Nearly 3,000 Australians have departed Sydney aboard Crown Princess on what is Australia’s only world cruise departure of 2026, highlighting the continued appetite for long-haul cruising without long-haul flying.
The 114-day voyage will take guests across 44 destinations in 26 countries and five continents before returning to Sydney in September. Along the way, passengers will visit 47 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and travel more than 36,000 nautical miles.
For many guests, the appeal lies in unpacking once while seeing much of the world in one journey.
“Departing from Sydney means guests can start their world cruise close to home, avoid long-haul flights and settle into life on board as the journey begins,” Princess Cruises Asia Pacific Vice President Matthew Rutherford said.
“World cruises remain one of the most aspirational travel experiences, and we’re seeing strong and growing demand from Australians for longer-duration voyages.”
The sailing also delivers a sizeable local economic boost. According to Princess, 280 pallets of Australian provisions were loaded in Sydney before departure, including premium local produce, seafood, wine and nearly 2,000 jars of Vegemite.
“With so many of our World Cruise guests travelling from Australia, we know how important it is to serve familiar flavours alongside international cuisine,” Crown Princess executive chef Roy Cipriano remarked.
The voyage reflects how world cruising continues to attract older and repeat travellers. The average age onboard this year’s sailing is 71, while many guests have previously completed multiple extended cruises.
Among them are longtime friends June and Lesley, who have travelled together for more than six decades.
“Over the past 16 years, I’ve travelled even more, especially after my husband passed away. It really makes you realise how important life and health are, and that if you’re fortunate enough, you should travel while you can,” June said.
For Lesley, community remains central to the experience.
“Nothing compares to a World Cruise. I’ve made more friends than I can count on board,” she remarked.
Also onboard are Port Macquarie couple Terence and Dolor Hodge, who have spent almost 3,000 days at sea across more than 200 cruises.
“It’s the people, both guests and crew, you see year after year that really make it special. It becomes like a community,” they said.
The ship returns to Sydney on 2 September 2026 ahead of the next local cruise season.
KARRYON UNPACKS: World cruises are no longer niche bucket-list holidays. For many Australians, they’re becoming a slower, simpler and surprisingly social alternative to piecing together multiple long-haul trips independently.
