Start 2018 feeling luxurious. Grab the best spot in Sydney to see the fireworks by booking a spot on a New Year’s Eve cruise.
This is one of those things that you have to do at least ONCE in your life: see the Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks from the harbour. There will be private parties and then there will be chartered boats. If you can talk your way onto a private boat, we say: go for it. Watch us be jealous and all that jazz, because we will be. But, if you can’t weasel your way onto the water, why not book a spot for you and your love one/s on a cruise?
The answer: everywhere. Pretty much any charter company who’s anybody is going to set sail into the New Year with you on it.
New Years Eve harbour cruises in Sydney:
While the big day is still months away, here's what's already available for New Year's Eve 2018. We'll update this table as more become available.
We've already seen some book out, so we'd recommend locking your New Year's Eve harbour cruise in as soon as possible.
Best places to book a Sydney New Year's Eve cruise:
Image: sydneynewyearseve.com
Anyboat
Choose from dozens of sailings on New Year's Eve, including small catamarans catering to just a dozen people to big party boats with hundreds or people celebrating together.
- 23 options for New Year's Eve sailings in 2016
- Choose from sailings that include food, drinks, or are BYO
- Prices started at $400
Viator
With a range of New Year's Eve events to choose from, including restaurant packages and cruises, Viator sells something for everyone on New Year's Eve.
- 3 options for New Year's Eve sailings in 2016
- All cruises included food and drink
- Prices started at $650
City Discovery
With a range of New Year's Eve events to choose from, including restaurant packages and cruises, Viator sells something for everyone on New Year's Eve.
- 2 options for New Year's Eve sailings in 2016
- Choose from cruises on historic Sydney ferries and tall-ship style boats
- Prices started at $590
Other Sydney New Year's Eve cruises
Captain Cook Cruises:
One of the biggest names in the biz, Captain Cook has six boats running throughout the evening to capture the light spectacular at 7:30pm, 9pm, and midnight. They have seafood buffet dinner and cocktail packages available. And if you book early, you’ll save even more.
Bass and Flinders Cruises:
Four boats dedicated to the 9pm and midnight fireworks, each departing from various locations on the Harbour. Our advice? Choose which view you’d prefer and book into the cruise that suits. Seafood BBQ and cocktail packages available. Though, if those are beyond the budget, there are BYO options, too.
Sydney New Year’s Eve Cruises:
The name says it all. If that wasn’t enough to convince, this company’s Lady Rose ship won the 2014 Harbour of Light Parade ‘Best Designed’ competition. Ring in the New Year on a winnaar.
Fantasea Cruises:
Fantasea’s got both adults and families covered. One of their boats will be dedicated to the 9pm fireworks before returning to get the children home, while three other boats will be on the water all night long to capture both the 9pm and midnight shows. Then, there’ll be a boat just for the midnight fireworks. So many options.
Stay ahead of the game. Keep an eye on daily deal sites that may offer last-minute tickets!
How to decide which cruise to go on:
Pretty simple really. They all go on the water and they all will have amazing views of the city on New Year’s Eve. The differences really are in the food and beverage packages, the length of time you’ll be on the water, the price, and whether there’s room for your party. Our advice? Start looking now as these babies sell out fast. That’s it! Happy New Year’s! We know you’ll ring it in nicely.
Why take a New Years Eve cruise?
- You avoid the crowds. Cruises will limit the number of tickets sold, so you won't have to battle swarms of people just to get a good view.
- You’ll have a spot held for you. The best places to watch the fireworks fill up fast, which often means arriving as early as the morning of New Year's Eve. If you buy a cruise ticket in advance, simply stroll up at the designated time and you're off.
- You’ll get the gold-class treatment. It wouldn’t be New Year’s Eve without a glass of bubbly in your hand, and New Year’s Eve harbour cruises tend to come with a bar and offer some food.
More about Sydney New Year's Eve:
Best New Year’s Eve Sydney restaurant packages to catch a view of the fireworks 2018
Book your table now to ensure the best seat in the house on New Year's Eve. Read more…
10 New Year’s Eve Sydney accommodation near the fireworks
The enviable hotels rooms to get that perfect view of the Sydney New Year's Eve fireworks. Read more…
New Year’s Eve Sydney 2017 | Best Fireworks Views, Events and Parties
There's so much to see and do on New Year's Eve in Sydney. Read up on the best parties and vantage points to ensure you make the most of the 2017 New Year's Eve celebrations in Sydney. Read more…
Hi,
My wife and I are looking for a NYE dinner cruise that also allows infants.
We have a 5 month old daughter and would like to experience NYE as a new family.
Are there any cruises that cater for baby’s, ie space for pram, safety, etc?
Regards
Brad
Hi Brad,
Thanks for your question.
I’ve checked the details of the cruises featured above and I can’t find any restrictions when it comes to bringing children or infants. However, If you are looking for a particular cruise feature to make your experience more comfortable and enjoyable, it is best if you confirm it directly with the provider. Just click the “view details’ on our page and you’ll be redirected to the provider’s website where you can check the full feature of the cruise or contact the provider.
Cheers,
Anndy
Hi, I am looking for a Sydney NYE cruise for my family and my in-laws, who will be in from Europe. As it is their first time in Australia, it is important that I pick the right cruise for this, since they will likely not be back for a long time. I am looking for something classy with good food and wine, and with people who are there for an enjoyable party but not 20 somethings drinking alcohol by the bucket. Im budgeting 500-700 per person. Any recommendations? Thanks!
Hi Christine,
Thanks for your question.
For cruises close to your budget, Sydney New Year’s Eve Cruises has a Ballroom New Year’s Eve event. As the minimum age for this is 7, you’re less likely to receive a young, 20-something crowd. FantaSea also has a Platinum NYE Fireworks Dinner Cruise which includes a cold buffet and a limit vessel capacity of 140.
If you’re willing to push your budget further, you might like to look into a Tall Ship Dinner Cruise, which includes a gourmet dinner and is a unique experience on the harbour.
Unfortunately, if you are looking for a cruise on the lower end of your budget, your options are mainly limited to shorter, earlier cruises or BYO food and drink cruises such as those with Bass and Flinders and Fantasea. Depending on how you feel, they might be worth looking into.
I hope that helps,
Stephanie
What is Any Boat that you have described above? Can you give me a link or info to their site?
Thanks
Hi Gil,
Thanks for your question.
Any Boat is a private cruise offering. You can find more information on Any Boat New Year’s Eve cruises here.
Hope that helps,
Stephanie
Hi Stephanie,
What the nicest venue or boat trip for a family with a toddler of 7 months. We like to see both fireworks at 9pm and midnight and prefer the less crowded spots. Appreciate your information.
Cheers, James
Hi James,
Thanks for your question.
The Tall Ships cruise mentioned above is a nice short 45-minute cruise that might be worth looking into considering you have a 7-month old.
You may also like to have a look at our New Years Eve Restaurants article, which outlines certain venues hosting parties. As venues can only cater for a certain number of people, they are likely to be less crowded than vantage points in the city.
If you do wish to mark a spot at a public vantage point, check out our guide of them here. While crowded, a lot of them do have max caps as well so if you choose a smaller venue it might be to your benefit.
Hope that helps!
Stephanie
Hi, we have a group of 10 coming from the Gold Coast wanting to do a cruise for the fireworks this NYE. Can u please let me know the diff prices and packages, i see some have buffet and drinks… some have canapes and drinks.. we will not need a full sit down dinner just nibbles or buffet and however many hours of drinks, please let me know what u think is best, age group is 30-40. thanks cass
Hi Cass,
Thanks for your question.
While not all cruise packages are available as yet, some packages that you can book for the evening are as follows:
-6-hour harbour cruise with canapes – $650pp
-5.5 hour New Years Eve Cruise on Wangi Queen Ferry – $550pp
We’ll be updating our cruise deals page as soon as more cruises become available, so if you don’t like either of the above please return soon for our updates.
Best regards,
Stephanie
What are the best options to see the early fireworks with children?
Hi Jenny,
Thanks for your question.
While most of the New Year’s Eve cruises on Sydney Harbour include both the children’s fireworks at 9pm and the big show at midnight, there are options for you if you’re just looking to catch the earlier show.
Sail Australia sells tickets for a 7-9:45pm cruise departing Manly for $175 per person ($475 for a family). As well, in the past Sydney Water Taxis offered viewings of just the 9pm fireworks with special pricing for families. While its website hasn’t been updated for this coming New Year’s Eve, it’s one to watch.
Hope that helps!
Hi,
We want to see the firework from the cruise, but we wish to get a cruise that includes both the fireworks.
however, we are pure vegetarian, and hence might just want a cruise that does not include cost of food.
what is the most economic cruise available on that night?
Thanks,
Ekta
Hi there,
Thanks for getting in touch.
As it’s still quite early in the year, most cruise companies haven’t confirmed the details or prices of their sailings.
We’ll be updating this page as soon as we know more information about the sailings, so I’d recommend keeping a close eye on it in the next few months.
Hope that helps!
Alex
I would also like to find non-dinner cruises for the NYE firework show. Unfortunately, most cruises are dinner cruises priced over $500 per person. Have you heard of any non-dinner cruises that will stay out past midnight on NYE?
Hi John,
Thanks for your question.
Some cruises do offer midnight only fireworks cruises, although it is more common to find dinner cruises.
Fantasea Sydney still has a midnight fireworks cruise available for $350.
Captain Cruise likewise has a midnight cruise option for $269 departing from Manly ferry.
I hope that helps,
Stephanie
Hi I am wanting to book a cruise that departs Sydney after the fireworks and goes out to sea for 1-2 weeks. We will be 2 adults and 1 child under 2 years old . We want to spend up to $6000 total. Is there anything available for long cruises?
Hi Shane,
Thanks for your question.
As this article deals with day-only New Year’s Eve cruises, you might like to look at general and longer cruise options.
Some of your options that depart after the fireworks for next year include:
-9 Day New Zealand Trip with Dawn Princess
-11 Day Fiorland and New Zealand South Island Cruise with Emerald Princess
-10 Night South Pacific Cruise From Sydney with Royal Caribbean
-10 Night Australia / New Zealand Cruise From Sydney with Carnival
I hope that helps,
Stephanie