How to Travel by Sea from NZ to Europe: The Ultimate Guide to World Cruises & Grand Journeys
For many Kiwis, the thought of enduring a 30-hour cattle-class flight to the other side of the world is enough to put them off a holiday to Europe entirely. But what if you could swap the cramped airplane seats, jet lag, and airport security queues for a private cabin, fine dining, and ever-changing ocean views?
While the golden age of routine, point-to-point ocean liners is a thing of the past, travelling by sea from New Zealand or Australia to Europe is still entirely possible.
By leveraging the cruise industry’s best-kept secret—World Cruise Sectors and Grand Journeys—you can sail all the way to the Mediterranean or the UK. Here is exactly how to trade the runway for the open ocean, how the routes work, and how to book it using our local Kiwi dollar pricing.
The Reality Check: Can You Book a "Ferry" from NZ or Australia to Europe?
The short answer is No. There are no regular commercial passenger ferries or direct liner transits running point-to-point between Auckland and Europe.
Instead, modern sea travel across hemispheres relies on international cruise ships. When these ships embark on their annual 100+ night global voyages, cruise lines don’t just sell tickets to people doing the entire loop. They split the voyage into individual, one-way segments known as World Cruise Sectors or Grand Journeys
This means you can book a dedicated one-way ticket that boards locally in Auckland or Sydney and terminates in European ports like Rome, Barcelona, or Southampton.
What's available on a World Cruise?
Choice of Rooms
Choose from great value interior rooms, or go for a Balcony or Suite to lock in your own private outdoor space
Princess Cruises Balcony Room
Fabulous Food
You certainly won't go hungry on your World Cruise or Grand Journey, with a great choice of dining venues and food choices on offer
Food from International Dining Room
Entertainment
Don't worry about staying entertained, there will be a great choice of theatre shows, live music, comedy acts and enrichment programs to keep you busy, if you want to
Live Theatre Show
Health & Wellness
Plenty of opportunity to keep up your fitness routine, or maybe start a new keep fit habit with fantastic onboard gyms, classes and leisure facilities
Oceania Fitness Centre R Class Ship
Spa & Beauty
Optional Spa & Beauty treatments are available onboard, together with Hair Salons and Barber shops so you can ensure you stay looking your best for the whole world trip
Onboard Spa
Shore Excursions
Your Ship will offer a comprehensive list of optional shore excursions, or you can do your own thing at each stop, depending on how you like to travel and explore
Fred Olsen Guests ashore in Cadiz
The 3 Main Sea Routes from the Southern Hemisphere to Europe
When booking passage to Europe, your journey will generally follow one of three primary maritime routes, depending on the cruise line and global shipping conditions:
The Trans-Pacific Panama Canal Route to Europe
Allow 35-50 Days
What You'll See: Island hopping the old coral route across the South Pacific to the USA then transit the wonders of the Panama Canal in to the Caribbean, connecting to an onward Transatlantic leg.
Best For: Sun-seekers who love tropical islands and those who want to experience the man-made wonders of the Panama Canal
The Cape of Good Hope route via Africa to Europe
Allow 70-80 Days
What You'll See: Crossing the Indian Ocean via Mauritius, rounding South Africa, and heading up West Africa, often via Cape Verde islands and the Canary Islands to Europe
Best For: Those looking for a classic blue-water ocean voyage with incredible wildlife stops and lots of sea days for relaxation. Some journeys can include a number of Asia stops plus India & Sri Lanka
The Suez Canal / Asia Route
Allow 90-120 Days
What You'll See: Australia, Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean.
Best For: Travellers who want a highly cultural, multi-stop itinerary with rich history.
How to Book a One-Way Sea Journey from New Zealand or Australia to Europe
Because booking a multi-month, one-way international voyage requires complex ticketing and coordination for your return journey, it’s best to use Cruise Deals NZ as we price directly in New Zealand Dollars (NZD).
The most efficient way to browse these itineraries is via the dedicated Cruise Deals NZ World Cruises & Grand Journeys landing page. When searching, keep an eye out for these specific voyage types which are popular with Kiwis:
If your main goal is to avoid international airports entirely on the way out, look for No-Fly Princess Cruises. These itineraries depart directly from ports like Auckland or Sydney. You simply step on board down the road from home and don't have to think about a flight until you land in Europe months later.
2. MSC Grand Voyages & World Cruise Sectors
For incredible value on intercontinental legs, MSC Cruises offers massive "Grand Voyages". These are repositioning cruises used to relocate ships between hemispheres as the seasons change. They offer a fantastic ratio of relaxing sea days to port stops and are exceptionally budget-friendly when priced in NZD.
3. Premium Grand Journeys (Azamara & Oceania)
If you want to turn the transit into an ultra-luxury experience, lines like Azamara and Oceania Cruises offer extended Grand Voyages over 35 nights. Azamara packages typically bundle premium drinks, Wi-Fi, air credits and shore excursion credits into the fare, making it a seamless, stress-free way to travel.
💰 The Unexpected Financial Benefit
Sailing from NZ or Australia to Europe is obviously a significant time investment, but it is surprisingly cost-effective when you look at the big picture.
Many retired or long-term Kiwi travelers use these extended voyages as a smart way to save on winter power bills and soaring grocery costs back home. When your accommodation, entertainment, transport, and three world-class meals a day are completely covered in your cruise fare, your daily cost of living can actually drop compared to staying at home during a New Zealand winter.
Essential Tips for Kiwi Sea Travellers
- Unlike airlines that strictly enforce a 23kg limit, cruise ships are incredibly generous with luggage. This is perfect if you plan on packing formal wear for the ship and seasonal layers for a long stay in Europe. Just remember, if you are going to fly back then you will need to take the airline allowance in to account
Remember that these are one-way itineraries. You will need to coordinate a flight back to New Zealand. Booking through one of our cruise specialists allows you to bundle Fly/Cruise packages so your flights and post-cruise transfers are handled under a single booking.
- Sailing through dozens of countries means navigating complex visa rules. Always cross-reference your itinerary with resources like Sherpa and register your travel plans via the MFAT SafeTravel portal before departing.
When you are considering an extended World Cruise or Grand Journey, you need to think about Travel Insurance, both for pre-departure cancellation cover and also for while you are away. This is an important part of your travel planning and as Cruise Deals like to Save you money, we offer a generous 10% online discount on all our cruise travel policies. Click here for a free online quote
Ready to Plan your World Cruise Escape?
If you have the time, trading a grueling long-haul flight for a grand maritime adventure is the ultimate way to see the world. To browse live World Cruises, Grand Journeys, Inter-continental re-positioning cruises, check deck plans, or speak to a local cruise specialist, head directly to our Cruise Deals NZ Finder below and start mapping out your slow journey to Europe.
Why Book with Cruise Deals?
NZD pricing: We’ll quote your World Cruise or Grand Journey in New Zealand dollars.
Cruise specialists: Our team can help you compare itineraries, ships and cabin options.
Personal advice: Not sure which World cruise or Grand Journey is right for you? Ask our team.
Fly & cruise options: We can help you look at flights and other travel arrangements around your cruise.
Cruise deals & offers: We’ll check the latest available NZD fares and promotions for your sailing.