Carnival Encounter itinerary map for July 18, 2026
Carnival Encounter
Carnival Encounter
July 18, 2026
8 Night Vanuatu & New Caledonia

Carnival Encounter July 18, 2026

The Carnival Encounter July 18, 2026 cruise departs from Brisbane, Australia. On this 8 Night Vanuatu & New Caledonia (Brisbane Roundtrip) sailing, the Carnival Encounter will visit a total of 4 cruise port destinations, including its departure port. The ship sets sail on Saturday, Jul 18th and returns on Sunday, Jul 26th, 2026.

Cruise Length
8
Night Cruise
Departure Port
Brisbane
Australia
Port Stops
4
Sea Days
4
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Cruise Price

Carnival Encounter · July 18, 2026

The graph below tracks historic price of the Carnival Encounter cruise ship departing July 18, 2026. The most recent price for this sailing starts at $869 ($109 per night) for an Inside Cabin. Compared to the average price of $761 ($96 per night), this represents a recent increase of 14%.

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inside cabin
$869
14% vs avg: $761
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Inside Cabin
$869
14% vs avg $761
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Oceanview Cabin
$943
14% vs avg $825
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🌅
Balcony Cabin
$1,170
10% vs avg $1,065
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👑
Suite Cabin
$1,817
2% vs avg $1,846
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Cruise Itinerary Map

Carnival Encounter · July 18, 2026

The Carnival Encounter sails on July 18, 2026 for a 8 Night Vanuatu & New Caledonia (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 Jul 26th at 7:00 AM. During the 9-day journey, the Carnival Encounter will visit 3 additional ports and will spend 4 days at sea.

Cruise itinerary route

8 Night Vanuatu & New Caledonia (Brisbane Roundtrip)

  • JUL18
    Brisbane, Australia
    Brisbane, Australia
    A: — - D: 3:00 PM
  • JUL19
    At Sea
    At Sea
    A: — - D: —
  • JUL20
    At Sea
    At Sea
    A: — - D: —
  • JUL21
    Lifou Isle, New Caledonia
    Lifou Isle, New Caledonia
    A: 8:00 AM - D: 5:00 PM
  • JUL22
    Mystery Island, Vanuatu
    Mystery Island, Vanuatu
    A: 8:00 AM - D: 5:00 PM
  • JUL23
    Noumea, New Caledonia
    Noumea, New Caledonia
    A: 8:00 AM - D: 5:00 PM
  • JUL24
    At Sea
    At Sea
    A: — - D: —
  • JUL25
    At Sea
    At Sea
    A: — - D: —
  • JUL26
    Brisbane, Australia
    Brisbane, Australia
    A: 7:00 AM - D: —
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Cruise Ports

July 18, 2026 · 8 Night Vanuatu & New Caledonia (Brisbane Roundtrip)

Brisbane, Australia
Day 1•Saturday, Jul 18

Brisbane, Australia

Arrival: —•Departure: 3:00 PM

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.

Port Info LinkPort Excursions Link
At Sea
Day 2•Sunday, Jul 19

At Sea

Arrival: 12:00 AM•Departure: 11:59 PM

Enjoy onboard activities and ocean views during this sea day.

At Sea
Day 3•Monday, Jul 20

At Sea

Arrival: 12:00 AM•Departure: 11:59 PM

Enjoy onboard activities and ocean views during this sea day.

Lifou Isle, New Caledonia
Day 4•Tuesday, Jul 21

Lifou Isle, New Caledonia

Arrival: 8:00 AM•Departure: 5:00 PM

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.

Port Info LinkPort Excursions Link
Mystery Island, Vanuatu
Day 5•Wednesday, Jul 22

Mystery Island, Vanuatu

Arrival: 8:00 AM•Departure: 5:00 PM

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.

Port Info LinkPort Excursions Link
Noumea, New Caledonia
Day 6•Thursday, Jul 23

Noumea, New Caledonia

Arrival: 8:00 AM•Departure: 5:00 PM

Nouméa, New Caledonia, offers docking at Nouméa Port. Travelers explore Place des Cocotiers and Tjibaou Cultural Centre. Excursions include snorkeling at Amédée Lighthouse. Local markets sell bougna. The peak season, September to March, brings warm weather for coastal tours. Photography captures coral reefs and Pacific vistas. Dining onboard includes poisson cru, a New Caledonian favorite. Souvenirs, like shell crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Kanak history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the tropical climate, while water shoes enhance reef exploration. Nouméa’s coastal charm offers a vibrant stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of cultural heritage and marine beauty, making Nouméa an engaging destination.

Port Info LinkPort Excursions Link
At Sea
Day 7•Friday, Jul 24

At Sea

Arrival: 12:00 AM•Departure: 11:59 PM

Enjoy onboard activities and ocean views during this sea day.

At Sea
Day 8•Saturday, Jul 25

At Sea

Arrival: 12:00 AM•Departure: 11:59 PM

Enjoy onboard activities and ocean views during this sea day.

Brisbane, Australia
Day 9•Sunday, Jul 26

Brisbane, Australia

Arrival: 7:00 AM•Departure: —

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.

Port Info LinkPort Excursions Link

Weather Forecast

Carnival Encounter - July 18, 2026 Weather Forecast

Average monthly weather for your cruise ports

Brisbane, Australia

🌤️

July

Typical Weather

79°F

Average High

42°F

Average Low

Rainfall

0.05in

Daily average

1.5 in monthly total

Shore Excursions

Explore the most popular excursion options at each port.

From beach breaks and snorkeling to local food tours and cultural landmarks, these shore excursions help you make the most of every stop. Browse by port below to compare top-rated options and plan your day before you board.

See all Brisbane Shore Tours

Itinerary Safety Score

Based on 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.

Itinerary Safety Rank
79 / 100
safer than 79% of all cruises
79
8
/ 10
Brisbane, Australia
Brisbane
Brisbane is a safe cruise port, but travelers should stay vigilant against petty theft and secure their belongings.
8
/ 10
Lifou Isle, New Caledonia
Lifou Isle
Lifou Isle is a safe cruise destination with low crime rates, though travelers should remain mindful of local customs to avoid petty theft.
8
/ 10
Mystery Island, Vanuatu
Mystery Island
Mystery Island in Vanuatu is a secure cruise destination where travelers should remain vigilant of their surroundings and environmental conditions.
7
/ 10
Noumea, New Caledonia
Noumea
Noumea is generally safe for cruise travelers, but they should remain vigilant against petty theft and stay informed about local conditions.

Cruise Ship

Carnival Encounter

⚓ Tonnage

109,000

vs avg 121,145

🛠️ Year Built

2,002

vs avg 2,009

📏 Length (ft)

951

vs avg 992

👥 Passenger Count

2,600

vs avg 4,158

The Encounter has a construction date of 2002 and a total size of 109,000 gross tons. The ship measures 951 feet in length. Carnival Encounter is included in Carnival’s Grand class. At full capacity, the Carnival Encounter holds 2,600 passengers. That includes 1,500 cruise vacationers and 1,100 staff members. The Encounter total number of staterooms is 1,300.

Click above for more Carnival Encounter stats, tips, imagery, and more.

  • 📊Size comparison chart against other ships
  • 🍸Bars, restaurants, and venue highlights
  • 🛠️Renovation and dry-dock schedule
  • ❓FAQ's about Carnival Encounter

Also of interest:

Carnival Encounter Deck PlansCarnival Encounter Cabin SearchCarnival Encounter Health Score

Cruise Director

On duty at sail date (July 18, 2026)

Franco Spies

Franco Spies

Country: South Africa•Start: Jul 4, 2026•End: Nov 7, 2026

Franco Spies is a Carnival Cruise Line cruise director with a background in the Fun Squad. He is known for his friendly energy, strong team leadership, and guest-focused approach.

Franco Spies Full Profile

Itinerary FAQ

How many nights is the Carnival Encounter sailing on July 18, 2026?

This is a 8-night cruise itinerary departing from Brisbane, Australia.

What ports does the Carnival Encounter visit on the July 18, 2026 cruise?

This route includes brisbane-australia, lifou-isle-new-caledonia, mystery-island-vanuatu, noumea-new-caledonia.

How many sea days are included on this Carnival Encounter July 18, 2026 itinerary?

This itinerary includes 4 sea days.

Who is the cruise director for the Carnival Encounter sailing on July 18, 2026?

Franco Spies is scheduled as cruise director for this sailing.

How is the itinerary safety score calculated for this cruise?

The itinerary safety score combines port-level safety indicators such as travel advisories, local risk signals, and historical context into a single overall score for this specific route.

Can I track price drops for this Carnival Encounter itinerary?

Yes — use the price tracking opt-in on this page to get updates when cabin prices change for this sailing.