1-800-774-6237
Manage booking
Booking Details Check In Make a payment Cruise Packages Shore Excursions Spa Flight & Transfers Vacation Protection Plan
My Account | Saved | Log out
Find a Cruise
Aerial view of Newcastle, Australia showing residential neighborhoods, green parkland and cargo ships moving through a wide blue harbor.

Newcastle, Australia

Cruises to Newcastle, Australia

View cruises

Things to do in Newcastle

Newcastle, Australia — not to be confused with its more overcast UK cousin — is where convict history, coal industry roots and a thumping food-and-drink scene all live in unexpected harmony. This east coast gem delivers historic grit with a sea breeze, surf breaks next to cathedrals and wine-country day trips that are somehow both chill and fabulous. From beaches to battlements to buttery Hunter Valley reds, Newcastle cruises don’t hold back.

Explore things to do in Newcastle
01 / 04
  • Close-up of a red spanner crab on a cutting board with hands preparing to open the claw.

    Sink your teeth into the local cuisine: spanner crab doughnuts and beachside banh mi (absolutely worth the hype).

  • A green coastal defense cannon set in a circular concrete fortification at Fort Scratchley, overlooking the water and city skyline in Newcastle, Australia.

    Explore convict-era relics and wartime strongholds, including the only Australian fort to fire back at an enemy ship (dedication).

  • Soft golden light over smooth sand dunes at sunset with gentle ripples in the foreground.

    Discover the wild beauty of Stockton Beach’s dune fields or the dolphin-filled waters of Port Stephens.

  • Tall chilled beer glass on a marble table, light foam at the top, with another beer in the background.

    Dive into coastal culture: museums, harbor districts, craft beer and booming street art scene.

01 / 04

Shore excursions to explore in Newcastle

From quad bikes on dunes to seafood on foot, these curated excursions deliver the best that Newcastle has to offer. Whether you’re a wine snob, a sand addict or someone who just really likes dolphins, there’s something here with your name on it.

01 / 06
  • Historic Customs House building in Newcastle with a tall clock tower, arched façade, green lawn and a flowering tree in front, under a clear blue sky.

    Best of Newcastle

    Take a time-warp through Newcastle’s convict-era streets, from the Lock Up to Customs House and beyond. You’ll swing past coastal icons like Christ Church Cathedral and the Ocean Baths before stepping into Fort Scratchley — the only Aussie fort to clap back during WWII. Wrap it up with free time at the Newcastle Museum.

    Learn more
  • Wide sandy beach with small waves rolling in, a green headland in the distance and clear blue sky overhead at Nelson Bay.

    Port Stephens Dolphin Watching Cruise

    This one's part nature tour, part splash zone. Set sail from Nelson Bay into the Dolphin Capital of Eastern Australia, where 165+ bottlenose dolphins might just photobomb your selfie. The real kicker? A waterslide and boom net for those who want to end the cruise soaked and grinning. Afterward, stick around the harbor for waterfront bites, quirky shops or just a recharge in the sun.

    Learn more
  • Sweeping sand dunes with rippled patterns in warm sunlight, a lone person standing on a distant ridge against a deep blue sky.

    Quad Bike Sand Dune Adventure

    Mount up and roll out — these aren’t your backyard sandboxes. You’ll conquer the mighty Worimi Sand Dunes (the tallest in the Southern Hemisphere) on a quad bike built for all thrill levels. It’s part adrenaline rush, part cultural insight as guides share the land’s story. Don’t forget to bring the essentials: enclosed shoes, shades and a strong grip.

    Learn more
  • Long straight path running through lush green vineyard rows with a mountain range in the distance under a bright blue sky.

    Hunter Valley Food & Wine Trail

    This is what the phrase “treat yourself” was made for. Wander the rolling vineyards of Hunter Valley, one of Australia's most award-dripping wine regions, sipping your way through chardonnay, shiraz and whatever else they hand you. You’ll also snack on local cheese, chocolates and brews, then enjoy a long lunch with vineyard views that may or may not cause spontaneous sighing. Gourmet hedonism at its most abundant.

    Learn more
  • Nobbys Lighthouse perched on a rocky headland, with waves rolling onto a sandy beach and a long walkway leading toward the lighthouse.

    Coastal Discovery Tour

    Climb aboard a small-group vessel for a maritime-meets-nature deep dive. Cruise out into the Pacific, past rugged cliffs and dramatic headlands. Expect tales of shipwrecks, seabirds and salt air, with seasonal dolphins or whales as possible bonus guests. It’s the kind of boat ride where history and scenery high-five and do a little dance.

    Learn more
  • Scallops in their shells topped with shredded cheese sizzling on a grill, with melted cheese bubbling around the edges.

    Eat Newy - Newcastle Walking Food Tour

    Who needs a ride when you’ve got bites? This guided food crawl delivers a nonstop lineup of Newcastle flavor: golden crab doughnuts, local oysters, fancy scallops and beer-paired desserts (yep, that’s a thing). You’ll eat, learn, laugh and gelato your way through the streets, laneways and culinary oddities of a city that swapped steel mills for street eats — and never looked back. Bring your appetite (and maybe some stretchy pants).

    Learn more
01 / 06
Discover all shore excursions

Explore itineraries with cruises to Newcastle

Newcastle’s terminal is primed for easy access to the action, which is a big perk for cruisers who don’t love long transfers. The city center is nearby, the local infrastructure is legit and harbor precincts like Honeysuckle serve up food, art and sea breezes all in one go. Add in dolphin day trips, wine valley escapes and architectural eye candy, and you’ve got a serious contender for underdog favorite of New Zealand cruise itineraries.

01 / 06

4-Day Hunter Coast Seacation

View cruise

6-Day Southern Australia Explorer

View cruise

26-Day Round Australia

View cruise

Discover Newcastle on your next cruise

Newcastle delivers in all the right (and some of the unexpected) places. Coal history is baked into the streets, convict-built landmarks hold their ground and the coastline that looks like it was made to be photographed. Add some art, surf, wine and wild adventure tours, and you have a port that’s hard to categorize. Princess Cruises brings it all into reach with excursions that go deep and a ship that’s always waiting with dessert.

Cruises to Newcastle
Newcastle Town Hall with its tall clocktower viewed from a garden in Civic Park, surrounded by lawns, trees and city buildings under a partly cloudy sky.

Stroll through Civic Park and take in the stately clocktower of Newcastle Town Hall rising above the gardens.

View of Bar Beach with clear turquoise waves, pale golden sand and coastal houses on low hills under a bright blue sky.

Soak up the coastal calm at Bar Beach, where golden sand meets rolling surf.

A smiling couple stands at the railing of a Princess® cruise ship, enjoying the open sea and blue sky.

A couple stands together on the wooden deck of a Princess® cruise ship, gazing out at the open sea beneath a bright blue sky dotted with clouds.

Front-facing view of a Princess® cruise ship sailing through calm ocean waters.

Cut through the world’s waterways and experience the planet’s most exciting coastlines from a sea-side perspective; our fleet is your luxury-and-entertainment-packed transport to adventure.

Discover our ships

Step aboard any Princess® ship and discover your new favorite way to travel. Each vessel is a floating playground of flavor, comfort and top-deck experiences. Enjoy freshly prepared local dishes, Broadway-caliber entertainment, oceanview fitness and wellness studios, family programming and beds so comfortable they’ve won awards. 


No two ships are identical, but they all share one mission: turn your vacation into a standing ovation.

Explore ships visiting this port

Cruises to Newcastle FAQs

*The port location is subject to change. Please check itinerary details after you book for more information.

Let Princess get you there with travel, airfare & hotels

01 / 03
  • Princess EZair

    Princess EZAir® Flights

    Remove the hassle from air travel and give yourself the gift of flexibility, time, and a thicker wallet with Princess EZair® flights. We negotiate lower rates with the airline, allow you to book early and pay later with no penalty, and protect you if your flight is late or canceled. Princess EZair flight quotes are available on our cruise search result details pages. Please note: Princess EZair® is only available in certain markets.

    Learn more about Princess EZAir
  • airplane to ship transfer

    Airplane to Ship Transfer

    Let Princess pick you up from the airport and take you directly to your ship or hotel when you arrive, even if you didn't book your airfare through us. A uniformed Princess representative meets you at the airport after you've retrieved your luggage and transports you directly to your ship or hotel without you having to worry about the logistics of navigating a new city.

    Learn more about transfers
  • Cruise Plus hotel packages

    Cruise Plus Hotel Packages

    Extend your cruise vacation and simplify your travel plans with a hotel stay at the beginning or end of your cruise. With a Cruise Plus Hotel Package, a Princess representative meets you at the airport and pier, transporting you to and from your hotel. The package includes the cost of your hotel stay, transportation, luggage handling and the representative’s services.

    View Cruise Plus Hotel Packages
01 / 03

Cruise deals and promotions

Find our top sales, deals, partnerships and promotions for our destinations all in one place. We run promotions throughout the year and sometimes run sweepstakes where you can win prizes.

View all deals and promotions
Aerial view of a large cruise ship's top deck, featuring multiple pool areas, lounge chairs, and glass-domed structures, sailing through deep blue ocean waters.

Escape to the open sea with Princess Cruises.

A couple stands together on the deck of a cruise ship, smiling as they enjoy the ocean view under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.

A couple stands together on the wooden deck of a Princess® cruise ship, gazing out at the open sea beneath a bright blue sky dotted with clouds.

You may also like

Sydney view

Australia Cruises

Explore the South Pacific with Princess’s Australia Cruises. Experience vibrant cities, unique wildlife and unforgettable adventures.

LEARN MORE
A mountain range is reflected in a body of water, surrounded by lush greenery and a soft pink sky.

New Zealand Cruises: Auckland & More

See why you should cruise New Zealand / Aotearoa with Princess. Find everything you need to know, from cruise options, onboard experiences, videos and more.

LEARN MORE
Melbourne Cruises

Melbourne Travel Tips For Cruiser

Want to blend in like a local on your Australia cruise? These 10 Melbourne travel tips from Princess Cruises will help you experience the best of this iconic Australian city as only a local would.

LEARN MORE
01 / 06