Think cruising is all shuffle boards and buffets? You couldn’t be more wrong. Cruising today is the ultimate holiday. Unpack once and enjoy luxury at sea with a slew of ways to stay entertained en-route to the next destination.
Your complete guide to cruising
Too often holidays aren’t as relaxing as they should be. Between researching hotels, figuring out transport between cities, where and how you’ll see the ‘must dos’ at your destination, and navigating language barriers, there’s not a lot of time left for relaxation. Cruising flips this script entirely.
Unpack once, explore everything
Rolling that suitcase around six different cities in Europe over seven days? Not on a cruise. Your floating hotel room transports your luggage with you, meaning you unpack once and settle in properly.
You’ll dine right, every time
Cruise ships are like a floating culinary destination, offering restaurant-quality dining with a fantastic view to boot. Think unique food experiences like molecular gastronomy, celebrity chef restaurants like Jamie’s Italian, and steakhouses that put major cities to shame.
You can embrace the art of doing nothing
Sometimes, the best holidays involve doing nothing at all. Cruises are perfect for this, with their poolside service, and sea-view spas.
Unlimited ways to stay entertained
From water parks to skydiving simulators, full-scale Broadway productions to comedy shows—your biggest problem will be fitting it all in.
Keen to cruise?
With over 300 cruise ships (Cruising Lines International Association, 2025) to choose from and countless cruise itineraries, travellers keen to holiday at sea—or float down a river—are spoilt for choice. But not all cruise ships are the same, and choosing from the best cruise lines means finding ones that cater to your style, whether that's family, adventure, or luxury experiences.
Luxury cruising
Think sophisticated dining, personalised service, and refined entertainment. Luxury cruising is all about size, and as a general rule, the smaller the more luxurious.
Family friendly
From Disney cruises to lines like Carnival and Royal Caribbean with ships boasting everything from waterslides and splash parks to surf simulators, families can get a lot out of a cruising holiday. Multiple dining options and kids clubs keep fussy eaters fed and boredom-prone kids and teens occupied.
Cruise travel for seniors
Many cruise lines cater specifically to senior travellers with accessible cabins and gentler shore excursions. River cruising is particularly popular with seniors.
River and expedition
River and expedition cruising are a refined way to focus on destination immersion rather than onboard activities. They’re intimate and access ports that are well out of reach for larger ships.
Best cruise lines by category
Luxury: Celebrity, Viking, Princess
Family-friendly: Disney, Carnival, Royal Caribbean
Seniors: Holland America, Princess Cruises, Viking Ocean
River & Expedition: Viking River, Scenic, APT
Choosing the right cruise for you
When choosing a cruise it’s easy to get lost in a sea of options. Here are a few things to consider when planning a cruise holiday:
Destination
Cruise line
Ship size
Onboard cruise ship amenities
Are you an ocean or river cruiser?
Ocean
Bigger ships and bigger activities while en-route to destinations across the Pacific, Mediterranean, Scandinavia, and more — ocean cruising is perfect for travellers who crave variety.
River
River cruises are intimate and more focused on cultural immersion with smaller ships that can dock in city centres are popular across Europe and Australian rivers, like the Murray.
Booking smart
Cruising is fast becoming one of the most popular ways to holiday for Australians, attracting well over a million travellers in 2024. Booking strategically means you won’t miss out, and you’ll maximise value and choice.
Wave season
‘Wave season’ — when you’ll find the greatest selection of cruise departures — is a great time to book. For Australia, wave season is roughly from October to April.
Early bird vs last-minute deals
Booking early is great for cabin selection and access to promotional offers. Cruise lines recommend booking around 6-12 months in advance. Last minute deals are becoming increasingly rare and travellers are often left with less than desirable cabin options.
Cruise packing tips: what to pack for a cruise vacation
When it comes to what to pack for a cruise there’s a lot to think about. Formal nights, pool days, shore excursions… there’s a lot to fit in.
Make sure you make space in your suitcase for the essentials, like:
Resort wear for day activities
Swimmers, and sun-safe gear, like sunscreen, hat
Formal outfits for formal nights (note, there’s often minimal access to an iron)
Walking shoes
Travel power adapters
Power boards
Backpack for day trips and cruise excursions
Looking for an in-depth guide to cruise essentials? This printable packing list will help your packing stay on track.
How to stay well onboard
Nobody wants their dream cruise ruined by feeling rough. From conquering seasickness to avoiding the dreaded cruise ship bugs, these cruise travel tips can help you stay well onboard.
Travellers prone to motion sensitivity should speak with a healthcare provider or pharmacist about their options before departure
Follow the ship's hygiene guidelines and make use of available sanitation facilities
Medical facilities with qualified health professionals are available on larger ships for common health concerns. More serious conditions may require helicopter evacuation. For this reason (and many others), you may want to consider travel insurance that includes cover while cruising.
Budgeting for a cruise holiday
Budgeting for a cruise holiday is often easier than a traditional holiday because much of what you do, see, and eat is included. Some cruises, particularly all-inclusive river cruise ships, may include excursions and beverages but this is not always the case. You should check inclusions with your chosen cruise - there may be some hidden costs to factor in if it’s your first time cruising.
Hidden costs to consider
Specialty restaurants: If you want to try one of the specialty restaurants on larger cruise ships, you’ll have to fork out extra.
Daily gratuities: These are normally automatically added and are a per person ‘tip’ for service staff.
Drinks packages: If you want to enjoy sodas, fresh juices, cafe-style coffee, or alcohol, you may want to consider purchasing a drinks package.
Wifi packages
Shore excursions: A convenient guided experience, but often at an additional cost.
Travel insurance
nib travel insurance plans include cover when cruising on scheduled public cruises. There are a few points to take on board when considering travel insurance.
If you’re planning an ocean cruise, even if it is just off the coast of Australia, consider nib’s international travel insurance plans
If you’re planning an inland river cruise within Australia, consider nib's domestic travel insurance plans. Please note, there is no cover for medical expenses incurred in Australia.
Planning snorkelling in Fiji or ziplining in Vanuatu? Make sure your chosen activities are covered under your travel insurance plan.
Travel insurance cover is subject to the terms, conditions, limits and exclusions outlined in the PDS. Consider the PDS & TMD available from us and if the product is right for you.
nib Travel Insurance Distribution Pty Limited, ABN 40 129 262 175, AR 336467 is an authorised representative of nib Travel Services (Australia) Pty Ltd (nib), ABN 81 115 932 173, AFSL 308461 and act as nib's agent and not as your agent. This is general advice only. Before you buy, you should consider your needs, the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), Financial Services Guide (FSG) and Target Market Determination (TMD) available from us. This insurance is underwritten by Pacific International Insurance Pty Ltd, ABN 83 169 311 193.
*The discount applies to the total nib travel insurance premium and is for customers that currently hold an Australian health insurance product, or an Overseas Student Health Cover product with nib. The discount is not available to customers who hold an Overseas Visitors Health Cover product. Discounts do not apply to the rate of GST and stamp duty or any changes you make to the policy. nib has the discretion to withdraw or amend this discount offer at any time. This discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotional offer or discount.
