Australia Cruises from the UK

A cruise from the UK to Australia means weeks at sea crossing some of the world’s great oceans, with the itinerary calling at ports across multiple continents before reaching the southern hemisphere. Every sailing here departs from Southampton — you can reach the port by train or car — and voyage lengths run from 44 to 124 nights, with most sitting around 63 nights. Fares start from £4,989 pp*.

Cruising to Australia from the UK

All sailings are world cruises — long-haul voyages that use the passage to Australia as the centrepiece of a journey spanning several ocean regions. That makes them a very different proposition from a short-haul European cruise: you are not flying anywhere to join the ship, and the voyage itself is the destination as much as Australia is. If you have ever wanted to watch the coastline of the UK disappear astern from Southampton and not touch an airport until you are ready to come home, this is the trip.

It is worth knowing that sailings come in 2 shapes. Some are round trips that sail from Southampton and return to Southampton after calling at Sydney and other ports along the way. Others are one-way voyages — the ship ends its passage at a port such as Sydney, Hong Kong or Hamburg, which means you will need a flight home from wherever the voyage concludes. We can book that return flight, as well as hotels and transfers, so the whole trip sits on a single booking rather than leaving you to piece it together yourself.

Which Cruise Lines Sail from the UK to Australia?

Cunard is the dominant name on this route, with the deepest programme of sailings to Australia departing from Southampton. P&O Cruises also offers world cruise voyages that take in Australia, sailing aboard Arcadia. If you would prefer a cruise-inclusive package with flights, hotels and transfers already combined, our own Cruise1st Packages wrap everything together and are worth comparing alongside the line-direct options.

Australia Cruises from the UK — Top Itineraries

Because every sailing here is a world cruise, the route to Australia forms part of a longer global arc. The itinerary calls at ports across three continents before the ship reaches Australian waters, and the experience is as much about the journey as the arrival. Below is a guide to the ships you will find and what each one offers.

Queen Anne — Cunard’s Newest Ship

Queen Anne launched in 2024 and is the newest addition to the Cunard fleet, completing a quartet of ocean liners with Art Deco interiors and the famous White Star Service. The Mareel Wellness & Spa spans an entire upper deck — inside you will find a Himalayan Salt Sauna, a cold therapy room, a hydrotherapy pool and the glass-domed Pavilion pool venue. Dining spans 15 restaurants, from Sir Samuel’s steakhouse to Aji Wa Japanese dining and the Golden Lion pub, which is overseen by Michelin-starred chef Michael Roux. For a voyage of 60 or more nights, having that variety on board matters enormously.

Cabin grades on Queen Anne run from inside staterooms through to the grand suite category:

• Britannia Inside cabin IA — 13.7 m². A dedicated cabin steward is available 24 hours with daily turndown service and personalised attention.
• Britannia Deluxe Ocean-view cabin EA — 21.9 m². Around 3 m² more living space than a standard ocean-view cabin, plus a separate seating area.
• Britannia Club Balcony cabin A1 — 21.9 m². Comes with exclusive access to the Britannia Club Restaurant with a reserved table, giving a more intimate dining experience than the main Britannia Restaurant.
• Queens Grill Grand Suite Q1 — 133.8 m². The largest suite category on board — more than twice the size of the Master Suite.

Queen Victoria — Cunard’s Grand Classic

Queen Victoria carries Cunard’s most traditional character afloat. The Royal Court Theatre is the first at sea to feature private boxes, hosting West End-calibre productions every evening. The largest ballroom at sea is the setting for Cunard’s Gala evenings, with a live orchestra and white-gloved afternoon tea service. Dining follows the tiered Britannia, Princess Grill and Queen’s Grill structure — the most traditional class-dining experience available on any ocean-going ship today.

Choose your cabin grade carefully on a long voyage. The Queen Victoria cabin and deck plans show the full layout, but here is a summary:

• Britannia Deluxe Inside cabin GB — 19.2 m². Midships on Deck 1, this position minimises ship movement — a genuine consideration on a 60-night crossing.
• Britannia Ocean-view cabin EB — 18.3 m². Around 3 m² more than the standard ocean-view grades, with noticeably more living space.
• Britannia Club Balcony cabin A2 — 24.0 m². Exclusively on Deck 8, the highest position of the Britannia Club Balcony category, with shorter routes to upper-deck areas.
• Queens Grill Grand Suite Q1 — 122.5 m². Two separate rooms, a private dining room and a spacious lounge — considerably more than any other suite in the category.

Arcadia — P&O Cruises’ Adults-Only World Cruise Ship

Arcadia is P&O Cruises’ dedicated world cruise vessel and sails as an adults-only ship. The Palladium is a 3-tier theatre at the heart of the ship’s entertainment programme. Marco Pierre White’s Ocean Grill restaurant gives the ship a marquee dining option, and the onboard hydrotherapy pool adds a spa dimension that you will appreciate on a voyage of this length. For anyone who wants a quieter, adult atmosphere for the full crossing, Arcadia is a serious option.

Cabin grades on Arcadia:

• Inside Cabin OA — 19.0 m². Around 2 m² more than the standard inside grades — noticeably roomier for the same price point.
• Sea View Cabin LB — 17.0 m². Natural daylight and an unobstructed sea view through a window — the essential step up from an inside cabin.
• Deluxe Balcony Cabin EA — 24.0 m². A private balcony gives you your own outdoor space for fresh sea air and breakfast without sharing the public decks.
• Suite B1 — 56.0 m². Dedicated butler service throughout the voyage — personalised attention that no other cabin category on Arcadia receives.

What Fare Types Are Available on Cunard World Cruises?

Cunard offers several fare tiers on its world cruise sailings, and choosing the right one for a long voyage makes a real difference to how the trip feels before you even board. The main Cunard Fare gives you the choice of your stateroom number, priority for upgrades, a low 15% deposit with flexible balance payment, the ability to amend your booking up to the balance due date, and complimentary shuttle buses at ports. It is available in variants that bundle in on-board credit and drinks, a coach transfer to Southampton, or car parking at the port — useful for a voyage where you may want your car waiting when you return. There is also a Saver fare, which asks for full payment on booking in exchange for a pre-allocated stateroom and a lower headline price. If you want to lock in a specific cabin or deck, the standard Cunard Fare is worth the extra. Our team can walk you through the difference.

Benefits of Australia Cruises from the UK

The most practical benefit is that every sailing departs from Southampton — no flight to a foreign embarkation port, and no airport at the start of your trip. Most of Britain can reach Southampton by road or rail, and we can arrange a pre-cruise hotel or a transfer as part of your booking so that the logistics are sorted from the moment you leave home.

For one-way sailings — where the ship ends in Sydney, Hong Kong or Hamburg rather than returning to Southampton — we can book your flight home, hotels either side and any transfers, so nothing is left as a loose end. What might otherwise feel like a complex multi-leg journey becomes one holiday on one booking.

There is also the question of what a voyage of this length does for your experience of Australia itself. Arriving by sea into Sydney after weeks at sea is genuinely different from stepping off a plane. You have had time to decompress, you know your fellow passengers, and the ship has become a home of sorts. That is not something you get from a fly-cruise.

If you are considering a round-the-world voyage rather than a one-way passage, the world cruises from Southampton page covers the full programme, and the 2027 world cruises from Southampton page narrows it to a specific departure year. For those interested in affordable round-the-world cruise options, we have a dedicated page for that too.

Are There Any Discounts on Australia Cruises from the UK?

A good number of sailings carry a reduction from the price previously listed for that cabin grade — typically around 1%, with savings of up to 6% on a small number of departures. That may not sound dramatic in percentage terms, but on a voyage priced in the thousands of pounds per person, even a modest reduction is worth finding. Cunard’s fare structure also includes promotional fare types such as early-booking offers and last-minute Saver fares, so it pays to talk to our team about what is available. You can also find last-minute Cunard cruise deals on a dedicated page.

Make It a Holiday

We are cruise specialists — every offer we sell is either a cruise or a cruise-inclusive package. Our team can build flights, hotels, tours, transfers and insurance around your cruise, whether you want a bundle or a fully tailored holiday. If your sailing ends in Hong Kong or another port far from the UK, we will sort the flight home, the hotel the night before departure if you need it, and any transfers in between. Cruise1st Packages are our own pre-assembled cruise-plus-extras options, already combining the cruise with flights, hotels and transfers into a single price. Cruise1st is rated 4.5 out of 5 on Trustpilot from over 7,000 reviews, and is ABTA and ATOL protected.

Which Ports Can I Sail From?

All sailings depart from Southampton. It is the UK’s principal ocean-liner terminal, with direct rail links from London Waterloo and from cities across the south, plus road access and parking options close to the cruise terminal. If you are travelling from further north, our team can look at overnight hotel options in Southampton the night before departure. Explore the full range of 2027 departures from Southampton if you want to compare what else sails from the port.

Where Do Australia Cruises from the UK End Up?

Disembarkation ports vary by sailing. Some voyages return to Southampton, making them a true round trip — ideal if you want to arrive home by train or collect your car from port parking. Others end in Sydney, Australia, in Hong Kong, or in Hamburg. If your voyage ends abroad, we can arrange the flight home and any hotels, so the return leg is as well organised as the outward one. The Australia cruises from Southampton page has more detail on the full range of sailings available from that port.

Other Cruises from the UK to Consider

If the length or scale of a world cruise is more than you are looking for, there are plenty of other ways to cruise from the UK without flying. Adult-only cruises from the UK are a popular alternative for the same audience that Arcadia appeals to. For something more local, British Isles cruises from the UK and Iceland cruises from the UK both depart from British ports and need no flights at all. The full range of cruises from the UK covers every destination and duration, and the broader cruises search lets you filter by length, line and departure month. For those who like to plan ahead, the world cruises from the UK page covers all long-haul options. You may also find the no-fly Canada 2027 cruises from Southampton or cruises to Greece from Southampton worth a look if you are open to different long-haul destinations.

*Prices are per person based on 2 people sharing, and are subject to change. This price is not kept up to date and therefore does not reflect live pricing and availability. Prices and any discounts shown were checked on 14 October 2026.