Australia & New Zealand Cruises

The seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere, so the best time to cruise is from October to April. New Zealand has a shorter summer than Australia as it’s further south, so is best visited between December and March, when the days are long and sunny.

Australia and New Zealand cover a vast area, so pack according to the climate zones you are visiting. Generally speaking, New Zealand is cooler than Australia. In Australia, the north is humid and tropical, and the south is more temperate, generally speaking.

Pack sunblock and a sun hat as the sun is strong here. Good walking shoes are important if you want to take advantage of the wonderful hiking in both countries.

Throughout the ship, casual resort wear, sundresses, shorts, polos, or button-downs are appropriate, paired with sandals, low heels, and loafers. In main and specialty dining, we ask guests to refrain from wearing swimsuits, see-through cover-ups or robes, bare feet, tank tops, T-shirts, and baseball caps. 

Smart Casual attire is required for entry to main dining, specialty dining, and the Celebrity Theatre. Smart Casual means you look comfortable yet tasteful in a dress, skirt, long pants, or jeans with a stylish top or button-down. Shorts and flip-flops are not considered Smart Casual. 

Each itinerary features one to two “formal” nights that we call Evening Chic. Evening Chic means you dress to impress, glamorous and sophisticated in your own way, with a cocktail dress, skirt, slacks, or designer jeans, an elegant dress top, or blazer—some guests even pack a tuxedo or gown for onboard photos. 

The daily program, delivered to your stateroom and available at the Guest Relations Desk, will be your guide to the correct attire each evening. If you do not wish to participate in Evening Chic, Smart Casual attire is acceptable for dining and attending the theater.

You will need a valid passport to visit Australia and New Zealand. It is the responsibility of each guest to identify and obtain all required travel documents and have them available at the pier when necessary. Before leaving home, take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the required travel documents you will be asked to provide prior to boarding the ship. You’ll find more information here. 

Most visitors to Australia and New Zealand need an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), an electronic, label-free visa obtainable for a small fee. You must apply for this in advance of travel.

We offer a wide range of itineraries to Australia, New Zealand, and beyond. You could try a short three- or four-night cruise from Sydney, or a six-night voyage that gives you an overnight in artsy, outdoorsy Hobart, the capital of Tasmania. Australia wine cruises take you to some of the country’s top wine-growing areas, including Melbourne’s Yarra Valley and the Barossa Valley outside Adelaide.

Some Sydney cruises head north to the spectacular Great Barrier Reef, with stops at Airlie Beach and Cairns, as well as Brisbane and Port Douglas.

We also offer several itineraries that take in both Australia and New Zealand. A 10- or 11-night cruise between Auckland and Sydney visits eight or more different locations in New Zealand, including Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, and the serene Milford Sound. You could also opt for a 12-night cruise round-trip from Sydney that almost circumnavigates New Zealand.

You can sail from Australia and New Zealand to the dreamy South Pacific, too, visiting New Caledonia and Vanuatu on the state-of-the-art Celebrity Edge from Sydney. Cruises from Auckland, meanwhile, take you to Fiji and Samoa, with a day in the beautiful Bay of Islands on the way.

Finally, one-way cruises between Singapore and Sydney visit Bali, Darwin, Cairns, and Airlie Beach, giving you a taste of Asia as well as different Australian ports.

Both Australia and New Zealand have strict rules about the import of certain items, including seeds, plants, and some foods. While you are unlikely to be bringing such items on a cruise, it’s worth checking if in doubt.

There are no compulsory vaccines required for Australia and New Zealand unless you are coming from an area where yellow fever is prevalent, in which case you will need an inoculation certificate. If you are planning to extend your travels beyond either country, check with your physician if anything else is required.

Australia and New Zealand both use their own dollars (AU$ and NZD$) as currency. The two are not tied to one another and do not have the same exchange rate, so make sure you understand the value of each before traveling.

Australian dollars are not accepted in New Zealand, or vice versa, so you will need a small supply of each if you are visiting both countries. Credit cards are widely accepted in both, so you really only need cash for small purchases from market stalls or souvenir vendors.

You can change money at the Guest Services Desk on board your ship, or use an ATM in port.

Wildlife and nature are two of the primary reasons for visiting Australia and New Zealand. Depending on where you go in Australia, you could spot kangaroos and koalas. You’ll also most likely see wallabies, which are like smaller kangaroos, and wombats, a cute-faced marsupial.

Tasmanian devils are difficult to spot in the wild, but you can visit a sanctuary on an excursion in Hobart where injured or orphaned animals are rehabilitated. If you want to see penguins, Phillip Island, near Melbourne, is the place.

On the Great Barrier Reef, the coral teems with tropical marine life in dazzling colors, from clownfish to butterfly fish and surgeonfish. Sea turtles, manta rays, and marine mammals like whales and dolphins are a regular sight.

New Zealand’s wildlife includes the kiwi, the national bird, and a spectacular array of seabirds and marine mammals. 

As for natural wonders, you couldn’t be in a better part of the world. From the gorgeous vistas of Sydney Harbour to the extraordinary beauty of the Great Barrier Reef, and the pure white beaches of the Whitsundays, there are unforgettable vistas at every turn. Join a tour from Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road to see the dramatic sea stacks of the Twelve Apostles. In New Zealand, admire the serene beauty of Fiordland, where green mountains plunge straight into the glassy water, and the steaming geothermal pools around Tauranga.

Both Australia and New Zealand are packed with activities, whether your interest is Aboriginal culture, art, food, or wine. In Hobart, learn about Port Arthur’s dark history as a penal colony, and explore the extraordinary Museum of Old and New Art (MONA). In Melbourne, see Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal art at the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, or join a walking tour to admire vibrant street art. Take a behind-the-scenes tour of Sydney’s famous Opera House, and brave the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb.

In New Zealand, learn about the Scottish heritage of Dunedin, or visit the snow-capped mountains and dense forests of “Middle Earth”, the famous movie location. Learn about Maori culture and history at the fabulous Te Papa Museum in Wellington. You can also see how kiwi fruits are produced, or even spend a day on a sheep farm.

Cruising is an excellent way to see Australia and New Zealand. Distances are long here, but on a cruise, you can use the travel time to relax into the luxurious surroundings of your ship, waking up refreshed for a new port of call each day. 

In Australia, many of the most interesting places are around the coast, so you’re well-positioned on a cruise for easy access to dynamic Sydney, foodie Melbourne, or the dreamy coastal scenery around Airlie Beach.

New Zealand, too, is a great place to explore by ship, especially as you sail through the stunning Fiordland and the exquisite Bay of Islands. 

We offer a wide range of cruises in Australia and New Zealand, from short getaways to longer voyages that visit both countries. Cruises range from 3, 4, and 6 nights to 9 to 15 nights.