Where is Carnival Encounter today?
At sea, heading to Brisbane
On day 7 of an 8-night Tahiti & South Pacific Islands cruise from Brisbane (Nov 7 to 15).
Between Lifou and Brisbane. Position estimated from scheduled times.
Next: Brisbane, Australia, Sun Nov 15 arriving 7:00 AM.
Scheduled position from Carnival Cruise Line's published itinerary, not live tracking. Ports can change for weather. Updated daily.
Next departure, Sun Nov 15: 4 nights from $624
Upcoming Carnival Encounter cruises from $342 per person. See upcoming sailings ↓
Current cruise, day by day
8-night Tahiti & South Pacific Islands cruise, Brisbane round trip
Nov 7 to 15, 2026 · Mystery Island, Port Vila and Lifou.
Where Carnival Encounter sails, month by month
Carnival Encounter sails year-round from Brisbane on 3-, 4-, 6- and 8-night cruises. From December 2026 to November 2027 its most frequent stops are Airlie Beach (30 calls), Mystery Island (17) and Lifou (16). It also has longer sailings of 10, 12 and 14 nights in December 2026 and from April to August 2027.
- Dec 2026Brisbane · 6 sailings3 to 10 nightsSee sailings →
- Jan 2027Brisbane · 5 sailings4, 6, 8 nightsSee sailings →
- Feb 2027Brisbane · 6 sailings3, 4, 7 nightsSee sailings →
- Mar 2027Brisbane · 6 sailings3, 4, 8 nightsSee sailings →
- Apr 2027Brisbane · 5 sailings3 to 10 nightsSee sailings →
- May 2027Brisbane · 5 sailings3 to 12 nightsSee sailings →
- Jun 2027Brisbane · 5 sailings3 to 10 nightsSee sailings →
- Jul 2027Brisbane · 5 sailings3 to 14 nightsSee sailings →
- Aug 2027Brisbane · 5 sailings3 to 10 nightsSee sailings →
- Sep 2027Brisbane · 5 sailings3 to 8 nightsSee sailings →
- Oct 2027Brisbane · 6 sailings3 to 8 nightsSee sailings →
- Nov 2027Brisbane · 6 sailings3 to 8 nightsSee sailings →
Counts cover December 2026 to November 2027 from our listings (a port call is one port on one day). Carnival Cruise Line may add sailings later. Each month opens that month's Carnival Encounter sailings with prices.
Carnival Encounter at a glance
Carnival Encounter is a Carnival Cruise Line cruise ship in the Princess Grand class. It entered service in 2002 (24 years ago) and was last refurbished in 2026. It carries 2,600 passengers and 1,100 crew, about 2.4 passengers per crew member. At 108,977 gross tons and 290 m (951 ft) long, it is a large ship with 18 decks and 1,298 cabins. It was built by Fincantieri Monfalcone and sails under the flag of the Bahamas.
The Carnival Encounter entered service in 2002 as part of Carnival Cruise Line's contemporary fleet. Built by Fincantieri at their Monfalcone shipyard, the vessel accommodates 2,600 passengers and carries a crew of 1,100.
The ship was registered in Hamilton, Bermuda from its launch through 2021. As a mainstream cruise ship, the Encounter provides typical amenities and activities suited to family cruisers and vacation travelers seeking accessible pricing and casual onboard experiences.
Carnival Encounter specs
- Class
- Princess Grand
- Built
- 2002
- Refurbished
- 2026
- Gross Tonnage
- 108,977 GT
- Length
- 290 m
- Passengers
- 2,600
- Cabins
- 1,298
- Crew
- 1,100
- Decks
- 18
- Builder
- Fincantieri Monfalcone
- Flag
- Bahamas
- Age
- 24 years old
- Size
- Large
- Space Ratio
- 41.9 GT/pax
- Passenger-to-Crew
- 2.4:1
- Sister Ships
- 1 other in class
- Fleet Rank
- 20th largest of 31
- Typical Cruise
- 4 nights
- Primary Region
- Australia & New Zealand
- Next Sailing
- Nov 15, 2026
- Family
- Kids Club on board
🍽️ Dining & Bars
🎭 Entertainment
🏊 Recreation
👨👩👧 Family
🧖 Wellness & Relaxation
Carnival Encounter FAQ
Where is Carnival Encounter right now?
According to Carnival Cruise Line's published itinerary, Carnival Encounter is at sea today (Friday, November 13, 2026), between Lifou, New Caledonia and Brisbane, Australia, on day 7 of an 8-night Tahiti & South Pacific Islands cruise from Brisbane. It returns to Brisbane on November 15. This is the scheduled position, not live tracking.
Where does Carnival Encounter sail from?
Based on our listings as of November 12, 2026, Carnival Encounter sails year-round from Brisbane, Australia on 3-, 4-, 6- and 8-night cruises.
What ports does Carnival Encounter visit?
Based on our listings as of November 12, 2026, Carnival Encounter calls most often at Airlie Beach, Australia (30 calls), Mystery Island, Vanuatu (17), Lifou, New Caledonia (16), Port Vila, Vanuatu (14) and Cairns, Australia (12), counting calls from December 2026 to November 2027. Its sailings in that period visit 14 ports in all.
How many passengers does Carnival Encounter carry?
Carnival Encounter carries 2,600 passengers in 1,298 cabins. It has 1,100 crew, about 2.4 passengers per crew member.
When was Carnival Encounter built and how old is it?
Carnival Encounter entered service in 2002, so it is 24 years old. It was last refurbished in 2026.
How big is Carnival Encounter?
Carnival Encounter is 108,977 gross tons and 290 m (951 ft) long, with 18 decks. That makes it a large ship.
How many crew work on Carnival Encounter?
Carnival Encounter has 1,100 crew.
What class of ship is Carnival Encounter?
Carnival Encounter belongs to the Princess Grand class, which has 1 other ship we track.
Which cruise line operates Carnival Encounter?
Carnival Encounter is operated by Carnival Cruise Line.
Where was Carnival Encounter built?
Carnival Encounter was built by Fincantieri Monfalcone.
How much does a cruise on Carnival Encounter cost?
The cheapest upcoming Carnival Encounter cruise we track starts from $342. Fares change daily, so set a price alert on a sailing to be emailed when it drops.
Carnival Encounter prices
Upcoming Carnival Encounter cruises start from $342. The lowest fare we've tracked in the past 90 days was $307. Pick a sailing below, choose your cabin, and we'll email you when the price drops.
Track Carnival Encounter prices →