Ensemble Travel Group - Experience That Take You Places
Sponsored Video

Explore Australia &
New Zealand

Visit the charming cities, the blue ocean and the breathtaking open spaces of Australia and New Zealand. Let Holland America Line show you the fascinating diversity and amazing geology of these exotic yet familiar lands.
Running time: 3:15
Current Promotions

» Free Spa Treatment
   Royal Caribbean Int'l
» Future Travel Credit
   WestJet Vacations
» Cruise Sale
   Princess Cruises
» Mexico is Back!
   Transat Holidays
» Castle Maile Sky Court
   FunSun Vacations
» 2010 Early Advantage
   Holland America Line
HOME SPOTLIGHT PLANNING CRUISING RECIPE TIPS TIDBITS SHARE

Cruising and Cruise Tours in Australia & New Zealand

Cruising Australia and New Zealand is an adventure that offers a diversity of landscapes and experiences unmatched anywhere else in the world. The ports you'll visit are amongst the most varied and interesting in the world. You can discover more of these exciting countries by adding a tour before or after your cruise. This could certainly be your most memorable vacation yet!

Growing Itineraries

The exciting news about cruising down under is the variety of new itineraries. The standard route is between Auckland, New Zealand and Sydney, Australia visiting ports in both countries and cruising scenic areas like spectacular Fjordland National Park in New Zealand. This itinerary is now being offered along with a host of variations and new options. These include:

  • Round-trip sailings from Sydney or Melbourne to New Zealand
  • Round-trip from Sydney to ports in Tasmania, tropical Queensland or the South Pacific islands of New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji.
  • Circumnavigations of Australia from Sydney which can be taken in segments from Sydney to Perth, or Perth to Sydney.  (Holland America and Royal Caribbean have now joined Princess in offering this outstanding route.)
  • Circumnavigation of Australia, or segments, plus port calls in New Zealand. 
  • Between Sydney and Asia via Queensland or Western Australia. These are usually one-way positioning cruises.
  • Australia and New Zealand are also featured on world cruises, grand voyages and their segments like Crystal's January 2010 World Cruise and Regent Seven Seas' Circle Pacific in Fall 2010.

Australian Cruising

Princess and Royal Caribbean have ships dedicated to the Australian cruise experience. You'll meet many friendly Australians and New Zealanders on board and find some delicious local wine and menu options. The Australian favourite, vegemite, is even available in the dining room and you may find tea making facilities in your stateroom.

Cruise Tours

By adding a land tour to your cruise you can see even more of these great countries as you visit important destinations not included on your cruise itinerary. Tours may be offered pre or post cruise and include sightseeing, transportation, accommodation, some meals and free time for you to do your own exploring and shopping. Here's a summary of tours offered by cruise lines for the 2009-2010 season.

  • Royal Caribbean International
  • Holland America Line
  • Princess Cruises

Royal Caribbean International

  • 6 nights - Explore New Zealand on a tour of Auckland, Rotorua and Queenstown then fly to Sydney for an overnight stay before sailing aboard Rhapsody of the Seas.
  • 5 nights - Spend a day and night in Sydney before flying to Cairns and Port Douglas (2 nights) then on to Ayers Rock (2 nights) and back to Sydney to board Rhapsody.

Holland America Line

  • 3 nights – Great Barrier Reef round-trip from Sydney including reef platform visit, rainforest, crocodile tour, aboriginal cultural centre.
  • 3 nights – Red Center round-trip from Sydney to Alice Springs & Ayers Rock.
  • 5 nights - Explore Aus round-trip from Sydney to Alice Springs, & Ayers Rock, take a bush walk in Uluru National Park, visit Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef.
  • 3 nights – Auckland region tour round-trip from Auckland takes you to the Waitomo Caves and magical glow worm grotto, a working sheep farm, mainland gannet colonies, a tour of Auckland and a typical New Zealand BBQ lunch.

Princess Cruises

  • 5 nights – Tropical Highlights round-trip from Sydney includes a tour of Sydney and Cairns including the Great Barrier Reef, the village of Kuranda and a ride on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway down the mountain. Also visit Tjapukai, an Aboriginal culture park for a tour and show.
  • 6 nights – Outback tour round-trip Sydney includes a tour of Sydney, Ayers Rock, Uluru National Park, Alice Springs, a camel farm, desert park, Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef.
  • 7 nights – Ultimate Australia round-trip Sydney includes a tour of Sydney, Ayers Rock, Uluru National Park, Darwin, World Heritage Kakadu National Park, Port Douglas, Kuranda, Skyrail and the Great Barrier Reef.

Enjoy a more comprehensive look at Australia and New Zealand by adding one of these tours before or after your cruise.

By Susan Milne
Ensemble Travel Group

IMPORTANT: When booking, ask us for the appropriate supplier brochure for complete details and terms and conditions for your vacations and as well inquire about any possible past guest savings. Offers are space available and may be withdrawn at anytime without prior notice and are not combinable with other offers (unless stated otherwise). All prices, details and offers are subject to change. We are not responsible for errors or omissions.

Articles written by Susan Milne.

 Ensemble Travel Group - Experience That Takes You Places