A detailed guide to cruises departing from Cairns, their itineraries and the places they sail to.
Are you planning a cruising holiday? Ships from Cairns can take you to Cape York, Malaysia or the Pacific Islands to explore pristine beaches and tropical wonders.
With the Australian 2018/19 cruising season gaining momentum, this may be the perfect time to book a cruise for your next relaxing vacation.
Cruise itineraries from Cairns come with a wide range of destinations, duration and fares. In this easy guide, we've laid out useful information about cruises from Cairns to help you make an informed choice.
Skip to our favourite cruises from Cairns
Places you can cruise to from Cairns
Cruises leaving from Cairns sail around Australia and New Zealand, as well as the Pacific Islands, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and South-East Asian destinations such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Cruise durations range from three-day trips to Willis Island to three-week trips covering Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia.
Which cruise lines sail out of Cairns?
- Azamara Club Cruises
- Coral Expeditions
- P&O Cruises Australia
- PONANT
- Silversea
Cruises from Cairns to Papua New Guinea
Embark on a cruise from Cairns to explore the unspoiled natural beauty and diverse culture of Papua New Guinea.
Due to its proximity to North Queensland, a wide range of cruise itineraries depart from Cairns. Almost every itinerary is available as a round trip or continues further to another destination.
Cruise duration ranges from a 4-day round trip to Alotau to a 17-day circumnavigation around the whole island before reaching Darwin.
Cruise lines that offer sailings from Cairns to Papua New Guinea:
- Coral Expeditions
- P&O Cruises Australia
- PONANT
- Silversea
Our picks: Top cruises from Cairns to Papua New Guinea
Journey to Alotau Cairns with P&O from CruiseAway
Highlights:
- Cruise on Papua New Guinea with Pacific Eden
- Roundtrip cruise from Cairns
- Calls in at Alatau
- Departure in August 2018
A Voyage from Cairns to Darwin with Silversea from CruiseAway
Highlights:
- Cruise on Asia with Silver Discoverer
- From Cairns to Darwin
- Calls in at Alotau, Kafure, Tuam Island, Sepik River, Vanimo, Jayapura, Padaidori Islands, Aru Islands, Pulau Roon, Raja Ampat Islands, Teluk Berau, Triton Bay, Aiduma Island and Kai Islands
- Departs on June 2018
Solomon Sea Adventure with P&O from CruiseAway
Highlights:
- Cruise on Australia with Pacific Eden
- From Cairns to Townsville
- Calls in at Alotau, Kitava, Rabaul, Ghizo Island and Honiara
- Departs on August 2018
Cruises from Cairns to Darwin
Discover the tropical north of Australia with cruises from Cairns to Darwin. Itineraries range from 11-25 days.
Cruises of shorter duration leave from Cairns and stop at a few places in North Queensland and the Northern Territory, or Papua New Guinea. Longer cruises circle around Papua New Guinea or sail to Malaysia, calling in at the Philippines, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
Cruise lines that offer sailings from Cairns to Darwin:
- Azamara Club Cruises
- Coral Expeditions
- PONANT
- Silversea
Our picks: Top cruises from Cairns to Darwin
Explore Asian Treasures and Aussie Jewels with Azamara Club Cruises from CruiseAway
Highlights:
- Cruise on Asia with Azamara Quest
- From Cairns to Singapore
- Calls in at Thursday Island, Darwin, Komodo, Benoa, Surabaya and Semarang
- Departs on March 2019
Cruises from Cairns to Cape York
Sail to the northernmost point of the Australian mainland on a luxurious cruise to Cape York from Cairns.
Cape York is a stopover for cruises from Cairns sailing to the Philippines and Darwin.
The journey lasts from three to five days depending on the number of stops en route. Some itineraries to Cape York include stopovers in Lizard Island, Stanley Island and Forbes Island.
Cruise lines that offer sailings from Cairns to Cape York:
- Coral Expeditions
- PONANT
Our picks: Top cruises from Cairns to Cape York
Ancient Wonders of Papua & Spice Islands with Ponant from CruiseAway
Highlights:
- 11-night cruise with Le Laperouse
- From Cairns to Darwin
- Calls in at Cape York, Agats, Triton Bay, Kai Islands and Banda Neira
- Departs on May 2019
Cruises from Cairns to Vanuatu
Vanuatu is renowned for luxurious resorts with access to sea, sun and sand along with picturesque tropical islands. Cruises to Vanuatu take your luxurious and relaxing holiday to a whole new level.
However there's no available sailing for this year.
Cruises from Cairns to Brisbane, Fiji, New Zealand, Whitsundays
Cruises from Cairns generally don't sail to Brisbane, New Zealand and the Whitsundays though do depart from other major Australian ports such as Brisbane or Sydney.
Where do cruises depart from Cairns?
Cruises from Cairns leave from Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal in the Port of Cairns. The cruise terminal is within easy reach from Cairns Airport. The Line 121 bus from the airport takes 15-minutes and drops you half a kilometre from the terminal.
Cairns airport transfers
If you want to be dropped right at the terminal, you can take a taxi, shuttle or Uber and reach the port within 10 minutes. You can pre-book one of the following shared shuttle services from Cairns Airport to the port, which also stops at several hotels in Cairns CBD. Shared transfers start from $15 and can be booked straight away through Viator
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