Unsure about cruising Europe this year? Here are five places to sail instead

• As conflict in Iran continues, many Aussies aren’t sure if they’ll still make it to Europe this winter for their Euro summer travels.
• This is due to disrupted flight connections through the Middle East, which hit cruisers particularly hard as they have less flexible travel dates.
• If your Europe plans aren’t looking likely, here’s where to go this year instead.

Many Australians who had a planned summer of travel in Europe have seen their plans thrown into doubt due to the USA’s war on Iran in the Middle East. This has lead to thousands of cancelled flights, countries closing airspace, strict travel warnings from the Australian government and more.

This is a major hurdle for many Aussies as a flight through the Middle East is the preferred way to arrive in Europe for many. 

Lines like Qantas, Virgin, British Airways, Emirate, Etihad and more all stop in locations such as Dubai or Doha on their way to Europe. With all indications appearing to show that the conflict is set to continue, this means that Aussies who thought they had their Europe flights locked in might be left without a way to arrive.

If you’re looking for alternative ways to get to Europe, Cruise Passenger already has you covered with a guide on all the other ways to fly from Australia to Europe.

However, if you’re reconsidering your travel plans, or fear you’ll be unable to find a seat on an alternative flight, you might want to turn your eyes elsewhere and cruise somewhere new.

While a classic European cruise is hard to beat, there are other options, both local and international, that can offer something new and give you the peace of mind of not having to worry about flight interruptions.
Here are a few alternatives for your travels over the coming months.

Alaska

Generally setting sail out of Seattle or Vancouver, two easy-to-reach destinations for Aussies, Alaska cruises are a feature on many bucket lists. It’s a cruise where you’ll truly see a post card worthy view wherever you look.

Guests can see anything from whales leaping out of water to grizzly bears hunting down salmon, as they travel to a unique and wild part of the world.

The season runs in line with the European season from May through to September and just about every cruise line you could imagine offers Alaska itineraries. A seven-night cruise with a line like Carnival or Royal Caribbean may start from around $1200 total, but NCL, Celebrity Cruises, Disney, Holland America Line, Princess, Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas and more all sail in Alaska, so you won’t be short on options. 

How to get there: Fly via the USA (Los Angles or Seattle) or Canada (Vancouver) using Qantas, United Airlines, Delta or Air Canada.

The Kimberley 

You can see some of the world’s most rugged and untouched scenery without ever leaving Australia, with the season running from about April to September.

It should be mentioned that straight away that this is not a budget destination, here you’ll find expedition and luxury cruise lines like Seabourn, Ponant, Silversea, Scenic, Coral Expeditions and more. A voyage of 10-days or more will often come out to more than $10,000 per person, but the deals are around if you look and you can often find a slightly shorter cruise for about $6000 per person.

However, those who do make the trip will be rewarded with amazing scenery and wildlife, with red towering sea cliffs, thundering waterfalls and bright coral reefs all dotted throughout the region. 

How to get there: Internal flights or cruise.

The South Pacific 

While options are limited for Aussies to head out to the South Pacific over the winter months, Carnival Cruises do offer these sailings year round, often starting as low as $100-115 per day. Heading to the South Pacific in these months has the double bonus of getting to escape the Aussie winter for a couple of weeks, as well as a much lower chance of running into bad weather or even cyclones, when compared to the summer.

Carnival offers plenty of options out to New Caledonia and Vanuatu, leaving from either Sydney or Brisbane. 

This is by far the most economical option on the list, but also offers little flexibility as Carnival is the only line consistently sailing over the winter months. If you want a longer holiday you could cruise back to back and combine your cruise with a trip to Queensland or simply a weekend getaway for a few extra days at sea.

How to get there: Cruise or fly.

Japan 

Japan is always a popular travel option for Aussies, with plenty of sightseeing and culture to be enjoyed. It’s also an easy place to find a cruise with your favourite line because Princess, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean and NCL all offer sailings. 

Princess is generally a stand out for Japan, as they have plenty of ships stationed in Asia and sail the full Japanese season, often offering the chances to sync up your sailing with major Japanese festivals, the cherry blossom season and more. 

The cherry blossom season runs from March to May, with June to August offering warmer months and October and November offering more of an Autumn look and feel. 

You’re generally looking at around $200 a night in Japan with a line like Princess or Royal Caribbean and it’s a fantastic alternative for those going cold on their Europe plans.

How to get there: Cruise or fly.

China

While China isn’t well known as a cruise destination, this could be set to change soon. Aussies have been flocking to China since visa-free travel was announced and the trend looks set to continue. 

As China’s tourism grows, its cruise industry is as well, with cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises looking to grow in the region, with Royal Caribbean already sailing year round.

Flights to China also prove surprisingly cheap due to China’s low cost carriers such as China Eastern and China Southern offering great prices year-round, with options in the $750-850 return range generally up for grabs.

Cruises from China with lines like Royal Caribbean generally go into either Japan or South Korea, meaning you get a mix of different Asian cuisines and cultures on your trip. 

While China is a bit out of left field for a cruise, it’s a growing destination and is worth considering if you’re thinking about ditching Europe this winter.

How to get there: Fly with one of at least six airlines flying out of Australia right now.