Carnival Encounter in one read
Carnival Encounter has had three names and three owners in about 24 years. Built as Star Princess for Princess Cruises in 2002, she moved to P&O Cruises Australia around 2021 as Pacific Encounter, then became a Carnival ship in early 2025 when Carnival Corporation wound down the entire P&O Australia brand. She now sails year-round from Brisbane, putting the Great Barrier Reef, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji and Papua New Guinea within easy reach on itineraries from 3 to 14 nights.
We're going to be direct about where she stands: Cruise Critic's own "Best and Worst Carnival Ships" feature currently ranks her the single worst-rated ship in the entire fleet. Confusingly, Cruise Critic's own separate editorial review page gives her 4.0 out of 5 — a real contradiction in that publication's own coverage that we're reporting rather than glossing over. She also has a genuine positive ahead: a Cloud 9 Spa Thermal Suite arriving in a 2026 dry dock.
Fit scores, not review scores — a lower relaxation number means she suits a quiet trip less well, not that she's a lesser ship.
Budget-focused Brisbane-area travelers who want the Great Barrier Reef and South Pacific within easy reach, and who don't mind a ship still transitioning between two cruise brands.
Carnival's signature dining (Guy's Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina) matters to you — none of it is here yet — or recent review scores and maintenance complaints would weigh heavily on your decision.
Is Encounter your ship?
Four quick questions and we'll give you an honest read on whether she fits — not a sales pitch.
Where she sails
Durable pattern, not a fixed schedule — verify your exact sailing.
Brisbane, year-round. Encounter runs itineraries from 3 to 14 nights, reaching the Great Barrier Reef (Airlie Beach, Cairns), Vanuatu (Port Vila, Mystery Island), New Caledonia (Noumea), Fiji and Papua New Guinea — a genuinely reef-and-islands-focused schedule that Carnival doesn't replicate anywhere else in the fleet.
No relocation has been announced for Encounter as of this writing, unlike her sister Adventure, whose 2028 shift to seasonal North America deployment is confirmed. That currently makes Encounter, alongside Carnival Splendor, one of Carnival's more settled year-round Australian ships.
Onboard: her features & standouts
Mostly P&O-era still, with one genuine Carnival upgrade confirmed for 2026. Tap through.
Her Cloud 9 Spa Thermal Suite, arriving in a Feb–Mar 2026 Singapore dry dock alongside a pool-deck revitalization, is the clearest sign yet that Carnival is investing genuine brand DNA into this ship rather than just repainting the funnel and calling it done.
Cabins & suites
What's aboard
- Standard interior, ocean view, balcony cabins from her Princess-built original layout.
- An atrium revamp and new lounges added during her January 2021 P&O-era refit.
Worth knowing
- There's no Havana or Family Harbor currently confirmed on this ship — those are Carnival-brand features that haven't been added, though Cloud 9 Spa is arriving in 2026.
- Carnival markets her at about 109,000 gross tons, carrying roughly 2,596 guests at double occupancy (figures vary slightly by source, reflecting her multiple ownership changes).
Her sister ship
Same Princess-built platform, different Australian homeport — here's her sister ship.
The honest read
We're going to state this directly rather than soften it: Cruise Critic's own "Best and Worst Carnival Cruise Ships" feature currently ranks Encounter as the single worst-rated ship in the entire fleet. Cited complaints include a repetitive buffet, broken elevators, non-functional bathroom fixtures, and general wear despite a recent refurbishment. Individual member reviews echo the same maintenance concerns.
Here's the genuine contradiction worth knowing: Cruise Critic's own separate editorial review page for Encounter gives her 4.0 out of 5 — "Very Good" — a real inconsistency within that same publication's coverage. We're reporting both figures rather than picking a side. What we can say with more confidence: she's barely a year into Carnival ownership after transferring from P&O Australia's maintenance rhythm and standards, and Carnival's confirmed 2026 Cloud 9 Spa addition is a genuine sign of continued investment rather than a ship being left to age out.
Our verdict
Encounter makes sense if you want the lowest fare into the Great Barrier Reef and South Pacific from Brisbane — book her for the itinerary and the price, with clear eyes about her current review standing and missing Carnival dining lineup. Her 2026 Cloud 9 Spa addition is a real, confirmed upgrade worth factoring in if you can wait for a post-refit sailing.
For a more established, better-reviewed Australia-based Carnival option, Carnival Splendor is worth comparing directly before you book.
Ask Seabound about Encounter
Tell us about your trip.
Homeport, group size, kids' ages, budget and length — and we'll tell you honestly whether Encounter is your ship or another Carnival fits better.
Instant answers from our guides · always verified against current Carnival information before you book.
Quick answers
Is Carnival Encounter a good ship?
By Cruise Critic's own 'Best and Worst Carnival Ships' feature, she currently ranks the single worst-rated ship in the fleet — though Cruise Critic's separate editorial review page gives her 4.0 out of 5, a real inconsistency in that publication's own coverage that we report rather than resolve.
Was Carnival Encounter originally a P&O ship?
Not originally — she was built as Star Princess for Princess Cruises in 2002, transferred to P&O Cruises Australia around 2021 as Pacific Encounter, then became a Carnival ship in 2025 when Carnival absorbed the entire P&O Australia brand.
Does Carnival Encounter have Guy's Burger Joint or BlueIguana Cantina?
No — as of mid-2026, none of Carnival's standard fleet-wide dining or bar brands have been added. Her dining lineup is still almost entirely P&O-era, including the Luke Mangan celebrity-chef partnership.
Where does Carnival Encounter sail from?
Brisbane, year-round, on itineraries from 3 to 14 nights reaching the Great Barrier Reef, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
Is Carnival Encounter getting a Cloud 9 Spa?
Yes — a Cloud 9 Spa Thermal Suite is confirmed for a February–March 2026 Singapore dry dock, alongside a pool-deck revitalization. It's the clearest confirmed sign of genuine Carnival investment in the ship so far.