New Spirit of Tasmania ships welcome families and pets

Families planning a Tasmanian holiday will soon have more options for travelling across Bass Strait, with Spirit of Tasmania launching new vessels.  

From 10am on Wednesday 16 September 2026, passengers will be able to book expanded accommodation options aboard Spirit of Tasmania IV and Spirit of Tasmania V, with bookings available up to 12 months ahead. 

The new ships are due to begin passenger sailings on 31 October 2026, adding much-needed capacity as Tasmania continues to welcome record visitor numbers. The state attracted 1.4 million visitors in the year to March 2026, its highest figure on record. 

The vessels will carry 470 more passengers per sailing than the current ships and have 301 cabins, including accessible options. Vehicle capacity has also increased, with more than three times the space for caravans, which is good news for families planning a Tassie road trip (or Tasmanians heading to the mainland!). 

Bring the whole family – pets included!

One of the biggest changes will be the introduction of dedicated pet-friendly cabins, allowing passengers to travel with up to two pets and stay together during the Bass Strait crossing. 

The new ships will also offer family cabins sleeping up to six guests, deluxe cabins and premium business recliners, giving travellers more choice when booking their journey. 

The ships have been designed to showcase Tasmania, with locally sourced materials, artwork and food featured throughout. Families can explore the Tasmanian Market Kitchen, with five food stalls serving different cuisines and fresh Tasmanian produce. Other new spaces include the Mersey Café and Bar, Maatsuyker Bar, Cradle Lounge and Huon Lounge, which will host Tasmanian producers and makers as part of the Tassie Showcase program. 

The ships showcase sustainably recovered Celery Top Pine, supplied by Tasmanian company Hydrowood, as well as Huon Pine and Tasmanian Oak. 

With more passengers, cabins, vehicle space and pet-friendly options, Spirit of Tasmania IV and V are set to make travelling to Tasmania easier for families, road-trippers and pet owners when they begin passenger services this October. 

This article is a Holidays with Kids digital exclusive.

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