Finder makes money from featured partners, but editorial opinions are our own.

School holiday cruise deals for 2024

Make life easier for yourself this summer by snapping up a great cruise deal.

It can be hard to organise a 2-week itinerary for the school holidays to keep your little ones busy and active.

This is where a cruise comes in. Sanctuaries at sea, cruises are where all the entertainment is laid out for you. Australia is surrounded by more than 60 ports of call. Places like Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Darwin, Cairns and Perth are all launch ports for the cruise itineraries of world-famous cruise lines.

School holiday cruise deals

Search for your preferred destination, booking site or cruise line to see what deals are available.

Deal

3+ nights last-minute cruises from US$89

Available on select travel dates with Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and more. Sample rate is for a 3-night Bahamas cruise with Carnival Cruises. Destinations include Australia, Japan, Vietnam, Italy and Alaska. T&Cs apply.
Deal

Australia sightseeing cruises from $140

Available on select travel dates until 2024, including Easter and school holidays. Activities include whale- and dolphin-watching and lunch and sunset cruises in Sydney, Cairns, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth and Melbourne. T&Cs apply.
Deal

Up to 45% off Australia and New Zealand cruises

Available on select dates in 2023 with Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line and more. Sample rate is for a 3-night cruise with Carnival Cruises.

Tips for cruising during school holidays

  • Be flexible. Many cruise lines offer last-minute deals on cruises, so if you're flexible about where you want to go, booking one of these can save you money.
  • Book a cruise with entertainment. If you're cruising with your kids, look out for ships with the best kids clubs and children's entertainment. Cruise lines offer everything from water parks to aerial assault courses. If you don't have little ones, keep an eye out for adults-only itineraries or ships with adults-only areas like pools or spas.
  • Look for discounts for third and fourth passengers. If you don't mind a full room, many cruise lines discount the third and fourth passenger in a cabin by up to 50%. So if you're travelling with young kids who don't mind a top bunk in a room, you can save loads.


Alex Keshen's headshot
Written by

Author

Alex Keshen was the global travel publisher at Finder and has been living, breathing and, of course, writing about all things travel for more than 10 years. She has a Bachelor of Journalism from Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada and has appeared in Travel Weekly and the Huffington Post. See full bio

Veronica Garcia's headshot
Co-written by

Author

Veronica is the senior publishing support for travel at Finder and has been scouting airline, hotel and tour package deals for over five years. She has a Bachelor of Tourism major in Travel Management from University of Sto. Tomas Legazpi, Philippines and has been a local tour guide. She does her own itinerary and budget research every time she travels and has mastered the art of packing light for her family of three. See full bio

More resources on Finder

More guides on Finder Shopping

Go to site