Carnival Adventure Class
Carnival Encounter
The former Star Princess, sailing year-round from Brisbane and refitted in Carnival colours in 2026.
2,600 passengersYear-round from Brisbane
The ship in figures
290 m
Length (951 ft)
13
Decks
1,100
Crew members
2,600
passengers (double occupancy)
up to 3,115 at full capacity
2.4 passengers per crew member. For every 3 crew members (in orange) there are about 7 passengers.
Ship history
- 2002Year builtFincantieri (Monfalcone, Italy)
- Mar 10, 2002Maiden voyageFrom Los Angeles, to the Mexican Riviera
- 2026Last refurbishment
The only cruise ship based year-round in Brisbane, with P&O Australia favourites and Carnival classics on board.
Carnival Encounter was delivered by Fincantieri in 2002 as Star Princess, a Grand-class ship for Princess Cruises. She sailed for P&O Cruises Australia as Pacific Encounter from 2022 and joined Carnival Cruise Line in March 2025, becoming the only cruise ship based year-round in Brisbane. In a dry dock in Singapore in early 2026 she received Carnival's red, white and blue livery, a new Cloud 9 Spa Thermal Suite and refreshed pool decks. She sails on 3 to 12 night cruises to Queensland and the South Pacific.
Attractions
- 1EDGE Adventure ParkA ropes course on the top decks with a zipline, cargo net, climbing wall and abseiling (extra charge).
- 2Twin Racer waterslidesTwo side-by-side racing slides on Deck 16, polished in the 2026 dry dock for more speed.
- 3Sports CourtA multi-sport court, resurfaced with new hoops and netting in 2026.
- 4Warehouse ArcadeVideo and arcade games for all ages (extra charge).
- 5CasinoSlot machines and table games on the entertainment decks.
Shows
- Marquee TheatreThe three-level main theatre at the bow, with the Playlist Productions shows Rock Revolution: Summer of 69 and Broadway Beats.
- Black CircusA cabaret theatre at the stern; it stages Blanc de Blanc Uncorked, an adults-only show of comedy, circus and burlesque.
- The Punchliner Comedy ClubCarnival's stand-up comedy sets, included in the fare.
- Dear Future HusbandA music show kept in the line-up after the 2026 dry dock; The Voice of the Ocean runs on cruises of seven nights or more.
- Seaside TheaterAn outdoor LED screen by the pool for Dive-In Movies with complimentary popcorn.
- Encounter HotelA piano bar by day that turns into an English-style pub with live music at night.
Restaurants & bars
- WaterfrontMain dining room with modern Australian cuisine, included in the fare.
- Angelo'sIncluded Italian restaurant with classic pasta dishes and desserts such as tiramisu.
- Dragon LadyIncluded restaurant with East Asian dishes served banquet-style.
- The PantryFood court style buffet with stalls of Australian and international cuisine.
- Fahrenheit 555Carnival's steakhouse, open since May 2026 in place of Luke's Bar & Grill (extra charge).
- Bonsai Sushi ExpressMade-to-order sushi, sashimi, rolls and poke bowls (extra charge).
Accommodation
Byron Beach Suites
The top suite range, from the Byron Beach Presidential Suite to Grand, Vista and Ocean suites.
Ocean Suite
A suite with a separate sitting area and private balcony.
Aft-View Extended Balcony
Cabins at the stern with a larger balcony facing the ship's wake.
Balcony
Standard cabins with a private balcony.
Porthole and Ocean View
Outside cabins with a porthole or window.
Interior
Inside cabins without a window.
Kids & families
- Camp OceanCarnival's ocean-themed kids club for ages 2 to 11, included in the fare.
- Circle "C"The club for young teens aged 12 to 14, with games, dance parties and outdoor movies.
- Club O2The teen lounge for ages 15 to 17, with movies, video games, karaoke and parties.
Spa & wellness
- Cloud 9 SpaSpa and salon with massages, facials and beauty treatments (extra charge).
- Thermal SuiteAdded to Cloud 9 Spa in 2026, with saunas, steam rooms and heated thermal loungers (extra charge).
- OasisAn adults-only retreat at the stern with its own pool and bar, included in the fare.
- Byron Beach ClubAn adults-only club on the top decks with a pool, whirlpools and private cabanas (extra charge).
- Fitness CenterGym with cardio and weight equipment and fitness classes.
Sustainability
The 2026 dry dock added energy efficiency upgrades to the galleys, laundry and cold rooms.
In pictures
