The ultimate guide to AustralianCruise Holidays

Mammoth vessels and itineraries spanning the entire country and surrounding waters can feel extremely daunting to newbie cruisers. It’s hard to know where to start or what questions to ask, let alone choose a cruise without second-guessing your decision. Allow us to shine a light on the basics of cruise holidays in Australia including the fundamental rules of setting sail, whether it really is a holiday style for you, family-friendly options and tips on how to book a cruise without any hiccups.

It’s the quintessential style you’ve got to try at least once. Characterised by jumbo vessels, lengthy itineraries and extravagant dining and entertainment, ocean cruising offers a sensory overload well before you approach your destinations. If the likes of P&O Cruises, Princess, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Silversea, Holland America Line and Norwegian Cruise Line ring bells and stir excitement, you’ll be delighted to learn there are several extraordinary ships and voyages worth considering. Whether you’re after a combination cruise itinerary that takes in Australia and nearby destinations like New Zealand, Noumea and Vanuatu or you prefer to stay close to home and explore the Great Barrier Reef, Hobart, or the East Coast –  there is an ocean cruise departing Australia to suit. To help you choose your next ocean cruise, you’ll find an abundance of cruise reviews, itineraries, ship profiles and more below.

Confirming great things come in small packages, harbour and river cruises offer brilliant access to iconic destinations and multi-hour to multi-day journeys filled with legendary sightseeing. Setting sail aboard much smaller vessels than the floating resorts of ocean cruising, this relaxed style is renowned for inland expeditions spent hypnotised by scenic wonders and majestic wildlife and marine life. Top spots to ponder include Queensland’s Daintree Rainforest, the Murray River stretching across Victoria and South Australia, Darwin Harbour (and the famous crocodile cruises), Adelaide River, NSW’s Hawkesbury River and Sydney Harbour (including Sydney whale watching cruises). Cruise companies specialise in their individual regions but big hitters to consider include the Daintree River Cruise Centre, Murray River Cruises and Spirit Australia Cruises across the Murray River, Captain Cook Cruises throughout Sydney Harbour and Adelaide River Cruises. Able Hawkesbury River Houseboats also offer superb overnight stays if you’re craving total privacy and maximising your time away from home.

Fall in love with Australia all over again with a cruise through the Kimberley and its unforgettable coastline – the undisputed heart of the country. Western Australia’s natural wonderland, speckled with vast open wilderness, Indigenous artifacts and sensational reefs, is one of our most in-demand cruising destinations and we’ve rounded up everything you need to know before you go. From ship profiles and cruising holiday itineraries to unmissable highlights and nearby magic including the Abrolhos Islands, there’s no shortage of Kimberley intel to help you tick it off the bucket list.

One postcard-perfect country. Countless corners to explore. How does one whittle the options down to a cruise holiday winner? Thankfully, we’ve experienced it all and our shortlist is ready to action. First and foremost, Australia’s departure spots excel as escapes on their own accord. Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart, Cairns and Melbourne as well as Perth, Geraldton and Busselton in Western Australia are just some port cities to consider tackling. East coast island time is alluring too — think the Whitsundays’ sun-soaked sanctuaries like Hamilton Island and the Great Barrier Reef, plus Airlie Beach and Moreton Island. There’s also the itty bitty albeit dazzling Abrolhos Islands off Western Australia, the Kimberley’s Montgomery Reef and Kangaroo Island off the South Australian coast. Back in Western Australia, the charming town of Esperance on the south coast is astonishingly beautiful, too. Find all the inspiration you need right here.