Nowadays, there are
terrific cruises available that cost less than $1000, particularly if you have
your funds ready to snap up last-minute bargains and can take time off without
too much notice. Conversely, the further ahead you book, you’ll likely to find
early-bird bargains and have a greater choice of cabins. Overseas cruise lines
operate in the region between October and April, so there are more ships to
choose from during the summer months – but be aware that fares are generally
cheaper outside school holidays. Here’s a snapshot of cruises in 2016 that cost
less than $1000 – per person, twin-share in an inside cabin.
Short breaks year-round
P&O Cruises
operates two-, three- and four-night SeaBreaks around Australia year round for
less than $1000. You can choose from Food & Wine, Comedy, Classic and
Sampler cruises. For example, Pacific Eden’s three-night Food & Wine cruise, round trip from Sydney departing
on February 11, starts at $499; Pacific Dawn’s three-night sampler cruise, round-trip departing from Brisbane on
June 10, starts at $678.
Carnival Cruise
Line’s Carnival Spirit and Carnival Legend and Princess Cruises’
Australia-based ships (Dawn, Sea and Sun Princess) also offer a selection of short cruises throughout
the year for under $1000. Carnival Spirit’s four-night Mooloolaba cruise, round
trip from Sydney departing on August 14, starts at $581; Sun Princess’ four-day Margaret River round trip departing from
Fremantle on March 20, starts at $624.
Short summer breaks
Ships visiting
Australia on the world voyages sail a series of one-way cruises that offer the
chance to experience overseas lines close to home. For example, fares for Cunard’s
Queen Elizabeth’s two-night cruise
from Sydney to Brisbane, departing February 21, start at $949; Queen Victoria’s three-night Sydney to
Brisbane cruise starts at $909; and two nights on Cunard’s flagship, Queen Mary 2, cruising from Sydney to
Brisbane on March 11, costs from $684.
Royal Caribbean
ships Explorer, Legend, Radiance and Voyager of the Seas, which are based in
Australia for the summer, offer a range of cruises around Australia and to New
Zealand from Sydney and Brisbane for less than $1000; a three-night cruise
sampler on Explorer of the Seas,
round trip from Sydney departing February 11, starts at $472; Radiance’s six-night Melbourne cruise,
round trip from Sydney departing March 28, starts at $839.
Remember if you take
a bargain-priced repositioning cruise – one that is not round trip from the
departure port – you will have to factor in transport costs from either the
departure or arrival port. Voyager of the Seas’ 14-night Sydney to Singapore cruise, departing April 16, starts at
$996.
Pacific Islands
Australia-based
ships operated by Carnival Cruise Line, P&O and Princess Cruises offer dozens
of Pacific Island cruises year-round, ranging from seven to 14 days, that cost
less than $1000. Royal Caribbean also has a huge selection of seven-, eight-
and nine-night Pacific Island cruises between October and April, that come in
under our $1000 budget.