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Royal Caribbean’s five-day sale has seven-night cruises from $1099

Credit: Royal Carribbean

From Queensland’s tropical coast to New Zealand’s unbeatable views, booking your next cruise holiday just got a little more tempting.

If your summer holiday plans haven’t yet made it past dream-scrolling on Instagram, this sale could help you get a plan in motion. Royal Caribbean has just released three cruise deals departing from Sydney and Brisbane, with fares starting from $1099 per person for seven nights at sea.

The trips take in Queensland’s coast, the South Pacific and New Zealand onboard Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas. Departures fall in late October and November, so you won’t have to wait long to swap your usual routine for island swims or a morning watching fiords roll past.

The promotional fares are available from Monday 12 October until 11.59pm AEDT on Friday 16 October 2026. Here’s where you can go and what to expect along the way.

Which cruises are included in the sale?

Seven nights in the South Pacific from $1099

For a holiday that revolves around warm water and nothing to think about except your next cocktail, the cheapest of the three deals makes sense as the best place to start. 

Departing Brisbane on 30 October 2026, the seven-night South Pacific cruise onboard Quantum of the Seas visits Port Vila and Mystery Island in Vanuatu before returning to Brisbane.

In Port Vila, you could spend your time ashore learning about local history or heading out to the rainforest-fringed Mele Cascades. Mystery Island lends itself to a slower agenda: a wander along the sand, a dip in clear turquoise water and little reason to rush.

There’s plenty to fill the days between islands, too. Quantum of the Seas has an innovative skydiving simulator, a surf simulator and bumper cars, so there’s not much chance of you getting bored while you’re aboard. Whether you’re keen to try them all, or would prefer to settle in by the pool while you cheer on the kids, is entirely up to you.

The deal: seven nights from $1099 per person, departing Brisbane on 30 October 2026.

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Seven nights along Queensland’s coast from $1299

Prefer to explore a little closer to home? Quantum of the Seas also has a seven-night Queensland sailing departing Brisbane on 20 November 2026, with fares from $1299 per person.

Airlie Beach and Cairns are the ports on this itinerary, giving travellers the chance to explore the Whitsundays or plan an excursion to Green Island. You’ll also cruise past Willis Island in the Coral Sea as a scenic part of the journey enjoyed from onboard, rather than a stop ashore. The journey is just as important as the destinations on Royal Caribbean, so there’s no shortage of things to see and do while you wait to explore your next stop. 

The deal: seven nights from $1299 per person, departing Brisbane on 20 November 2026.

Nine nights in New Zealand from $1999

If verdant scenery wins out over tropical beach for you, the nine-night New Zealand cruise onboard Anthem of the Seas is worth a look.

Leaving Sydney on 11 November 2026, this sailing visits Picton, Lyttelton and Dunedin, with scenic cruising through Dusky Sound, Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound before returning to Sydney.

Each port offers a different way to spend the day. Picton is a gateway to Marlborough’s wine country, while Lyttelton puts the views from the Christchurch Gondola within reach. In Dunedin, you could explore Larnach Castle or book a wildlife outing to learn more about the region’s rare yellow-eyed penguins.

Then there are the fiords themselves. With mountains, forest and waterfalls beyond the ship, this is the part of the holiday you’ll want to leave some space in your camera roll for.

The deal: nine nights from $1999 per person, departing Sydney on 11 November 2026.

anthem of the seas in sydney
Features of the Anthem of the Seas include an outdoor cinema, casino, rock climbing wall and a whole lot more. (Credit: Royal Caribbean)

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How to book the cruise deals

Follow the itinerary links above to browse the sailings and book during the promotional period, which runs from 12.01am AEDT on Monday 12 October to 11.59pm AEDT on Friday 16 October 2026.

All quoted prices are in Australian dollars, per person, cruise only and based on two people sharing a cabin. They reflect promotional savings and are subject to change without notice.

Before booking, check the final fare and inclusions for your chosen cabin, and factor in any transport to the departure port and extras you’d like along the way.

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Jessica O'Donnell

Jessica O'Donnell

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8 experiences to get the most out of Victoria’s Great Ocean Road

    Louis Costello Louis Costello
    Beyond the winding bitumen and coastal views lies another side to Victoria’s most famous route.

    There’s something hypnotic about this stretch of Victoria’s coast. Maybe it’s the way the road hugs the ocean so tightly, or how the cliffs catch the sun in colours you can’t name. Or, for local Victorians who drove this route as kids, maybe it’s the memories of winding through the impossibly tall trees as they seemingly guide you on your journey like wooden guardian angels. Most travellers know it for the 12 Apostles, but there are plenty of alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road equally as worthy of your time.

    So, next time you’re in that neck of the woods, park that car, stretch those legs and try these experiences.

    1. Discover living culture at Budj Bim

    Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism
    Walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Breakaway Creek’s Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is a masterclass in educational storytelling. Join a guided tour with Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism to walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system, where the Gunditjmara people built sophisticated eel traps and stone channels more than 6,000 years ago.

    Budj Bim’s aquaculture system predates Egypt’s pyramids by roughly 2,000 years, making it one of the oldest examples of human engineering on Earth. If that’s not enough to get your history-loving family members involved in this road trip, we’re out of ideas.

    2. Unwind in the hot springs at Warnambool

    woman relaxing at Deep Blue Hot Springs
    Let mineral-rich water heal you.

    If your legs need a break after a long drive, Deep Blue Hot Springs is your remedy. The geothermal pools sit just metres from the coastline, filled with mineral-rich water that bubbles up from deep underground. Move between open-air baths, waterfall pools and quiet zones made for meditation.

    The water in Deep Blue’s geothermal pools comes from an ancient aquifer nearly 850 metres below the Earth’s surface, which, in non-scientific terms, means it’s far more likely to have healing properties than the mineral water you’d find at the supermarket.

    3. Take to the air at Princetown

    12 Apostles Helicopters flight alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road
    See an icon from a different view.

    You may have seen the Twelve Apostles from the trusty viewing platform, but a helicopter flight with 12 Apostles Helicopters shows you just how sprawling and rugged this coastline really is.

    The trip covers everything from Port Campbell to London Bridge (not to be confused with the UK’s own), giving you a rare chance to watch waves carving the limestone cliffs from above. It’s worth noting that the limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles are said to erode by roughly two centimetres each year, so the longer you leave it, the less of the Apostles you’ll see.

    4. Step into the past at Flagstaff Hill

    Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and Museum
    Visit a time of yore.

    Continue the tour through Warnambool at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and Museum, a recreated 19th-century port town. Hear stories from the days when shipwrecks were as common as seagulls, with an astounding 180 ships believed to have sunk along the Shipwreck Coast in less than five years.

    The night show, complete with lights, sound, and sea spray, brings the coastline’s most dramatic stories to life.

    If you’re staying the night, Simon’s Waterfront offers relaxed dining with fresh local seafood and oceanfront views. Order the catch of the day and toast to the sailors who never made it ashore.

    5. Learn to surf in Torquay, Lorne, or Anglesea

    kid having a lesson with Go Ride A Wave
    Learn how to hang 10. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Whether you’ve surfed before or can barely stand on a board, Go Ride A Wave will have you upright in no time. Torquay’s calm beaches are ideal for first-timers, while Lorne and Anglesea bring a bit more energy for those unafraid to get dunked.

    Bells Beach, just down the road from Torquay, has even hosted the world’s longest-running professional surfing competition since 1962. So, for those eager to have a gander at pros using surfboards like they’re an additional appendage, the competition usually runs sometime in autumn.

    6. Tackle the trails in Forrest

    Barwon Flow Trails Otways Flow MTB
    Hire a bike and explore MTB trails through the Otways.

    Forrest is a haven for mountain bikers thanks to an expansive network of trails through stunning natural scenery. The Forrest trail network has almost 100 kilometres of singletrack across 36 trails, so there’s something for every level of rider. That’s including more than 60 kilometres of purpose-built mountain bike trails winding through the Otways’ dense forest. Cycle through ancient myrtle beech trees and towering tree ferns, with smaller ferns and soft mosses forming a carpet at your feet.

    Hire a bike from Forrest MTB Hire and take your pick from easy, scenic rides to more challenging singletracks, such as Red Carpet or Rollercoaster.

    7. See wildlife up close in Apollo Bay

    bush rat on Wildlife Wonders tour
    Get help spotting the locals. (Image: Doug Gimsey)

    If spotting koalas and kangaroos in the wild feels like winning the lottery, Wildlife Wonders gives you guaranteed sightings without cages or crowds. Every visit to the sanctuary helps fund the Conservation Ecology Centre which supports endangered species across the Otways, so your business is appreciated by humans and animals alike.

    The guided walk takes you through protected Otways habitat where you might spot potoroos (or joey lookalikes for those unfamiliar with a potoroo), wallabies, and sleepy koalas lounging in the trees.

    8. Visit the Cape Otway Lightstation

    Cape Otway Lightstation
    Delve into the tales of Cape Otway Lightstation.

    Towering over the sea on a cliff above the Southern Ocean, Cape Otway Lightstation has been guiding ships since 1848. Before the lighthouse was built, Cape Otway was one of the most treacherous points on the Victorian coast, with dozens of shipwrecks occurring in its surrounding waters. Pick the right day, and you may bump into a local willing to tell you about the wreck of Eric the Red.

    While at the Cape Otway Lightstation, explore the keeper’s quarters, walk the coastal trails, and take in views that only stop short at the horizon.

    And no, contrary to popular belief, the Round the Twist lighthouse is actually located in Split Point, just shy of two hours in the direction of Melbourne. Nothing’s stopping you from embarking on a lighthouse crawl, though.

    Plan your next no-stone-unturned journey along this iconic Aussie road at visitgreatoceanroad.org.au.