Australian seniors are big on cruises. What better way to spend their free time than to cruise Australia or anywhere else in the world? It’s the ideal vacation for seniors interested in cruising Australia, relaxing, enjoying, exploring, and seeking the beauty of ports from Sydney to Brisbane to Melbourne. Lounging on a cruise ship is the perfect way to explore Australian coastlines and surrounding cities while enjoying a luxurious, hassle-free, convenient onboard ship experience.
Onboard entertainment includes spas, pool, fine dining and more. Cruises Australia ensures an enriching, calming, and comfortable experience. Preferably, look for a cruise line that accommodates many travellers and their needs. Take the time to look for a cruise line that puts focus on personalised accommodation and mobility assistance.
If cultural experiences matter to you, find a cruise line that emphasises that. There are many cruise options out there, such as Disney Cruises, Royal Caribbean and more. Each cruise is tailored for a different crowd. Lastly, make sure the cruise line you choose specialises in low-impact adventures. Before embarking on your next cruise ship as a senior, let’s review some cruise options in Australia that will provide you with the best cruise ship for an enticing and adventurous experience.
Cruises Australia – Cruise Lines Suitable for Seniors
Holland America Cruise Line
Nieuw Statendam is the second in line of the Pinnacle-class ships of Holland America.
Holland America Cruise Line is famous among senior travellers. The company owns 11 elegantly designed cruise ships, ranging from modern Pinnacle-class ships such as Koningsdam and Rotterdam to more classic options like Zaandam and Eurodam.
Features
HAL ships are known for music-based entertainment. They cater to a broad range of travellers, from luxury to more cultural adventures and traditional cruising. Dinner on the HAL includes high-end restaurants such as Tamarin and the Pinnacle Grill. Some ships will also host renowned chefs like Iron Chef Morimoto. The onboard experience includes 13 main cabin types, ranging from single to family to spa-themed. Activities are vast, starting with cooking demonstrations to cultural discussions and Broadway-caliber performances.
Destinations
Some popular itineraries of HAL include:
- Alaska – HAL has built a reputation for outstanding Alaskan cruises, including a visit to Glacier Bay National Park.
- Europe and Mediterranean – This cruise focuses more on the history and culture of the Baltic, Northern Europe, and the Mediterranean.
- Exotic – For the more adventurous crowd, this cruise can last several weeks and include visits to Antarctica, South America, and the Grand Voyages.
Viking River Cruises
Viking River Cruise is the best option for individuals interested in immersing into culture and history throughout the cruise. Along with comfortable accommodations and affordable pricing, Viking River Cruises has itineraries across the rivers of Europe, Asia, Egypt, and the U.S. Viking Cruises offers value for its pricing. With a single shore excursion per port, meals onboard are served with unlimited beer, wine, and soft drinks. Wi-Fi is included as port fees and taxes.
Destinations
- Europe – Viking Cruises specialises in adventures on European rivers such as the Danube, Rhine, Seine, and Douro. Their itineraries focus on exploring historic cities, UNESCO World Heritage sites, wine regions, etc.
- Asia – Vietnam, the Mekong River, and Cambodia—is made up of landscaped temples with historical backgrounds, such as Angkor Wat.
- Egypt – Cruises along the Nile, including sites such as temples and more.
- United States – Mississippi River cruises highlight the cultural legacy and music-rich past of Southern cities such as New Orleans and Memphis.
Ship Features
The Vikings’ signature Longships are designed with a modern Scandinavian touch. They offer rooms with a river view, heated bathroom floors, and more. The public areas include al fresco dining spots, libraries, and lounges. The Vikings ships are designed to fit through smaller waterways, enabling access to ports that many other cruise ships don’t have access to. Entertainment onboard includes cooking classes, lectures about upcoming destinations, and performances.
Viking makes every effort to minimise waste and save the environment. Their ships use hybrid engineers, advanced water treatment systems, and solar panels. The luxurious design of Viking River Cruise ships welcomes seniors seeking cultural connections rather than the traditional ship experience.
Cunard Line
Ships
Queen Marry 2, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and Queen Anne.
Queen Mary 2 is the single ocean liner in the world designed for transatlantic crossings. This ship takes cruisers places they’ve never been. The ship has 18 decks and can fit 2,695 passengers. It was built to ensure smooth sailing through rough seas and is the best ship for long routes throughout the ocean.
Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria are vista-class ships designed to maximise ocean views. The majority of cabins on these ships have an ocean view, while the other half enjoy a private balcony. Cruises with these ships are refined and shorter.
Queen Anne is the most recent ship of the Cunard Line, was launched in 2024 as the first Pinnacle-class ship for Cunard.
Features
Cunard is famous for its sophisticated dress codes, ballroom dancing events, afternoon tea traditions and more. Cunard is a cruise for travellers interested in an elegant experience. Onboard entertainment at Cunard includes spa treatments, leisure activities, shuffleboarding, fine dining and more.
Evenings at the Cunard Line require cocktail or formal attire, adding to the luxurious atmosphere.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises is popular for luxury cruising. They provide an all-inclusive experience for their cruisers with lavish accommodations, gourmet-style dining, and itineraries like none other. Regent Seven Seas Cruises has small, intimate ships that accommodate approximately 500 to 750 passengers.
Features
Although small and intimate, Regents ships provide spacious suite accommodations with private balconies for nearly every room. The suites feature marble bathrooms, premium bedding and buttler services.
The fares for Regent cruises are all-inclusive, including Wi-Fi, entertainment, drinks, and more. Specific itineraries also include airport transfers and hotel stays before the cruise.
Regent’s ships travel to over 500 destinations around the world, from Europe to Alaska to the Mediterranean, and the list goes on. Regents also offer Grand Voyage itineraries that begin at 61 nights and extend to over 100 nights, adventuring through multiple continents and cultures all in one journey.
AmaWaterways
AmaWaterways is famous for its luxurious ship designs, diverse itinerary options, and top-notch service. This cruise ship will benefit travellers interested in cultural cruises and a comfortable living environment. The line is known for its extraordinary experiences on rivers across Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America.
Features
AmaWaterways emphasises comfort while operating elegantly. Cruise fares are all-inclusive, with meals onboard including beer and wine, wellness programs, and Wi-Fi access.
Dining includes The Chefs Table restaurant, along with more top-notch culinary experiences.
The cruise line also offers themed journeys, such as wine cruises, art-focused trips, Christmas markets, and more. AmaWaterways combines luxury with adventure to provide cruisers with the best possible experience. For those looking for a wellness and health-focused travel experience, AmaWaterways emphasises health and fitness in its journeys, including guided bike tours, fitness classes on the ship, hiking experiences, and more.
Silversea Cruises
The Silver Dawn Ship.
Silversea Cruises is a cruise line with small, intimate ships and global itineraries. These range from polar regions to the South Pacific and Remote Islands to Africa and the Indian Ocean, and much more. The cruise line has integrated advanced technologies such as fuel cells and dual-fuel engines to reduce its impact on the overall environment throughout its adventures on the sea.
Features
Silversea emphasises the onboard experience for its cruisers. All rooms onboard have an ocean view and may include a private balcony.
Guests are provided with butler service and multiple dining choices, including wine and drinks included in the cruise fare. Entertainment on board ranges from guest speeches to cultural shows. Silversea is the landing point for cruisers seeking a comfort-focused, journey-filled cruise.
Azamara Cruise Line
Azamara Cruise Line is a boutique cruise line made up of four small ships specifically designed to enter the more narrow ports that larger ships cannot access. Azamara is famous for its Destination Immersion philosophy, which allows cruisers to extend their visits to the destinations, including overnight visits.
Features
Azamara’s Destination Immersion allows guests to explore the culture and history behind certain attractions. Additionally, with smaller cruise ships, Azamara allows passengers to enjoy a quiet and less crowded cruise experience. Their ships are designed with luxury in mind.
In addition to its Destination Immersion philosophy, Azamara introduces Country Intensive Voyages, which focus in-depth on countries like Japan or South Africa.
Azamara accommodates seniors with mobility limitations. Guests are provided with tailor-made shore excursions to accommodate the elderly crowd. This cruise line is known to be one of the most inclusive and immersive cruise experiences for seniors.
Oceania Cruises
Oceania Cruises is famous for its elegant and luxurious cruising adventures. Seniors who prefer a relaxed, intimate, yet luxurious cruise experience will enjoy Oceania Cruises. The line includes ten small ships with unbeatable itineraries and exquisite culinary programs.
Features
Due to Oceania Crusies’ small ship design, passengers receive outstanding service in an intimate, family-like setting.
This cruise line focuses on less-travelled destinations, with overnight stays in select ports allowing a deep dive into destinations.
The ship décor includes sophisticated, spacious bedrooms with private balconies. Onboard entertainment includes fitness centres, enrichment programs, spas, and more. Oceania caters to those who enjoy culinary experiences, culture, and unique travel destinations.
Throughout this cruises Australia overview, which focused on senior travellers, we discussed some of the most accommodating and relevant cruise ships. Some have a broader number of passengers, and some are more intimate. Many cruise lines offer butler services, balcony views, onboard entertainment, and, of course, a price to pay. Seniors looking for a more relaxed and luxurious experience have their options open, and those looking for an extended ship with more crowd and entertainment. The possibilities for cruises Australia are vast, and choosing the best cruise ship for your preference will provide you with the ultimate cruise experience.