Here's our pick of the most exciting ships coming to Australia this summer

It's that time of year when cruise ships start taking over our harbours and horizons. October to April is peak season for cruising in Australia, with the warmer weather attracting some of the newest, biggest and most luxurious ships down under.

This summer, several first-timers are set to make their maiden calls in local ports. Shiny newcomers include Cunard's Queen Anne, Viking Cruises' Viking Venus, Silversea's Silver Nova, Princess Cruises' Crown Princess, NCL's Norwegian Sun and Ponant's Paspaley Pearl.

The 3080-passenger Crown Princess will become the largest ship ever based full-time in Australia when it arrives in Sydney on October 26. After a series of cruises around Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, the busy schedule culminates with a four-month voyage to Africa, Europe and South America. (Cabins are still available if you have 113 consecutive spare days from June.)

Meanwhile, Diamond Princess and Royal Princess will also offer departures from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Fremantle and even a rare round-trip from Hobart - an 18-night cruise to New Zealand.

The new Silver Nova comes to Cairns on November 17, cruising within Australia and to New Zealand, with other departures from Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland.

Norwegian Sun arrives in December, sailing from Cairns and Melbourne. One of its best itineraries is the 14-night South Pacific: Fiji, Vanuatu & Great Barrier Reef cruise from Cairns via Noumea, Lifou, Port Vila, Mystery Island, Dravuni, Savusavu, Suva and Lautoka, departing April 24.

Adults-only Viking Venus will do a lap of the country on a 31-night circumnavigation, from Sydney on January 20, 2025. On its way out, a 24-night crossing from Sydney to Singapore stops in the Whitsundays, Thursday Island, Darwin, Komodo Island, Bali and Java.

Cunard's new Queen Anne visits the east coast in February and March as part of its inaugural world voyage. The easiest way to join in is boarding a 19-night sector from Sydney to Hong Kong, departing February 28.

Several "old" favourites are returning, too, including Queen Elizabeth (for its last season based here), Celebrity Edge, Ovation of the Seas, Disney Wonder, Seabourn Quest, Azamara Pursuit and Oceania Cruises' Insignia, Regatta and Nautica.

P&O Cruises Australia is sadly wrapping up its final season, as Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter transfer to Carnival Cruise Line in April. Leaving our shores forever, Pacific Explorer's last voyage is an 11-night cruise from Fremantle to Singapore, departing February 7.