8 Night Vanuatu & New Caledonia (Brisbane Roundtrip)
Carnival Encounter
Carnival Encounter
May 20, 2028
8 Night Vanuatu & New Caledonia

Carnival Encounter - 5/20/2028

The May 20, 2028 cruise on the Carnival Encounter departs from Brisbane, Australia. On this 8 Night Vanuatu & New Caledonia (Brisbane Roundtrip) sailing, the ship will visit a total of 4 cruise port destinations, including its departure port. The Carnival Encounter sets sail on Saturday, May 20th and returns on Sunday, May 28th.

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

Cruise Itinerary

Itinerary

Carnival Encounter - May 20, 2028 - 8 Nights

DayDatePort
1May 20thBrisbane, Australia
2May 21stAt Sea
3May 22ndAt Sea
4May 23rdNoumea, New Caledonia
5May 24thMystery Island, Vanuatu
6May 25thLifou Isle, New Caledonia
7May 26thAt Sea
8May 27thAt Sea
9May 28thBrisbane, Australia

The Carnival Encounter sails on May 20, 2028 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 May 28th at 7:00 AM. During the 9-day journey, the Carnival Encounter will visit 3 additional ports and will spend 4 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.

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.
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.
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.
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.

Cruise Ship

Carnival Encounter Size Infographic

Carnival Encounter

109 k
tonnage
951 ft
length
2002
year built
1,300
cabins
2,600
passengers
1,100
crew

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

Day1
MAY 202028
D: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. (126 words)

Day2
MAY 212028
At Sea

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Day3
MAY 222028
At Sea

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Day4
MAY 232028
A:8:00 AMD: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. (126 words)

Day5
MAY 242028
A:8:00 AMD: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. (126 words)

Day6
MAY 252028
A:8:00 AMD: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.

Day7
MAY 262028
At Sea

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Day8
MAY 272028
At Sea

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Day9
MAY 282028
A:7:00 AM

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)