Whether you’re dreaming of a sun-drenched Christmas or a bucket-listed seacation during the yuletide season, Australia offers a range of sailings that combine a collection of holiday traditions with stunning destinations and warm summer weather.

This ultimate guide highlights the best options to Christmas cruising in Australia.

Australian ports like Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne offer yuletide voyages that cater to a wide range of preferences, from cruisers seeking a leisurely escape to guests wanting action-packed adventures, making the land down under an ideal choice to celebrate summer and Christmas season in style. 

So, no matter which type of Christmas cruise you choose from Australia, you’re in for an incredibly festive experience. From the kaleidoscope of natural spectacles to the awe-inspiring indigenous and modern cultures, an Australian cruise delivers a Christmas seacation like no other. 

Christmas cruises from Brisbane

This sunny capital of Queensland offers an idyllic starting point and an ideal background for cruisers embarking on a seacation this coming yuletide season. 

This 2024, major cruise lines such as Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, P&O Australia, and Carnival Cruise Line offer a wide array of Christmas cruises with best value rates. 

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises lines up an array of Christmas cruises from Brisbane this 2024. From 4-day Australia Seacation to 14-day New Zealand cruises, the line offers discounted rates and promos for cruise enthusiasts seeking to experience Australian summer holidays ar sea. This Christmas season, the line’s best value offering is its 9-day Tasmania cruise offered at $728 starting rate from $798 per person. Moreover, this voyage is set to depart Brisbane on December 11 via Diamond Princess. 

Itineraries

This 9-day sailing via Diamond Princess is set for three port visits and one scenic cruising. From its port of embarkation (Brisbane), the ship spends two days at sea before reaching the Great Oyster Bay & Freycinet Peninsula for scenic cruising. In addition, the ship  also stops at Port Arthur before going to a 2-day stop at Hobart. Diamond Princess is also scheduled to visit Sydney before heading back to Brisbane for disembarkation. 

P&O Australia

P&O Australia schedules another Christmas treat for cruisers who wish to enjoy Christmas day at sea. The line highlights a 10-night Christmas cruise from Brisbane with a best value offering for only $1749 per person. This round trip voyage allows guests and cruisers to explore the South Pacific via Pacific Encounter. Moreover, this 10-night sailing is scheduled on December 17. 

Itineraries

This Brisbane-departed 10-night sailing lines up five port visits. From its port of embarkation, Pacific encounter heads to Santo, then to Port Vila, Mystery Island, and Noumea. Furthermore, on Christmas day, the ship stops at Lifou before heading back to Brisbane for disembarkation.  

Carnival Cruise Line

For cruisers seeking Australian summer getaway before Christmas day, Carnival Cruise Line offers an array of sailings to choose from. For pre-Christmas voyages, the line’s best value offering is the 7-day Great Barrier Reef cruise from Brisbane. With a starting rate of $929 per person, this voyage is scheduled on December 8 via Carnival Luminosa. 

Itineraries

This Brisbane-embarked cruise offers cruisers to experience some of the world’s famous beaches and UNESCO-listed sites. Not to mention the chance to explore and experience the awe-inspiring Great Barrier Reef. From Brisbane, Carnival Luminosa heads to Airlie Beach, then to Cairns and Port Douglas. Furthermore, the ship cruises through Willis Island before heading back to Brisbane to disembark. 

Royal Caribbean Line 

Royal Caribbean highlights several Christmas cruises from Brisbane this 2024 summer season down under. The line’s best offering is the round trip 7-night South Pacific Cruise via Quantum of the Seas. This cruise is offered at a starting rate of $909 and is scheduled to depart Brisbane on December 6. 

Itineraries

This 7-night cruise via Quantum of the Seas lines up two port visits. From Brisbane, the ship will spend two days at sea before docking in Noumea in New Caledonia. Moreover, the ship also visits Mystery Island in Vanuatu then spends another two days at sea before heading back to Brisbane for disembarkation. 

Christmas cruises from Sydney

As the holiday season approaches, there’s no better way to embrace the Christmas spirit than by booking a cruise from the iconic Sydney. 

With its awe-inspiring harbour and landmarks, Sydney serves as the ideal embarkation point for a diverse range of Christmas cruise offerings. Cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, P&O Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Carnival Cruise Line among others have all curated itineraries that cater to different tastes and interests of a diverse group of cruise enthusiasts. 

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises is all set for its 2024 summer sailings down under. The line highlights its best Christmas offering via a 12-Day Southern Australia Explorer aboard Crown Princess. In addition, this Sydney-based voyage is priced at $723 per person from $1568. This allows guests to enjoy savings of $844 or approximately 53.8%. The said voyage is scheduled on December 14. 

Itineraries

The 12-Day Southern Australia Explorer is set to depart from Sydney and will visit major ports such as Melbourne, Kangaroo Island, and Adelaide. Additionally, the ship is also scheduled to visit Port Lincoln, Hobart, and Port Arthur before going back to Sydney for disembarkation. 

P&O Cruises

P&O Australia offers a Sydney-embarked 10-night Christmas Cruise as part of its 2024 summer holiday season. With $1521 starting rate per person, this Pacific Adventure- boarded voyage is scheduled on December 17. 

Itineraries

This 10-day Christmas Cruise via Pacific Adventure is scheduled for four port visits. These ports include Sydney as the port of departure, Noumea, Lifou and Port Vila before heading back to Sydney for disembarkation.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean highlights a 10-night New Zealand Holiday Cruise for cruisers who want to spend Christmas holiday at sea. This Sydney-embarked round trip voyage is set to sail on December 18 via Ovation of the Seas. This cruise has a starting rate of $3550 per person which entitles guests to enjoy up to 30% savings. The Christmas holiday with Royal Caribbean is also ideal for family vacation because of the line’s Kids Sail promo from $59 per day. 

Itineraries

From Sydney, Ovation of the Seas is set to visit Picton, Napier, Lyttelton, Dunedin, Dusky Sound, and Doubtful Sound. Moreover, the ship will also cruise through Milford Sound before it heads back to Sydney for disembarkation. 

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line offers best value Christmas cruises from Sydney this 2024. Moreover, the line’s 8-day South Pacific cruise is the best deal so far  for guests who want to experience Christmas holiday at sea. This Carnival Splendor-boarded cruise offers a starting rate of $743 per person and is scheduled on  December 19. 

Itineraries

This Sydney-based round trip voyage via Carnival Splendor is scheduled to visit ports like Noumea and Lifou. Most of the days in this 8-day voyage are devoted to having a fun day at sea. 

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises lines up Christmas cruises from down under. One of the highlights of the line offerings is the 13-night New Zealand Holiday voyage from Sydney. This roundtrip cruise is offered at a starting rate of $2,032 from $4, 757. This allows guests to enjoy a $2,725 savings. In addition, this voyage is set to visit seven ports and scheduled to sail on December 20 via Celebrity Edge. 

Itineraries

This 13-day sailings via Celebrity Edge is set to visit seven ports. Departing from Sydney, the ship will cruise through Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, and Dusky Sound. Furthermore, New Zealand ports like Dunedin, Wellington, Napier, Tauranga, Auckland, and the Bay of Islands are also part of the itineraries. 

Christmas cruises from Melbourne

Christmas cruises departing from Melbourne allow guests to experience and explore the rich cultural tapestry of Australia’s southern coast and its vibrant atmosphere. 

During the summer season, Melbourne serves as a perfect avenue for cruisers to explore before embarkation. With its world-class dining scene, lively entertainment districts, and amazing Christmas markets, Melbourne provides opportunities for guests to immerse themselves in the local culture before their cruise.

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises lines up various best value offerings for the summer holiday down under. In addition, the line’s best pre-Christmas cruise offering from Melbourne is the 4-day Australia Seacation. This voyage is offered at $198 as a starting rate from $278 per person. This gives cruisers an $80 savings.  Furthermore, this 4-day Melbourne-embarked cruise is scheduled to sail on December 7 via Diamond Princess. 

Itineraries

This 4-day seacation via Diamond Princess is set to visit three ports of call. From its port of departure, Melbourne, the ship stops at Sydney before going to Brisbane to disembark. 

P&O Australia

P&O Australia lines up an array of Christmas holiday cruises from Melbourne. The line’s best value offering is its 8-night Christmas Cruise via Pacific Explorer. In addition, this offering is priced at $1469 starting rate per person plus onboard credit. This Melbourne-departed seacation is scheduled to sail on December 19. 

Itineraries

From Melbourne, this 8-night Christmas Cruise via Pacific is set to visit Kangaroo Island, Port Arthur, and Hobart. Aside from docking at three ports of call, cruisers will also enjoy four sea days on board. 

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line highlights its unparalleled value Christmas cruise offerings from Melbourne. The line offers 50% off in all its cruises with Free At Sea promo. Moreover, for guests who seek to spend Christmas at sea, the 14-day Australia & New Zealand cruise is the best value offering. With only $2099 per person as starting rate, this voyage is scheduled to depart Melbourne on December 21 via Norwegian Sun. 

Itineraries

Norwegian Sun is set to visit 11 ports as part of its itineraries. Departing from Melbourne, the ship is scheduled to visit Portland, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, and Hobart. Moreover, Norwegian Sun is also set for Dunedin, Wellington, Marlborough, Napier, Tauranga in New Zealand. Finally, the ship makes a final stop in Auckland as its port of disembarkation. 

Silversea

For guests seeking an all-inclusive ultra-luxury seacation, Silversea is offering a Christmas cruise from Melbourne. The line’s 13-day Australia & New Zealand cruise is offered at a starting rate of $9300 per guest with all onboard luxury inclusions as well as shore excursions. This voyage is set to depart Melbourne on December 23 via Silver Nova. 

Itineraries

After departing from Melbourne, Silver Nova is set to visit the following ports: Burnie, Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Bluff, Dunedin, and Akaroa. In addition, Picton, Napier, Gisborne, and Tauranga are also part of the ship’s itineraries before heading to Auckland for disembarkation.