Carnival Encounter

Spec	Detail
Age:	24 years (entered service 2002, joined Carnival 2025)
Class:	Grand class
Length:	290 metres (951 feet)
Beam:	36 metres (118 feet)
Tonnage:	108,977 gross tonnes
Capacity:	2,600 lower berth (3,115 maximum)
Crew:	~1,100
Speed:	20 knots

What is the Carnival Encounter?

Carnival Encounter is a 108,977 gross tonne, 290-metre Grand-class ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. She carries 2,600 guests at lower-berth capacity (3,115 maximum when every upper berth and sofa bed is filled), with around 1,100 crew on board. Her standout features include the EDGE Adventure Park (zip-lining, rock climbing, abseiling), the Byron Beach Club private retreat for Byron Beach Suite guests, and the adults-only Blanc de Blanc Uncorked cabaret.

Originally built in 2002 by Fincantieri at Monfalcone, Italy as Princess Cruises’ Star Princess, she sailed as P&O Australia’s Pacific Encounter from 2021 before joining the Carnival fleet in 2025 alongside sister ship Carnival Adventure. From the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal she sails 3 to 12 night voyages across Queensland coastal getaways, the Great Barrier Reef, and the South Pacific.

How many decks does the Carnival Encounter have?

Carnival Encounter has 18 decks in total, with 13 open to guests. Nine of those passenger decks carry cabins, so your stateroom sits on one of them. The remaining decks hold the public spaces you use during the cruise: the main dining room, the buffet, lounges, the theatre, the spa, the kids’ clubs, the casino, and the upper-deck pools, waterslides, and EDGE Adventure Park.

What cabins does the Carnival Encounter have?

Carnival Encounter carries 1,298 cabins across four core tiers, with the Byron Beach Suite as her signature suite category, shared in concept with her Grand-class sister Carnival Adventure. You can book:

1. Interior cabins (categories 4A through 4G), with soft linens, closet and drawer space, an in-room safe, TV, and climate control.
2. Ocean View cabins (5A, 6A, 6B, plus the porthole PT), which add a window or porthole to the Interior layout.
3. Balcony cabins (8A through 8D), plus 8M, the larger Premium Vista.
4. Suite categories spanning Ocean Suite (OS, OT) and Extended Balcony (EB) through Grand Suite (GB) and Vista Suite (VB and the VB-4E sub-tier), plus the signature Byron Beach Suite (BY).

The Byron Beach Suite (BY) is the only category that unlocks access to the Byron Beach Club, an exclusive bow-end retreat with a private pool, whirlpool spas, a private bar, and a dedicated sundeck reserved for BY guests. Other Suite categories (Ocean Suite, Extended Balcony, Grand Suite, Vista Suite) carry the standard suite perks like priority check-in, priority dinner reservations, complimentary wash-and-fold laundry, and a pillow-top mattress, but not Byron Beach Club access.

What does the Carnival Encounter itinerary look like?

Carnival Encounter sails three regional itinerary types year-round from Brisbane. You can choose:

1. Queensland coastal voyages of 3 to 4 nights from Brisbane, calling at Tangalooma (Moreton Island) and Hamilton Island.
2. Great Barrier Reef voyages of 7 to 9 nights from Brisbane, calling at Airlie Beach and Cairns (via Yorkeys Knob), with a scenic cruise-by of Willis Island.
3. South Pacific voyages of 9 to 12 nights from Brisbane, calling at Mystery Island and Port Vila in Vanuatu, and Noumea, Lifou, and Maré in New Caledonia.

What are the top facilities on the Carnival Encounter?

Carnival Encounter has eight standout facilities:

1. The EDGE Adventure Park with zip-lining, rock climbing, and abseiling.
2. Four pools and waterslides on the upper decks.
3. The Byron Beach Club private retreat for Byron Beach Suite guests at the bow.
4. The Serenity Adult-Only Retreat and The Oasis for adults-only deck space.
5. Cloud 9 Spa with massages, facials, body treatments, and a thermal suite.
6. The adults-only Blanc de Blanc Uncorked cabaret from Strut & Fret.
7. The Marquee Show Lounge for production shows.
8. Turtles, Camp Ocean, Circle C, and Club O2 for kids and teens from under 2 to 17.

What is the onboard experience of the Carnival Encounter?

Carnival Encounter‘s onboard experience covers six areas:

1. Dining
2. Bars and lounges
3. Entertainment
4. Activities and pools
5. Wellness and fitness
6. Kids and teens programming

Dining ranges from the casual all-day food-court at The Pantry to table-service classics at the Waterfront main dining room. You can also eat at Dragon Lady for East Asian (included), and at specialty paid venues including Angelo’s for Italian, Trattoria for rustic Italian, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, and Bonsai Sushi Express. New Zealand Natural Ice Cream handles soft-serve. 24-hour room service is available, with a fee on most items.

Bars and lounges span pre-dinner to late night. You can have relaxed sea-view drinks at the Ocean Bar, casual lounge time at the Blue Room, catch golden hour at the Sunset Bar, sing along at Piano Bar 88, settle into the Atrium Lounges at the central core, and head to the Altitude Nightclub for late-night high-energy sessions. A Casino Bar serves the gaming floor.

Entertainment runs across multiple venues. The Marquee Show Lounge hosts production shows. Blanc de Blanc Uncorked, Strut & Fret’s adults-only cabaret-acrobatics hybrid, is currently exclusive to Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter in Carnival’s Australian fleet. The Punchliner Comedy Club runs family-friendly and adults-only sessions, while Playlist Productions, live music across multiple lounges, and Dive-In Movies on the pool deck round out the daily lineup. A casino covers gaming for guests 18 and over.

Activities and pools cluster on the upper decks. The EDGE Adventure Park combines zip-lining, rock climbing, and abseiling (additional fee, with weight and age limits). Four pools sit across the upper decks, served by waterslides. Adults can retreat to the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat or The Oasis at the front of the ship, and Byron Beach Suite guests get exclusive access to the Byron Beach Club: a private pool, whirlpools, and bar at the bow. A mini-golf course and jogging track fill out daytime options.

Wellness and fitness centre on the Cloud 9 Spa. You can book massages, facials, body scrubs, and beauty treatments from the full spa menu, and use the thermal suite. The Fitness Centre carries cardio and weights, with paid group classes available. A hair and beauty salon and men’s grooming services round out the wellness offering.

Kids and teens programming runs across age-banded clubs plus Carnival’s Seuss at Sea storytime program. Turtles takes under-2s for an additional fee. Camp Ocean covers ages 2 to 11 in three sub-bands (Penguins 2 to 5, Stingrays 6 to 8, Sharks 9 to 11). Circle C is for tweens 12 to 14. Club O2 covers teens 15 to 17. You can also book Night Owls late-night supervised care for under-11s for an additional fee.

Who is the Carnival Encounter best for?

Carnival Encounter is a strong fit for you in four scenarios:

1. You want a Brisbane-homeported Carnival ship with strong Queensland coast and South Pacific itinerary access.
2. You’re travelling as a multi-generational group and want kids’ clubs from Turtles through Club O2 alongside adults-only zones (the Serenity Retreat, The Oasis, and the Byron Beach Club).
3. You’re a first-time cruiser and want a low-stakes Australia-only entry without international flights.
4. You’re value-focused and want an entry-level Carnival Australia cruise from Brisbane.

Where does the Carnival Encounter dock in Brisbane?

Carnival Encounter docks at the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal at 49 Cruise Terminal Drive, Pinkenba. This is her year-round homeport from 2025, making her Carnival Australia’s primary Brisbane ship.

Carnival Encounter FAQs

How old is the Carnival Encounter?

Carnival Encounter entered service in 2002 as Princess Cruises’ Star Princess, which makes her 24 years old in 2026. She rebranded as P&O Australia’s Pacific Encounter in 2021 and then joined the Carnival fleet in 2025, refurbished ahead of her Brisbane debut.

How many passengers can the Carnival Encounter carry?

Carnival Encounter carries 2,600 guests at lower-berth capacity (standard double occupancy) and up to 3,115 passengers when every upper berth and sofa bed is filled. Around 1,100 crew look after you on board.

How long is the Carnival Encounter?

Carnival Encounter measures 290 metres (951 feet) in overall length, with a hull beam of 36 metres (118 feet).

What are the noisy rooms to avoid on the Carnival Encounter?

Four cabin positions on the Carnival Encounter are worth avoiding if you’re a light sleeper, based on researched architectural patterns for sister ship Carnival Adventure that transfer across the Grand-class hull:

1. Forward cabins on Decks 5 to 8, which sit close to the anchor windlass and bow thrusters that operate at port arrivals and are exposed to hull-slap in heavier seas.
2. Mid-ship cabins on Deck 12, directly below the Pantry buffet and the Lido pool deck on Deck 14. These pick up deck-chair scraping from the pool above and early-morning galley operations from the buffet.
3. Cabins adjacent to the self-service launderettes on Deck 8 and Deck 12, where you can hear washer and dryer vibration plus corridor foot traffic from passengers using the shared laundry.
4. Starboard forward cabins on Deck 14, directly beneath the Fitness Centre, which pick up treadmill vibration and gym foot-fall overhead.

Call Cruise Guru on 13 13 03, use Contact Us, or submit a Request a Call Back form, and a consultant can advise on specific deck and cabin numbers within the category you are considering.

Does the Carnival Encounter have a water slide?

Yes, Carnival Encounter has waterslides on the upper decks alongside the ship’s four pools. They’re included in your cruise fare and open during scheduled pool hours, weather permitting.

Does the Carnival Encounter sail to New Zealand?

No, Carnival Encounter does not currently operate New Zealand cruise itineraries. Her year-round Brisbane homeport focuses on Queensland coastal getaways, the Great Barrier Reef, and South Pacific voyages to Vanuatu and New Caledonia. For New Zealand cruises in the Carnival fleet, Carnival Splendor is the Sydney-homeported option.