CRUISE ships are being encouraged to anchor off the Gallipoli Peninsula in April 2015 so more Australians can be part of the 100th anniversary of the Anzac landing.

Crowds will be capped at 10,500 in two years' time, with a ballot determining who can attend.

But tour companies are planning to use ships to allow many more Australians to view the dawn service at Anzac Cove.

"I think that is a very clever response," Tim Evans from the Department of Veterans' Affairs told reporters at the site.

"It's that sort of ingenuity we support completely.

"I know of four definite cruise liner offerings and there may be others that I haven't caught up with."

Mr Evans said the ships - the size of Greek island ferries - would likely be kept around 2km off the coast due to shallow waters and Turkish coast guard restrictions.

The Australian government is assisting operators and will provide a free TV feed of the dawn service. Some ships will probably have their own commemorations at sea as well.

In 2005 HMAS Anzac was moored offshore and Mr Evans anticipates the Australian navy will again have a ship present in 2015 "as a mark of respect".

An announcement on the timing of the controversial ballot is expected within weeks.

Some 8000 Australians and 2000 New Zealanders should know if they've been successful by April 2014. They'll join 500 official guests in 2015.

The centenary crowd of 10,500 will be much larger than the past few years when around 6500 people have been at Gallipoli on Anzac Day.

Some estimates suggested 17,000 attended the 90th anniversary in 2005.

But Mr Evans argued that figure was inflated and was more likely to have been around 10,000. Exact numbers weren't recorded until 2006.

The 90th anniversary was marred by controversy over roadworks at Anzac Cove, the inappropriate playing of the Bee Gees hits Stayin' Alive and You Should be Dancing on big screens and pilgrims leaving the site covered in rubbish.

Some young Australians angered the RSL by lying on graves.

Mr Evans says every year since 2006 has been preparation for a solemn and safe event in 2015.

The first thing organisers did post-2005 was ban alcohol.

"We needed a more professional organisation of the service to ensure [the] security and safety of large crowds moving forward," Mr Evans said.

The general security in place since 2006 will remain the same for 2015. It includes airport-type security screening and bag searches on access roads.

Turkish military will patrol the scrub and there will be CCTV monitoring of the crowd for troublemakers.

The only difference in 2015 could be an increase in close personal protection for heads of state and any royals attending.

Infrastructure will be the same too, with grandstand seating for 5000 at both Anzac Cove and Lone Pine.

Organisers decided the 2015 service "should be no different from the services that came before or the services that came after," Mr Evans said.

"2015 is not a concert, it's a commemorative service.

"What will make it special is that it's commemorating the centenary."