Last Minute Cruises: Australia sailings from $83 a night

If you are looking for a holiday that is big on both fun and value, a cruise is hard to beat.
Packed into a single ticket price is your accommodation, meals and entertainment.
On many cruises, you also get to enjoy multiple destinations while only unpacking and packing up once during your trip.
But when is the best time to book cheap cruises?
Well, it won’t suit everyone, but there can be big savings to be had on last minute cruises, Australia - including from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.

When is the best time to book a cruise?

A general rule of thumb is that the two best times to book a cruise are early (at least 12 months in advance) or late (within three months of setting sail).
As rooms on a ship begin to be booked, prices tend to rise.
However, falls in prices then come closer to the sailing if there are a significant number of rooms still empty.
This is where those who enjoy spontaneous travel – and have the flexibility to make eleventh-hour plans – can cash in and secure unbeatable travel deals.

The sweet spot for last minute cruises 

We’ve found that the sweet spot for booking last minute cruises is between one and two months before a sailing.
During this window, it is not uncommon to find deals that will allow you to travel for less than $100 per person, per day on some cruise lines.
Of course, there is no guarantee that your desired sailing will still be available if you hold off with your booking until this time. 
If there are only a handful of cabins remaining on a ship by this time, prices for the remaining cabins tend to skyrocket and options might be limited to the most expensive suites.
However, particularly for off-peak sailings, there is a chance you could get lucky with a great deal.

There are plenty of deals available on last minute cruises from Australia.

Where to book a sailing at short notice

If you spot a good deal, it is best to lock it in as soon as possible because it might not last.
Therefore, we would recommend making a booking online.
Luxury Escapes offers bookings on all of the cruise lines listed below and throws in added perks of onboard credit with many deals.
You can book online, while their customer service team is available to call 24/7 if you encounter any issues.

Cheap last minute cruises: Australia

To give you an idea of the short-notice deals available, we looked at sailings in Australia over the following two months from the time of writing this article (November 6, 2024).
Here are some examples of deals that we found with prices under $200 per person, per night.
Sail away with cheap last minute cruises, Australia.

From Sydney

• November 13, 2024 – 8 nights on Ovation of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)

  Twin from $1,357pp ($169 per night), Quad from $1,142pp ($143 per night)

• November 15, 2024 – 14 nights on Pacific Adventure (P&O)

  Twin from $2,233pp ($160p/n), Quad from $1,644pp ($117p/n)

• November 18, 2024 – 13 nights on Celebrity Edge (Celebrity Cruises)

  Twin from $2,291pp ($176p/n)

• December 3, 2024 – 11 nights on Crown Princess (Princess Cruises)

  Twin from $1,971pp ($179p/n)

• December 7, 2024 – 14 nights on Royal Princess (Princess Cruises)

  Twin from $2,133pp ($152p/n), Quad from $1,478pp ($106p/n)

• December 17, 2024 – 10 nights on Pacific Adventure (P&O)

  Twin from $1,768pp ($177p/n), Quad from $910pp ($91p/n)

• December 29, 2024 – 13 nights on Crown Princess (Princess Cruises)

  Twin from $2,133pp ($164p/n)

• January 4, 2025 – 14 nights on Royal Princess (Princess Cruises)

  Twin from $2,424pp ($173p/n), Quad from $1,847pp ($132p/n)

From Brisbane

• December 13, 2024 – 8 nights on Quantum of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)

  Twin from $1,602pp ($200 per night), Quad from $1,584pp ($198 per night)

• December 17, 2024 – 10 nights on Pacific Explorer (P&O)

  Twin from $1,793pp ($179p/n), Quad from $1,274pp ($127p/n)

From Melbourne

• November 18, 2024 – 4 nights on Pacific Explorer (P&O)

  Twin from $735pp ($184 per night), Quad from $468pp ($117 per night)

• November 22, 2024 – 3 nights on Pacific Explorer (P&O)

  Twin from $596pp ($199p/n)

• November 29, 2024 – 2 nights on Pacific Explorer (P&O)

  Twin from $263pp ($132p/n)

• December 19, 2024 – 8 nights on Pacific Explorer (P&O)

  Twin from $1,517pp ($189p/n), Quad from $1,248pp ($156p/n)

• December 30, 2024 – 13 nights on Pacific Explorer (P&O)

  Twin from $2,306pp ($177p/n), Quad from $1,762pp ($136p/n)

From Adelaide

• November 12, 2024 – 21 nights on Diamond Princess (Princess Cruises)

  Twin from $2,908pp ($138 per night)

• December 17, 2024 – 2 nights on Pacific Explorer (P&O)

  Twin from $233pp ($117p/n), Quad from $166pp ($83p/n)

Pro Tip: Look for a repositioning cruise

Of all sailings, repositioning cruises tend to be the least likely to sell out and are therefore the most likely to offer urgent travel deals.
Some examples of repositioning cruises to or from Australia include trips between Singapore and Sydney, Honolulu and Sydney and Honolulu and Brisbane.
Most ships only spend the warmer months in Australia, from October to April.
They then head back to North America or Asia for the rest of the year.
These repositioning trips are longer sailings with more sea days, which might not be for everyone.
However, we have seen some incredible last minute deals on many of them.

Summary

If you have the flexibility to enjoy some spontaneous travel, booking a last minute cruise can save you plenty and make for a very affordable holiday. We found sailings from as little as $83 per night from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide for urgent travel deals. Also look for repositioning cruises, which regularly have great deals available for bookings within three months of boarding.

Written By: Chris
Updated: November 2024

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• How can I find last minute cruises from Sydney?

  The best time to look for deals at short notice is within three months of a sailing. There are many ships across different lines based out of Sydney over the warmer months, between October and April. Luxury Escapes is a good booking website and includes additional perks like onboard credit on many trips.

• How can I find last minute cruises from Brisbane?

  Brisbane is visited by a number of cruise lines and spontaneous travel deals are regularly available. It is best to book last minute cruises online. We use and recommend Luxury Escapes, but you can book through the cruise line directly or use other booking websites.

• How can I find last minute cruises from Melbourne?

  Melbourne is being visited by a reduced number of ships compared to previous years. However, there can be eleventh-hour deals to be found on some sailings from the Victorian capital. Search for sailings from Melbourne on Luxury Escapes. The best time to book a deal is within three months of boarding, if a number of cabins remain available.