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New Guinea Island Encounter Cruise

3.7/5 Based on 3 Reviews No Booking FeesDedicated Cruise Advisor
New Guinea Island Encounter Cruise
New Guinea Island Encounter Cruise
New Guinea Island Encounter Cruise
Brisbane
Brisbane
Trobriand Islands
Trobriand Islands
Cruising At Sea
Cruising At Sea
Kiriwina
Kiriwina
Alotau
Alotau
Cruising At Sea
Cruising At Sea
Alotau
Alotau
Conflict Islands
Conflict Islands
Brisbane
Brisbane
Cruising At Sea
Cruising At Sea
Our Price From
Sold Out
Port charges, taxes and fees included
 Cruise Length
11 Days
 Cruise Starts
Brisbane
 Cruise Finishes
Brisbane
11 Day New Guinea Island Encounter Cruise Itinerary (Carnival)
Countries Explored: Australia, Papua New Guinea
Ship
Ship Class
Grand Class
Passengers
2636
Crew
1,100
Launched
2001
Refurbished
2024
Cruise Code
JG2

Overview

Begin and end your 11 day (10 night) cruise in Brisbane onboard Carnival Encounter and enjoy exclusive savings and cruise inclusions with Carnival and Global Journeys.

Cruise Itinerary

Departs: 3:00 PM

Visit the South Bank Parklands, where you can relax by the man-made Streets Beach, stroll through lush gardens, and enjoy a variety of dining options. Explore the cultural precinct, home to the Queensland Art Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art. For a panoramic view of the city, climb the Story Bridge or take a leisurely cruise along the Brisbane River. The lively Queen Street Mall offers excellent shopping, while nearby Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary lets you get up close with Australia's iconic wildlife.

You've got a foodie in you - everyone does! Awaken and delight yours on a Carnival cruise with delicious main dishes, tempting desserts and general yumminess everywhere you look. For an additional cover charge enjoy extraordinary dining at a range of specialty restaurants including Luke's Bar & Grill, The Chef's Table, Trattoria and Luke's Burgers - poolside!

Arrives: 8:00 AM Departs: 6:00 PM

Capital of Papua New Guinea’s Milne Bay Province, Alotau is steeped in history, rich in culture and blessed with natural beauty.The gateway to some of the most remote island communities remaining in the world today, this is a place that is enriched with age-old culture and traditions. Ships will dock at the port.

Top Things to Do in Alotau:

  • explore skull cave
  • visit the memorial commemorating WWII’s Battle of Milne Bay
  • take a traditional clay pot cooking class
  • experience life in a traditional village
  • snorkel the shipwreck at Waga Waga

Arrives: 7:00 AM Departs: 4:00 PM

Located off the eastern coast of New Guinea, the Trobriand Islands are famous for their culture and huge yam gardens.

Home to one of the most colourful and fascinating cultures on earth, the islands are often referred to as the ‘islands of love’ due to their customs and practices during the yam harvesting festival.

The islands offer stunning white sand beaches lined with natural shade-trees and crystal clear waters that are perfect for snorkelling. Ships will anchor offshore and tenders will be provided to the shore.

Port:Kiriwina

Located in Papua New Guinea’s Milne Bay Province, Kiriwina is the largest and by far the most populous of the Trobriand Islands, and home to one of the most colourful and fascinating cultures on earth. Ships will anchor offshore and tenders will be provided to the shore.

Top Things to Do on Kiriwina Island:

  • relax on the white sands of Kaibola Beach
  • hike to the burial cave, Kalopa Cave
  • shop the market stalls run by local villagers
  • swim and snorkel the crystal waters
  • watch a game of Trobriand cricket

Arrives: 9:00 AM Departs: 10:00 PM

Rabaul, the former provincial capital, has quite a remarkable location. The town is inside the flooded caldera of a giant volcano and several sub-vents are still quite active today. Having been occupied by Japan in WWII and destroyed by volcano eruptions twice, the town has a colourful history. Ships will dock at the port.

Top Things to Do in Rabaul:

  • learn about the Japanese occupation during WWII at the Kokopo War & Cultural Museum
  • visit the Japanese Barge Tunnels
  • visit the Volcanological Observatory
  • visit Mount Tavurvur and its hot springs

Water lovers will be spoilt for choice with spas, four pools, and waterslides. Thrill seekers are covered too with Edge Adventure Park, complete with ziplining, rock climbing and abseiling. More of a chill seeker? You’ll love the exclusive Byron Beach Club, the Adult-Only Oasis Retreat, and the day spa and salon.

As the sun goes down, the fun only goes up. Dive into delicious dining options like Angelo’s, Dragon Lady, or celebrity-chef dining at Luke’s Bar & Grill. Be entertained with live comedy and dazzling stage shows. Or dance the night away at a classic Carnival deck party.

Arrives: 7:00 AM Departs: 4:00 PM

The Conflict Islands are a group of 21 islands encircling an enormous lagoon on the rim of a sunken volcano. Sheltered by an untouched reef system, the privately owned islands are abundant with marine life and part of a conservation project. Ships will anchor off shore and tenders will be provided to the jetty.

Top Things to Do on the Conflict Islands:

  • view the sea life on a glass-bottomed boat
  • go scuba diving
  • visit the Turtle Nursery
  • ride the waters on a traditional outrigger canoe

Evenings on board offer a variety of entertainment options. Relax in the main lounge with live music or head to the sky deck for cocktails under the stars. Daily briefings, fun games organized by the crew, and the company of fellow travellers ensure there's never a dull moment. With a range of activities and social opportunities, your evenings will be as enjoyable as your days.

Arrives: 6-7:00 AM*

If you're heading home or continuing to explore more of Australia, Brisbane's Portside Cruise Terminal is just 7kms from the domestic and international airport. Brisbane's city centre is just 10-15 mins away if you're planning to explore the city.

Note: Ship ports may not be located in the starting & ending cities listed. Port and transfer details will be provided in your travel documentation. The provided itinerary is for informational purposes only. Activities and sightseeing attractions listed may not be available or achievable within the time in port. * Arrival and/or departure times vary depending on cruise departure date, so we have provided an indicitive range.

Life Onboard Carnival Encounter

Carnival Encounter
Carnival Encounter

Carnival's second, Grand Class ship blends cherished features with new attractions, including the exclusive Byron Beach Club for suite guests. Read more

Something for Everyone!
Something for Everyone!

There's something for every member of the family, with many exciting experiences included in your fare, you can try it all again, and again. Read more

Onboard Activities
Onboard Activities

Try out one of the many adventure activities, launch yourself down a waterslide or perhaps Barefoot Bowls is your cup of tea? Read more

Nightlife
Nightlife

Live music, bars and exciting and exclusive shows been especially designed for P&O Cruises. Read more

Dining
Dining

Three stylish, a la carte restaurants and nine casual eateries are included in your cruise fare. Read more

Byron Beach Club
Byron Beach Club

Looking to kick back while you cruise? The luxurious Byron Beach Club is the place to be. Read more

Carnival Encounter Reviews (3) Most Recent 'Carnival Encounter' Reviews

3.7
Average Rating 3.7 / 5
3 Reviews
5 Star
4 Star
67%
3 Star
33%
2 Star
1 Star
6 nights, just not long enough 1 , New Zealand, Nov 2025
First time cruising with Carnival and it was really enjoyable. Probably the only drawback for us is that you need to pay for loads of extras - $6 bottles of water in the cabin, people walking around with shots, and many different various upsell of food and entertainment, however apart form that things were really good. The bed and pillows were good, read more the options for different drinks and food were fantastic, and staff were friendly. Check out The Bonding Store - the best bar for amazing cocktails!
80's Cruise on Carnival 2 , TAS, Australia, Mar 2025
The trip for my birthday was great fun, and we had good weather. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The cabin had comfy beds, pillows and hot showers. There was a nice selection of food and restaurants. However the new computer system and lack of staff meant long queues to wait for service, which was frustrating. Carnival could have made more read more money if they had a better system. Waiting an hour for soup and 45 minutes for a bottle of wine is not satisfactory. There was very little service at the pool area for drinks. The entertainment was good but not enough of it. It was a 1980's cruise and the DJ was playing rap music, and the competition prizes were very miserable. Embark and disembark was good, speedy and had good information.
Great 1st Cruise 0 , QLD, Australia, Jan 2025
Despite the fact that there was LOTS of rain and our tour of Airlie Beach was cancelled because of it, the cruise was wonderful. Tracey was incredible and went above and beyond to ensure we had the best experience we could possibly have for our 40th anniversary. Looking forward to the next cruise in October, also on the Encounter, also organised by read more Tracey. Thank you Global Journeys, P&O and Carnival.

Prices & Dates

There are currently no departures available on this cruise. Either it's the end of the season and new departures will be released shortly, or this itinerary has been changed and is not operating this season. Feel free to contact us for information about when next seasons dates will be released or click here to view general release dates for all destinations.

Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Carnival. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.