Soak up the sunshine with these beachy getaways before the summer crowds set in.
October marks the start of the Australian cruising season. It's a time when some of the world's top luxury liners re-position themselves to dock into our ports and call Australia home.
Being peak season, the number of cruises setting sail from our shores increases dramatically. With so many options at your fingertips, we've shortlisted the best places to cruise to in October to help you live the cruise-life stress-free.
That is, the way it should be.
Top places to cruise in October
1. South Pacific
A cruise to the South Pacific allows you to easily visit your choice of tropical gem and be back home within a week. With choices like Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia you’ll be hard-pressed to decide.
- Departures from: Most departures are from Sydney and Brisbane with a handful leaving from Adelaide, Cairns and Melbourne.
- Why October? October is the very last month of the dry season, the ideal time to visit the South Pacific. You’ll avoid all the heat, humidity and tropical storms of the rainy season.
2. Whitsundays
Imagine a day spent amongst the wonders of the reef topped off with a relaxing sunset cocktail on board. Sounds amazing, right?
Queensland's piece of paradise is good to visit year-round, and with more ships headed to the Whitsundays, October is as good a time as any to make the journey. Short (4-day) and longer (10-night) cruises are available.
- Departures from: Brisbane
- Why October? You can take advantage of cruises running over the October long weekend for an affordable short getaway.
3. Hawaii
Get in just before the rainy season starts and avoid the summer crowds.
There’s not really a bad time to visit Hawaii but with a place as popular as this island paradise, it’s a good idea to time your visit just right.
- Departures from: Brisbane and Sydney as well as ports along western Canada and the United States.
- Why October? The rainy season officially starts in November and the summer holiday crowds have gone back home.
4. Mediterranean
The end of the Mediterranean cruising season boasts sails as short as one night and as long as one month.
Most cruises from Australia to the Mediterranean depart from February to July, so you'll have to fly into Europe and join a localised cruise if you want to sail in October.
- Departures from: Dubrovnik, Marseille, Athens, Nice, Genoa, Venice, Valletta, Monaco, Lisbon, Malaga and Southampton are the major departure ports.
- Why October? Being end of-season, October brings with it fewer cruisers and the potential for last-minute discounts without sacrificing on the sunny skies.
5. Australian sample cruises
For first-timers, cruising can seem like a strange concept to wrap your head around. With a shorter sample cruise, you can use any free weekend to see what all the fuss is about without risking too many of your vacation days. Possible itineraries are Brisbane to Whitsundays return (4-nights), Sydney sampler return (2-nights) and Sydney to Moreton Island return (4-nights).
- Departures from: Brisbane, Sydney, Perth and Cairns.
- Why October? October teems with sample cruises from Australia's main ports. As it's the beginning of the season, they also work a treat in warming you up for a longer cruise later on.
