Ochre & Reef – Broome, Darwin & Cairns

About this cruise

A 18-night sailing gives you something shorter trips can't: the feeling that you're not just visiting places but actually living somewhere else for a while. This one leaves Fremantle on October 31, 2027 and visits Broome WA, Darwin and Cairns, with additional stops along the Australia & New Zealand. You wind up in Sydney, so it's worth planning a night or two there. You ease into this one, with a few sea days up front to find your rhythm before the 7 port calls start. Sydney Opera House one day, Milford Sound's fjords another. The Antipodes reward the long flight. Airlie Beach stands out. It's Gateway to the Whitsunday Islands. Around 8 hours per port on average, which is generous enough to go beyond the obvious. From casual buffets to proper sit-down restaurants, Grand Princess has 10 dining spots on board, most of them included. There are enough performances, events, and social mixers on a cruise this length that you couldn't do them all if you tried. And that's a good problem. The autumn timing is underrated too. Good weather, calmer seas, and a more relaxed ship. All in all, it's a solid trip.