
Read our Tahiti guide to understand why. The friendly people, beautiful islands and lagoons have everything the Caribbean has in spades. Add authenticity, and you have the perfect cruise destination.
No Oceania Vista, another of my favourites – read our review of her here – sails through French Polynesia, the Cook Islands, Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia before arriving in Sydney.
Add Oceania’s celebrated cuisine and attentive service and this becomes one of the Pacific’s great luxury voyages.
We’ve just finished a CruiseTV show on Oceania. View it here.
Why we’d book it: It combines world-class dining with one of the finest Pacific itineraries available.
Best gourmet cruise
Celebrity Edge – Australian Wine Cruise
Nine nights | Sydney return | From $2,315
Celebrity has become synonymous with stylish, destination-led cruising and food and wine. Edge is a brilliantly designed ship – and Solstice has just completed one of the best refits we’ve seen.
Edge’s Australian wine voyage showcases Hobart, Adelaide and Melbourne while pairing shore excursions with food and wine experiences inspired by Australia’s premier wine regions.
This is a cruise designed for travellers who enjoy lingering over lunch as much as exploring ashore.
Why we’d book it: Sophisticated without being formal, and one of Australia’s most distinctive themed cruises.
Best New Zealand cruise
Holland America Line – Sydney to Auckland
14 nights | Westerdam | From $4,700
If New Zealand is on your bucket list, this is arguably the most complete itinerary available.
Milford Sound, Fiordland, Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Napier and Tauranga provide a genuine exploration of both islands.
Holland America has refined these itineraries over many years. Not the most exciting line – Princess beats it on food and shows – but a sound option.
Why we’d book it: Longer voyages always allow New Zealand to reveal its true beauty.
Best Kimberley cruise
Ponant, Scenic Eclipse, Silversea and Seabourn Pursuit
No destination has grown faster than the Kimberley. Towering waterfalls. Ancient Aboriginal rock art. Saltwater crocodiles.
But now the plunging red cliffs plunging and turquoise waters have attracted one of the largest fleets of small-ship luxury expedition and adventure fleets anywhere in the world.
Whether you choose Ponant’s French elegance, Scenic Eclipse’s ultra-luxury, Silversea’s Italian charm or Seabourn’s intimate expedition style, this is one of the world’s great cruise experiences.
Book early. These voyages regularly sell out more than a year ahead, and the season is short from March to October.
I sailed Kimberley aboard Ponant’s Le Soleal and we were delighted by the ship, explorations, guides and extraordinary personal service. The Kimberley is as much a must for an Australian as Uluru. Read my review here.
Why we’d book it: If Alaska belongs on every international cruise bucket list, the Kimberley deserves exactly the same status for Australians.
Best Australia circumnavigation
Perth to Sydney | 16 nights | October 2027
Few holidays reveal Australia quite like a cruise around its coastline. It is a reminder of just how vast and spectacular our own country really is.
This cruise visits Broome, the Kimberley, Darwin, Cairns, Brisbane and Sydney.
Perhaps more importantly, it marks the return of homeported cruising to Western Australia, one of the biggest developments of the year. And it’s a testament to the line’s commitment to Australia that Princess is doing it.
Why we’d book it: Around Australia voyages are back, and this is one of the finest. Princess ships could have been designed for this kind of extended voyage, with lots to do on board, from great shows to specialty restaurants – but all of this in a grown-up atmosphere.
Best small ship cruise
Azamara Quest – Sydney to Singapore
20 nights | From $7,349
Azamara has quietly built a loyal Australian following. And it shouldn’t surprise – Azamara’s small fleet of four R-class ships of between 680 and 726 passengers is perfectly sized, and the line has carved out a niche in destination immersion that has given it a much bigger reputation than its size suggests.
Its smaller ships stay longer in port – they were among the first to do this; now everyone is offering it – sail to destinations larger ships often bypass and include many extras in the fare.
I’ve sailed with Azamara in Europe, and it was delightful – small ports, great food and wine.
This itinerary showcases Australia’s southern coastline before continuing through Indonesia to Singapore.
Why we’d book it: Boutique cruising with genuine destination depth.
Best expedition cruise
Ponant’s Le Jacques-Cartier or Le Soléal.
Luxury expedition cruising has become one of travel’s fastest-growing sectors.
These two small ships perfectly illustrate why.
Guests enjoy all the comforts of a luxury hotel while exploring some of Australia’s wildest coastlines aboard Zodiac craft with expert guides.
It’s an adventure without sacrificing comfort. You’ll hunt for crocodiles, take helicopter rides, talk to Indigenous artists – and enjoy dinner on the back deck served in that very special way only the French know.
Why we’d book it: The perfect blend of exploration and luxury.
Our top ten cruises for Australians in 2027
- Royal Caribbean – Lelepa inaugural sailings
- Kimberley expeditions
- Princess Around Australia
- Holland America New Zealand
- Carnival Adventure to Singapore
- Celebrity Edge Wine Cruise
- Oceania Vista Pacific voyage
- Princess Tasmania Explorer
- Azamara Australia to Singapore
- Carnival Splendor New Zealand
Our tips to help you choose the right cruise
- The biggest ship isn’t always the best ship.
- Families should look closely at Carnival and Royal Caribbean.
- Couples seeking premium experiences will love Celebrity and Princess.
- Food lovers should investigate Oceania.
- Luxury travellers should compare Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn and Silversea.
- If you’re searching for the holiday you’ll still be talking about in twenty years, nothing currently matches a Kimberley expedition.
- And if you’re simply looking for value, remember that repositioning cruises often provide some of the best fares anywhere in the world.
Remember – book early or miss out
Cruise lines have become increasingly sophisticated in pricing.
The best fares usually appear when itineraries are first released, and the best cabins disappear quickly. Suite accommodation, popular expedition cruises and holiday sailings are often sold out more than a year before departure.
That means 2026 is no longer too early to begin planning your 2027 holiday.
In fact, for many of the cruises on this list, it’s exactly the right time.
After several years of uncertainty, Australian cruising is entering an exciting new chapter.
- More ships.
- More destinations.
- More luxury.
- More adventure.
And, perhaps most importantly, more reasons than ever to discover why cruising remains one of the smartest and most rewarding ways to see the world.
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