AUSSIES WILL be able to enjoy more cruise action with Carnival with the line announcing 10 more sailings in its 2025-2026 season.
The program offers a new Sydney to Fiji sailing on Carnival Splendor, plus additional domestic and New Zealand cruises from Sydney.
Homeported in Sydney, Splendor will offer a range of itineraries to destinations across Australia, including the Great Barrier Reef, Moreton Island, Tasmania and a Melbourne Cup cruise, as well as international destinations such as Fiji, South Pacific islands, Singapore and New Zealand.
For those looking for options from Queensland, Carnival Luminosa will offer additional Great Barrier Reef cruises and three-night getaway sailings from Brisbane.
We know Australians are looking for value-for-money holidays and we’re thrilled to expand our cruise offerings in 2025-2026 to give them more options to set sail, said Kara Glamore, Carnival Cruise Line VP.
There is so much fun offered onboard a Carnival cruise, both for our loyal cruisers and those who’ve been thinking about trying a cruise for the first time.
Sailings in 2025-2026 are opening for bookings with fares including:
- Carnival Splendor’s four-day Moreton Island sailing departing Sydney on January 28, 2026, starts from $580 per person?
- Carnival Splendor’s eight-day South Pacific sailing departing Sydney on May 30, 2026, starts from $829 per person?
- Carnival Luminosa’s four-day Airlie Beach sailing departing Brisbane March 15, 2026, starts from $612 per person?
- Carnival Luminosa’s seven-day Great Barrier Reef sailing departing Brisbane on March 15, 2026, starts from $927 per person.
LOOK AT THIS AMBITIOUS CELEBRITY
CELEBRITY CRUISES has announced its most ambitious season ever with more than 800 sailings to 290 destinations across 72 countries.
The program includes the debut Caribbean season for its new ship, Celebrity Xcel, along with new ports in Europe, year-round offerings in the Caribbean and new immersive itineraries throughout Japan and Iceland.
Highlights of the new 2025-2026 season include:
- Celebrity Xcel, the brand’s newest and most innovative Edge Series ship, making her Caribbean debut with seven-night sailings from Florida
- Year-round sailings from Miami to the Caribbean on guest favourite, Celebrity Beyond
- Three new European ports to discover: Bar, Montenegro; Trondheim, Norway and Djupivogur, Iceland
- Four new itineraries circumnavigating Iceland on Celebrity Silhouette
- Two new distinct, immersive Asia itineraries.
We’ve placed our incredible ships in every corner of the world for guests to experience iconic places, take a short break to rejuvenate or explore stunning cultural and historic landmarks, said Laura Hodges Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises.
I SAW A SIXTH SHIP GO SAILING BY
REGENT SEVEN Seas has taken delivery of its sixth ship with Seven Seas Grandeur joining the fleet and welcoming her first guests.
The 746-guest vessel was launched recently and features 15 accommodation categories, ranging between 28.5 square metres to 413 square metres.
Guests can choose from the palatial, $16,000-a-night Regent Suite to the contemporary Distinctive Suites.
As the appetite for luxury travel continues to grow, the delivery of Seven Seas Grandeur provides even more opportunities to cruise the world while enjoying the highest standards of hospitality in lavish and spacious surroundings, said Andrea DeMarco, President of Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
The new ship has eight dining experiences, including five complimentary specialty restaurants, with 130 dishes created exclusively for Seven Seas Grandeur.
Grandeur is also home to a 1,600-piece art collection, the pièce de résistance of which will be a custom designed masterpiece – Journey in Jewels – the first Fabergé Egg to permanently reside at sea.
The spa and wellness experience aboard will feature new and exclusive treatments with a menu that integrates best-in-class techniques and luxury ingredients from around the world.
New treatments include utilising the restorative power of an amber and quartz crystal bed, and an advanced treatment table for a Zero Gravity Wellness Massage, as well as a Tahitian Hydration Ritual only for Regent Suite guests.
DISCOUNT DEAL THAT’S IN THE SPIRIT
NORWEGIAN CRUISE Line has launched a deal on 12-day cruises departing from Sydney on board Norwegian Spirit.
Guests travelling between January 4 and March 16, 2024, can unlock up to 50 per cent off their voyage.
The deal also grants access to NCL’s five popular Free at Sea’ offers, including a beverage package, speciality dining, shore excursion credits, Wi-Fi, reduced deposits (from $149) and gratuities.
Offers are valid until December 31 and are for new bookings only.
VIKING DOUBLES UP IN ASIA
VIKING HAVE announced a new ship for the Mekong river, doubling its capacity in Southeast Asia.
Debuting in 2025, the 80-guest Viking Tonle will join its identical sister ship, the Viking Saigon, which debuted in 2022.
The new ship will sail between Kampong Cham in Cambodia and M? Tho in Vietnam as part of Viking’s popular 15-day Magnificent Mekong’ itinerary.
To meet strong demand for Mekong voyages, the company has added sailing dates in 2025 and has now opened the entire 2026 season for booking.
The rich history and culture of Vietnam and Cambodia have always made the Mekong River a fascinating destination for our guests, said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking.
With the addition of an identical sister ship in 2025, we look forward to introducing even more curious travellers to the treasures of this fantastic region in the years to come.
All 40 staterooms will have hotel-style beds and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors with a veranda or French balcony. Guests will also enjoy a spa and fitness centre, pool and open-air Sky Bar on the upper deck.
During the Magnificent Mekong’ journey, guests explore the cultural treasures of Vietnam and Cambodia with 16 guided tours.
Hotel stays in Hanoi, Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) bracket an eight-day voyage during which guests can enjoy exploring the Old Quarter of Hanoi and attend a performance by Apsara dancers.
NEW ERA IN CRUISING LAUNCHED
A TRADITIONAL local welcome has heralded a new era of expedition cruising in Fiji and the South Pacific.
Captain Cook Cruises Fiji officially launched luxury small ship MS Caledonian Sky at an official ceremony recently.
The festivities commenced with a blessing by Reverend Saimoni Rokini. The heart of the ceremony was the Sevusevu, a time-honoured Fijian tradition wherein a new arrival presents kava (yaqona) to the traditional owners of the land and asks for their blessing.
Adi Varanisese Ligalevu Tavaiqia accepted the kava and welcomed the ship to her new home in Fiji. She was then formally named as the ship’s Godmother and wished the ship safe and happy voyages ahead.
Following maritime tradition and to commemorate the arrival of the ship, the ship’s Godmother cut a flower garland that stretched from ship to shore to signify the ship’s launch and to welcome her to Fiji.
After the formal proceedings, guests enjoyed a tour of the spacious suites and well-appointed public areas on the ship and enjoyed drinks with canapes prepared by Executive Chef Ashim Sing.
This is a momentous occasion for our extended family here at Captain Cook Cruises Fiji and we’re both proud and excited to be offering guests a new, more genuine, bucket list’ experience of Fiji, said Allison Haworth West, Captain Cook Cruises Fiji Executive Chair.
With our commitment to give back to the people and places we visit, this is cruising of Fiji, for Fiji.
The ship has a capacity of 114 passengers across 57 ocean view suites and has already embarked on her first voyage.
