- The Murray River is gearing up for its first major influx of luxury river cruisers.
- Australian Star is already on the water ahead of its official launch. We have the first pictures of her interiors.
- She is sold out for the rest of the year, its owners have revealed.
Australia’s first five-star paddle steamer has sold every cabin for 2026 before carrying her first paying passengers. Cruise Passenger has the first photographs of Australian Star sailing on the Murray River and the interiors of the finished ship.
Australian Star’s entire 2026 program is sold out across departures operated by Murray River Paddlesteamers and its new majority owner, APT Travel Group.
The $11 million ship is already sailing on the Murray ahead of her inaugural three-night cruise from Echuca on September 18.
The sell-out is a strong vote of confidence in a vessel carrying the hopes of its owners, and governments on both sides of the river, that the Murray can become a genuine luxury river cruise destination.
“Bookings for 2027 are also very encouraging, with strong forward sales already across both programs, although there is still availability on selected 2027 departures,” Murray River Paddlesteamers director Craig Burgess told Cruise Passenger.
“We’re also seeing good forward interest for 2028, which gives us a lot of confidence that Australian Star is going to establish itself as a unique Australian cruising experience.”
The first actual interior photographs, revealed exclusively by Cruise Passenger, show the completed Hopwood Bar & Lounge and Randell Dining Room. They replace the artist’s renderings that have accompanied the project during its long construction.
The contemporary interiors underline the pitch behind Australian Star: the romance and sounds of an old Murray paddlesteamer combined with the comforts expected aboard a modern small luxury ship.
She carries a maximum of only 38 guests in 19 ensuite, air-conditioned cabins. There is a lift between decks, Wi-Fi, several outdoor areas and public rooms designed to keep passengers connected to the passing river landscape.
At the heart of the ship is an original 1907 wood-fired steam engine, incorporated into an energy-efficient hybrid diesel and steam propulsion system.
“There is something very special about travelling the Murray aboard a paddlesteamer powered in part by an original 1907 steam engine,” Mr Burgess said.
“Guests get the romance, sound and atmosphere of steam-powered river travel without sacrificing modern comfort.”
Australian Star will operate three-, four- and seven-night cruises from Echuca. Mr Burgess said most passengers booked so far were Australian, led by travellers from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, although international interest was growing through APT and Travelmarvel.
And while the paddlesteamer story has obvious nostalgic appeal, the new ship is attracting more than traditional history enthusiasts.
“We’re seeing couples, special-occasion travellers and people looking for slower, more immersive Australian travel experiences,” he said.
“There is a growing appetite for experiences that are authentic, regional and a little different from conventional cruising.”
APT backs the Murray
The launch follows APT Travel Group’s acquisition of a majority stake in Murray River Paddlesteamers in June.
The deal brought Australian Star, the overnight paddlesteamer Emmylou and the historic day-cruise vessel Canberra into APT’s portfolio as the Melbourne-founded company prepares to celebrate its centenary in 2027.
APT chief executive David Cox has also spoken of plans for another Murray riverboat, making the investment far more than a one-ship experiment.
Australian Star has received $2.25 million from the Victorian Government’s Regional Tourism Investment Fund. Cruise Passenger previously reported that another proposed luxury paddle steamer, Australian Sky, is planned to operate from Mildura, with longer itineraries ultimately connecting north-west Victoria and South Australia.
Governments and regional tourism authorities see the ships as catalysts for accommodation, hospitality and visitor spending in river communities. However, building a sustainable cruise destination will also require reliable infrastructure, compelling shore experiences and continuing cooperation between Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia.
Australian Star’s excursions are deliberately rooted in the region. Guests will visit St Anne’s Winery and the Great Aussie Beer Shed & Heritage Farm Museum, while Murray Gums Estate vineyard and winery will offer an experience exclusive to Murray River Paddlesteamers passengers.
Depending on the itinerary, cruises can also include historic properties, local produce, guided tours, riverside events and evenings beneath the river’s famously expansive skies.
“Australian Star is not simply about cruising along the Murray,” Mr Burgess said. “It’s about stepping ashore and discovering the people, places and stories that make this part of Australia so special.”
When can you book?
With 2026 gone, selected Australian Star departures remain available in 2027 and 2028.
Couples can currently save $500 on three-, four- and seven-night cruises. Prices start at $3045 per person for three nights, $4145 for four nights and $6745 for seven nights.
Seven-night bookings also include a complimentary pre-cruise stay at the Mercure Port of Echuca Hotel, while the solo supplement has been reduced from 75 to 45 per cent.
Australian Star has yet to welcome her first paying guests, but her first commercial verdict is already in: Australians are ready to cruise their own great river in style.
Can not wait to board her we have waited since august last yearto go on her..
I have a family connection to Echuca. We were looking forward to a cruise on the Australian Star. Originally it was to start cruises in September 2025. But there was delay after delay after delay to the launch. Our cruise date was changed multiple times. Eventually we cancelled and got our money back. Wish them luck but we will not be there.