Princess Cruises is encouraging Australians to swap the stress of hosting Christmas for a festive holiday at sea, unveiling a range of Christmas and New Year sailings across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the Americas for the 2026 holiday season.
Five reasons to celebrate at sea
As travellers begin planning for Christmas, Princess Cruises is highlighting the benefits of celebrating onboard, from festive dining and entertainment to the simplicity of unpacking once while exploring multiple destinations.
Matthew Rutherford, Vice President Asia Pacific, said a Christmas cruise allows guests to focus on spending time together while the cruise line takes care of every detail.
“For many people, Christmas comes with weeks of preparation, cooking and entertaining. A holiday cruise gives guests the opportunity to focus on what truly matters – spending time together, discovering incredible destinations and creating lasting memories while Princess takes care of every detail,” Rutherford said.
The cruise line says guests can enjoy traditional Christmas meals, festive decorations, Christmas carols, Santa’s arrival, gingerbread decorating, holiday entertainment and New Year’s Eve celebrations without the pressures of hosting at home.
Festive voyages span the globe
Princess Cruises’ 2026 festive program includes sailings throughout Southeast Asia, New Zealand and the Americas.
Highlights include Christmas Day at sea aboard Sapphire Princess while sailing from Tokyo to Singapore, a festive roundtrip from Singapore aboard Diamond Princess, Christmas and New Year voyages to New Zealand aboard Grand Princess and Royal Princess, Caribbean celebrations aboard Regal Princess and a Christmas expedition through Patagonia aboard Majestic Princess. Selected departures also include A$100 onboard spending money per guest for bookings made during the promotional period.
A simpler way to celebrate
Princess Cruises says festive sailings appeal to couples, families and multi-generational groups looking to combine the traditions of Christmas with new travel experiences.
Guests can spend Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve discovering destinations including Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Caribbean and South America, while enjoying the convenience of having accommodation, dining, entertainment and transport included in one holiday.
