Ochre & Saltwater – Kimberley, Darwin & Cairns

About this cruise

25 nights starts to feel like a proper adventure. You leave Melbourne on October 24, 2027 and the route takes you through Adelaide, Albany and Busselton, with additional stops along the Australia & New Zealand at a pace where there's never any need to rush. You finish in Sydney. You do all the exploring first, then the last few days are at sea. It's like a built-in wind-down. Sydney Opera House one day, Milford Sound's fjords another. The Antipodes reward the long flight. Albany alone is worth the trip, Western Australia's rugged southern harbour. Around 9 hours per port on average, which is generous enough to go beyond the obvious. Grand Princess keeps you well fed. 10 places to eat, with 6 included in the fare and a few specialty spots if you're in the mood. 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. This one's for people who really want to switch off. No half measures. Block out the calendar. If you can, add a night in Melbourne before boarding. It's a good city to wander. The autumn timing is underrated too. Good weather, calmer seas, and a more relaxed ship. Worth booking. That's the short version.