Cruises from White Bay Cruise Terminal 2025, 2026

Here is the official White Bay Cruise Terminal schedule for the upcoming wave season

White Bay Cruise Terminal is one of two dedicated cruise passenger terminals in Sydney Harbour. As the new wave season approaches, find out everything you need to know, like how to get to the White Bay Cruise Terminal.

White Bay Cruise Terminal is designed for mid-sized ships – vessels that are able to pass under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Larger ships are homeported in the Overseas Passenger Terminal, the other dedicated cruise ship terminal in Sydney Harbour, located at Circular Quay.

After cruising past the Sydney Opera House and under the Harbour Bridge, the dock is located just beyond the Anzac Bridge in the city’s inner west. The terminal, at 2041 James Craig Rd, Rozelle, is at the eastern end of the White Bay wharves on the northern shore of White Bay.

Port Authority — Cruise ship docks at White Bay Cruise Terminal

Popular WBCT Cruise Destination

White Bay Cruise Terminal is the Sydney base for a lot of mid-sized and luxury cruise lines. You’ll find ships from Carnival, Viking Ocean, Azamara, AIDA, Holland America, Silversea, NCL, Oceania, Windstar, Regent Seven Seas, and even Disney docking here throughout the season.

Just a heads-up: Sydney has two cruise terminals, and they’re not exactly next door to each other. White Bay and the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay are about a 15–20-minute drive apart, depending on traffic. So it’s always worth checking which one your cruise is leaving from before you book your ride.

WBCT Cruise Schedule

Here’s what’s coming and going from White Bay Cruise Terminal this April. Just a heads-up: schedules can change (weather, delays, the usual), so it’s always smart to double-check with your cruise line before packing your bags.

Vessel	Arrival	Departure	Berth name	Cruise line
Carnival Adventure	11/04/2025 5:00	11/04/2025 16:00	White Bay Cruise Terminal	CARNIVAL PLC
Insignia	19/05/2025 08:00	20/05/2025 16:00	White Bay Cruise Terminal	OCEANIA CRUISES LTD
Carnival Adventure	23/06/2025 04:30	23/06/2025 16:00	White Bay Cruise Terminal	CARNIVAL PLC
Carnival Adventure	05/07/2025 6:30	05/07/2025 16:00	White Bay Cruise Terminal	CARNIVAL PLC
Carnival Adventure	22/08/2025 06:30	22/08/2025 16:00	White Bay Cruise Terminal	CARNIVAL PLC
Carnival Adventure	25/08/2025 06:00	25/08/2025 16:00	White Bay Cruise Terminal	CARNIVAL PLC
Carnival Adventure	26/09/2025 06:30	26/09/2025 16:00	White Bay Cruise Terminal	CARNIVAL PLC
Carnival Adventure	09/10/2025 6:30	09/10/2025 16:00	White Bay Cruise Terminal	CARNIVAL PLC

If you need live updates, you can always check the full Sydney cruise schedule here.

April is mostly a Carnival Adventure show at White Bay. Most other cruise lines dock over at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Circular Quay (especially the big ones that can’t fit under the bridge).

How to get to WBCT

Getting to White Bay isn’t too tricky, but it’s not as central as Circular Quay, so it pays to plan ahead (especially if you’re hauling luggage or arriving from out of town).

From Sydney Airport

Landing at Sydney Kingsford Smith? You’ve got a few options:

Taxi: Easy to find at the rank, takes about 30–40 minutes depending on traffic.
Rideshare: Uber, Ola, DiDi, Shebah — all operate at the airport. Just follow the signs to the rideshare pickup area.
Shuttle services: Companies like Redy2GO and Con-X-ion run shared rides to the terminal. Good if you don’t mind a few extra stops.

From the city

Taxi or rideshare: From the CBD, you’re looking at around 15–20 minutes by car. Super easy.
Public transport: This bit’s not ideal. There’s no train or ferry to White Bay. The light rail and some 500-series buses get you kinda close, but you’ll still have to walk 20–35 minutes from the stop, not great with suitcases.
Rozelle Bay Metro station is under construction and will eventually make things easier, but as of 2025, it’s still not open.

From Central Station

If you’re coming in on the XPT or regional trains, you’ll arrive at Central. From there:

Grab a taxi or rideshare — it’s the easiest.
Or, if you’re feeling ambitious, you can light rail it partway and walk the rest… just be warned it’s not the most luggage-friendly route.

Driving yourself?

You’ll need to enter via James Craig Road (off The Crescent). Don’t try going through Balmain — Robert Street looks tempting on Google Maps, but it’s closed to general traffic. There’s a short-term drop-off zone at the terminal, but no long-term parking, so plan ahead if someone’s dropping you off.

One last thing…

Double-check which terminal your cruise uses. Sydney’s got two: White Bay and the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay. They’re about 20 minutes apart, and mixing them up is the fastest way to miss your ship.

White Bay Cruise Terminal Access Map — The WBCT access map courtesy of the NSW Government

Car Parking at WBCT

There’s no long-term parking at White Bay Cruise Terminal. So if you were hoping to just roll up, park your car for a week, and sail off, you can’t do that.

That said, here’s what is available:

Quick drop-off and pick-up

There’s a short drop-off/pick-up zone right outside the terminal. You’ve got about two minutes to unload, hug your loved ones, and go (someone needs to stay with the car).

There’s also a small short-stay car park nearby if you’re running early or waiting to collect someone, but that’s only good for 15 minutes max.

Long-term parking nearby

For anything longer, you’ll need to park elsewhere and make your way in. These are your best bets:

Wilson Parking at Harbourside (Pyrmont) or Darling Park (Sussex Street)
Both offer cruise parking deals (4 to 30 days), and you can book online in advance. From there, it’s about a 10–15 minute drive to White Bay, so you’ll still need a cab or rideshare to finish the journey.
Park & Cruise (Turrella)
This one’s a bit further out, but they offer secure parking and a shuttle to the terminal. It’s more of a park-and-go setup — good if you want a smoother ride with less planning.

Street parking

Some people try their luck with street parking around Balmain and Rozelle — Robert Street gets mentioned a lot — but honestly, it’s a gamble. Spots are limited, and it’s not really ideal for leaving your car while you’re off on a cruise.

Tip: If you’re cruising during peak season, book your parking early. Spots fill up fast, and Sydney traffic is no joke.

Hotels Close to WBCT

If you’re coming in from out of town (or just want to avoid rushing to the port), there are plenty of solid hotel options near White Bay Cruise Terminal. None are right next door, so you’ll still need a short ride to the ship.

Here are a few crowd favourites:

Novotel Sydney Darling Harbour – About 1.7 km from the terminal. Good mid-range option with views over the harbour and easy access to restaurants and shops.
Hyatt Regency Sydney – A hit with cruisers. It’s around 2.2 km from White Bay and super central if you want to explore the city before or after your trip.
Four Seasons, Shangri-La, and Sofitel Wentworth – All sit under 3 km from the terminal and offer those fancy extras if you’re in pre-cruise holiday mode already.
The Star Grand Hotel in Pyrmont – Closer than most and packed with entertainment if you’re up for a night out before you set sail.
Ibis Darling Harbour – Budget-friendly, clean, and just over a kilometre away. Great if you’d rather spend your money onboard.
Ovolo Woolloomooloo – A bit further out, but worth it if you like boutique hotels with a quirky twist.

Tip: White Bay isn’t really walkable from most hotels (unless you’re travelling light and like a challenge), so factor in a taxi or Uber when choosing where to stay.

White Bay Cruise Terminal Cruise Deals

Looking to set sail from Sydney without breaking the bank? Whether you’re eyeing a last-minute 2025 escape or getting in early for 2026, there are plenty of deals floating around — you just need to know where to look.

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Splendor is locked in for both 2025 and 2026, offering everything from weekend getaways to classic South Pacific itineraries.

Current 2025 highlights:

3-night Weekend Sampler – from $459 pp
4-night Moreton Island Escape – from $509 pp
7-night South Pacific Cruise – from $829 pp

Similar itineraries are already listed for 2026, but pricing’s still premium. Expect deals to drop closer to sail dates (or in flash sales around mid-2025).

Viking Ocean Cruises

For something slower-paced and more “grown-up,” Viking runs a handful of high-end itineraries from White Bay — mostly long-hauls with loads of inclusions.

Examples:

15-day Australia & NZ – from $6,795 pp (Jan–Feb 2025)
More late 2025 and early 2026 routes coming soon

Disney Cruise Line

Disney is back in 2025 and returning in late 2026. These book up fast (especially school holidays), so don’t hang about.

Sample sailings:

4-night Seacation – from $1,055 pp (Nov 2025)
7-night Queensland Coast – from $1,939 pp (Dec 2025)
2026 itineraries are expected to go live in mid-2025

Azamara & Others

Smaller lines like Azamara, Windstar, Oceania, and Regent Seven Seas don’t run constant schedules from White Bay, but when they do show up, the value can be great, especially for longer itineraries with more time in port.

Deal Tips

Keep an eye on last-minute fares from Carnival — they drop prices closer to sail day if cabins are still free.

Also, most cruise lines release those itineraries 12–18 months in advance, so you’ll start seeing better pricing and earlybird perks from mid-2025. Generally, shoulder seasons (Feb/March, Oct/Nov) often come with better rates and fewer crowds.

Just be sure to sign up for cruise line newsletters or follow their socials for all the up to date information!

WBCT Cruising FAQs

Can I drop my bags off early?

Yep. There’s a baggage drop right at the terminal, and it usually opens a few hours before your cruise departs (around 9 AM-ish for most lines). Just make sure you’ve got your tags on and don’t show up too early, because they won’t take bags before check-in opens.

Any food or coffee at the terminal?

There’s usually a small café or coffee stand running on cruise days, but don’t count on a full meal. If you’re picky (or hungry), grab something before you get there.