4 Incredible Cruises to Put on Your Bucket List

Whether it’s drifting through the storied Mediterranean or gliding along the peaceful waters of Tahiti, these voyages need to be on your radar. 

Dreams of Tahiti

Melt into the leisurely rhythm of island life as you glide through the waters surrounding Tahiti and discover the luxuries of small-ship cruising, from hyper-attentive staff to rooms with ample space to unwind. 

From Papeete, French Polynesia’s buzzing capital, you’ll anchor in Moorea where you can pedal past waterfalls and pineapple plantations and swim with stingrays. An overnight stay in Raiatea allows plenty of time to visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed temple, Taputapuātea marae, harvest your own pearl or search for the tiare apetahi, one of the world’s rarest flowers. 

A sweet, delicate fragrance hangs thick in the air in Taha’a, known as the “vanilla island” for its vast plantations of vanilla orchids, which you can tour before snorkelling technicolour reefs. 

In Bora Bora, bask in crystal-clear waters or take them in from above with a heli-tour affording glimpses of manta rays and lemon sharks. With the ship docked for the night, you’ll also have the chance to see traditional fire dancing or watch the sun set into the lagoon from the vantage point of an overwater bungalow. 

The details
Papeete to Papeete
Duration: 7 days
Cruiseline: Windstar Cruises 
Departs: 3 August 2023
Cost: from $6223 per person
Book your trip with Qantas Cruises before 31 May 2023 to earn Triple Qantas Points. Call 1300 766 566 to book. 

Jewels of the Ionian Sea and Dalmatian Delights

Climb ancient castle ramparts, visit fabled sites that blur the line between reality and mythology and watch historical ports come into view from your private deck. The ancient world is brought back to life as the Seabourn Encore plots a course from Athens along bejewelled coastlines, stopping off at cities and timeless villages across Italy, Malta, Croatia and beyond. 

You’ll visit Greek wonders such as Naxos, the archetypal whitewashed Greek island, and Monemvasia, a rose-tinted wonder on the south-eastern coast of the Peloponnese. Wander the narrow streets of Syracuse, Sicily’s south-eastern city, sampling gelato in sun-dappled piazzas. 

In Turkey, spend a morning at the pretty port of Marmaris on the Turquoise Coast with its fantastical Marmaris Castle dating to the 16th century. Malta’s tiny capital of Valletta is a golden sprawl from a distance; up close it’s dense with late-Renaissance splendour. Take in the old town of the famously well-preserved ninth-century Croatian port of Dubrovnik and drift through Venice’s Grand Canal. 

At day’s end, it’s bliss to leave the crowds for the calm luxury of the all-suite Encore ship with its pool, Patio Bar and excellent restaurants.

The details
Athens to Venice
Duration: 18 nights 
Cruiseline: Seabourn
Departs: 11 October 2023 
Cost: $13,496 per person
Book your trip with Qantas Cruises before 31 May 2023 to earn Triple Qantas Points. Call 1300 766 566 to book. 

Barrier Reef and Beyond 

Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, laze on impossibly white sands at Whitehaven Beach and savour oysters fresh from the Sapphire Coast. This 12-night journey aboard Windstar Cruises’ Star Breeze will showcase the very best of Australia’s east coast. 

You’ll set off from Cairns and head north to Port Douglas and the rare beauty of the Daintree Rainforest before cruising down to Airlie Beach. Glide to the shore of Fraser Island, spotting dingoes lounging on 75 Mile Beach, then drift south, dropping anchor in Mooloolaba, where the animals of the Irwins’ Australia Zoo await your arrival nearby. 

Days at sea are spent being pampered at onboard World Spa or sipping champagne and lunching at Veranda restaurant. The tropics recede before you round the heads into Sydney Harbour, with the Harbour Bridge and Opera House forming a breathtaking welcoming committee. 

You’ll cruise to the small town of Eden, a whale-watching drawcard, before ending your voyage with extra days in Melbourne to explore the city’s charming arcades, excellent cafés and street-art-clad laneways.

The details
Cairns to Melbourne
Duration: 12 nights
Departs: 9 December 2023 
Cruiseline: Windstar
Cost: $8427 per person
Book your trip with Qantas Cruises before 31 May 2023 to earn Triple Qantas Points. Call 1300 766 566 to book. 

Far East 

As Singapore's futuristic architecture and green Supertrees recede from view, you'll sail through the Gulf of Thailand’s warm turquoise waters past lush archipelagos and islands. Savour the views as well as old-world wines and lobster thermidor at the on-ship restaurant, The Grill By Thomas Keller. 

In Laem Chabang, hit the putting green at one of its world-class golf courses, wander through orchid gardens and visit temples overlooking the countryside. Pit stops in Koh Kood and Cambodia’s Sihanoukville are perfect for relaxing on palm-fringed beaches, kayaking along placid waters and snorkelling with technicolour tropical fish and sea turtles. 

History is all around you in Ho Chi Minh City – visit the War Remnants Museum for a sobering look at the Vietnam War or burrow your way through the underground Cu Chi Tunnels, dug by Viet Cong soldiers during the Vietnam War. With the ship docked for the night , hop on a tuktuk for a guided street food tour before sipping a Saigon Sour over skyscraper views at a buzzing rooftop bar. After two days cruising at sea, you’ll spot Malaysia’s capital rising from the jungles – including the Petronas Twin Towers, the world’s tallest twin towers. 

A final stop in Malacca allows you to sample traditional Nyonya cuisine, such as laksa and cendol, before looping back to Singapore, sending off your Far East journey with a dip in the rooftop infinity pool at Marina Bay Sands or spotting nocturnal wildlife (think tigers, elephants and flying squirrels) aboard the zoo’s Night Safari tram.

The details
Singapore to Singapore
Duration: 14 nights
Departs: 23 December 2023
Cruiseline: Seabourn
Cost: $9342 per person
Book your trip with Qantas Cruises before 31 May 2023 to earn Triple Qantas Points. Call 1300 766 566 to book.