Top deals at sea: From mega discounts to complimentary extras

Located on the Iberian Peninsula, in south-western Europe, Portugal is a land of timeless architecture, ravishing rivers, colourful cities, and incredible food and wine. And Viking Cruises' 10-day Portugal's River of Gold journey is one delightful way to soak up all that grandeur. Kick off the adventure in Lisbon, where organised tours will take you to landmarks such as Jeronimos Monastery and Belem Tower, before visiting locations such as the wine town of Pinhao and Barca d'Alva, where a hilltop fortress awaits.

The cruise ends in Porto, where in addition to savouring city views, you can taste the port - the ruby-red fortified wine - which originated right in this city. And the best news? Not only does the cruise start from $6795 per person, which is incredible value, but book a 2025 or 2026 cruise before March 28, 2024, and the price will also include return economy flights. vikingrivercruises.com.au

If you've been meaning to book a cruise to Hawaii then drop everything and take note of three important things: (A) Norwegian Cruise Line is the only company offering itineraries in the region that visit four Hawaiian islands as part of seven-day voyages with overnight stops in Maui and Kaua'i. (B) It's offering some serious incentives right now: discounts of up to 50 per cent, along with free beverage, speciality dining and Wi-Fi packages, as well as a $200 onboard credit. (C) And this is the most important thing of them all: the promo expires on February 20 (that's just three days to go!). So grab a bargain while you can. ncl.com

Here's another excellent cruise deal that's about to expire within days. Whether you want to visit some of New Zealand's most stunning locations (think Milford Sound) or stick to our own shores and explore gorgeous islands off the coast of Queensland, you can save up to 75 per cent on the second guest when you book a Celebrity Cruises itinerary with Flight Centre. An onboard credit of $US100 ($153) is also part of the promo. But you'll have to be quick; the deal ends on February 21. flightcentre.com.au

New Year's Day may be a distant memory for many of us, but Oceania's exceptional New Year Sale is far from over. The cruise line is offering discounts of up to 50 per cent on select 2024 and 2025 sailings. Book the 15-day Dubai to Trieste cruise, departing May 14, 2024, from $4589 per person (a discount of 50 per cent) or - if you want a longer adventure - sign up for the 27-day Barcelona to Cape Town voyage, departing November 14, 2024, from $10,609 (a saving of 40 per cent). oceaniacruises.com

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Save up to $3300 per stateroom when you book Cruiseco's 21-day holiday in Australia and Asia. The package kicks off with an 18-day cruise aboard Azamara Pursuit, which will take you from Sydney to Singapore, via Bali. There will be several days at sea so you can soak up all the facets of the ship - from fine-dining restaurants and gleaming lounges with sweeping sea views to a state-of-the-art spa and Sunset Bar. But the most exciting part of the holiday is right at the end, where guests spend three days in Singapore at a premium hotel, with experiences such as an afternoon tea at the iconic Raffles hotel and entry to Gardens by the Bay. cruiseco.com.au

One of the greatest things about cruising is that it can take you to a number of stellar destinations without having to pack and unpack again and again. A case in point? Princess Cruises' 14-day roundtrip voyage to New Zealand from Sydney, which takes you to some of the greatest locations in the country, without the stress of flights, trains or buses. Enjoy the cosmopolitan vibe of cities such as Auckland and Wellington; a laidback atmosphere in Christchurch and Dunedin; and the bewitching natural beauty of locations such as Bay of Islands and Fiordland National Park. And the best news? If you book before February 20, you can enjoy reduced deposits and free upgrades. princess.com

A European river cruise between Nuremberg in Germany and Budapest in Hungary - with pit-stops along the way at historic towns - is the stuff of bucket lists. But it can also be prohibitively expensive on a luxury cruise line. Thanks to the current Scenic promotion, however, this once-in-a-lifetime journey along the Danube river is a tad more achievable. Book a 2024 cruise before the end of this month and you can score a discount of up to 38 per cent on this nine-night cruise, with prices starting from $4195 per person. As is always the case with Scenic, exceptional dining, beverages, excursions and butler service are all part of the all-inclusive itinerary. scenic.com.au

With soaring atriums, grand staircases, glamorous pools and luxurious suites, Cunard's iconic Queen Elizabeth is a destination unto itself. And one of the best ways to soak up its magnificence is the six-day Sydney return cruise to Hobart (in January 2025), which features two full days at sea. Enjoy exceptional stage shows at the Royal Court Theatre, treat your tastebuds to an afternoon tea in the Queens Room to the live soundtrack of a string trio, or hit the games deck for a round of bowling or croquet. Just don't forget to pack suitably for the ship's Gala Evening - guests are known to seriously dress up in their finest gowns and tuxedos for this most glamorous Hollywood-esque event at sea. And the best news: book the cruise now and you can enjoy all of that from just $1139 per person. cunard.com

Significant discounts on 2024 voyages are a dime a dozen, but luxury cruise line Ponant's just-launched promo is offering savings on three incredible 2025 itineraries in Europe - meaning you have plenty of time to get organised for your next big adventure. Save $1340 per person when you book the 15-night Antalya to Venice cruise, departing May 17, 2025, aboard L'Austral. Or - if you want to sign up for a longer cruise - you can save $3200 on the 29-night Lisbon to Antalya voyage, departing April 18, 2025, aboard the same ship. A 26-night Helsinki to Lisbon journey, departing August 13, 2025, aboard Ponant's explorer ship Le Laperouse is also part of the promo, with savings of $2560 per person. The discounted cruises went on sale early this week and will be available until sold out. au.ponant.com