Carnival Encounter - 5/18/2026
The May 18, 2026 cruise on the Carnival Encounter departs from Brisbane, Australia. On this 12 Night Fiji & South Pacific (Brisbane Roundtrip) sailing, the ship will visit a total of 6 cruise port destinations, including its departure port. The Carnival Encounter sets sail on Monday, May 18th and returns on Saturday, May 30th.
Cruise Pricing
The graph below tracks historic price of the Carnival Encounter cruise ship departing May 18, 2026. The most recent price for this sailing starts at $1,145 ($96 per night) for an Inside Cabin. Compared to the average price of $1,153 ($97 per night), this represents a recent decrease of 1%.
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Cruise Itinerary
Itinerary
Carnival Encounter - May 18, 2026 - 12 Nights
| Day | Date | Port |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 18th | Brisbane, Australia |
| 2 | May 19th | At Sea |
| 3 | May 20th | At Sea |
| 4 | May 21st | Mystery Island, Vanuatu |
| 5 | May 22nd | At Sea |
| 6 | May 23rd | Lautoka, Fiji Islands |
| 7 | May 24th | Dravuni Island, Fiji |
| 8 | May 25th | At Sea |
| 9 | May 26th | Port Vila, Efate, Vanuatu |
| 10 | May 27th | Lifou Isle, New Caledonia |
| 11 | May 28th | At Sea |
| 12 | May 29th | At Sea |
| 13 | May 30th | Brisbane, Australia |
The Carnival Encounter sails on May 18, 2026 for a 12 Night Fiji & South Pacific (Brisbane Roundtrip). The ship will depart the port of Brisbane, Australia at 3:00 PM and will return to the port of Brisbane, Australia on May 30th at 7:00 AM. During the 13-day journey, the Carnival Encounter will visit 5 additional ports and will spend 6 days at sea.
Itinerary Safety Score
Based on my comprehensive research of cruise port safety information, including recent crime reports, travel advisories, Global Peace Index rankings, and specific port security concerns, we've created a "safety score" for each cruise port stop. The overall rating below represents a combined score for your specific cruise itinerary.
Cruise Ship
Carnival Encounter
CARNIVAL ENCOUNTER SIZE
The Encounter has a construction date of 2002 and a total size of 109,000 gross tons. The ship measures 951 feet (290 meters) in length. Carnival Encounter is included in Carnival’s Grand Class. At full capacity, the Carnival Encounter holds 3,700 passengers. That includes 2,600 cruise vacationers and 1,100 staff members. The Encounter total number of staterooms is 1,300.
Carnival Encounter Size & Stats
- Gross Tonnage:109,000 GT
- Length:951 ft (290 m)
- Beam:118 ft (36 m)
- Draft:26 ft (8 m)
- Max Speed:26 mph (23 kn)
- Year Built:2002
- Years Served:2002 - Present
- Capacity:2,600
- Crew Members:1,100
- Total on Board:3,700
- Total Staterooms:1,300
- Flagged Country:Bahamas
- Ship Cost:425 Million
- Status:active
To see how this compares, click through to see Carnival Encounter age and stats vs all Carnival ships. There you’ll find graphs showing length, capacity, tonnage and more for this ship vs all in the fleet.
To check out the ship from top to bottom, click here for Carnival Encounter Deck Plans.
Cruise Ports
Brisbane, Australia, offers docking at Portside Wharf. Travelers explore South Bank and Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Excursions visit Gold Coast beaches. Local markets sell lamingtons. The peak season, December to February, brings warm weather for coastal tours. Photography captures urban rivers and Pacific vistas. Dining onboard includes barramundi, an Australian favorite. Souvenirs, like Aboriginal crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Yuggera history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the subtropical climate, while comfortable shoes enhance city walks. Brisbane’s urban charm offers a vibrant Australian stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of cultural landmarks and scenic rivers, making Brisbane an engaging destination for exploration. (126 words)
Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!
Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!
Mystery Island, Vanuatu, offers docking with tenders to shore. Travelers explore coral beaches and traditional villages. Excursions include snorkeling at coral reefs. Local markets sell laplap. The peak season, September to March, brings warm weather for island tours. Photography captures turquoise waters and Pacific vistas. Dining onboard includes coconut crab, a Ni-Vanuatu favorite. Souvenirs, like shell crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Melanesian history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the tropical climate, while water shoes enhance reef exploration. Mystery Island’s tropical charm offers a vibrant Vanuatu stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of pristine beaches and marine adventures, making Mystery Island an engaging destination for exploration. (126 words)
Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!
Lautoka, Fiji, has docking at Lautoka Port. Travelers explore sugar cane fields and Nadi’s markets. Excursions visit Sabeto Hot Springs. Local markets sell kava. The peak season, May to October, brings dry weather. Photography captures coral reefs and tropical vistas. Dining onboard includes lovo, a Fijian earth-oven dish. Souvenirs, like tapa cloth, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Fijian culture. Light clothing and sun protection suit the tropical climate. Snorkeling gear enhances reef exploration. Lautoka’s tropical charm offers a vibrant Fijian stop, blending culture with island beauty.
Dravuni Island, Fiji, has no docking; ships anchor offshore with zodiacs to white-sand beaches. Travelers snorkel coral reefs with tropical fish. Excursions explore village kava ceremonies. No facilities exist; provisions are ship-based. The peak season, May to October, brings dry weather. Photography captures turquoise lagoons. Dining onboard includes lovo. Souvenirs, like tapa cloth, are available in ship shops. Briefings cover Fijian culture. Sun protection is essential. Dravuni’s idyllic shores offer a serene South Pacific escape.
Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!
Port Vila, Efate, Vanuatu, offers docking at Port Vila Port. Travelers explore Mele Cascades and Iririki Island. Excursions include snorkeling at Hideaway Island. Local markets sell laplap. The peak season, September to March, brings warm weather for coastal tours. Photography captures waterfalls and Pacific vistas. Dining onboard includes coconut crab, a Ni-Vanuatu favorite. Souvenirs, like shell crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Melanesian history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the tropical climate, while water shoes enhance reef exploration. Port Vila’s tropical charm offers a vibrant Vanuatu stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of natural waterfalls and marine adventures, making Port Vila an engaging destination for exploration. (126 words)
Lifou Isle, New Caledonia, has docking at Easo Port. Travelers explore Jokin Cliffs and Notre-Dame de Lourdes. Excursions snorkel Jinek Bay’s reefs. Local markets sell vanilla. The peak season, May to October, brings dry weather. Photography captures coral reefs and limestone cliffs. Dining onboard includes bougna, a Kanak dish. Souvenirs, like shell crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Melanesian culture. Light clothing and sun protection suit the tropical climate. Snorkeling gear enhances reef exploration. Lifou’s pristine beauty offers a serene New Caledonian stop, blending marine life with island charm.
Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!
Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!
Brisbane, Australia, offers docking at Portside Wharf. Travelers explore South Bank and Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Excursions visit Gold Coast beaches. Local markets sell lamingtons. The peak season, December to February, brings warm weather for coastal tours. Photography captures urban rivers and Pacific vistas. Dining onboard includes barramundi, an Australian favorite. Souvenirs, like Aboriginal crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Yuggera history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the subtropical climate, while comfortable shoes enhance city walks. Brisbane’s urban charm offers a vibrant Australian stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of cultural landmarks and scenic rivers, making Brisbane an engaging destination for exploration. (126 words)