Whether you’re departing or arriving in Brisbane, you’ll be surrounded by an offering of adventure and endless amounts of fun. Think sunshine, relaxation and a holiday the whole family will love! Things to see, do and experience on a Brisbane cruise
Brisbane rewards a bit of extra time before or after your sailing. Whether you're spending a day in port or bookending a longer cruise with a night or two in the city, there's plenty to fill the hours.

South Bank Parklands sits right across the river from the CBD, with its man-made beach, weekend markets and the Queensland Museum and Gallery of Modern Art within easy walking distance of each other. A CityCat ferry ride along the Brisbane River is one of the best ways to see the city, gliding past the Story Bridge and riverside parklands on your way to Newstead or New Farm. For a different perspective, the Mount Coot-tha lookout offers sweeping views back across the city skyline, particularly at sunset.

Exploring independently, Fortitude Valley and James Street are worth a wander for boutique shopping and street art, while the Brisbane Botanic Gardens make for an easy, shaded escape from the heat.

If you're cruising from Brisbane
If you're cruising from Brisbane, it's worth building in a day or two in the city before you sail. Wander along the Brisbane River on a CityCat ferry, spend a morning at South Bank's parklands and galleries, or grab brunch in Fortitude Valley, a short trip from the CBD, where you'll check in and board. Once you're underway, head up on deck to watch the ship sail down the Brisbane River, under the Gateway Bridge and out through Moreton Bay towards open water.

If you're cruising to Brisbane
Sailing into Brisbane gives you a scenic welcome to Queensland, as the ship makes its way through Moreton Bay and up the Brisbane River, passing under the Gateway Bridge before docking at Portside Wharf in Hamilton. From there, it's a short trip into the CBD to explore South Bank, the Queensland Museum or the laneways of Fortitude Valley, or you can extend your stay and use Brisbane as a base to explore the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast before or after your cruise.

Brisbane food and flavours to savour on your Brisbane cruise
A Brisbane cruise is also a good excuse to eat well, and the city's food scene has grown up fast in recent years.

Fortitude Valley and James Street are the heart of it, with everything from hatted restaurants to laneway wine bars within a few blocks of each other. Eat Street Northshore, a riverside night market built from shipping containers, is a fun, casual way to sample dumplings, tacos and local craft beer in one sitting. West End brings a more bohemian edge, with its mix of Vietnamese bakeries, vegan cafes and long-running institutions along Boundary Street. For fresh seafood, the Brisbane River itself supplies much of the mud crab and Moreton Bay bug on local menus, best enjoyed at one of the riverside restaurants around South Bank or Eagle Street Pier.

Coffee culture here leans relaxed rather than competitive, but you'll still find plenty of good local roasters in New Farm and Paddington. Carnival's onboard chefs also spotlight Queensland produce during Brisbane sailings, so the flavours of the river city travel with you well past Moreton Bay.