Saltwater Cathedral – Cairns & Airlie Beach from Sydney

About this cruise

Long enough to properly switch off but not so long you need to reorganise your entire life. This 10-night round-trip sailing from Sydney on November 25, 2026 visits Airlie Beach, Yorkeys Knob, Port Douglas, Willis Island and Brisbane. The sea days come first, which means no rushing to get off the ship on day one. You hit the ports relaxed and ready. Flat whites in Melbourne, coral at the Great Barrier Reef, and fjords in New Zealand. Hard to pick a highlight. Don't rush through Brisbane, which is known as Sunshine State's laid-back river city. Roughly 8 hours ashore per stop. No need to rush. There are 11 restaurants on Royal Princess, so you'd need to double up a few evenings to try them all in 10 nights. With more nights comes more time for the ship's rhythm to kick in: morning coffee in the same spot, evening shows, late-night conversations on deck. Sydney itself is worth spending some time in. Don't just treat it as a departure point. And November is a good call. Still warm, less crowded, and usually cheaper too. All told, 5 ports across 10 nights covers a lot.