There is lots happening in ocean cruising in Australia and abroad. Here are a few of the latest developments and offers from top cruise lines:
Royal Caribbean
Big ship Navigator of the Seas has started a year-long season in Singapore, marking its debut in Asia.
Singapore is, of course, a popular choice for West Aussies to fly-cruise and gives us a convenient option to explore the region more broadly.
A five-hour flight from Perth gets us to the Garden City, which is a fabulous, dynamic destination in its own right with loads to see and do pre or post-cruise.
I like the option of a short cruise (two to five nights) in the protected waters of the Strait of Malacca to Malaysian islands Penang — a personal favourite for its heritage-rich streets and food scene — and Langkawi with its postcard scenery; with options to include the beaches of Phuket, Thailand.
There are also longer 10-night journeys to Thailand and Vietnam with visits to Ho Chi Minh City and coastal Da Nang in Vietnam, as well as an overnight stay in bustling Bangkok.
Stretching to 12 nights you can sail between Singapore and Tokyo to experience destinations in Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Max out on Navigator’s thrilling water attractions — including the claimed longest water slide at sea — plus live entertainment and dining options to suit families, friend groups and couples.
Ponant Explorations
The luxury small-ship line has reduced deposits to 10 per cent on all new cruise bookings until January 31, 2027.
Australia is among the applicable markets included in this offer on more than 350 voyages to many destinations departing in late 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029. They include cruises operated by sister company Paul Gauguin Cruises in the South Pacific.
The usual deposit is 25 per cent. So the offer allows travellers to lock in preferred dates, cabins and itineraries to destinations including the Kimberley, Mediterranean, French Polynesia and the polar regions for a lower upfront commitment.
A further deposit equal to 15 per cent of the booking value is due 212 days before departure, with standard final payment, booking and cancellation terms applicable.
See au.ponant.com for details.
Princess Cruises
Royal Princess, the flagship of the line’s Royal class, is headed Down Under for the summer season after a two-week dry dock upgrade in Singapore.
It’s the first of five Royal-class ships to roll out Princess’ upscale Sanctuary Collection — a private onboard retreat available to travellers booking select suites and staterooms, including the newly-built oceanview staterooms. Princess is transitioning away from day pass access to the adults-only Retreat Pool and The Sanctuary.
Princess president Gus Antorcha says it “allows more guests to enjoy the privacy, personalised service and premium amenities they would expect from an intimate luxury resort, while still having the destinations, entertainment and choices of a Princess cruise just steps away”.
Sanctuary Collection includes a range of benefits including access to the Sanctuary Club — a quiet top-deck space with a pool reserved exclusively for adults. There’s a custom bites and beverages menu and service to your poolside lounge, or private cabana (for an additional cost).
But as a Princess spokesperson tells us, guests on Royal Princess will have to wait until April 22, 2027 for the full experience: “Until then all adult guests 16-and-older may ‘preview’ the Sanctuary Club, formerly the adults-only Retreat Pool and The Sanctuary.”
Plus each Sanctuary Collection guest has exclusive access to the Sanctuary Restaurant, and receives the Princess Premier package which includes premium unlimited beverages, specialty dining, high-speed, multi-device wi-fi, crew appreciation, complimentary room service and priority disembarkations.
Those in suites get access to the private Suite Lounge with personalised concierge services.
Royal Princess Sanctuary Collection cabins are already on sale, starting with the 12-day South Pacific voyage departing on January 4, 2027. The Collection will be available to book over the next two months on Regal, Discovery, Sky, and Enchanted Princess ships.
Season 2026-27 is the start of a big cruise program for Princess in the Asia-Pacific region through 2028-29. Each of the next three seasons will have three Princess ships deployed, including Royal Princess.
From October 10, 2027 Sapphire Princess will feature a series of short and longer voyages during its maiden homeport season in Fremantle.
Also, Princess’ just-released 2028-29 Australia and New Zealand season has 90 departures on 72 different itineraries, including three Round Australia voyages and its longest-ever world cruise from Australia — the 129-night Grand World Odyssey, visiting 31 countries with access to more than 50 UNESCO World Heritage sites. Departure from Fremantle is available on this world cruise.
There are special early booking offers from November 11 until December 11, 2026 on these 2028-29 cruises.
Visit princess.com or consult a travel adviser.
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