Cruise to Tasmania: a luxurious (and oh-so-easy) way to see Tassie

Everybody’s favourite island state plus Celebrity Eclipse® equals a bucket-list holiday you’ll never forget.

It’s a pity Tasmania goes with the name the Apple Isle when ‘Tasmania, the Pocket Rocket’ would be a much better fit. And why not? With its powder-white beaches, rocky granite peaks and lush forests, its dramatic landscape is as diverse as it is abundant with nature, wildlife and gourmet food and wine experiences.  With something for everyone, it’s the kind of place where you can pluck fresh oysters from the sea in the morning, hike snow-dusted mountains in the afternoon, and then settle in for a bounty of fresh produce under a canopy of stars.

The view of Hobart and the Derwent River from Mt Wellington.

There’s no point denying it; with its roaring fireplaces in winter and its seaside camping in summer, Tasmania is charming in every season, but there’s no better time to visit than that time of year when summer bids farewell and the riot of autumn leaves light up the island in a vista of burnt oranges, vibrant reds and sunny yellows.

Tasmania’s dramatic landscape is as diverse as it is abundant with nature.

How then do you immerse yourself in a bucket-list form of Tasmania where every whim and desire is catered for in an elegant way? You book an autumnal, luxury voyage to the island with Celebrity Cruises®, then unpack and relax. Your part is taken care of.

There’s no better time to visit than that time of year autumn leaves light up the island.

Cruising Tasmania

Road trips begone; there are a million different reasons to cruise Tasmania’s coast with Celebrity Cruises, a significant portion of them pointing to its carefully curated five-star, five-day itinerary on board the sumptuous Celebrity Eclipse.

Setting sail from Sydney in March 2023, the 5 Nights Tasmania cruise is a celebration of culinary delights, its shore experiences in Port Arthur and Hobart offering passengers a wide range of gourmet food and wine offerings as well as lashings of local nature and wildlife experiences.

Guests can enjoy lashings of local nature and wildlife experiences.

In Port Arthur, some of the opportunities Celebrity Eclipse guests have include an exclusive wine tasting at award-winning Bangor Vineyard, a panoramic tour of Tasmania Peninsula followed by a lavender farm tour and a sail along the picturesque coastline of Port Arthur and Eaglehawk.

In Hobart, which includes an action-packed overnight stay, experiences could mean a feast for all senses with a Small Group Discoveries: A Taste of Bruny Island tour, a walk around what has quickly become the country’s must-see museum with MONA Discovery, or a firm commitment to get your fill of the island state’s best wineries at the Historic Hobart, Countryside and Winery tour.

The 5 Nights Tasmania cruise sets sail from Sydney.

Why Celebrity Eclipse?

Before we get into the finer details of what other cruises Celebrity Eclipse offers, the question must be posed: why Celebrity Eclipse at all?

There’s the bells and whistles of its forward-thinking design; its spa-inspired AquaClass with exclusive dining at Blu and its exclusive sanctuary, TheRetreat® – a spacious, timeless accommodation complete with private restaurant dining and  24/7 lounge. Then there’s the culinary excellence onboard; globally inspired cuisine in a host of distinctive restaurants and menus crafted by Michelin chefs, such as a five-course menu designed by Celebrity Cruises’ Global Culinary Brand Ambassador, Chef Daniel Boulud. And yes, we could most certainly touch on the joy of observing endless ocean views from The Lawn Club, indulgent treatments for mind, body and spirit at The Spa and should you want to take your little ones along on the adventure, fun family activities at Camp at Sea.

Indulge in treatments for the mind, body and spirit at The Spa.

What we’re keen to touch on, however, is that difficult-to-define quality that rarely makes the headlines. In this case, it’s 30 years of unrivalled service executed in a way that isn’t stuffy or arrogant. Think of it like checking into The Ritz London, but then discovering the 24/7 butler is the equivalent of Keanu Reeves with a hotel management degree (and eons of experience to boot).

Celebrity Cruises is known for its spacious, timeless accommodation.

Choose your own adventure

In an article about the wonder of cruising Tasmania, it would be foolish not to push home the message that you and Tasmania belong together in autumn, both this year and next. But should you feel the need to enjoy the luxurious stylings of Celebrity Eclipse elsewhere, you also have the option of the following inspired itineraries:

You and Tasmania belong together in autumn.

A 12-Night New Zealand adventure departing Sydney in October 2022 and again in January 2023 before crossing the Tasman Sea and taking in the ‘top hits’ of both the North and South Island. The iconic splendour of Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound kick off the highlights reel filled with the historic castles and wildlife of Dunedin, a Middle Earth (and beyond) exploration of Christchurch and endangered animals at Wellington’s Zealandia. Solid tastings of Napier wines, geothermal mud baths at Tauranga and an America’s Cup Sailing Tour in Auckland complete this once-in-a-lifetime journey.

See the wildlife and wineries in Adelaide.

A 9-Night Australia Wine cruise departing Sydney in February 2023 and making its way down to Melbourne, Adelaide and Hobart before returning to the Emerald City. As with the 5-Night Tasmania itinerary, this is a cruise featuring shore expeditions that largely (and wholly) embrace the culinary delights each capital city has to offer. In Melbourne, guests can experience gourmet bucket list experiences such as the Small Group Discoveries: Iconic Sights and Tastes of Melbourne tour, and Gin, Wine and Chocolate in the Yarra Valley, while Adelaide offers (among others) a Taste of the Barossa tour and Adelaide Hills Winery and Historic Hahndorf. Hobart experiences are as above.

An 11-Night Great Barrier Reef itinerary departing Sydney in November 2022 and making the most of Queensland’s tropical north. Celebrity Eclipse guests can dive the waters of Port Douglas, hang out with the wildlife in Cairns, relax in Airlie Beach and discover bustling Brisbane. Shore excursions include a Daintree Rainforest and River Cruise, an overnight stay on the Great Barrier Reef, a scenic Fixed Wing Flight over Heart Reef, Reef and Rainforest Discovery by Helicopter and, in Brisbane, The Story of Indigenous Australians with Bush BBQ Lunch.

Shore excursions include an overnight stay on the Great Barrier Reef.

For a limited time only, you can enjoy 25 per cent off these unique holidays and up to $200 spending money while onboard. Drinks, wi-fi and service charges are Always Included. Book now at Celebrity Cruises.