Carnival Encounter - 12/30/2026
The December 30, 2026 cruise on the Carnival Encounter departs from Brisbane, Australia. On this 10 Night Vanuatu & New Caledonia (Brisbane Roundtrip) sailing, the ship will visit a total of 5 cruise port destinations, including its departure port. The Carnival Encounter sets sail on Wednesday, Dec 30th and returns on Saturday, Jan 9th.
Cruise Pricing
The graph below tracks historic price of the Carnival Encounter cruise ship departing December 30, 2026. The most recent price for this sailing starts at $1,113 ($112 per night) for an Inside Cabin. Compared to the average price of $1,114 ($112 per night), this represents a recent decrease of 0%.
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Cruise Itinerary
Itinerary
Carnival Encounter - December 30, 2026 - 10 Nights
| Day | Date | Port |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dec 29th | Brisbane, Australia |
| 2 | Dec 30th | At Sea |
| 3 | Dec 31st | At Sea |
| 4 | Jan 2nd | Champagne Bay, Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu |
| 5 | Jan 3rd | Port Vila, Efate, Vanuatu |
| 6 | Jan 4th | Mystery Island, Vanuatu |
| 7 | Jan 4th | At Sea |
| 8 | Jan 6th | Lifou Isle, New Caledonia |
| 9 | Jan 6th | At Sea |
| 10 | Jan 7th | At Sea |
| 11 | Jan 9th | Brisbane, Australia |
The Carnival Encounter sails on December 30, 2026 for a 10 Night Vanuatu & New Caledonia (Brisbane Roundtrip). The ship will depart the port of Brisbane, Australia at 2:00 PM and will return to the port of Brisbane, Australia on Jan 9th at 6:00 AM. During the 11-day journey, the Carnival Encounter will visit 4 additional ports and will spend 5 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!
Champagne Bay, Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu, has no docking; ships anchor offshore with tenders to beaches. Travelers snorkel coral reefs with dugongs. Excursions explore blue holes. Local markets sell kava. The peak season, May to October, brings dry weather. Photography captures turquoise bays. Dining onboard includes laplap. Souvenirs, like shell necklaces, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Melanesian culture. Sun protection is essential. Champagne Bay’s idyllic shores offer a tranquil South Pacific stop.
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)
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!
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)