It’s lonely on Sydney Harbour now that the cruise season has officially ended, but thanks to Carnival Australia we still see ships regularly from P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises that are based here all year round.

When our next cruise season starts at the end of spring, we will see a plethora of ships heading to our shores. Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and the many other ships visiting Australia as part of their world voyages.

This is my favourite time of the year when Sydney Harbour lights up with the ships’ presence. Many of the regular cruise ships are introducing three-night cruises to nowhere, which I am most definitely in favour of. The shorter cruises give first time cruisers an opportunity to experience the delights of cruising without the stress of committing to longer voyages.

These short cruises sell out fast, so I suggest you talk to your cruise specialist travel agent now to ensure your place on one of these sampler cruises. A tip: Try a different line to what you have previously cruised on to experience the subtle differences between cruise lines – this will satisfy your cruise fix!