World-class cruise ships are heading to Australia - here's what to expect

These top-rated vessels are about to make their Australian debut.

A suite on board Ponant's Le Commandant Charcot, which will be visiting Australia early next year.

By Kristie Kellahan

Updated April 1, 2025, first published February 24, 2025

In great news for Aussie cruisers, there's no need to book an international flight to cruise on the world's best ships next wave season.

A flotilla of beautiful vessels are heading Down Under for the first time. Fans of Princess Cruises will be happy to hear there's another Love Boat heading our way. Discovery Princess will call Australia home for the 2025/26 summer wave season. Homeporting in Sydney, she'll sail Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific itineraries.

Similar in many ways to sister ships Majestic Princess and Royal Princess, the newer Discovery Princess has even more upscale accommodations, new restaurants and reimagined entertainment. The kids' club is guaranteed to please.

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Big is beautiful when RCI's Anthem of the Seas arrives in Sydney in November 2025. The mega-ship, which can accommodate up to 4,905 guests, will offer summer sailings to New Zealand, the Aussie coast and the South Pacific. Sister ship Voyager of the Seas will sail out of Brisbane.

Oceania Riviera arrives in Sydney for a maiden call next December, after port stops in Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne. The ultra-luxury ship, part of the fleet that's a favourite of food and wine devotees, has capacity for 1250 passengers.

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As part of a world cruise itinerary, Riviera's sister ship Oceania Vista will stop in Sydney, Mooloolaba, Airlie Beach and Darwin in April 2026.

Silversea Silver Moon makes her Australian debut in November 2025, on an exciting itinerary from Perth to Melbourne.

From there, the intimate yet spacious ship with all-suite accommodations for 596 passengers will visit New Zealand several times, before returning to Perth in February 2026.

And it's a case of 'blink and you'll miss it' when the world's only luxury icebreaker, Ponant's Le Commandant Charcot visits Australian waters in early 2026.

Retracing the paths of legendary Antarctic explorers from Argentina to Tasmania, she'll stop in Hobart on February 15, 2026.