More Aussies than ever are choosing to cruise and explore new places via the oceans instead of the skies.
Whether you take a short trip to an Australian destination, visit our neighbours in New Zealannd or the South Pacific, or fly and cruise in Alaska, the Caribbean or Mediterranean, you're promised a great value holiday.
Plus, these days there are cruise ships and itineraries that cater to pretty much every kind of traveller.
Here are some more cruise updates to get excited about …
May 14: Princess Cruises has announced it will add a third Solar Eclipse Voyage for 2026.
Departing on a roundtrip from Rome on 4 August, 2026, the 14-day Mediterranean & Adriatic with Total Solar Eclipse cruise will be onboard the Enchanted Princess.
This new sailing joins two other eclipse-focused Princess cruises onboard Sky Princess (8 August, 2026, from Southampton) and Sun Princess (7-, 14- and 21-day itineraries departing from Barcelona and Athens).
During the eclipse, guests will gather on the top decks with Princess eclipse viewing glasses, and enjoy lectures from astronomy experts, themed treats and drinks, stargazing at night, solar system trivia and more.
May 12: Viking's newest ship for the Nile River – the 82-guest Viking Thoth – was officially "floated out" marking a major construction milestone and the first time the ship has touched water.
Set for delivery in October 2025, the Viking Thoth will join Viking's growing fleet of state-of-the-art ships for the Nile River and will sail Viking's popular 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.
May 7: Trafalgar, usually known for guided land tours, has announced it is bringing its signature offering to Europe's rivers.
Beginning Spring 2026, Trafalgar will launch two river cruise journeys – an eight-day voyage along the Danube aboard Trafalgar Reverie and a ten-day adventure through the Rhine aboard Trafalgar Verity.
Each journey blends Trafalgar's renowned travel experiences with Local Specialists, exclusive Be My Guest encounters, and 'MAKE TRAVEL MATTER' Experiences.
May 2: Royal Caribbean has revealed its ships for the cruise season Down Under in 2026-2027.
Joining Anthem of the Seas in Sydney, fan-favourite Quantum of the Seas will make its return to Brisbane in October.
Between October 2026 and April 2027, the two top-rated ships have in store a combination of 3- to 11-night getaways to an array of destinations across Australia, the sun-soaked South Pacific, and breathtaking New Zealand.
The new lineup of holidays, along with a showstopping 25-night bucket list adventure from Los Angeles, are available to book now.
April 29: Celebrity Cruises has revealed a brand new dining concept coming onto its soon-to-launch billion-dillar ship Celebrity Xcel.
Celebrity Xcel will introduce a lively new al fresco restaurant, Bora – the cruise line's first ever brunch offering. And don't Aussies love a good brunch!
With panoramic ocean views and a vibrant setting, Bora will transport guests to the Mediterranean coast with a seafood-forward menu. The rooftop restaurant will transition from day to night, offering the perfect setting for guests to enjoy a lively brunch or an intimate dinner.
By day, Bora's upbeat, boozy brunch will serve Mediterranean-inspired classics, like shakshuka eggs with coriander, avocado and sourdough toast, and croissant eggs benedict with lemon-scented salmon gravlax, ricotta spread and hollandaise sauce, alongside brunch favourites like French toast.
Customisable Bloody Mary's with over-the-top garnishes are also on offer, while roving musicians play hits.
Celebrity Xcel is sailing her inaugural season from Fort Lauderdale in November 2025, offering seven-night itineraries alternating between the Bahamas, Mexico, Cayman Islands, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten.
April 21: APT has officially christened its brand-new luxury river ship, the APT Solara, in a ceremony held in Rotterdam.
The event marked a major milestone in the company's 98-year history and signals a bold new chapter in European river cruising.
With a capacity for just 154 guests, the APT Solara offers expansive Balcony and Owner's Suites. The Grüner Bar & Dining lifts hydraulically to offer sweeping 360-degree views from the Sun Deck. There are six distinctive venues plus in-suite dining available.
APT Solara will embark on her maiden voyage along the Magnificent Europe itinerary on 25 April 2025, sailing the Rhine, Main, and Danube rivers.
April 18: Viking has announced its newest ship for the Nile River – the 82-guest Viking Amun – —was "floated out," marking a major construction milestone and the first time the ship has touched water.
Set to sail in September 2025, the Viking Amun will join the Company's growing fleet of state-of-the-art ships for the Nile River and will sail Viking's popular 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.
The traditional float-out ceremony of the Viking Amun took place at Massara shipyard in Cairo and is significant because it marks the ship moving into its final stage of construction. She will now be moved to a nearby outfitting dock for final construction and interior build-out.
March 31: Oceania Cruises is preparing its luxurious 1,250-guest ship Riviera to sail its first-ever Australia and New Zealand season of voyages.
Riviera will be the only Oceania Cruises vessel in the region to offer exclusive itineraries with a gourmet foodie focus. Guests can immerse themselves in the local culinary scene through a broad array of small-group shore excursions including visits to local markets, rice fields, and truffle farms, incorporating everything from Australia's globally revered seafood to New Zealand's world-famous lamb.
The 2026 Australia and New Zealand season will run from November 2025 to March 2026, featuring a diverse selection of itineraries ranging from 14 to 35 days, with departures from multiple ports across the region.
Voyages combine hidden gems like Mystery Island in Vanuatu, Dunedin in New Zealand, and Kangaroo Island in South Australia, with iconic ports such as Sydney.
With hundreds of excursions available, guests can choose how they want to explore each port thanks to the line's expansive array of excursions in each destination.
March 28: MSC Cruises has officially taken delivery of its next "world Class" ship MSC World America.
It is the 23rd ship in the cruise line's modern fleet and is set to be officially named on 9 April in the US at the company's new state-of-the-art MSC Miami Cruise Terminal, the largest in the world.
The new ship offers new venues and concepts tailored specifically to the US market, combining the brand's signature European style with American comfort.
March 27: Virgin Voyages has shattered records with the best "Wave" season in company history.
Richard Branson's adult-only cruise line has seen 34 per cent growth in bookings, with revenue up 45 per cent.
Since introducing new, longer itineraries, Virgin Voyages has also reported a more than 50 per cent increase in bookings for these new products, indicating strong consumer interest in new ports and longer stays onboard the Virgin fleet.
Despite pulling out of the Australia cruise market after just one season, the brand has unveiled fleet-wide innovations.
Plans include reveals for its award-winning culinary program, new restaurants, expanded menus, seven new entertainment concepts, longer and more sought-after itineraries and the much-anticipated debut of its fourth ship, Brilliant Lady in September 2025.
This celebratory moment marks a major brand milestone with all four Lady Ships sailing the Caribbean this year. Brand-wide homeports will include New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Seattle, Barcelona, Athens and Portsmouth.
March 19: Viking has taken delivery of the Viking Nerthus, the company's newest Viking Longship.
The ship was presented at Meyer's Neptun Werft shipyard in Rockstock-Warnemuende, Germany.
The 168-guest Viking Nerthus joins the company's growing fleet of sister ships on the Seine River.
The ship will sail Viking's popular 8-day itinerary, Paris & the Heart of Normandy, and the new 8-day Christmastime in Paris & Normandy itinerary.
The new Viking Nerthus features Viking's signature Scandinavian design for which Viking is known.
March 18: Switzerland chefs Philippe Deslarzes and Franco Körperich are set to elevate the gourmet experience aboard Swan Hellenic's SH Diana and SH Vega with their celebrated culinary expertise.
During these exclusive voyages, guests will indulge in their signature dishes and a specially curated Gala Dinner menu.
Additionally, guests will have the opportunity to witness live cooking demonstrations and participate in gastronomic excursions ashore, exploring local culinary traditions and specialities.
Gastronomic excursions are also on offer, offering exclusive onshore experiences showcasing regional culinary traditions.
March 13: Upmarket cruise firm Oceania has announced an epic 180 day, around the world cruise.
Bookings are now open for the 2027 jaunt, which will take guests to over 100 ports across six continents aboard one of the line's newest ships, Vista.
If that's not long enough, 244-day voyage from Miami to New York is also on offer.

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