- ARRIVES
- —
- DEPARTS
- 3:00 PM
8 nights · 3 ports
round-trip · Brisbane
CarnivalCarnival Encounter
Carnival Encounter Oct 2, 2028
8-Night Vanuatu & New Caledonia
3.4 out of 5, Gangwaze Score™
i
The Gangwaze Score blends how cruisers rate this ship, how they rate this sailing, the ship’s latest CDC health inspection, the safety of its ports, and how today’s fare compares with its recent average.
- Cruiser satisfaction
- Good
- Port safety
- Good
- Value
- Below average
Aboard Carnival Encounter · Departing October 2, 2028 from the Port of Brisbane, Australia.
You'll depart Brisbane on Monday, October 2, 2028 for your 8-Night Vanuatu & New Caledonia round-trip cruise vacation aboard Carnival's Carnival Encounter.
Your itinerary includes visits to New Caledonia, where you'll explore Lifou Isle and Noumea, and Vanuatu, where you'll explore Mystery Island. Your trip has four sea days to enjoy everything the Carnival Encounter has to offer.
Your ship ranks tied for #20 among Carnival's 31 ships by size and is older than the fleet average, having launched in 2002.
Current pricing for this sailing starts at $175 per passenger, per night, up 61% vs. our tracked average.
// 01 · About the ship
Carnival Encounter
Ship OverviewCarnival
Carnival · Grand class
CHRISTENED
2002
STATEROOMS
1,300
TONNAGE
109,000GT
▼ 10.0% BELOWvs avg 121,145
YEAR BUILT
2002
▼ 7 YRS OLDERvs avg 2009
LENGTH
951ft
▼ 4.2% BELOWvs avg 992 ft
PASSENGERS
2,600cruisers
▼ 37.5% BELOWvs avg 4,158
Carnival Encounter is a Grand-class ship built in 2002 with 13 passenger decks, tied for #20 in the Carnival fleet by size. It sailed as Pacific Encounter until a Melbourne refurbishment brought new carpet, Carnival branding and the HubApp ahead of its March 2025 debut from Brisbane. Dinner can mean premium cuts at Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Asian flavors at Dragon Lady Restaurant or a quick roll from Bonsai Sushi Express. Aft on deck 7, Trattoria serves Italian dishes near Piano Bar 88 and the Black Circus stage, while live shows fill the Marquee Theater. Up top, the Seaside Theater shows films on a big outdoor LED screen, kids tackle rope courses at Edge, teens have Club O2, and adults retreat to Cloud 9 Spa or the quiet Oasis.
With four sea days on this sailing, there's time for Treatment Rooms, Bonsai Sushi Express and Video Arcade.
// 02 · Port by Port
Your Itinerary
Carnival EncounterOctober 2 to October 10, 2028Round-trip Brisbane
- DAY 2 · TUE, OCT 3
At sea
- ARRIVES
- —
- DEPARTS
- —
- DAY 3 · WED, OCT 4
At sea
- ARRIVES
- —
- DEPARTS
- —
- DAY 4 · THU, OCT 5
Lifou Isle
New Caledonia- ARRIVES
- 8:00 AM
- DEPARTS
- 5:00 PM
- DAY 5 · FRI, OCT 6
Mystery Island
Vanuatu- ARRIVES
- 8:00 AM
- DEPARTS
- 5:00 PM
- ARRIVES
- 8:00 AM
- DEPARTS
- 5:00 PM
- DAY 7 · SUN, OCT 8
At sea
- ARRIVES
- —
- DEPARTS
- —
- DAY 8 · MON, OCT 9
At sea
- ARRIVES
- —
- DEPARTS
- —
- ARRIVES
- 7:00 AM
- DEPARTS
- —
// 03 · Cruise price
Cruise Price & Tracking
Carnival EncounterOctober 2, 2028
The most recent price for this sailing starts at $1,395 ($175 per night) for a Suite cabin. Compared to the average price of $1,407 ($176 per night), this represents a 1% decrease. That's $681 more than the lowest of the 12 dates on this route (Mar 13, 2027).
// Price history · suite
Last 6 months · refreshes daily · select a cabin below to compare
This cabinAvg $1,407
Price Drop Email Alert
We'll email you when the Suite fare for this sailing drops below the current rate.
Inside
Not currently offered.
Oceanview
Not currently offered.
Balcony
Not currently offered.
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// 04 · Cruise resources
Cruise Resources
To prepare for your Carnival Encounter October 2, 2028 cruise, here are some helpful tools to get you prepared and excited for your vacation.
- 01 Ship Tracking Check the Carnival Encounter's current location. Track where it's coming from and where the ship is headed.
- 02 Cruise Director See the Carnival cruise directors who host the Carnival Encounter.
- 03 Roll Call See who else is sailing on the Carnival Encounter on Oct 2, 2028, and join the roll call.
- 04 Excursion Price Tracker Track shore excursion prices at every port on this cruise, and get an email when one moves.
- 05 Deck Plans Explore every deck of the Carnival Encounter, with the venues and cabins on each.
// 05 · Other sailings
This itinerary - other options
Same ports, more choices. Compare other Carnival Encounter dates for the 8-Night Vanuatu & New Caledonia route, or see which other ships sail a similar trip.
More Carnival Encounter options - 8-Night Vanuatu & New Caledonia
Below, you'll find any available dates for this same Vanuatu & New Caledonia itinerary on the Carnival Encounter.
- Carnival EncounterSee pricesNov 28,2026
- Carnival EncounterDec 19,2026$2,168 $271/n$773 more
- Carnival EncounterJan 9,2027$1,775 $222/n$380 more
- Carnival EncounterMar 13,2027$714 $90/n$681 less
- Carnival EncounterMar 29,2027$1,377 $173/n$18 less
- Carnival EncounterMay 22,2027$1,349 $169/n$46 less
- Carnival EncounterJun 25,2027$1,427 $179/n$32 more
- Carnival EncounterJul 31,2027$773 $97/n$622 less
- Carnival EncounterSep 17,2027$1,711 $214/n$316 more
- Carnival EncounterOct 1,2027$1,350 $169/n$45 less
- Carnival EncounterOct 16,2027$1,287 $161/n$108 less
- Carnival EncounterNov 6,2027$782 $98/n$613 less
- Carnival EncounterOct 2,2028$1,395 $175/nThis sailing
Other ships
Sail to Lifou Isle & Mystery Island on another ship
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