Sydney’s cruising calendar is set for a bright season as Princess Cruises bases the Discovery Princess in the Harbour City. The ship arrives after a short Southeast Asia program, bringing a schedule built around New Zealand classics, sun-seeking South Pacific escapes, and an ocean-crossing finale that threads through French Polynesia and Hawaii.
Princess Cruises will homeport Discovery Princess in Sydney from 6 Dec to 7 Apr, aligning with the 50-year milestone since Pacific Princess first visited the city. The program features 12 sailings, including five New Zealand itineraries and two to Fiji, plus a repositioning north via French Polynesia and Hawaii. Guests can expect large-balcony Sky Suites, varied dining, relaxed pool zones, improved operational flow, and easy access for local travellers.
The return carries historical weight and practical benefits for travellers. It nods to the line’s long relationship with Sydney while adding fresh dates and ship capacity at a time of strong local demand. For anyone who prefers to board close to home, it offers a holiday that begins the moment you see the bridge from the quay.
Princess is marking 50 years since the original Pacific Princess made Sydney part of its story. That legacy continues with the ship’s summer base, giving locals and visitors a familiar, efficient homeport with world-class views at sailaway. The anniversary framing also signals confidence in the city as a long-term anchor for regional cruising.
Before pointing south, the ship completed a five-day getaway across Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, and Penang. Short shake-down runs like this help crews fine-tune restaurant pacing, entertainment schedules, and back-of-house timing. Guests may not notice the logistics, yet they tend to feel the benefits in crisp service and a comfortable day-to-day rhythm once onboard in Australia.
Australians gravitate toward open decks, relaxed pools, and venues that move easily from day to night. The ship’s layout supports that flow, with big-view spaces for sailaways, sociable dining rooms, and balcony options that make the most of summer evenings in port. The vibe is premium without being stiff, which suits multigenerational groups.
The schedule balances dramatic New Zealand scenery, warm-water Fiji escapes, and a long crossing that stitches together iconic islands. It means you can choose a short break, a classic two-weeker, or a longer one-way journey if you want extra sea days and starry nights.
New Zealand is the backbone of the season, with five itineraries that link mountainous sounds, wine country, and walkable cities. Scenic cruising days deliver big-screen landscapes, while port calls keep things easy with shore options for food lovers, hikers, and museum fans. The short flight time for inbound Kiwis also makes it a convenient trip for friends and family meet-ups.
Two itineraries head north to Fiji, trading alpine backdrops for reef-ringed lagoons and market towns. Expect snorkelling, island time, and sea-day lazing by the pool. These sailings work especially well for school-holiday planning or friend groups who want shared downtime, simple packing lists, and dependable warm weather.
When the local season wraps, the ship tracks back to the Northern Hemisphere through French Polynesia and Hawaii. It is part passage, part bucket-list sequence, with long blue stretches punctuated by culture-rich stops. Travellers who enjoy the unhurried pace of sea days often choose this routing for the romance of the open ocean.
Onboard life blends Princess favourites with spaces that suit summer in Australia. The aim is ease, from breakfast on your balcony to a show after dinner, with choices that let each traveller shape the day.
Top-tier Sky Suites bring expansive private balconies for quiet breakfasts, sailaway toasts, and night-sky viewing. Elsewhere, balcony, oceanview, and interior options are designed with practical storage and comfortable bedding. Families appreciate inter-connecting layouts, while couples often opt for mid-ship balconies for steadier rides across the Tasman.
You will find the familiar Princess dining mix, from casual daytime bites to multi-course evenings. The relaxed pool areas feel made for our summer, with enough seating for lazy sea days and shaded corners for book time. Sunset sets the tone for pre-dinner drinks, followed by theatre, live music a quiet lounge, depending on the mood.
Production shows, tribute acts, and house bands anchor the nights. Daytimes bring destination talks, cooking demos, and classes in the gym for those who like to keep moving. If you prefer to unwind, the spa and adults-only retreat are reliable sanctuaries between port calls.
Popular homeport seasons reward early, well-timed decisions, especially if you are picky about cabin location or dining times. Our Sydney-based team helps you filter dates, school terms, and public holidays so you can book with confidence.
December has a festive buzz, January matches school holidays, and late February to March can bring slightly calmer crowds. If you feel motion at sea, mid-ship, the lower decks are typically steadier. Aft-facing balconies are prized for wake views, while forward options deliver cinematic arrivals for those who do not mind a breeze.
Princess programs are a comfortable middle ground for mixed-age travel. Kids enjoy supervised clubs, parents get pool time and shore days, and everyone reconvenes for dinner and a show. Friend groups often split for different excursions, then swap stories over dessert without needing to coordinate a complex land itinerary.
Inventory can shift quickly on sought-after departures. An experienced cruise adviser can place a short hold, monitor for better-fit cabins, and adjust dining and air to suit your schedule. We also stitch together pre- and post-cruise stays, whether that is a couple of Sydney nights or a wine-region weekend after you return.
The line’s footprint in our region continues to grow, which is good news for travellers who like choice in ship size, itinerary style, and sailing length.
Through 2026–27, Princess plans a significant Asia–Pacific presence, with multiple ships operating in Australian waters. A broader program spreads demand across more departures and generally improves the odds of finding your preferred cabin category at workable dates.
The city’s air links, hotel range, and bucket-list sailaways make it a natural hub. For inbound travellers from New Zealand, Southeast Asia, or North America, connections are straightforward. Pre-cruise stays are easy to plan around the harbour, beaches, and food precincts, which add value to a fly-cruise holiday.
If you cruise regularly, a more varied roster means fresh ports, different seasonality, and room to try longer repositionings without repeating yourself. It also helps groups, since you can rotate between New Zealand and the South Pacific while keeping travel time manageable.
Planning a New Zealand loop or a Fijian warm-weather break is easier when you can see dates, lengths, and cabin types side by side. Browse live sailings and compare options on our Cruise Finder.
Thinking about the one-way crossing via French Polynesia and Hawaii, perhaps with a land stay before or after, is simple with filters and shortlists. Start your search on Cruise Finder, then message us for tailored advice once you have a shortlist.
Sydney is ready for a lively summer at sea, and this program offers flexible holiday styles without long flights. Whether you want fjords and vineyards, coral and coconut palms, or a starry Pacific crossing, the choice is there. When you are ready to plan, our team will match dates, staterooms, and shore days to your priorities. Begin the conversation by messaging our cruise specialist at S.W. Black Travel.