These are the top 6 destinations for ocean cruising

Here’s where to take to the high seas in 2025.

The much-loved sector of ocean cruising is known for its big ships with fun activities to suit all generations of travellers. This is where you should look to book.

1. The Mediterranean

Visit Santorini on a cruise of the Med. (Image: Getty Images/Spooh)

The number of kaftans with exuberant patterns really spikes when you’re wandering the cobbled streets of Santorini. It’s a sure sign that small ship cruise lines are having a moment, with a raft of more intimate, destination-focused voyages enticing Aussie travellers to give up their annual ski trip for a week cruising the Greek Isles.

Maximise your time soaking up the sunshine with voyages that offer more time in port. Experience the glitz and old-world glamour of Monaco on a seven-day Med itinerary with Norwegian Cruise Line. Explore hidden coves in Croatia with small-ship company Windstar, which sails year-round in the Med. And add a post-cruise extension to your Empires of the Mediterranean cruise with Viking.

2. Alaska, USA

See Alaska from a new perspective with Celebrity Edge’s Magic Carpet.

The diversity of Alaska’s landscapes – big rivers, dramatic glaciers, pristine wilderness and beautiful fjords – is a lot to take in. It’s wilderness on a jaw-to-the-floor scale. Forget trying to get the money shot. Sit in contemplative silence to worship nature’s jagged cathedrals of ice and stone.

Celebrity Cruises agrees that the dramatic vistas deserve our reverence, which is why its Alaska-bound Edge-series ships feature a viewing platform (known as the ‘Magic Carpet’) that frames the country’s wild beauty. Royal Caribbean also heroes the vistas with glass exterior viewing lifts. Visit between May and September for your best chance of spotting humpback whales.

3. Asia

Witness Japan like never before with Norwegian Cruise Line.

From bustling antique markets in Seoul to the neon-lit streets of Tokyo and vibrant backstreets of Hong Kong, Asia has an energy of its own. The continent holds a lot of appeal for travellers seeking cultural immersion. Spend the night in a ryokan in Kyoto under a thick kakebuton (quilt).

Enjoy miniscule morsels of fish at a seafood market in Incheon, Seoul. And be swept along, like a pebble in a zen garden, as you bounce between ancient temples and soaring skyscrapers, tea houses and tech hubs. Cruise lines such as NCL are now offering extended itineraries that encourage travellers to linger longer in ports around Asia such as Seoul, Okinawa, Kobe and Jeju Island.

4. New Zealand

Cruise into the best wineries around Hawke’s Bay.

New Zealand is a short flight across the ditch, making it a convenient destination for Aussies. There’s also ease of access to attractions after pulling up in port: visit wineries in Hawke’s Bay, cycle around Tukituki Estuary and visit the Te Pā Tū Māori Village with cruise lines like Holland America Line.

5. The South Pacific

Aranui will debut Aranoa in 2027.

The South Pacific is popular for families, as it’s right on our doorstep. You can experience everything from the welcoming bula spirit of Fiji to the fire-walking traditions of Vanuatu and collision of French and Polynesian culture in New Caledonia. Or you can venture further afield to the Marquesas and Austral Islands with Aranui Cruises, set to debut its new ship, Aranoa, in 2027.

6. Papua New Guinea

Reach remote islands on a cruise with Holland America Line.

PNG is just a day and a half’s cruise from Cairns, or 150 kilometres as the plumed egret flies. So, you’ll be snorkelling the coral atolls that necklace the archipelago in no time. Enjoy an expedition with a considered cruise such as Holland America Line to navigate around the islands and into remote harbours where the ancient culture and traditions have been preserved.