Now is the Time to Plan a Cruise Down Under

Sydney Harbour - Credit: Tourism Australia Copyright

Now is the Time...

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Some time in our lives we'd all love to leave our footprints on a white sand beach or snorkel the crystal clear waters of the Great Barrier Reef. It is here, in Australia and the South Pacific, that natural beauty abounds. Fascinating people inhabit peaceful islands and charming cities combine old-world atmosphere with hardy, frontier spirit.

Cruise Season:  October - April


A cruise to Australia, New Zealand, and/or the South Pacific can fulfill almost every exotic adventure that a serious traveler could dream. Cruises and cruisetours start at 14 nights long and sail seasonally between October and April. The beauty of these itineraries is that you can see as much of the South Pacific as you like in one cruise.

Great Barrier Reef - Credit: Tourism Australia Copyright

2017-18 Deployments Announced

Cruise lines have begun announcing their Australia plans for the 2017-18 season, and now is the time to plan a cruise vacation there as additional capacity means greater flexibility and potential savings.   In this article, we will discuss the deployments that have been announced.  In future articles and on our website, we will provide updates on the itineraries, and also take a closer look at the destination itself.

Australia is one of the world's fastest-growing cruise destinations and this next deployment reflects increases to programs as the lines establish a strong presence Down Under.

Carnival Cruise Line continues to base the 2,124-passenger Carnival Spirit in Sydney, Australia year-round. The Spirit sails Australia Cruises, Long Cruises, New Zealand, and Pacific Islands on 2 – 5 Days, 6 – 9 Days, and 10+ Days itineraries. The 88,500-ton Spirit  is so big it can't fit under the city's Harbour Bridge, therefore, it will be based at Circular Quay's Overseas Passenger Terminal.

The 88,500-ton, 2,680-passenger Carnival Legend, sister ship to the Carnival Legend, has been deployed seasonally in Australia after being "Aussified" in 2014 where she  received a range of upgrades to ensure she's perfectly suited for the tastes of the Aussie market.   It sails Australia Cruises, Long Cruises, New Zealand, and Pacific Islands on 2 – 5 Days, 6 – 9 Days, and 10+ Days itineraries. See Carnival Australia for specific details about these cruises.

Celebrity Cruises deployed  the 2,850-passenger Celebrity Solstice to Australia and New Zealand in December, 2012, taking the place of the smaller, 1,814-passenger Celebrity Century.  It has been there since that time. The itineraries offer guests a vast array of options, ranging from 10 to 16 nights, departing from Sydney, Fremantle and Auckland.

Royal Caribbean International announced that it will have four ships in Australia during the 2017-18 season.Voyager of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas will continue to be based in Sydney, offering two- to 14-night sailings around Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. The line offers the most ships and sailings from Sydney seasonally.

Royal Caribbean has big plans for the 2018 season as they announced newest ship, Ovation of the Seas, will also be in the region sailing 5 to 14-night itineraries.

Holland America has two ships sailing in Australia:  the 1,972-passenger Noordam and the 1,258 -passenger Maasddam,    The ships will sail 8 to 15-night itineraries in and around Australia and New Zealand departing from Sydney, Fremantle and Auckland.

Princess Cruises deployment  includes 5 ships,  4 to 14-night itineraries, and 76 voyages. The following ships are deployed in the region: Diamond Princess, Golden Princess, Majestic Princess, Sea Princess, and Sun Princess.

Norwegian Cruises will have one ship deployed in the region, Norwegian Jewel.  Itineraries will range from 3 to 14-Nights.    Several luxury lines will also have deployments in Australia & New Zealand. 

Search for Australia / New Zealand cruises here

Contact us for more information about Cruising in Australia

Visit Australia.com to learn more about what Australia has to offer during your cruise vacation. 
 

TM © The Brand Australia trademark and the Tourism Australia trademark are the subject of copyright and trademarks of Tourism Australia, 2004.

 

National Plan A Cruise Month Promotions 

Cruise lines are offering special promotions and pricing on popular cruises to encourage consumers to plan their next cruise vacation now. We'll be featuring promotions on our website and social media.

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