The cruise invasion is here: Australia's 2025/26 peak season kicks off

The 2025/26 peak season is officially underway, marked by the arrival of the international ships. Silversea's Silver Nova sailed in from Asia to Darwin and has commenced a circumnavigation of Australia. Carnival Luminosa, Disney Wonder and Crown Princess have also returned to their homeports in Sydney and Brisbane, after several months in other parts of the world.

Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Viking, Azamara, Holland America, Regent Seven Seas, Oceania, MSC, NCL, Seabourn, Crystal, Costa and Cunard are among other cruise lines with ships on the way. Some will stay for months; others will pass through on round-the-world voyages, escaping the Northern Hemisphere winter.

Expedition vessels do the opposite, relocating from the Kimberley when it gets too hot. For example, True North is sailing from Sydney to the Hawkesbury River, from Adelaide to Ceduna, and from Esperance to Fremantle. Coral Adventurer has set off on its circumnavigation, while the rest of the fleet covers Tasmania, Western Australia and the Great Barrier Reef.

Scenic Eclipse II is heading from the Top End to the South Pacific, before cooling off in New Zealand and East Antarctica, including a convenient departure from Hobart. The Australian-owned discovery yacht won't be back until 2028. Ponant's Le Soleal and Le Jacques Cartier are keeping it steamy, cruising between Cairns and Indonesia, Darwin and Papua New Guinea. Le Commandant Charcot will also drop in to Australia for the first time, concluding an unusual route from Ushuaia, Argentina to Hobart.

As the globe's most glittering ships grace our shores, we're set for an extraordinary summer of luxury. Regent, Silversea and Seabourn are sending three ships each. Other stunners include the refurbished Crystal Serenity, Queen Mary 2 and first-timer Queen Anne. A special event will be the naming ceremony for Aurora Expeditions' new Douglas Mawson, in Sydney Harbour on November 27, ahead of its maiden voyage around Tassie. Another glamorous visitor is The World, a private residential community at sea, where the passengers own their cabins and lavishly renovate them. The owners vote on the annual itineraries, this year choosing to spend a month in Australia, including New Year's Eve in Hobart.

With this much sparkle in our seas, Australia's golden coastline will be shining like never before.