Ultimate Guide To Christmas Cruising From Australia

1 Aug 2024

Christmas cruising from Australia offers a unique way to celebrate the yuletide season as summer in this region coincides with the holidays. Consequently, cruising from down under is not much of a winter wonderland vibe but a sun-drenching escapade aboard ‘floating hotels’.

Quantum of the Seas highlights Christmas cruising from Australia offering in time of the upcoming holidays. — Celebrating Christmas onboard Quantum of the Seas. *Image from RCI*

For the upcoming holidays, various cruise lines have crafted and highlighted Christmas specials for all ages and every traveller’s taste and preference.

For cruise enthusiasts seeking luxury at sea during the Christmas season, Oceania and Regent Seven Seas feature sailings capitalising on exquisite cuisines and indulgent voyages. For families and thrill-seekers onboard, Royal Caribbean International and Norwegian Cruise Line always offer best-value deals. On the other hand, for those wanting to feel the Christmas vibe with festive decors and programmes, Princess Cruises will always be on top of the list. On the other hand, for cruisers wanting to have a more culturally enriched and intimate holiday experience, Ponant has some featured destinations perfect for the holiday season.

This ultimate guide to Christmas cruising from Australia lays down the best options for Aussie travellers and cruisers to trade the usual holiday preps with a bucket-listed and much-deserved seacation.

Royal Caribbean Christmas cruises

10-night New Zealand Holiday Cruise

This 10-night cruise from Royal Caribbean is one of the line’s holiday offerings aboard Ovation of the Seas. This roundtrip sailing from Sydney features the best of New Zealand featuring five port visits. This voyage is scheduled to depart Sydney on December 18.

Itineraries

Day 1 Sydney

Day 2 Sea Day

Day 3 Sea Day

Day 4 Picton

Day 5 Napier

Day 6 Lyttelton

Day 7 Dunedin

Day 8 Dusky Sound, Doubtful Sound, Milford Sound

Day 9 Sea Day

Day 10 Sea Day

Day 11 Sydney

7-night South Pacific Holiday Cruise

Royal Caribbean highlights its Christmas cruising from Australia offering via a 7-night South Pacific Holiday Cruise scheduled on December 21. This roundtrip cruise from Brisbane aboard Quantum of the Seas includes visits to Port Vila and Mystery Island.

Itinerary

Day 1 Brisbane

Day 2 Sea Day

Day 3 Sea Day

Day 4 Mystery Island, Vanuatu

Day 5 Port Vila, Vanuatu

Day 6 Sea Day

Day 7 Sea Day

Day 8 Brisbane

Oceania Cruises

20-day Wonders of Australia

Oceania Cruises highlights a 20-day Wonders of Australia cruise as part of its Christmas cruising from Australia offering scheduled on December 22. This voyage is truly a treat as guests get to celebrate Christmas Eve in Brisbane and New Year’s Eve in Darwin. This Sydney to Perth cruise also features a New Year experience on the stunning beaches of Bali, Indonesia.

Itineraries

Day 1 Sydney

Day 2 Cruising the Coral Sea

Day 3 Brisbane

Day 4 Cruising the Coral Sea

Day 5 Whitsunday Island

Day 6 Cairns

Day 7 Cooktown

Day 8 Cruising the Coral Sea

Day 9 Cruising the Arafura Sea

Day 10 Darwin

Day 11 Cruising the Timor Sea

Day 12 Cruising the Timor Sea

Day 13 Bali

Day 14 Bali

Day 15 Lombok

Day 16 Komodo

Day 17 Cruising the Indian Ocean

Day 18 Cruising the Indian Ocean

Day 19 Cruising the Indian Ocean

Day 20 Perth

Day 21 Perth

Regent Seven Seas

14-day A Holiday Down Under

For cruise enthusiasts seeking an all-inclusive luxury cruise on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, Regent’s 14-day A Holiday Down Under cruise is up for grabs for discerning and affluent travellers. With up to 40 shore excursions included, this two-week Sydney to Auckland voyage aboard Seven Seas Explorer is scheduled to depart from its port of embarkation on December 20.

Itineraries

Day 1 Sydney

Day 2 Cruising The Tasman Sea

Day 3 Melbourne

Day 4 Cruising The Bass Strait

Day 5 Hobart

Day 6 Cruising The Tasman Sea

Day 7 Cruising The Tasman Sea

Day 8 Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, And Dusky Sound

Day 9 Dunedin

Day 10 Akaroa

Day 11 Wellington

Day 12 Napier

Day 13 Rotorua

Day 14 Bay of Islands

Day 15 Auckland

Princess Cruises

12-Day Southern Australia Explorer

Princess Cruises has lined up several well-crafted itineraries to highlight its Christmas cruising from Australia offerings. And for travellers and cruise enthusiasts, one way to celebrate Christmas Eve away from home is a 12-Day Southern Australia Explorer seacation. This roundtrip cruise from Sydney aboard Crown Princess departs on December 14 and is bound to visit 6 ports before disembarkation.

Itineraries

Day 1 Sydney

Day 2 At Sea

Day 3 Melbourne

Day 4 At Sea

Day 5 Kangaroo Island

Day 6 Adelaide

Day 7 Port Lincoln

Day 8 At Sea

Day 9 At Sea

Day 10 Hobart

Day 11 Port Arthur

Day 12 At Sea

Day 13 Sydney

14-Day New Zealand

For Aussie cruisers seeking a long seacation away from the hustle and bustle of a busy life and wishing to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Eve at sea, Princess’ 14-Day New Zealand cruise is the ideal one for you. This roundtrip cruise from Brisbane via Diamond Princess departs on December 20. This Christmas cruising from Australia holiday deal features the best of what New Zealand has to offer.

Itineraries

Day 1 Brisbane

Day 2 At Sea

Day 3 At Sea

Day 4 At Sea

Day 5 Auckland

Day 6 At Sea

Day 7 Napier

Day 8 Picton

Day 9 Lyttelton

Day 10 Port Chalmers

Day 11 Fiordland National Park

Day 12 At Sea

Day 13 At Sea

Day 14 At Sea

Day 15 Brisbane

Ponant

10-night Food, Wine & Yacht Race in Tasmania

For cruise enthusiasts seeking to explore and experience the best of Tasmania’s natural coastal gems, Ponant is highlighting a perfect seacation via a 10-night Food, Wine & Yacht Race in Tasmania aboard Le Jacques-Cartier. This roundtrip cruise from Hobart is scheduled to depart on December 23 which allows discerning guests to celebrate both Christmas and New Year’s Eve onboard.

Itineraries

Day 1 Hobart

Day 2 Maria Island

Day 3 Tasman Peninsula

Day 4 At Sea

Day 5 Stanley

Day 6 King Island

Day 7 Tamar Valley

Day 8 Promise Bay

Day 9 Sailing Tasman Peninsula

Day 10 Hobart

Day 11 Hobart

Norwegian Cruise Line

14-day Australia & New Zealand

Norwegian Cruise Line crafted an array of Christmas offerings for 2024. One of its highlighted deals is the 14-day Australia & New Zealand cruise via Norwegian Sun. This one-way trip from Melbourne features 11 ports of call and the chance to experience both Christmas and New Year’s Eve at sea away from the hustle of holiday preps. Furthermore, this two-week sailing Melbourne to Auckland cruise is set to depart on December 21.