Cruise from Brisbane

From Brisbane, cruise ships sail along the gorgeous Queensland coast stopping at mainland ports like Townsville, Cairns, Port Douglas and Cooktown. You can also visit islands like K’Gari Fraser Island and Moreton Island, or ports in the Whitsundays like Hamilton Island, Dunk Island and Great Keppel Island. Itineraries sail all around Australia from here, calling at Sydney, Melbourne, Darwin and more. 

Brisbane is the closest major cruise port to the South Pacific, so there are regular departures to this tropical destination and less days at sea on the way. These cruises visit New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and beyond. It’s also close to Papua New Guinea, one of the world’s newest cruise destinations that should be on your bucket list. New Zealand is another popular cruise destination, with ships regularly sailing to Auckland, Wellington, Fiordland and Christchurch. If you’re looking for something further afield, try a cruise to Asia, Hawaii or a Transpacific voyage across to the mainland US. 

Get ready for some serious family fun on a cruise from Brisbane. Many of the ships sailing from here are the most kid-friendly in the business, with features like waterslides, waterparks, sports courts, adventure activities and arcade games. Quantum of the Seas regularly sails from Brisbane and is packed with awesome features like a surf simulator, indoor skydiving tunnel, bumper cars, a roller skating rink and a circus school complete with trapeze lessons. Enjoy mini golf and dive in movies (shown above the pool) on Carnival Luminosa or challenge your friends on the twin racer waterslides on P&O Cruises Pacific Encounter. Most of the ships sailing from Brisbane will also have dedicated kids’ clubs with separate rooms and activities for different ages.

Yes, a handful of luxury cruise ships sail from Brisbane. These ships tend to be smaller in size, offering a more boutique experience with personalised service from the crew. Enjoy spacious suits, exceptional food, free-flowing wines and indulgent spas. Luxury lines to look for include Silversea, Ponant, Seabourn and Crystal Cruises.

Check in times for your cruise will be staggered to cut down on wait times for passengers. The process varies across different cruise lines, but you will be allocated a check in time based on your cabin or given the option to choose a check in slot when you book or through the lines’ app. At a minimum you will need to be at the cruise terminal at least one hour before the ship is scheduled to depart – remember, they won’t wait for you!

There is only one cruise port in Brisbane, so if you are sailing on a round trip cruise then you will return to the same port. If you’re on a one-way cruise, you will depart from Brisbane International Cruise Terminal and then disembark in another city.

If you’re short on time, you can hop on a two- or three-day cruise from Brisbane to get a taste of life onboard. These short cruises may visit one port or just spend time at sea for you to enjoy everything on the ship. Longer cruises of seven- to 10-days will travel along the east coast of Australia or into the islands of the South Pacific, visiting multiple ports with a few sea days thrown in. Longer cruises can last from two weeks up to a month and will take you to New Zealand, Asia or on a Transpacific adventure.

If you dream it, you can find it on a cruise ship sailing from Brisbane. Most cruise ships will offer things like swimming pools, waterslides and waterparks, sports courts, games rooms and spas, but some of the ships based here take it to the next level. Enjoy surf simulators, indoor skydiving tunnels, 100m-high observation pods, bumper cars, video game arcades and world-class entertainment featuring virtual reality. There will also be multiple places to dine, ranging from casual cafes and buffets to chic fine dining, as well as buzzy bars and nightclubs. 

Yeehah! You could meet a ship full of new boot scooting buddies on a country music themed cruise from Brisbane. Other themed cruises cover Australian music, comedy, eras like the 80s and 90s, or sporting events. These cruises tend to be short, just a few days at most, and feature lots of themed activities and entertainment on board. Longer cruises can be focused on food and wine, wildlife or cultural encounters.

Yes, there are 900 parking spots available inside the grounds of the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal. These are all paid parking spots managed by Wilson Parking and you must book online before you travel.

Cruise ships depart from the Port of Brisbane all year round and, thanks to that sunny Queensland climate, you’ll almost always be sailing out in good weather. The busiest period is between November and April, when around a dozen cruise ships will regularly be departing from the city.