The Australian Cruise Market (Which Lines Sail There, When To Go and Much Much More…)

In this short article, we learn more about the Australian cruise market and your cruise options if you want to sail there.

I have never been lucky enough to travel to Australia on a cruise – it is definitely on my bucket list!

Carnival Cruise Line sails From Australia All Year Round.

• Carnival has four ships sailing in Australian waters at the moment.
  • Carnival Splendor and Carnival Luminosa have been sailing there for some years.
  • Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter, now named Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter, have joined them as P&O Australia has closed down.
• These ships have had “Australianised” refits to suit the Australian Cruise Market.
• They sail out of many ports.
  • These include Sydney and Brisbane’s new cruise terminal.

Carnival also offers a relaxed approach to cruising. Expect shows, bars, water slides and a fun cruise experience.

P&O Australia Are No More!

Carnival Corporation has shut down P&O Australia, and the last P&O sailing was on Pacific Adventure in March 2025.

This brought to an end just under a century of cruising heritage. Many Australians had a long-standing connection to the brand. It was seen as part of Australian cultural history for many.

Carnival made the financial decision to close down P&O Australia. Operating and Regulatory costs were significantly higher in Australia.

P&O Australia History

• P&O Australia dated its heritage back to the 1930s.
  • They started offering cruises on ocean liners, doing turnarounds between their voyages between the UK and Australia.
  • They offered short cruises to the South Pacific
• P&O Australia bought Sitmar Cruises in the 1980s.
  • The Sitmar Fairstar – the most famous ship in the Australian cruise market operated until the 1990s
• They had three ships, the Pacific Adventure, Pacific Encounter and Pacific Explorer.
  • Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter have been rebranded Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter and continue to sail in Australian waters.
  • Pacific Explorer has been retired from the Carnival Fleet and now sails as Star Voyager for Resorts World Cruises in Asia.

Other ships in Australian Waters

• Other cruise lines – such as Royal Caribbean, Cunard and Celebrity- also offer voyages from and to Australia, but only during the Australian summer season. (October to March)
• Ships that only visit Australia during peak seasons will charge onboard in their local currency – i.e. American Dollars.
• Carnival use Australian Dollars onboard to suit the Australian market.

What is the currency onboard?
The onboard currency is Australian dollars for all cruises departing from an Australian port. In some cases where a cruise does not depart from an Australian port, the onboard currency will be USD.

Carnival Corporation

Other Smaller Australian Cruise Lines

Other, smaller, home-grown expedition cruise lines, such as Coral Cruises, operate out of Australia. They focus on trips to small ports and itineraries that the larger cruise ships can’t visit.

Now you have an idea of the options available if you want to cruise from or to, or around Australia!

Carnival are now the only line sailing out of Australian ports. I have found that Carnival cruises are very different, depending on where they sail from.

Find out how I got on when I sailed from New York on Carnival Magic here:

Before You Go

You may be wondering when is the best time of year to cruise to different destinations. Find out more here:

Cruise Destinations and Timings (Peak Seasons, Popular Itineraries and Weather)

Find out when is the cheapest time to book a cruise to get the most for your money in the article below:

When is the Cheapest Month to go on a Cruise? (Real Examples) – Where and When I Travelled