One of the best ways to leave your daily worries behind is by setting sail on a cruise and watching the port where you boarded fade away. Fortunately, Sydneysiders and those visiting the city who are keen for a cruise are spoilt for choice.
And we aren’t the only ones who love a cruise. Academy Award-winning actress Nicole Kidman shared that she loves setting sail.
“I actually went on a cruise with lots of strangers, which I loved,” she shared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. She continued, “I am now the cruise — I love cruises. I have two more planned.”
In 2025, the Scarpetta actress set sail to Antarctica with family and friends on a Silversea cruise.
There are cruises lasting 18 days that’ll take you all the way to Hawaii or Singapore. Three-night cruises you can take on a long weekend, no annual leave needed. And ship journeys that last a week, giving you a good balance of at-sea and dock days and enough time to properly disconnect. So which is right for you?
Well, your dream cruise depends on how much time off you can take, your budget and what you want to see and do. Cruises also have different on-board dining options, entertainment and facilities, so you’ll need to take that into account too. Those who value fine dining might book one cruise over others known for their theatre shows, spa treatments or spacious rooms.
If you’re not sure where to start when researching your ideal cruise, read on. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best cruises that leave from Sydney. We’ve picked a wide range, so there’s an option that fits every traveller’s cruise wants and needs. Let’s set sail, shall we?
A TIP FOR CRUISING:
The most important tip for a cruise departing from Sydney is to know which cruise terminal your ship is leaving from, and plan your transport accordingly. Sydney has two main cruise terminals: Overseas Passenger Terminal and White Bay Cruise Terminal.
The best cruises from Sydney 2026
01
Princess Cruises 9-day Queensland with Great Barrier Reef
From $2538 per person at Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises’ 9-day Queensland with Great Barrier Reef cruise takes off and arrives back to Sydney, stopping in Brisbane, Airlie Beach, Cairns and Willis Island along the way. The itinerary also includes four days at sea, where you can enjoy dining, activities and entertainment on the Grand Princess. Highlights include Crown Grill restaurant, a Movies Under the Stars poolside experience and karaoke contests at Club Fusion.
Key stops:
- Brisbane
- Airlie Beach
- Cairns
- Willis Island
02
Royal Caribbean 5-night Hobart cruise
From $2228 per person at Luxury Escapes
This cruise sees you boarding the ship Anthem of the Seas in Sydney and returning to the same spot. You’ll spend two days reaching Hobart, one when you can explore the city and a final sailing back. The ship has eight dining options, plus room service, entertainment including guest lectures and concerts at a music hall, and a spa and fitness centre with classes.
Key stops:
- Days at sea
- Hobart
03
Celebrity Cruises 8-night via Kangaroo Island and Adelaide
From $3339 per person at Luxury Escapes
This eight-night cruise leaves from and returns to Sydney, stopping at NSW town Eden, South Australia’s Kangaroo Island and Adelaide and Victoria’s Melbourne along the way. Read in the library, swim or play volleyball in one of the many pools and take in one of the many shows. To really splash out, book a two-storey Edge villa, which comes with a private plunge pool.
Key stops:
- Eden
- Kangaroo Island
- Adelaide
- Melbourne
04
Celebrity Cruises 18-night New Zealand, Tahiti and Hawaii
From $5022 per person at Celebrity Cruises
This 18-night cruise starts in Sydney and ends in Honolulu, Hawaii, passing New Zealand and French Polynesia along the way. On-board highlights include a Broadway Cabaret show, Pickle Ball at Sea and nightclub Quasar. You can book shore excursions, 24-hour room service and spa treatments at an additional cost.
Key stops:
- Paihia
- Auckland
- Uturoa
- Papeete
- Moorea
- Honolulu
05
Holland America 18-night Sydney to Singapore
From $6999 per person at Luxury Escapes
Travel from Sydney to Singapore on-board ornately-decorated ship Volendam, which features huge vases of fresh flower arrangements and intricate tapestries. Enjoy cooking shows and a hands-on workshop with America’s Test Kitchen. Relax with a spa treatment at the Greenhouse Salon and Spa. And try each of the ship’s restaurants, many of them fine-dining.
Key stops:
- Airlie Beach
- Townsville
- Darwin
- Benoa
- Surbaya
- Semarang
- Singapore
06
Princess Cruises 2-night Australian Seacation to Brisbane
From $446 per person at Flight Centre
This trip sees you boarding The Grand Princess in Sydney and arriving in Brisbane two days later. Watch Movies Under the Stars poolside, see an award-winning, Broadway-style production in the recently-upgraded Princess Theatre and try out some of the many dining options, including Explorers’ Lounge, Poseidon’s Pizzeria and Da Vinci dining room.
Key stops:
- At sea
- Brisbane
08
Carnival Cruise Line’s 9-night via Vanuatu and New Caledonia
From $861 per person at Luxury Escapes
You’ll board Carnival Splendour for this trip, sailing to New Caledonia and Vanuatu, with five days at sea, before returning to Sydney. The ship will dock for a day at Lifou, New Caledonia, followed by Mystery Island, Vanuatu and Noumea, New Caledonia.
Key stops:
- Lifou
- Mystery Island
- Noumea
Sydney is the primary cruise hub for Australasia, which means that when it comes to cruises, you get a great variety. You can book cruises that dock in Australian coastal cities like Brisbane, Hobart and Adelaide for a day, returning to Sydney. Or take one-way or return trips to islands in the South Pacific or French Polynesia. Or journey across the ditch to New Zealand. For more of a switch-off, there are also nearly three-week cruises to further-away spots like Hawaii, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Cruises from Sydney range widely in duration. You can find two- and three-night getaways, as well as month-long voyages. Shorter cruises usually stop in Australian coastal cities like Brisbane, Hobart and Adelaide for a day, returning to Sydney. Medium-length cruises, seven to 14 nights, go to the Great Barrier Reef, South Pacific Islands and New Zealand. And the longer voyages, 15 or more nights, can go all the way to Hawaii, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Typically, your cruise fare includes accommodation, dining in main restaurants, major shows and use of most of the ship’s facilities, like pools, fitness centres and more. What usually isn’t included are meals at speciality restaurants, alcoholic drinks, spa services and shore excursions, which are tours and activities in the port cities.
Editor’s note: If you’re looking at cruises with Luxury Escapes, check out The Australian Women’s Weekly’s curated edit of promo codes and deals for up-to-date ways to get more value for your money.
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