It’s finally happening! Australia’s Cruise ban has been lifted and two major cruise companies have confirmed itineraries from Australian ports.

Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean revealed this week, Australian and New Zealand voyages for 2022 and 2023 for both the Coral Princess and Enchantment of the Seas.

Coral Princess will start sailing from Brisbane on June 16, 2022 while Enchantment of the Seas will arrive a bit later in Sydney on October 22, 2023 and will make maiden calls at Kangaroo Island in South Australia and Gladstone in Queensland.

Now before you get too excited and start packing your bags, here’s a simple guide to help you choose which cruise ship to book.

Coral Princess vs Enchantment of the Sea

Ships

Coral Princess made its debut in 2003 and was refurbished in 2019. The 16-deck ship was custom built to navigate the historic Panama Canal, but also regularly used by Princess Cruises on its regular voyages to Alaska, Caribbean, and North America.

Enchantment of the Seas is a bit older. It made its debut in 1997 and was overhauled in 2005. It has 11 passenger decks and is used by Royal Caribbean on its regular voyages in the Caribbean, Alaska, and Australia.

Accommodation

Coral Princess can accommodate up to 2,000 guests and 895 crew members. It has a 1,000 total number of staterooms including 208 suites and 527 balcony staterooms. The Interior Room (158 x 162 sq ft) is the most affordable option that comes with a comfortable queen or two twin beds, refrigerator, flat panel TV, and other basic amenities. On the other hand, the most expensive is the Suite (460 x 932 sq. ft) that includes a balcony, furniture, floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, complimentary mini-bar setup and other luxurious amenities.

Meanwhile, Enchantment of the Seas has a bit higher number of staterooms. The total number of rooms is 1,142 including 94 suites, 154 balcony, 431 ocean views and 463 inside. The inside room is 126 sq. ft, which is bit smaller than Coral Princess. Its most expensive stateroom is the Royal Suite, coming in at just more than 1,000 sq. ft with a 172 sq. ft balcony. It can accommodate four guests with separate living room and bedroom, and lots of furniture and extra seating.

Dining

Coral Princess has at least six dining hubs onboard on top of 24-hr room service. Specialty dining options are available such as an Italian restaurant, a steakhouse, and a luxurious breakfast on your own balcony.

Enchantment of the Seas features a main dining room, which is a multi-level restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are also five other dining hubs and a 24-hour room service is also available.

Activities

Coral Princess has a multitude of onboard activities that will keep you engaged during sea days: Vegas Style Casino, shops, sports court, freshwater pools, and hot tubs. If you are traveling with kids, you can sign them up to the Discover at SEA Programs.

Enchantment of the Seas offers more activities. It features 43 activities and shows onboard including pool parties, live bands, arcade, casino, outdoor movie nights, and even game shows. There are also special programs for kids and teens.

Public Spaces

Dubbed as the heart and soul of Coral Princess, The Atrium is the main public space aboard the ship. The piazza-style atrium is designed as the epicenter of luxury, excitement and fun. Guests can visit the Atrium anytime of the day to relax, listen to musicians, or watch acrobats. The ship also has spas, fitness centres, pool decks, and a special area exclusive for adults.

Enchantment of the Seas has at least seven special areas that are open for guests. This includes bars, lounges, and a solarium.

The Princess Luxury Bed SLEEP by Princess The Sanctuary Lotus Spa®Lotus Spa® Fitness Cente

Itineraries

Coral Princess is set to cruise in 70 itineraries in Australia and New Zealand from the no-frills 2-day Australia Getaway (Sydney to Brisbane) to the 28-Day Round Australia (Roundtrip from Perth).

Enchantment of the Seas is also now accepting passengers for its cruises from the 5-Night Tasmania Cruise (From Sydney) to the 17-Night Transpacific Cruise (Sydney to Hawaii).

Price Comparison

To provide you a price comparison between the two cruise ships, here’s a price estimate for a 7-day cruise.

Coral Princess: 7-Day Queensland (Roundtrip from Brisbane). Scheduled for July 2022 and covers Brisbane, Airlie Beach, Cairns, Port Douglas, and Willis Island. Price: A$557
Enchantment of the Seas: 7 Night Tasmania Cruise (Roundtrip from Sydney). Scheduled for October 2023 and covers Sydney, Eden, Hobart, and Newcastle. Price: A$683