Papua New Guinea Cruises: Sailings, Embarkations & Ports of Call
18 ships from 12 cruise lines
Papua New Guinea cruises at a glance
Waterways Cruise lists 77 upcoming sailings on 18 ships from 12 cruise lines visiting Papua New Guinea, calling at 8 places. Cruises can start in Port Moresby and end in Port Moresby. Of 77 upcoming sailings, 3 start in Papua New Guinea and 3 end there. More South Pacific & Australia cruises.
Reviewed and fact-checked by J. Richard · About this page · About us
Compare Papua New Guinea cruise lines
See every Papua New Guinea cruise line by ocean and river and by ultra-luxury, luxury, premium and contemporary style, with fares, cruise lengths, ships and ports.
About Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea is not a place you visit by accident. For the traveler it is an expedition-cruise destination of extraordinary cultural and natural density: more than 800 languages, active volcanoes, coral atolls, WWII sites, and Sepik River villages. It rewards flexibility and small-ship travel, but demands caution in cities, good health preparation, and respect for local customs. This package focuses on the coastal and island PNG that expedition cruise ships visit—Milne Bay, the Trobriands, New Britain, and the Sepik—rather than the sometimes-difficult urban interior.
Typical routes
- Milne Bay & Louisiade Archipelago—Alotau, Trobriand Islands, Conflict Islands, Samarai, and outlying coral atolls. Best for snorkeling, Massim culture, WWII sites, and small-ship expedition cruising.
- Bismarck Sea & Sepik Coast—Rabaul, Madang, Wewak, and Sepik River villages. Best for volcanoes, WWII history, Sepik art, and river/culture excursions.
Ports overview
Papua New Guinea is served almost entirely by expedition cruise ships rather than conventional cruise liners. Calls are usually anchorages or small-wharf stops, with Zodiacs or local canoes bringing passengers ashore. The two main cruising zones are the Milne Bay/Louisiade archipelago and the Bismarck Sea/Sepik coast.
Cruise season
May–November is the main cruise season: drier southeast trade winds, calmer seas, and clearer skies. December–April is the wet season; some Sepik and island landings can be affected, and tropical cyclones are rare but possible.
Find your Papua New Guinea sailing
Upcoming sailings calling at Papua New Guinea, earliest departure first.
24 Days One-Way from Cairns to Benoa
Visits Papua New Guinea. Also visits Australia, Indonesia
Emerald Xara
13 Days One-Way from Cairns to Port Moresby
Ends in Papua New Guinea. Also visits Australia
Emerald Xara
24 Days One-Way from Port Moresby to Darwin
Starts in Papua New Guinea. Also visits Indonesia, Australia
Emerald Xara
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14 Days One-Way from Port Moresby to Benoa
Starts in Papua New Guinea. Also visits Indonesia
Emerald Xara
24 Days One-Way from Lautoka to Hong Kong
Visits Papua New Guinea. Also visits Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands
Scenic Eclipse 2
Where Papua New Guinea cruises start and end
Embarkation ports (1)
Disembarkation ports (1)
Port Moresby (8)
Ships by type: 17 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 Papua New Guinea cruise
Papua New Guinea cruise port guide
Cruise ports, what to see, history and practical advice.
Papua New Guinea cruise port guide →More South Pacific & Australia cruises
Australia · French Polynesia · Society Islands French Polynesia · Fiji · New Zealand · Vanuatu · Cook Islands · New Caledonia
Frequently asked questions about Papua New Guinea cruises
How many places do cruises visit in Papua New Guinea?
8 Papua New Guinea places are visited by 18 ships from 12 cruise lines.
When is the best time to take a Papua New Guinea cruise?
May–November is the main cruise season: drier southeast trade winds, calmer seas, and clearer skies. December–April is the wet season; some Sepik and island landings can be affected, and tropical cyclones are rare but possible.
Sources and further reading
Background on Papua New Guinea draws on these references. Sailing, fare and port data come from cruise line itineraries and are refreshed regularly.
- CIA: Papua New Guinea - The World Factbook
- Encyclopaedia Britannica: Papua New Guinea
- Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority: Papua New Guinea Travel
- Lonely Planet: Papua New Guinea
- U.S. Department of State: Papua New Guinea International Travel Information
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 25, 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!