Cruising is becoming more popular than ever.
Whether you take a short trip to an Australian destination, go further afield in the South Pacific, or fly and cruise in Alaska, the Caribbean or Mediterranean, you're promised a great value holiday.
Here are some of the exciting cruise updates that happened in 2024.
December 20: From 10 January 2025, Bluey-lovers and their families can embark on a cruise themed around their favourite blue heeler, departing from Australia and New Zealand and operated by the Disney Cruise Line.
Families onboard will be able to interact with Bluey and her sister, Bingo, through special meet-and-greets, an interactive clue-filled game, and a dance featuring Bluey's signature moves.
Disney Cruise Lines operate cruises for kids and adults around the world, with Bluey joining the lineup of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars characters from movies and TV onboard.
Through mid-February 2025, current Australia season sailings aboard the Disney Wonder range from two to six nights with available itineraries departing from Sydney and Melbourne, Australia.
Disney Cruise Line will return to Australia and New Zealand for a new season of 3-to-10-night sailings from October 2025 to February 2026.
Read on for more cruise news…
December 5: Luxury British cruise line, Cunard has reported record-breaking bookings in 2024 following the launch of its highly anticipated ship, Queen Anne.
From 1 January to 31 October this year, Cunard recorded an impressive 73,000 additional guest reservations compared to the same period in 2023, representing a 23 per cent year-on-year increase.
Specifically, both the UK and North American markets contributed significantly to this success, with a 24 per cent increase in guests booking from the UK and 29 per cent more from North America compared to 2023.
In addition to international growth, Cunard continues to attract both new and returning travellers.
From 1 January to 31 October 2024, the brand saw a 49 per cent rise in first-time guests choosing to sail with Cunard compared to the same period in 2023.
December 4: Viking has taken delivery of the company's newest ocean ship, the Viking Vela at a ceremony that took place at Fincantieri's shipyard in Ancona, Italy.
Classified as a small ship, the Viking Vela has 499 staterooms that can host 998 guests and joins the company's growing fleet of award-winning ocean ships.
"We are proud to welcome the newest sister ship to our award-winning ocean fleet," said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking. "Together with Fincantieri we have built the world's most elegant small ocean ships. With the arrival of our newest vessel, we look forward to introducing even more curious travellers to the Viking way of exploration."
Viking Vela will spend her inaugural season sailing itineraries in the Mediterranean and in Northern Europe.
Viking is working on a project for a partial hybrid propulsion system for future ocean ships based on liquid hydrogen and fuel cells, which could allow the company to operate at zero-emission in the Norwegian Fjords and other sensitive environments.
While the Viking Vela has a traditional propulsion platform, she is considered hydrogen-ready and can be retrofitted in the future.
November 15: HX (formerly known as Hurtigruten Expeditions), has announced a pioneering global partnership with the University of Tasmania and its Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies.
For the first time, HX's guests and expedition teams will have the opportunity to explore Antarctic and polar science with world-leading researchers, in a university developed program that blends immersive learning with real-world experiences.
The online course can be accessed anywhere in the world.
Both guests and expedition staff will receive an official University of Tasmania certificate.
HX has already hosted over 30 scientists and UTAS-related university students on polar expeditions over the last three years to work on scientific and social science projects.
This is part of HX's ongoing science support program that provides over 1,800 free cabin and cruise nights to scientists and research students each year, an initiative that's part of the expedition company's ongoing and significant focus on sustainability.
November 14: Aussies can jump aboard a new cruise lasting for an epic 79 days.
Princess Cruises is bringing back its Circle Pacific Voyage, which visits three continents and covers over 23,600 nautical miles.
The round trip aboard Grand Princess departs Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland in June 2027.
You'l visit 32 destinations across 13 countries – including the United States, Canada, Tahiti, Japan, Singapore, and Vietnam.
The cruise also crosses the equator and the international dateline twice.
Other highlights include an overnight stay in Hong Kong as well aslate-night departures from Honolulu, Juneau, Los Angeles, Osaka (for Kyoto), Singapore,Suva, Tahiti (Papeete) and Canada's Victoria.
Meanwhile, if you don't want to go away for quite as long 2026-27 Australian program includes 62 departures on three ships – Grand Princess, Royal Princess and Crown Princess – between October 2026 and August 2027.
The program includes the return of Royal Princess for another season of cruising from Sydney, as well as Grand Princess' inaugural Brisbane deployment.
October 26: Crown Princess sailed into Sydney Harbour for the first time to much fan fare, flanked by a group of Love Boat themed water skiers.
Crown Princess guests had front row seats to a spectacular water show across from the iconic Sydney Opera House to celebrate her landmark homeport season.
The ship will now sail year-round from Australia. In the next 12 months, Crown Princess will contribute more than $120 million to the national economy as she makes 78 visits to 21 different ports around the country – a record for any Princess ship.
Crown Princess also will set sail on the biggest world cruise ever undertaken by any cruise line, with guests set to embark on an epic 113-night circumnavigation of the globe departing local shores in May 2025.
October 24: Viking now has three seasons available to book on their famous Nile river cruises in Egypt.
The 2027 sailing season of Viking's 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids cruisetour is now open for sale. With four additional 82-guest sister ships set to debut on the Nile River by 2026, Viking's fleet of ten Nile River ships will add an additional 221 departure dates in 2027 to meet the strong consumer demand for Nile River journeys.
The Viking Amun and the Viking Thoth are due to be delivered in 2025, while the Viking Ptah and Viking Sekhmet will be delivered in 2026. Built specifically to navigate the Nile River, the new 82-guest sister ships will sail between Luxor and Aswan and return on this popular itinerary.
October 24: Royal Caribbean has rolled out new Alaska adventures announcing Voyager of the Seas will make its Alaska debut in 2026, joining the 2025 season's newcomers, Anthem of the Seas; Serenade of the Seas.
Holidaymakers can take in the rich wildlife, landscapes and cultures that make Alaska a sought after destination with their pick of 7-night adventures from Seattle or 7-13 night getaways from Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada or Seward, Alaska.
The new 2026 Alaska vacations are now open for bookings on Royal Caribbean's website.
October 23: Tauck has announced the expansion of its European river cruise fleet, with two brand-new, custom-designed riverboats launching on the Seine and Rhône in 2026.
As Tauck approaches its 100th anniversary, the two vessels will offer spacious accommodation, elegant design, and a guest capacity limited to just 130 guests, while showcasing the scenic beauty of the Seine and Rhône rivers
October 17: Emerald Cruises has announced the brand newest ship, Emerald Astra, to join its fleet of eight European Star-Ships in response to increased demand for its luxury European river cruises.
The ship will welcome up to 180 guests to sail the Rhine, Main, and Danube, the Rhône in France, and the Douro in Portugal.
Emerald Cruises also announced comprehensive upgrades across its European river fleet, highlighted by Astra's design.
Star-Ships on the Rhine-Main-Danube route will receive new lounge furniture, with elevated design, bright accent colors and luxurious textiles. Pool and cinema spaces, along with Reflections Restaurant and The Terrace, will be revamped
Emerald Astra will join the fleet in 2026.
October 12: Luxury Cunard ship Queen Victoria will set sail for a mammoth 109-night World Voyage beginning in January 2027, it has been announced.
Sailors on the epic jaunt will visit cultural capitals such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Cape Town. The ship will also make maiden calls to Dakar in Senegal and Durban in South Africa.
