Melbourne is fast becoming a major port for lines like Princess Cruises, Cunard as well as P&O to send their ships to in 2019.

This week, the premium/luxury cruise line announced it would be homeporting the stunning Celebrity Eclipse in Melbourne from 2020/21 (sadly, it’s a little while away). And there’s even talk of Royal Caribbean possibly homeporting one of their fleet in the culture capital of Australia.

Here are some of the cruise ships you can step aboard for a homeported ships from Melbourne in 2019.

Princess Cruises

Golden Princess

Princess Cruises, one of Australia’s favourite lines, homeported the Golden Princess in Melbourne several years ago. It’s the first ship in the fleet to call Melbourne home and she sails on several cruises which includes calls to Phillip Island in Victoria, Port Lincoln, Kangaroo Island as well as Adelaide in South Australia.

The line also offers six-day cruises like the Southern Australia & Tasmania itineraries which call at Hobart in Tasmania as well as Kangaroo Island, Port Lincoln as well Adelaide. The ship also departs from Melbourne for the 2019 season and heads north to Sydney, Airlie Beach, Yorkeys Knob, Port Douglas, Willis Island, Brisbane in Queensland before heading back to Newcastle.

Golden Princess
Golden Princess is the first ship in the Princess Cruises fleet to call Melbourne home

Some of the things you’ll find onboard include the famous Crown Grill which has been named among one of the Best Cruise Ship Steakhouses by USA Today where you can get some premium aged beef and fresh seafood dishes. After a sumptuous dinner, you’ll be able to watch some of the best Broadway-style shows, which Princess Cruises is known for.

P&O

Pacific Dawn

The Pacific Dawn departs on a number of cruises from Melbourne which includes a special Christmas cruise. She’ll take you to Kangaroo Island in South Australia as well as Hobart and Port Arthur in Tasmania. And you’ll spend Christmas onboard the ship where the entire family can try out zipling at the P&O Edge park, the liquorice parfait and crab omelette at Luke Mangan’s Salt Grill and much more. Also departing from Melbourne, guests can head on a 14-night South Pacific getaway which will visit beautiful destinations like Noumea, Port Denarau, Mystery Island and Isle of Pines.

Pacific Dawn, Melbourne
The Pacific Dawn departs on a number of cruises from Melbourne which includes a special Christmas cruise

The line also offers short cruise getaways, perfect for a short holiday out of the city. The Pacific Dawn will be sailing on these itineraries from 2019.

Cunard

Queen Elizabeth

Starting her inaugural season in December, Queen Elizabeth’s arrival is one of the most anticipated this year. She’ll be homeporting in Melbourne until April next year, following similar routes to her Carnival Corporation sister brands.

In the beginning of 2019, some of the cruises still available include a Fremantle to Melbourne cruise which will call at Busselton as well as Adelaide. She’ll also be visiting other destinations in the east like Kangaroo Island, Hobart as well as Burnie. From Melbourne, the stunning ship also will embark on a New Zealand and Tasmania cruise which will call at Burnie, Hobart and Port Arthur in Tasmania as well as Fiordland, Dunedin, Akaroa, Wellington, Auckland and Bay of Islands. Like the rest of her sisters, she has undergone a refurbishment which includes changes to the accommodation as well as public spaces. She now has a rich and lush art deco vibe.

Queen Elizabeth, Cunard
Queen Elizabeth will be homeporting in Melbourne until April next year

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Eclipse

This week, Celebrity Cruises revealed it would be basing the Celebrity Eclipse in Melbourne during the 2020/21 summer season. She’ll first undergo a $700 million and the line will update the accommodation offerings as well as public spaces. Guests will also be able to try out the new culinary programs. She’ll start sailing from December 23, 2020 and will be sailing until April 2021. Her itineraries will include seven round-trip sailings between eight and 14 nights to destinations like New Zealand and the South Pacific. And she’ll be visiting other places around Australia like Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia.

Celebrity Eclipse, homeported in Melbourne
This week, Celebrity Cruises revealed it would be basing the Celebrity Eclipse in Melbourne during the 2020/21 summer season