Cook Islands Cruises: Sailings, Embarkations & Ports of Call
23 ships from 13 cruise lines
Cook Islands cruises at a glance
Waterways Cruise lists 70 upcoming sailings on 23 ships from 13 cruise lines visiting Cook Islands, calling at 3 places. Cruises visit Cook Islands as a port of call and do not start or end here. More South Pacific & Australia cruises.
Reviewed and fact-checked by J. Richard · About this page · About us
Compare Cook Islands cruise lines
See every Cook Islands cruise line by ocean and river and by ultra-luxury, luxury, premium and contemporary style, with fares, cruise lengths, ships and ports.
About Cook Islands
The Cook Islands offer a rare, unhurried slice of Polynesia for milestone travellers who want to feel far away without feeling managed. There are no mega-ships, no pier-side souvenir villages, and no crowded tenders to disgorge thousands of passengers. Instead, small expedition and luxury cruise lines visit a handful of islands, anchoring in turquoise lagoons and relying on local boats and local guides. Rarotonga provides cultural context, Aitutaki delivers one of the world's most beautiful lagoons, and less-visited islands like Atiu and Mangaia reward travellers who are curious, mobile, and comfortable with the unexpected.
Typical routes
- Society Islands ↔ Southern Cook Islands — 10- to 14-night loops from Tahiti or Papeete to Moorea, Bora Bora, and sometimes Raiatea, then Rarotonga and Aitutaki.
- Longer South Pacific expedition voyages from New Zealand, Fiji, or French Polynesia that include remote atolls such as Palmerston, Manihiki, or Penrhyn, as well as the Southern Cooks.
Ports overview
Cruising in the Cook Islands is expedition and small-ship cruising, not mega-ship cruising. There are no large deep-water cruise terminals; nearly every call involves anchoring and tendering. Weather is the deciding factor, and itineraries can change with little notice. The rewards are uncrowded lagoons, genuine village hospitality, and shore experiences arranged by local operators.
Cruise season
May–October is the drier, cooler, and safer cruising season; November–April is the wet/cyclone season, and many expedition lines reposition or omit the Cook Islands.
Find your Cook Islands sailing
Upcoming sailings calling at Cook Islands, earliest departure first.
21 Days One-Way from Auckland to Lautoka
Visits Cook Islands. Also visits New Zealand, French Polynesia, Society Islands French Polynesia
ms Europa 2
17 Days One-Way from Noumea to Papeete
Visits Cook Islands. Also visits New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji
Hanseatic Spirit
14 Days One-Way from Papeete to Lautoka
Visits Cook Islands. Also visits French Polynesia, Niue, Tonga
Silver Cloud
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19 Days One-Way from Papeete to Noumea
Visits Cook Islands. Also visits French Polynesia, Society Islands French Polynesia, Tonga
Hanseatic Spirit
13 Days One-Way from Lautoka to Papeete
Visits Cook Islands. Also visits Fiji, Tonga, French Polynesia
Paul Gauguin
17 Days One-Way from Papeete to Lautoka
Visits Cook Islands. Also visits French Polynesia, Society Islands French Polynesia, Niue
National Geographic Resolution
13 Days One-Way from Lautoka to Papeete
Visits Cook Islands. Also visits Fiji, Tutuila Island American Samoa, Samoa
Norwegian Spirit
9 Days Papeete, French Polynesia Round Trip
Visits Cook Islands. Also visits French Polynesia, Society Islands French Polynesia
Norwegian Spirit
22 Days One-Way from Papeete to Lautoka
Visits Cook Islands. Also visits French Polynesia, Society Islands French Polynesia, Tongatapu Island Tonga
Star Breeze
15 Days One-Way from Papeete to Lautoka
Visits Cook Islands. Also visits French Polynesia, Society Islands French Polynesia, Tongatapu Island Tonga
Star Breeze
12 Days One-Way from Lautoka to Papeete
Visits Cook Islands. Also visits Fiji, Tongatapu Island Tonga, French Polynesia
Star Breeze
19 Days One-Way from Lautoka to Papeete
Visits Cook Islands. Also visits Fiji, Tongatapu Island Tonga, French Polynesia
Star Breeze
Where Cook Islands cruises start and end
Embarkation ports (0)
No cruises start here.
Disembarkation ports (0)
No cruises end here.
Ships by type: 21 ocean 3 expedition · a ship that visits several places here is counted once; an expedition ship that also sails as an ocean ship appears under both types.
Plan your Cook Islands cruise
Cook Islands cruise port guide
Cruise ports, what to see, history and practical advice.
Cook Islands cruise port guide →More South Pacific & Australia cruises
Australia · French Polynesia · Society Islands French Polynesia · Fiji · New Zealand · Vanuatu · New Caledonia · Papua New Guinea
Frequently asked questions about Cook Islands cruises
How many places do cruises visit in Cook Islands?
3 Cook Islands places are visited by 23 ships from 13 cruise lines.
When is the best time to take a Cook Islands cruise?
May–October is the drier, cooler, and safer cruising season; November–April is the wet/cyclone season, and many expedition lines reposition or omit the Cook Islands.
Sources and further reading
Background on Cook Islands draws on these references. Sailing, fare and port data come from cruise line itineraries and are refreshed regularly.
- CIA World Factbook: Cook Islands
- Encyclopaedia Britannica: Cook Islands
- Cook Islands Tourism: Welcome to the Cook Islands
- Lonely Planet: Cook Islands
- Cruise Critic: Cook Islands Cruise Ports
Created by the Waterways Cruise content team and reviewed and fact-checked by J. Richard, Sr. Cruise Travel Agent and Founder of Waterways Cruise.
Published September 9, 2026 · Last updated October 21, 2026
Fares, availability and itineraries change often. Confirm current details with your cruise line or a Waterways Cruise agent before you book.
Cruise Disclosure
Good to know: Prices are quoted per person based on double occupancy and include all applicable taxes and fees. Availability and prices can change quickly, so please continue through the booking process to confirm the latest availability and pricing before you pay.
We work hard to make sure everything on this website is accurate and up to date. However, some information may be incomplete or inaccurate, including details supplied by third parties or otherwise outside our control, and we cannot be held responsible for such errors. We work with 41 cruise line operators, that are providing cruises on 585 ships visiting 1,731 ports across 7,194 unique cruises, creating 13,822 itineraries. This is a great deal of data to continually update daily from our suppliers. If a pricing error, misrepresentation, or omission occurs, we reserve the right to adjust the pricing, correct the information, or cancel or decline any booking made in error, with notice to you. Thank you for your understanding!