When it comes to cruising, Australians choose one region above all others

According to the Cruise Lines International Association, Australians took 1.16 million cruises in Australian, New Zealand and South Pacific waters last year, making it by far our most popular cruise region and representing 80 per cent of the Australian cruise market.

The number increased 8 per cent from the previous year. That might be because passenger age is falling – the average is now 47 – and the average length of cruise itineraries is shortening to accommodate short-break options. International uncertainty is also encouraging domestic cruising.

A recent survey of Norwegian Cruise Line guests found that cruisers are primarily motivated by relaxation and local cultures, which the South Pacific and New Zealand provide without the need for long-haul pre-cruise flights.

Looking for a budget cruise in our region? Carnival has four ships here this summer, operating Queensland and South Pacific itineraries from Brisbane and Sydney.

A fifth ship, Carnival Adventure, arrives after summer (in March 2027), to home port for a month in Melbourne, with most sailings focused on South Australia.

Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter

Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now.

Royal Caribbean also has ships out of Brisbane and Sydney, and is sailing to New Zealand as well as Queensland and the South Pacific. Princess will sail from a greater variety of ports (Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney) and offer additional destinations such as Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.

Norwegian Spirit is sailing between Sydney and Auckland as well as offering shorter domestic cruises along our southern mainland coastline and to Tasmania. Holland America’s Noordam sails from Sydney to Auckland, and also sells an impressive 35-day circumnavigation of Australia that takes in Papua New Guinea.

At the premium level, Celebrity Cruises sails a wide variety of domestic, New Zealand and South Pacific itineraries, nearly all from Sydney.

Premium and luxury ships don’t stay here as long. Rather, they call at a few Australian ports as they relocate between Asia and/or the South Pacific, although generally, they linger to operate several Sydney-Auckland runs.

Viking will do just that. In addition to New Zealand cruises from Sydney, Silversea is sailing Sydney-Melbourne and Regent Seven Seas from Sydney to Darwin. All three companies have two ships here.

Also with two ships each, Azamara is taking in a wider range of destinations over multiple itineraries, while Oceania is notably sailing in to or out of Perth and along the West Australian coast.

At the small ship level, Coral Expeditions’ three ships offer a comprehensive range of sailings. The company has ramped up West Australian itineraries to destinations such as the Abrolhos Islands, Coral Coast, Ningaloo Reef and South West Capes.

And finally, some cruise lines are just teasing us. Crystal Serenity has a single ship sailing Auckland-Brisbane, and Ponant’s Le Soleal sails Bali-Cairns and Cairns-Dunedin.

Lines such as Cunard and Disney won’t be appearing at all, and familiar favourite Quantum of the Seas is sailing its last hurrah in Australia. Still, there’s plenty of choice, so jump in before the ship sails.

While most cruises won’t depart until late afternoon, it would be unwise to arrive the same day if flying internationally, and especially if relying on journeys with flight connections.

Even single, short-haul flights can be cancelled or delayed, particularly in places such as Europe during the summer high season.

Call me paranoid, but I wouldn’t even rely on traffic conditions on the day you board if the ship is any distance from the airport or your hotel.

Any delay could result in missing your cruise departure. The cruise line won’t compensate you, and nor might your travel insurance, depending on the cause. Arriving after a flight with an hour to spare might be construed as a foreseeable problem.

Quite apart from logistics, most cruises depart from key cities such as Barcelona, Vancouver or Singapore that offer much to see and do, so why sail away so soon after you arrive? Most arrival ports are worth an overnight, if not two or three.

Finally, cruises can be more tiring than you might think, especially if you’ve signed up for lots of shore excursions. You’ll enjoy them more if you’ve given yourself a couple of nights to get over your jet lag before boarding.

You have reached your maximum number of saved items.

Remove items from your saved list to add more.

You've used all of your gift articles. 3 more will become available on the 1st of every month.