Princess Cruises has revealed details of its 2025-2026 Australia and New Zealand schedule, including the Down Under debut of flagship Discovery Princess, as well as the longest-ever world cruise with a round trip from Australia – a record 114 nights. travel aboard the Crown Princess.
In total, the 2025-2026 Australia/New Zealand season will feature three ships – Discovery Princess, Crown Princess and Grand Princess – visiting 78 destinations in 18 countries on 120 departures offering 75 unique itineraries. The Discovery Princess, seating 3,660 passengers and weighing 145,000 tonnes, will be the largest Princess Cruises ship to ever sail in Australian waters and will offer 22 itineraries during its four-month deployment, which will include 11 departures from Sydney.
Additionally, the longest-ever world cruise from Australia offers return departures from Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland aboard Crown Princess’ epic 2026 global odyssey, which is set to visit 48 destinations in 31 countries , on six continents and covering an impressive 35,000 nautical miles.
“Australia remains one of our most popular and rapidly growing markets, with access to a seemingly endless range of fascinatingly beautiful and interesting attractions and landmarks, as well as several home ports to choose from,” said Terry Thornton, Chief Commercial Officer of Princess Cruises. “Our 2025-26 season has been designed to deliver an impressive and robust Australian program that appeals to all cruise passengers, from first-timers to families, to those looking for longer adventures to explore the world.”
Highlights of the upcoming 2025-26 season in Australia and New Zealand include:
-Departures from two to 37 days from seven homeports in Australia and New Zealand, including Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, Melbourne, Perth (Fremantle), Adelaide and Hobart (Tasmania).
-Access to more than 20 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest reef system from Yorkeys Knob or Port Douglas, and Western Australia’s Ningaloo Coast from Exmouth, home to the one of the most important nesting sites in the world for green and loggerhead turtles.
– Late night stays in eight ports, including Auckland, Melbourne and Darwin, with evening exploration opportunities where guests can roam the Darwin waterfront to sample local food and drinks or spend the night in the electrification of Hong Kong during a navigation between South-East Asia and Japan between Tokyo (Yokohama). ) and Sydney.
– Holiday cruises including a 14-day Fiji holiday aboard Crown Princess and a 14-day New Zealand holiday aboard Discovery Princess, both return from Sydney.
-A wide range of cruise durations and itineraries on Discovery Princess and Crown Princess from Sydney, joined by Grand Princess from Brisbane:
-Explore New Zealand with five- to 15-day departures from Sydney, Brisbane or Auckland, including numerous return options, or circumnavigate the continent on 27- to 29 days including a scenic cruise of the spectacular Kimberley Coast region with return travel from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Fremantle (Perth) or Adelaide.
-Visit Tasmania – one of the world’s southernmost islands and home to a variety of unique wildlife, including the Tasmanian devil and orange-bellied parrot – on round-trip trips of five to 12 days departing from Sydney or Brisbane.
-Discover the South Pacific with voyages of eight to 37 days with stopovers to New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Hawaii, Tahiti and Fiji, round trip from Sydney, Brisbane and Hobart.
-Enjoy immersive experiences in Southeast Asia’s most iconic destinations like Port Kelang (Kuala Lumpur), Bali (Benoa) and Singapore on trips between Australia and Asia, as well as Epic Pacific adventures of up to 32 days sailing between popular North American home ports (Los Angeles, Vancouver, Honolulu, Seattle) as well as Australia and New Zealand.
These cruises are complemented by two unique cruises, Australian Outback and Ultimate Australia, where guests can learn about Aboriginal culture and visit two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru National Park with its iconic Ayers Rock, as well as sites such as Darwin and Cairns.
The longest world cruise ever in Australia:
In 2026, the Crown Princess, with 3,080 guests, will sail the world’s longest cruise ever from Australia: a 114-day cruise calling at 48 destinations in 31 countries on six continents. Notable Features:
-This global voyage departs in May 2026, heading to Southeast Asia, across the Indian Ocean, via the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. From there, explore the Baltic Sea, then travel to Iceland before crossing the Atlantic to the St. Lawrence River en route to an overnight stay in Quebec, Canada. After a transit on the Panama Canal which includes the new Agua Clara and Cocoli locks, cross the South Pacific to return to Australia via Pitcairn Island, known as the refuge of the mutineers of the HMS Bounty.
-As well as stopping briefly at Easter Island for a scenic cruise of Rapa Nui, home to the iconic 800-year-old monolithic statues, the Crown Princess’s itinerary will provide access to 50 World Heritage sites of the UNESCO, including two newly designated sites: The circular Viking Age fortresses of Treeleborg and Bogring were built in the 10th century and are accessible from Copenhagen, Denmark, and the First World War burial and memorial sites on the Western Front from Zeebrugge, Belgium.
-Two inaugural calls for Australian World Cruises: Alexandria (for Cairo and Giza) which was once home to the Alexandria Lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and Patmos, Greece, home to the Monastery of St. John and the cave of the Apocalypse.
-Overnight visits to New York, Lima and Quebec and late night stays in a range of exotic destinations, including Reykjavik in Iceland and Papeete in Tahiti.
These sailings are available to travel advisors in North America starting November 21 and will go on sale to the public at the end of the month.
All three Netherlands-based ships feature the exclusive Princess Medallion which reinforces Princess’ leadership position in providing an exceptional personalized experience typical of small ships, while benefiting from only the best amenities of large ships. Convenient and simple features include expedited boarding; keyless entry into the cabin; gather anywhere; friends and family locator; and order food, drinks, retail items or request service from their smart device or crew member and have their order delivered directly… even if they move.
For guests who want more inclusive options on board, the Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages offer several amenities at exceptional prices, including express boarding; alcoholic drinks, non-alcoholic cocktails, specialty coffees and smoothies; Unlimited MedallionNet Wi-Fi (fastest at sea); casual and specialty dining; boutique fitness classes; free room service and much more.
Additional information about Princess Cruises is available from a professional travel advisor by calling 1-800-Princess. (1-800-774-6237) or by visiting www.princess.com.