The best 25 cruise deals for the 2026/27 Australian cruise season – curated by experts

• The cruise season is fast approaching – which means there are a rush of deals.
• Cruise Passenger’s team of experts have curated a list of the 25 best for the season ahead.
• You’ll find the best sailings across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific for the summer ahead.

The cruise season kicks off next month. Crown Princess arrives in Sydney Harbour, and in October Celebrity Edge and Anthem of the Seas will join the party.

There won’t be many major changes from last season in terms of which ships and lines are operating; however, the presence of Disney Wonder will be missed after the line withdrew its Aussie operations for the time being.

Despite the lack of new ships, some key considerations to keep in mind for this season include…

• Enjoy your last chance for some Royal Caribbean itineraries. Royal Caribbean will pivot to directing most of its sailings towards its new private beach club in Vanuatu from next season. This means the time to enjoy sailings to Tasmania or the Great Barrier Reef is now.
• Carnival Adventure will go into dry-dock on February 10, and given that she’s heading to the USA the following year, some dramatic changes are expected. Depending on what you’re looking for, make sure you take advantage of your chance to enjoy her P&O-centric features while they’re still there, or get on her when she’s shiny and new after the dry dock.
• Luxury options are expanding. All sorts of luxury and premium cruise lines will sail in Australia this summer, such as Azamara, Oceania, Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, Ponant, Viking and more. If you’re thinking of trying luxury cruising out, there’s never been a better time.
• Celebrity Solstice received major upgrades in March earlier this year, meaning she now has a completely different look and some new features. If you’re craving something new, Solstice will feel like a new ship, even for those who have been onboard before.

While the season is about to start, there are still plenty of great last-minute deals to be found.

The Cruise Passenger team has got together and put together some deals, carefully curated based on value, uniqueness of itineraries, the ships sailed on, personal experience and more.

Family cruise deals

Carnival Cruise Line – Four-day Airlie Beach sailing – Brisbane roundtrip – multiple departure dates – Carnival Encounter – from $627 

This quick escape has great value and visits one of the most beautiful ports in Australia, Airlie Beach. Starting at just over $150 per person per night, it’s perfect for either your first taste of cruising or a quick escape and reset.

Carnival Cruise Line – Nine-day Vanuatu and New Caledonia Christmas cruise – Sydney roundtrip – departs December 17, 2027 – from $1949 

The trick to this cruise is that it’s a Christmas sailing, which is generally highly sought after and has a higher price than regular cruises. However, while some Christmas cruises for this year with Carnival are already starting from more than $300 a night, this cruise still offers great value, and you can spend your holiday season at sea in the South Pacific.

Carnival Cruise Line – 14-day Southeast Asia cruise – Sydney to Singapore – Carnival Adventure – departs January 27, 2027 – from $1683 

This sailing offers a great price and new destinations, taking advantage of Carnival Adventure’s upcoming dry dock to head out to Singapore. Guests will visit Airlie Beach, Darwin, Benoa and Lombok before ending up in Singapore, where you can explore more of Asia, or easily head fly home.

Carnival Cruise Line – 10- day New Zealand sailing – Sydney roundtrip – multiple departure dates – Carnival Splendor – from $1672

As other cruise lines see their prices for New Zealand climb, Carnival has by far the best value New Zealand cruise going with this 10-day sailing. Guests will visit Wellington, Lyttelton, Port Chalmers and Fiordland National Park.

Carnival Cruise Line Eight-day Vanuatu and New Caledonia – Brisbane round trip – multiple departure dates – Carnival Luminosa – from $980 

A Carnival trip out to the South Pacific might just be the best value international holiday going. Sailing out from Brisbane for just over $100 per person per day you can enjoy destinations like Lifou, Mystery Island and Noumea.

Royal Caribbean – four-day Hobart cruise – Sydney roundtrip – Anthem of the Seas – from $1198 – multiple departure dates

For a chance to enjoy Tassia while Royal Caribbean is still sailing there, this quick escape is perfect. You’ll get a few days at sea to enjoy all that can be found on Anthem of the Seas, as well as a great day out in Hobart. 1

Royal Caribbean – seven-day South Pacific cruise – Brisbane roundtrip – Quantum of the Seas – from $1299 – multiple departure dates 

This one-week sailing out to the South Pacific is a classic itinerary and one of Royal Caribbean’s best priced cruises for this week. At less than $200 per person per night guests can enjoy sailing out to the South Pacific with a stop at Mystery Island and Noumea, all in just one week’s worth of vacation.

Royal Caribbean 10-day New Zealand Cruise – Sydney Roundtrip – multiple departure dates – Anthem of the Seas – from $2699

In future seasons Royal Caribbean will look more towards Lelepa, so the time to check out NZ with Royal Caribbean is now. Enjoy ports like Picton, Christchurch, Dunedin, Dusky Sound, Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound.

Royal Caribbean – Eight-day – Queensland Cruise – Brisbane roundtrip – multiple departure dates – Quantum of the Seas – from $1262 

Out of Brisbane you can’t beat a classic Queensland cruise. Head out to Airlie Beach, Cairns and Willis Island for a week of enjoying the best Australia’s tropical north has to offer.

Norwegian Cruise Line – 11-day Australia cruise – Sydney roundtrip – Norwegian Spirit – leaves December 12, 2026 – from $1487

This NCL sailing offers incredible value for an exploration of Australia, clocking in at just over $100 a night. The cruise will sow you some of Australia’s best ports like Hobart, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island and Melbourne.

Premium cruise deals

Princess Cruises – 13-day Fiji cruise – Sydney roundtrip – Grand Princess – departs March 20, 2027 – from $2593 

This Fiji sailing offers a different view of the South Pacific, with the cruise visiting Lautoka, Suva and Dravuni Island in Fiji, before adding Mystery Island and Noumea as well. Prices are still starting from less than $200 per person per night making it a great last-minute cruise to snap up.

Princess Cruises – 8-day Tasmania cruise – Sydney roundtrip – Royal Princess – departs January 30, 2027 – from $2244

Apart from a reasonable price for what’s a very popular sailing with Princess, the key draw of this sailing is to visit some fun and unique Aussie ports. The cruise will stop at Melbourne and Hobart, but also in Eden and Port Arthur, meaning you’ll get to enjoy both larger cities and smaller coastal towns on your journey of just over a week.

Princess Cruises – 17-day Northern Explorer – Sydney to Perth – Grand Princess – leaves April 30, 2027 – from $4848

If you’re going to sail Princess, why not go all out and enjoy their far-ranging itineraries that they offer around Australia. This epic cruise takes you from Sydney to Perth, visiting Queensland, Darwin, Yampi Sound, Broome and more on the way.

Celebrity Cruises – 10-day Wine cruise – Sydney roundtrip – Celebrity Solstice – departs October 31, 2026 – from $3281 

While this isn’t necessarily the most price-friendly Celebrity cruise, this cruise is a great deal because it’s a chance to sail on the renovated Celebrity Solstice on a great domestic itinerary, and with the sailing in October, it’s a genuine last minute option. The cruise will visit Hobart, Kangaroo Island, Adelaide, Melbourne and Eden, with a special emphasis on food and wine experiences.

Celebrity Cruises – 11-day Great Barrier Reef cruise – Sydney roundtrip – Celebrity Edge – departments December 1, 2026 – from $2243

This Celebrity cruise takes you to The Great Barrier Reef, one of Australia’s premier cruise destinations, and can still be snapped up for just over $200 per person per night. The cruise will visit Airlie Beach, Cairns, Port Douglas and Willis Island through 11-nights of sailing.

Celebrity Cruises 15-day Fiji & Vanuatu – Sydney round trip – Celebrity Edge – leaves March 24, 2027 – from $3180 

Sail one of Australia’s favourite ships to see a different side of the South Pacific with two Fiji ports on this trip, Lautoka and Suva. You’ll also make other classic South Pacific stops like Noumea, Mystery Island, Lifou and more.

Holland America Line – 14-day Australia and New Zealand – Sydney to Auckland – multiple departure dates – Westerdam – from $2800 

As mentioned, Holland America has its specialty in one-way New Zealand sailings between Sydney and Auckland. It’s where the line shines and offers a longer and more immersive experience than most other lines.

Azamara Cruises – 16-night Australia and New Zealand cruise – Melbourne to Auckland- leaves January 4 – Azamara Pursuit – from $7299

To enjoy the small ship experience at a great price, opt for this sealing with Azamara. You’ll get to see New Zealand more intimately, visiting Milford Sound, Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Picton, Napier, Gisborne, Tauranga, Bay of Islands and Auckland, as well as some Aussie stops like Sydney and Eden.

Luxury and expedition cruise deals

Silversea – 18-day Singapore to Melbourne – leaves November 22, 2026 – Silver Moon  – from $12,560 

If you’re sailing on a smaller ship it’s always a good idea to take advantage of the different itineraries they can offer. This great sailing from Singapore visits Bali, Fremantle, Busselton, Albany, Port Lincoln and Adelaide before finishing up in Melbourne.

Oceania Cruises 18-days Papeete to Sydney – leaves February 8, 2027 – Oceania Vista – from $14,440 per guest 

These world class sailing will take you round to all sorts of unique ports, offering a fresh take on the South Pacific. Guests will visit French Polynesia, the Cook Islands, American Samoa, Fiji, New Caledonia and more.

Regent Seven Seas – 16-nights Bali to Sydney – leaves Dec 3, 2026 – Seven Seas Explorer from $13,624 

This Regent sailing brings together their ultimate luxury offering with a good dose of exploration. Guests will be whisked off to Lombok, Komodo, Darwin, Cooktown, Cairns, Townsville, Airlie Beach and more.

Viking Cruises – 15-day Australia and New Zealand – multiple departure dates – Viking Orion – from $12,995

This classic Aussie Viking sailing is a reliable option year-in year-out, and it’s hard to find a line you can count on more than Viking. Guests will swing through Melbourne, Tasmania, Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington and more, with plenty of scenic cruising spliced in as well.

Ponant – 13-nights Singapore to Darwin – leaves March 16, 2027 – Le Paul Gauguin – from $11,630 

True explorers won’t be able to ignore this Poignant sailing between Singapore and Darwin. Guests will visit all sorts of unique stops like Parai Beach, Semarang, Surabaya, Bali, Dili, Darwin and more.

Crystal Cruises – 15-nights Auckland to Brisbane – leaves March 3, 2027 – Crystal Serenity – from $18,000 

This Crystal sailing combines luxurious and traditional cruising with a great exploration of New Zealand. Visits included Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Lyttelton, Port Chalmers, Dusky Sound, Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound.

Coral Expeditions – 18-nights Great Australian Bight – leaves February 18, 2027 – Coral Adventurer – from $13,970

For a true small ship experience that can visit all kinds of destinations, Coral Expeditions are hard to beat. This winding itinerary visits Rottnest Island, Busselton, Augusta, Albany, Woody Island, Lucky Bay, Banda Cliffs, Kangaroo Island, Coffin Bay, Robe, Port Fairy and many more undiscovered Aussie gems.