Royal Caribbean Australia: New local cruises perfect for summer

Why settle for another landlocked weekend away when you could spend a thrilling few days sipping cocktails poolside with friends and family, taking in a Broadway-style musical, and having once-in-a-lifetime adventures—all without leaving Australia?

Royal Caribbean’s summer 2025/26 season packs all the excitement and variety of a cruise holiday into a new lineup of weekend getaways. There’s something for everyone on board, from your mum who just wants to relax at a spa to your adrenaline-junkie mate who is keen to skydive in a simulator on the deck. With two world-class ships making debut voyages from Brisbane and Sydney, there’s never been a better time to plan the ultimate short getaway with a Royal Caribbean Australia cruise.

Why cruise?

Royal Caribbean Weekend Cruises cruising from Australia. — The ultimate adventure, close to home.

On a short cruise holiday, you’ll set sail with zero planning stress, booking drama, or traffic woes, knowing your itinerary is jam-packed with fine dining and adventure (or relaxation, if that’s more your vibe). And everyone’s needs will be catered to, from your parents to your gourmand partner to your toddler niece. All main meals* and most onboard activities are seamlessly included in your fare, from Royal Caribbean Entertainment to the Adventure Ocean® Kids’ Club.

The ship

Boy rock climbing at Adrenaline Peak on Royal Caribbean Weekend Cruises, excitement, thrills, effort, challenge, fun. — Scale new heights at sea with onboard rock climbing.

Sailing from Sydney for the first time, Anthem of the Seas® is an award-winning ship. It boasts 360-degree views from its thrilling North Star® observation capsule – the tallest viewing deck on any cruise ship, anywhere, stretching an astonishing 91 meters above the ocean. And it offers tailored adventures for families and friend groups alike.

Thrill-seekers can on the FlowRider® Surf Simulator, or try out the bumper cars. For those looking to chill, relax poolside at the adults-only Solarium with a cocktail in hand. Experience some culture and show-stopping entertainment with a Broadway-style production of We Will Rock You.

Or set sail aboard Voyager of the Seas® , making her debut voyages from Brisbane this summer with a turbo-charged slate of activities, including mini golf and ice skating, as well as The Perfect Storm℠ – a three-storey high-speed waterslide.

Onboard activities

meal at giovannis on a royal caribbean ship — The onboard dining scene is legendary.

Royal Caribbean’s onboard dining scene rivals what you’d find in any top global city, bringing top chefs and inventive flavours from around the world right to your ship’s deck. From Japanese sushi bars to old-world Italian joints, late-night cafes, private room service and five-course, white-tableclothed Chef’s Table culinary journeys, there’s something to suit every mood and palate.

For those craving relaxation, the Vitality℠ Spa and Fitness Centre offers a full menu of massages, facials, hair and nails, teeth whitening and even medi-spa treatments to plump skin and smooth wrinkles. Not to mention state-of-the-art gym facilities. Or take in the pristine views at the adults-only Solarium, a serene retreat space featuring tranquil pools and whirlpools.

Meanwhile, the thrill-seekers in your group can pack more adrenaline into three or four nights than most holidays do in a week. Royal Caribbean’s signature RipCord® by iFLY® skydiving simulator* delivers the singular rush of a freefall without ever boarding a plane. And the 12-metre-long FlowRider® surf simulator lets everyone from beginner boogie-boarders to advanced shredders catch a wave without ever leaving the deck. Launch yourself down a multi-story waterslide against a backdrop of ocean views or grab the whole crew for Battle for Planet Z℠*, a glow-in-the-dark laser tag experience. Top it all off with rock climbing, ice skating, pickleball, or a game of basketball on the sports court.

When night falls, the drama amps up with a slate of award-winning shows: We Will Rock You, the Queen musical playing on board Anthem of the Seas®, or Ice Odyssey, a dazzling and futuristic spectacle performed on Voyager of the Seas® ’ very own ice rink. Or bar hop before catching some live music, a comedy show, a silent disco, an outdoor film night, and so much more.

Where can you sail?

people snorkelling on a day trip with royal caribbean cruises — Snorkel along the Great Barrier Reef.

Departing from Brisbane, take a four-night getaway to stunning Airlie Beach, Queensland on board Voyager of the Seas®. Along the way, spend time immersed in Airlie Beach, where you can take a Segway tour, hop on a glass-bottom boat and try an ocean rafting eco-adventure. Book a Shore Excursion and take a trip to the Whitsunday Islands for snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, or hike to secluded beaches in Molle National Park.

If you prefer to depart from Sydney, hop on board Anthem of the Seas® for a five-night holiday to Hobart, Tasmania. You’ll spend time docked in Hobart experiencing Tasmania’s other-worldly beauty and famous culinary scene, from hikes and horse rides on Mount Wellington to strolls through the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens to winery tours in the countryside and up-close encounters with Tasmanian devils.

Days at sea are a chance to create your own adventure and savour it all, from the ships’ astonishing breadth of dining experiences and activities to the serenity of the open seas to unhurried moments with loved ones – the most memorable part of any holiday.

Book a short getaway that everyone will love (and don’t compromise on forever memories) at RoyalCaribbean.com.au.

*T&Cs apply. Specialty dining and select beverages and some activities incur an additional cost. Activities vary by ship.

The Great Ocean Road has captured the hearts of Australians with its astounding scenery since 1932, but going off-course can enrich your experience with untouched nature, foodie delights and charming towns.

It’s a chilly 16 degrees. My husband pulls on a steamer and jogs – as all seasoned surfers do – into the water. We’re at Bells Beach , the legendary break on Victoria’s Surf Coast that’s home to the Rip Curl Pro, the world’s longest-running event in competitive surfing. Each year, over the Easter long weekend, up to 40,000 people descend on the region for the event. Today, though, we have the beach almost to ourselves, and the less-than-favourable temperature doesn’t deter my husband from surfing this famous break.

Torquay to Anglesea and Aireys Inlet

The red dome of Split Point Lighthouse in Aireys Inlet. (Image: Tourism Australia)

The nearby surf town of Torquay marks the starting point for the Great Ocean Road . Unfolding our map, which we have marked out with a highlighted route for our children to follow, we set off for lesser-known Anglesea, a chilled-out town 20 minutes south of here. Its wide, sandy beach is a gentler swimming option for our young family. Groms can learn to surf here with Go Ride a Wave, which also runs stand-up paddle boarding on the Anglesea River.

Split point lookout — The lighthouse overlooks the Shipwreck Coast. (Image: Tourism Australia)

After a couple of nights in Anglesea, we hit the road again, first stopping at Aireys Inlet. Here we stretch our legs at Split Point Lighthouse, which was made famous by the 1990s television series Round the Twist, before driving under the Memorial Arch that welcomes us, officially, to the Great Ocean Road.

This 243-kilometre coastal road was built by returned First World War servicemen and serves as a permanent memorial to those who fought and died during the war. Carved into rock using hand tools and horse-drawn carts, it was a huge engineering feat and provided much-needed access to isolated coastal communities.

Lorne to Birregurra

Lorne is a delightful beachside stop for lunch and browsing boutique stores. It’s also the gateway to Great Otway National Park , which comprises a varied landscape of old-growth forests, cool-temperate rainforests, heathy woodlands and rugged coast. With the highest rainfall in Victoria, the region is home to many waterfalls – 10 of which are within 10 kilometres of Lorne.

Turning slightly off the main drag, we wind along a gum-shaded road to Erskine Falls. Here, our son leads the way through the hyper-green rainforest and down 200-plus stairs to the cascade that drops 30 metres into a lush fern gully. We hop over large boulders to get closer to the falls, enjoying the entire place to ourselves; it’s worth the return climb.

From Sheoak Falls Picnic Area, there are walking trails to Henderson Falls, Phantom Falls, Won Wondah Falls and Kalimna Falls, some of which follow an old timber tramway from forest-logging days, which only came to an end in 2008.

You can follow your appetite north to the town of Birregurra, which is part of the Otway Harvest Trail that connects farm gates, markets, wineries, breweries and distilleries. It’s home to three-hatted modern Australian restaurant Brae , helmed by celebrated chef Dan Hunter, set among native gardens and an organic farm, and Otways Distillery, which produces small-batch spirits using local produce and botanicals.

Brae restaurant — Brae is a three-hatted restaurant in Birregurra. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Apollo Bay to The Otways

Back on track, the cliff-hugging stretch between Lorne and Apollo Bay is breathtaking. At Teddys Lookout, we overlook the winding road ahead and St George River spilling into the ocean. We spend languid days in Apollo Bay, a buzzy seaside town that boasts a three-kilometre-long, crescent-shaped beach with a backdrop of rolling green hills. One evening, as the sun sets, we take the steep 10-minute walk to Marriners Lookout, which affords panoramic views of the ocean, hinterland and town.

A 15-minute drive along the road, Maits Rest is a lush rainforest gully that has been protected since the early 20th century. Wandering along the 800-metre boardwalk, we inspect the delicate moss-covered forest floor and the gnarled roots of 300-year-old myrtle beech trees, then crane our necks to see their canopies, some 50 metres above us. It’s therapy in nature.

Cape Otway to the Twelve Apostles

The southernmost tip of Cape Otway is a delightful detour, home to the 1848-built Cape Otway Lightstation, the oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia. We climb the narrow winding staircase to the gallery deck, explore the keepers’ quarters and telegraph station, and enjoy a coffee and some ‘famous’ scones at the charming onsite cafe.

It’s a pinch-me moment to finally see the Twelve Apostles in person. This unmistakable cluster of limestone stacks rising abruptly from the sea were never 12, however. When coined this in the 1890s as a marketing ploy, there were only nine; today, only seven remain after two collapsed in 2005 and 2009. We admire these Aussie icons from the viewing platform, in awe of Mother Nature’s ever-evolving artwork.

The Grotto is another natural attraction within Port Campbell National Park. (Image: Carmen Zammit)

Edging the wild Southern Ocean, this part of the coast – dubbed Shipwreck Coast – is made up of many sea-carved natural wonders including London Bridge, The Grotto and Gibson Steps. After exploring the lookout trails of Loch Ard Gorge/Poombeeyt Kontapool – its English name taken from the site of the 1878 shipwreck – we nestle into the sandy beach encircled by towering sandstone cliffs, as our children splash about on the water’s edge, and soak it all in.

Port Campbell to Timboon

Timboon Fine Ice Cream is part of a regional foodie trail. (Image: C McConville)

Just north of Port Campbell National Park, the region of Timboon is part of the 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail, filled with purveyors of delicious foodstuffs such as Timboon Fine Ice Cream , Timboon Railway Shed Distillery and Apostle Whey Cheese. As an antidote to the indulgence, the 20-kilometre Poorpa Yanyeen Meerreeng Trail is a self-guided ride or walk between Port Campbell and Timboon through tall forests, over historic bridges and past sparkling lakes and farmland with grazing cattle.

Warrnambool to Port Fairy

Warrnambool building — A 19th-century building in Warrnambool. (Image: Peter Foster)

In Warrnambool, a town rich in maritime history, we take the four-kilometre Thunder Point Walk that traces the coast. The kids squeal when an echidna shuffles out from beneath the wooden boardwalk, and we stop to admire a seal lazing on a rock at the port.

Further along, the streets of quaint fishing village Port Fairy are lined with 19th-century cottages, old stone churches and Norfolk pines. Follow the historic walking trail to see some of the 60-plus National Trust buildings. Port Fairy is also home to Port Fairy Folk Festival (6-9 March), one of the country’s longest-running music and cultural festivals. You could time your road trip with the event for a fittingly celebratory end to any journey.

The Great Ocean Road can easily be done in three days, but we’ve spent a week on the road. The highlighted line on our now creased and well-worn map doesn’t follow the famous route precisely. It has sprouted branches in many directions, leading us to untouched rainforest and charming rural towns filled with culinary delights, and where we experienced some of our most memorable moments on the Great Ocean Road.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

The Monty is a highly anticipated, newly refurbished motel with a chic Palm Springs-inspired aesthetic set across the road from the Anglesea River. Basalt Winery in Port Fairy grows cool-climate wines such as pinot noir and Riesling in rich volcanic soil. Stay among the vines in its tiny home, complete with a kitchen, lounge area and outdoor firepit.

The Oak & Anchor Hotel has been a Port Fairy institution since 1857. Cosy up by the bar in winter or bask in the sunshine of the Lawn Bar in summer. The rooms are beautifully boutique with considered details, such as luxe baths for sinking into post-road trip.

Eating there

The Coast in Anglesea is a modern Australian restaurant focused on local ingredients. Grand Pacific Hotel has been a local landmark in Lorne since 1879 and recently underwent a restoration. It serves a mix of traditional pub and Italian fare alongside ocean views.

Graze is a cosy 40-seat dining room in Apollo Bay with a modern Australian menu complemented by regional wines. Apollo Bay Distillery offers tasting flights, a gin blending masterclass and serves woodfired pizzas.

How to turn a summer weekend into an unforgettable cruise holiday