Australia cruises can take you to essentially the most stunning, unique, and alluring locations on the planet. From the world well-known seashores of Sydney to the turquoise waters of Bora Bora, every itinerary has hidden gems and exquisite locations to go to.
Maybe no itineraries are as various as these departing from Australia, the place you possibly can select between a choice of various itineraries departing from Brisbane and Sydney.
There are three essential itineraries supplied within the Australian cruise market: Australia cruises, South Pacific cruises, and New Zealand cruises.
Whether or not you wish to sail by means of Milford Sound, island hop by means of New Caledonia, or discover the rugged landscapes of Tasmania, you’re positive to search out an itinerary to match your journey type.
Royal Caribbean sails from Australia in the course of the southern hemisphere’s summer time season, and cruises are supplied from November to early April every year. Throughout the low season, Royal Caribbean doesn’t sail on this area.
Fascinated about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise from Australia? We’re sharing our final information for planning cruises to Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific.
Which Royal Caribbean cruise ships sail from Australia, and from the place do they sail?
Relying on the season, ship deployments to Australia can differ, however Royal Caribbean at all times sends at the very least two ships to Australia.
The commonest ships crusing cruises within the Australia market are Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas, who name Australia dwelling for a number of months every year. These ships are each in Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class, one of many cruise line’s most trendy and revolutionary courses of ships.
Associated: All about Quantum Class ships
The 2 vessels had been launched in 2014 and 2016, respectively, making them comparatively new amongst others in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. Attributable to this, passengers can anticipate up to date lodging, leisure venues, and eating places onboard.
Each ships function Two70, an indoor leisure venue with 270 diploma views of the ship’s wake. By night time, this venue transforms right into a technology-focused manufacturing venue with robotic dancing tv screens, floor-to-ceiling wall projections, and revolutionary tune and dance performances.
Thrilling actions are one other spotlight of the Quantum Class, and every ship provides actions together with bumper vehicles, an indoor skydiving simulator, and the North Star, a 360 diploma statement pod rising 300 ft above sea degree from the ship’s pool deck.
At present, Quantum of the Seas sails from Brisbane, Australia whereas Ovation of the Seas sails from Sydney.
Different Royal Caribbean ships might often be deployed to Australia, akin to smaller Radiance Class ships, however passengers can at all times anticipate Quantum Class ships to supply cruises within the area.
Australia cruise itineraries
Cruising from an Australia cruise port doesn’t imply you must depart Australia and go to one other nation. Home cruise itineraries are supplied from each Sydney and Brisbane, which go to ports solely in Australia.
Most cruises inside Australia take considered one of three routes. Cruises heading north go to Australia’s state of Queensland, a area identified for the Nice Barrier Reef, historic rainforests, and various wildlife.
Cruising to Queensland means friends have the prospect to snorkel amongst the world’s largest reef system, uncover the magical Whitsunday Islands, and stroll alongside the streets of Cairns and Airlie Seaside.
Associated: I attempted my first Australia cruise: listed below are 7 issues that shocked me
One other cruise itinerary supplied inside Australia is to Tasmania. Australia’s southernmost state, the island of Tasmania, is way completely different from the tropical seashores up north. The state options spectacular mountain surroundings, such because the snow capped Mount Wellington, and British-inspired structure and delicacies within the state’s capital of Hobart.
Lastly, Australia cruises are supplied to South Australia, which go to cities akin to Adelaide and Melbourne. Highlights of visiting South Australia embody driving alongside the Nice Ocean Street and exploring one of many nation’s most well-known wine areas.
Royal Caribbean might typically provide cruises to different locations in Australia, akin to itineraries circumnavigating the continent, however these will not be supplied each season.
Most home cruise itineraries in Australia are between six and eight nights. In a single day port stops are widespread in some cities, together with Hobart and Cairns.
South Pacific cruise itineraries
The Pacific Ocean is dwelling to roughly 30,000 islands, and you’ll go to a choose few of those islands on cruise itineraries to the South Pacific.
Cruises from Australia to the South Pacific go to the islands closest to Australia. Mostly, these itineraries go to islands within the French territory of New Caledonia and the Pacific nation of Vanuatu.
New Caledonia provides breathtaking seashores together with linguistic, cultural, and culinary influences from France. Most itineraries go to Noumea, the capital and largest metropolis of the area, whereas others might embody visits to the smaller, lesser identified Loyalty Islands.
Associated: 15 nations you did not know you might cruise to on Royal Caribbean
Vanuatu, then again, is sort of completely different from French New Caledonia. The island chain is an unbiased nation and is a part of Melanesia, a subregion of Oceania that has been inhabited by the indigenous Melanesian individuals for over 3,000 years. As we speak, most inhabitants communicate each English and the native language of Bislama.
Most South Pacific itineraries cease in Port Vila, the nation’s capital, and others embody a cease at Thriller Island, a tiny, uninhabited island that gives a picture-perfect day in paradise.
Notably, Royal Caribbean is ready to launch Excellent Day at Lelepa within the coming years, a non-public vacation spot in Vanuatu on Lelepa Island, just some miles off the coast from Port Vila.
Whatever the itinerary, all South Pacific cruises provide a tropical getaway for passengers, transporting them from the hustle and bustle of Australia’s cities to the area’s tranquil, white sand seashores.
Whereas visiting the South Pacific, many passengers take pleasure in actions akin to snorkeling, cultural island excursions, and kayaking. Itineraries vary from seven night time cruises visiting two islands to longer, extra port-intensive ten night time itineraries.
New Zealand cruise itineraries
New Zealand is a dream cruise vacation spot for passengers who love exploring the outside. The nation’s volcanic landscapes, dramatic fjords, and quaint cities present limitless alternatives for adventures on every port day.
Royal Caribbean doesn’t provide cruises departing from New Zealand; somewhat, cruises to the nation depart from Australia. Touring to New Zealand requires two sea days in every route from Sydney and three from Brisbane, but it surely’s nicely well worth the journey time.
Relying on the itinerary, a New Zealand cruise will go to quite a lot of ports in each the North and South Island. Whereas visiting the nation, passengers can uncover Hobbiton in Matamata, skydive in Queenstown, see penguins close to Dunedin, and revel in a scenic cruising day alongside Milford Sound.
Most New Zealand cruise itineraries are between ten and fourteen nights. Itineraries embody a mixture of port days the place passengers disembark the ship, however in addition they embody crusing days the place passengers can marvel at New Zealand’s pure wonders whereas staying onboard.
Transpacific cruise itineraries
The final sort of cruise itinerary supplied from Australia are transpacific cruises.
Every October, Royal Caribbean repositions at the very least two ships from North America to Australia. In April, the cruise line returns the ships to North America after the Australia cruise season has ended.
As an alternative of crusing an empty ship from one continent to a different, passengers can e book these transpacific cruise itineraries, that are damaged into two legs.
On path to Australia, the primary leg is a cruise from Vancouver, Canada to Hawaii. The second departs from Honolulu and ends in Sydney or Brisbane, Australia, calling upon ports within the South Pacific and/or New Zealand alongside the way in which.
Associated: Final Hawaii cruise information
In April, these itineraries are supplied in reverse.
Transpacific cruises have many sea days, with the primary leg round ten nights and the second as much as eighteen or nineteen nights. They supply the prospect to go to extra distant locations, akin to French Polynesia, which you can not go to another approach on a Royal Caribbean cruise.
Land versus cruise trip from Australia
Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific are, arguably, greatest visited by cruise ship as a substitute of a land trip.
Most main points of interest on this area of the world are conveniently positioned alongside the coast, whether or not the Nice Barrier Reef in Australia, Dusky Sound in New Zealand, or island of Lifou in New Caledonia.
Regardless of that, locations in these areas might be very distant from one another. Slightly than reserving costly flights from island to island within the South Pacific, for instance, you possibly can go to a number of islands in a single week on a cruise.
As a result of transportation logistics are dealt with by the cruise line and never your self, you possibly can take pleasure in leisurely evenings onboard as your ship travels from place to put. And, when you arrive in port, you’ll not incur prolonged journey instances from the port to the town such as you would in a vacation spot akin to Rome or Paris.
When is the perfect time to cruise to Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific?
As talked about, Royal Caribbean solely sails from Australia from early November to April every year, coinciding with the warmest climate within the area. As a result of cruises are supplied to such a variety of locations, although, the “greatest” time to cruise in a single area might differ from one other.
In the event you’re planning a cruise to New Zealand, for instance, you received’t discover many cruise itineraries within the early a part of November. As a result of November remains to be springtime in New Zealand, most cruises to the nation will not be supplied till later within the month.
Associated: When is the perfect time to go on a cruise?
As an alternative, most itineraries in November go to ports within the South Pacific and inside Australia. Throughout this month, temperatures are extra snug than within the peak of summer time. Moreover, ports is probably not as busy as the varsity yr remains to be in session.
All through December, January, and February, you possibly can anticipate greater temperatures and humidity, together with greater crowds in the course of the summer time faculty holidays. These months provide the perfect climate for cruises to New Zealand, however you need to put together for decent, wet port days in tropical locations.
The late season, from March to April, brings decrease costs and extra snug temperatures.
What to convey on a cruise to Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific
Packing for a cruise trip might be demanding, particularly if you happen to’re cruising to a vacation spot you haven’t visited earlier than. For cruises from Australia, packing wants will differ tremendously relying in your itinerary.
In the event you’re touring to the South Pacific and Queensland, packing seashore apparel is crucial. Be sure you convey a number of swimsuits together with a seashore bag, snug sandals, and a solar hat. Some seashores might have rocky shores, so sporting sturdy sandals or sneakers is most popular over flip flops.
Though you possibly can typically hire snorkeling gear in these areas, packing your personal snorkel masks and fins will probably be cheaper and handy, particularly in case your itinerary consists of a number of seashore days.
Associated: 40 important issues to convey on a cruise
In case your cruise visits South Australia and Tasmania, you’ll want to pack snug strolling footwear for metropolis excursions. You’ll additionally wish to convey a jacket, particularly for Tasmania cruises, as climate might be fairly unpredictable on this a part of the nation.
For cruises to New Zealand, it’s simply as necessary to be ready for sudden climate. Packing layers is essential, because the nation is understood for experiencing all 4 seasons in a single day! You probably have cruised to Alaska earlier than, you’ll discover packing ideas comparable, with rain-resistant gear and heat layers required.
What foreign money do I exploit on a cruise from Australia?
As a result of cruises from Australia can go to ports not solely inside Australia but additionally in New Zealand and the South Pacific, it may be complicated to know which foreign money to make use of in every port.
In most case situations, the perfect scenario when making purchases in a number of completely different nations is to make use of a bank card. Making card funds means you’ll not have to fret about changing currencies or taking out a number of forms of foreign money at ATMs.
But whereas card funds will probably be extensively accepted in Australia, New Zealand, and the larger cities within the South Pacific like Noumea and Port Vila, you could want money when visiting smaller islands.
Associated: How a lot money do you have to convey on a cruise?
Many ports in Vanuatu will settle for Australian {dollars}, and the quick port areas in New Caledonia will accomplish that as nicely. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t attempt to use U.S. {dollars}, euros, or different currencies in any port vacation spot on a cruise from Australia, except your tour operator specifies the foreign money will probably be accepted.
In the event you’re cruising to the South Pacific, it’s really helpful to convey Australian {dollars} to cowl bills akin to souvenirs, meals in port, and excursions not booked by means of the cruise line.
Be sure you take out Australian {dollars} at an ATM previous to embarking a Royal Caribbean cruise. ATMs onboard your ship will dispense U.S. {dollars} as a substitute of Australian {dollars}, and the trade charge supplied at Visitor Providers is abysmal.
