Let’s start with the number that matters most: shared twin, from $3,239 per person for 15 days works out to roughly $215 per person, per day.
Sit with that for a moment. Where else can you find accommodation, three meals a day (plus round-the-clock room service), nightly entertainment, a full fitness centre, and passage across two countries – all for less than the average Australian spends on a decent dinner for two? A weekend at a mid-range coastal hotel will cost you more than that per night, and that’s before you’ve fed yourself, entertained yourself, or gone anywhere at all. This cruise doesn’t just deliver a holiday – it delivers extraordinary value for a genuinely comprehensive one.
Departing Sydney on 3 January 2027 aboard Holland America Line’s Noordam, this 15-day, 14-night voyage takes in some of the most spectacular coastline Australia and New Zealand have to offer, finishing in Auckland. And you can book it today with the delightful team from Travel at 60.
The itinerary is a genuinely thoughtful mix of iconic cities, quieter ports, and pure scenery-at-sea days that let you simply relax and watch the world go by:
Sydney — Departure day, with that unmistakable Harbour Bridge and Opera House skyline as your send-off
Days at sea — A gentle way to settle into ship life before your first port
Melbourne— Culture, laneways and world-class coffee
Days at sea
Hobart, Tasmania — Cool-climate charm, colonial history and superb produce
Days at sea
Milford Sound, New Zealand — One of the most photographed natural wonders on Earth
Cruising Fiordland National Park — A full day of scenic cruising through misty waterfalls and towering peaks, no excursion required — just find a deck chair
Port Chalmers (Dunedin), New Zealand — Historic Scottish heritage and rugged coastline
Lyttelton (Christchurch), New Zealand — Gateway to the Garden City
Picton, New Zealand — The charming entry point to the stunning Marlborough Sounds
Wellington, New Zealand — New Zealand’s compact, creative capital
Napier, New Zealand — Beautifully preserved Art Deco streetscapes, rebuilt after the 1931 earthquake
Tauranga (Rotorua), New Zealand — Gateway to Rotorua’s geothermal wonders
Auckland, New Zealand — Journey’s end, in New Zealand’s largest and liveliest city
The Fiordland cruising day is worth calling out on its own – this is the kind of experience that would cost a small fortune as a standalone tour, and here it’s simply part of your voyage, no shore excursion fee required.
Holland America Line has built its reputation on a particular kind of cruising – elegant without being stuffy, genuinely well-fed without excessive upselling, and pitched squarely at travellers who want to actually enjoy their days at sea rather than be herded between activities.
Dining is a real strength on the Noordam. The main Dining Room spans two decks and offers a proper sit-down, multi-course experience for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with menus that change nightly and rotate through regional and international flavours – think fresh seafood pulled straight from your current coastline, alongside old favourites like French onion soup and perfectly grilled salmon. If you’d rather keep things casual, the Lido Market buffet and Dive-In (serving up the ship’s much-loved burgers) are on hand any time you don’t feel like getting dressed up. And for those lazy mornings, breakfast in bed via complimentary 24-hour room service is one of cruising’s simplest, most underrated pleasures.
Entertainment runs the gamut from Broadway and Vegas-style production shows in the main show lounge, to live music from the ship’s house band and pop-up performers around the ship, to a lively casino for those feeling lucky. By day, there’s a genuine variety of onboard activities and a full fitness centre to help offset all that excellent dining.
Accommodation ranges from comfortable Inside Staterooms – twin beds convertible to a queen, with plush Euro-Top mattresses and premium massage showerheads – through to Ocean View and Verandah staterooms with private balconies, and full Signature Suites for those wanting extra space and a proper soak in a whirlpool bath. Whichever category you choose, the emphasis throughout is on comfort rather than gimmicks.
This is precisely the kind of holiday that rewards sharing – split the twin-share fare and you’re looking at genuinely remarkable value for 15 days that combine iconic cities, dramatic natural scenery, comprehensive dining, nightly entertainment and the simple, restorative pleasure of days at sea. Whether you’re marking a special occasion, travelling with a sibling or friend, or simply treating yourselves to the trip you’ve been promising each other for years, it’s hard to find better value for a holiday of this scope and quality.
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