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Welcome to John’s GTM Weekly Cruise News and Hot Cruise Deals, delivered directly to your inbox by Global Travel Media.

With the Northern Hemisphere slipping towards winter and the cruise wave season getting underway here in the Southern Hemisphere, I’ve picked out a tempting collection of cruise news, new ships and hot deals. Whether you fancy the South Pacific sunshine, the icy beauty of Antarctica or a proper European adventure, there’s something to get you thinking about your next holiday. So, here we go!

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean’s Flash Cruise Frenzy is running until 11.59 pm AEDT on 16 October 2026, with selected local departures aboard Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas. The promotion applies to eligible double-occupancy bookings with non-refundable deposits, and cannot be combined with other offers.

Onboard Quantum of the Seas – departing Brisbane

22 October 2026: An eight-night South Pacific cruise taking in Port Vila, Mystery Island and Nouméa. Check the current fare when booking.
30 October 2026: A seven-night South Pacific escape featuring Port Vila and Mystery Island; promotional fares have been advertised from AU$1,099 per person.
13 November 2026: A seven-night South Pacific adventure. Check the available itinerary and current fare before booking.
20 November 2026: A seven-night Queensland coastal cruise calling at the Whitsundays and Cairns region; promotional fares have been advertised from AU$1,299 per person.

Onboard Anthem of the Seas – departing Sydney

2 November 2026: A nine-night South Pacific holiday visiting Nouméa, Mystery Island and Port Vila. Ask for the current fare.
11 November 2026: A nine-night New Zealand voyage featuring Picton, Christchurch, Dunedin and scenic cruising in Fiordland; promotional fares have been advertised from AU$1,999 per person.

All promotional prices are indicative lead-in, per-person twin-share fares and must be reconfirmed for the chosen stateroom. Availability can change rapidly, especially during a flash sale. Visit Royal Caribbean for bookings and conditions.

Heritage Expeditions

If small-ship discovery is more your style, Heritage Expeditions offers expedition savings of up to 20% on eligible journeys aboard Heritage Adventurer, Heritage Discoverer and Heritage Explorer.

The programme takes travellers to remote corners of the South Pacific, New Zealand, the subantarctic, and the Antarctic, with wildlife and wilderness taking centre stage. Current offers include a 20% saving on the Tropical Islands of Fiji, Samoa & Tonga expedition for eligible bookings made by 30 October 2026.

The important words here are selected departures: booking deadlines, cabin categories and exclusions differ, so check your preferred sailing. Visit Heritage Expeditions for full details.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Spirit returns to Australian and New Zealand waters for the 2026–27 season, with itineraries offering cruisers a choice of Australian coastal highlights and New Zealand’s spectacular fiords.

Cruises combine Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Kangaroo Island, while other journeys take in Milford Sound, Dusky Sound and Wellington, depending on the sailing selected. Longer cruises also combine Australian ports with New Zealand scenery.

Special fares are being promoted for selected voyages, but prices depend on the departure, cabin and inclusions. Ask for a current written quote before booking. Visit Norwegian Cruise Line for the latest itineraries and fares.

Scenic Group

Australian-founded Scenic Group turns 40 in 2026, and it is celebrating with a substantial programme of new river ships and luxury yachts through to 2028. That’s quite a birthday present for cruise enthusiasts!

Emerald Cruises & Tours

Emerald Lumi joins the Seine River programme in France in 2027.
Emerald Raiya is due to join Emerald Yacht Cruises in 2027, followed by Emerald Xara in 2028.
The expanding yacht fleet will open up further destinations, including the Seychelles, while Emerald Xara is expected to operate in the Asia-Pacific region.

Scenic

Scenic plans to begin cruising India’s Hooghly River in 2027, followed by operations on the Brahmaputra River in 2028.
Scenic plans to cruise the Mekong with Scenic Spirit II and Scenic Spirit III in 2028.
Scenic Eclipse II is set to return to the Asia-Pacific region in 2028.
New Discovery Yacht Scenic Ikon is scheduled to debut in the Mediterranean in April 2028, with Antarctica also included in its inaugural programme.

The company is also offering anniversary experiences and special sailings. The Scenic Eclipse Chairman’s Voyage, travelling from New York towards the Bahamas via historic American ports in October 2026, is part of the celebrations. Scenic has also advertised anniversary savings on selected international bookings; Australian travellers should confirm eligible departures and conditions for their market before assuming any discount applies.

Visit Scenic or Emerald Cruises for more information.

Atlas Ocean Voyages

Atlas Ocean Voyages has unveiled 25 Antarctic expeditions for October 2028 to March 2029 aboard World Navigator and World Traveller, both carrying fewer than 200 guests.

You can cross the Drake Passage by sea, fly both ways on selected Drake Express departures, or combine a flight in one direction with a sea crossing in the other. Voyages include seven-night fly-cruise expeditions, nine-night journeys and longer adventures, including an 18-night Grand Antarctica voyage visiting South Georgia and the Falkland Islands.

Through Australian representative Cruise Traveller, eligible 2028–29 Antarctic bookings made by 5 January 2027 can attract an air credit of up to US$2,000 per twin stateroom. The advertised lead-in is from US$12,998 per person, twin-share on a selected package. Be careful with the currency: these are US dollars, not Australian dollars.

Selected packages include pre-cruise accommodation, charter air arrangements and expedition activities, but inclusions vary by itinerary. Check the conditions and which flights are covered. Visit Atlas Ocean Voyages or Cruise Traveller.

PONANT EXPLORATIONS

PONANT EXPLORATIONS has some enticing late-2026 departures for travellers who prefer the warmth of French Polynesia or the drama of a northern winter. With a luxury cruise, you can choose palm trees or snowflakes.

NEW – Polynesian Bliss: Marquesas and Tuamotu

29 November to 13 December 2026 – 14 nights aboard Le Jacques Cartier, from AU$17,750 per person. Explore the Society Islands, Tuamotu and UNESCO World Heritage-listed Marquesas, with remarkable landscapes and Polynesian traditions along the way.

Book an eligible voyage by 31 October 2026 for a €1,000 shipboard credit per stateroom, based on double occupancy. Solo guests receive €500 under this promotion, and the credit cannot be combined with a free or reduced solo supplement. Explore the voyage.

Society Islands & the Tuamotus

2 to 12 December 2026 – 10 nights aboard m/s Paul Gauguin, from AU$9,520 per person. The itinerary includes Bora Bora, Huahine, and Moorea, plus the celebrated lagoons of Fakarava and Rangiroa.

Eligible new bookings made by 31 October 2026 receive US$1,000 shipboard credit per stateroom (double occupancy) or US$500 (single occupancy). Published fares may already include an early-booking saving. Explore the voyage.

Last-minute Northern Europe escapes for solo travellers

On selected departures aboard the luxury icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot, PONANT is promoting no single supplement and savings on eligible fares. Some Baltic journeys separately offer a complimentary Helsinki hotel stay, but you can’t combine the free hotel offer with the no-single-supplement promotion. Check which benefit suits your booking.

From the North Sea to the Baltic

14 to 24 November 2026 – 10 nights, Bergen to Helsinki, from AU$16,550 per person. Norwegian coastal scenery gives way to historic Nordic and Baltic ports. See itinerary.

Baltic Bliss & Winter Wonders

24 November to 3 December 2026, or 12 to 21 December 2026 – nine nights, round-trip Helsinki, from AU$14,890 per person. Expect winter-lit Baltic cities, cultural experiences and the comfort of Le Commandant Charcot. A complimentary Helsinki stay may be available on eligible new bookings, subject to the separate conditions. See details.

The Gulf of Bothnia, at the Gateway to the Arctic

22 to 30 December 2026 – eight nights, Helsinki to Kemi, from AU$16,800 per person.

30 December 2026 to 7 January 2027 – eight nights, Kemi to Helsinki, from AU$18,530 per person.

These winter voyages explore Finland’s northern landscapes during the polar-night season. The two departures have different lead-in fares, so request the correct one. December departure | New Year departure.

All PONANT prices shown are published in Australian dollars, per-person twin-share lead-ins, subject to accommodation availability, fare changes and promotion conditions. For wider offers, visit PONANT Australia.

The world’s best cruise lines and ships announced for 2026

A few champagne corks have popped following the 2026 World Cruise Awards, announced at a ceremony in Jamaica on 12 October.

Norwegian Cruise Line won World’s Best Cruise Line, while Abu Dhabi was named World’s Best Cruise Destination. Australis won World’s Best Expedition Cruise Line, Pandaw won World’s Best River Cruise Line, and Vietnam won World’s Best River Cruise Destination.

Across Europe, DouroAzul won Europe’s Best River Cruise Line, Portugal won Europe’s Best River Cruise Destination, and Lisbon won Europe’s Best Cruise Destination. Those last two awards are different categories, so don’t mix them up!

As for the ships, Sun Princess won World’s Best Cruise Ship for Dining, Disney Wish collected World’s Best Cruise Ship for Families, and Celebrity Apex was named World’s Best Cruise Ship for Romance.

These results come from a specific awards programme, not a universal ranking of every ship afloat. See the official 2026 World Cruise Awards winners.

Hurtigruten

Norway specialist Hurtigruten is offering a 19-day Savour the Northern Lights on The Arctic Line, a North cruise-and-tour journey from Copenhagen to Helsinki that combines a Signature coastal voyage aboard MS Trollfjord with an escorted land journey through Finnish Lapland.

Sail from Copenhagen to Tromsø through Norway’s fjords, islands and coastal towns, then continue by coach and train through wintry Finland. With a bit of luck, the Northern Lights will provide the evening entertainment — and there’s no dress code for the sky!

The itinerary is on sale for selected 2027 and 2028 departures, with advertised prices from AU$12,299 per person and an AU$500 onboard-credit promotion on eligible bookings. Hurtigruten has also promoted reduced deposits; check the currently applicable deposit amount and offer dates before paying. See Hurtigruten’s itinerary and conditions.

My Cruises and Princess Cruises

My Cruises is advertising a 23-night Mediterranean Highlights & Roman Nights with Cairo Visit fly, stay and cruise package, departing 30 March 2028.

The advertised package is from AU$5,990 per person, twin-share, compared with a stated value of AU$7,490 per person, with AU$3,000 bonus value and deposits advertised from AU$599 per person. It includes return economy flights, a two-night stay in Rome, and a 21-night Princess Cruises sailing, subject to the operator’s package conditions. Bookings are advertised to close on 31 October 2026.

The itinerary includes a call at Alexandria, Egypt, with the option to arrange a visit to Cairo, though a guided Cairo excursion is not assumed to be included. Confirm the ship, shore excursions and other package inclusions in writing before booking. View the My Cruises package.

Well, that is quite a voyage through this week’s cruise news and hot deals! If one of these catches your eye, check the live fare, departure, inclusions and cancellation conditions with the operator or your travel advisor before booking. Prices and offers can change quickly.

Watch out for more cruise news and hot deals next week!