Vanuatu Cruises: Sailings, Embarkations & Ports of Call
31 ships from 14 cruise lines
Vanuatu cruises at a glance
Waterways Cruise lists 99 upcoming sailings on 31 ships from 14 cruise lines visiting Vanuatu, calling at 8 places. Cruises visit Vanuatu 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 Vanuatu cruise lines
See every Vanuatu cruise line by ocean and river and by ultra-luxury, luxury, premium and contemporary style, with fares, cruise lengths, ships and ports.
About Vanuatu
Vanuatu is the South Pacific’s most raw and rewarding destination: an active volcano you can stand above at sunset, WWII wrecks, coral-rich beaches, and a Melanesian culture built on kastom and wantok rather than mass tourism. It is not a place for passengers who want polished terminals and predictable schedules, but for milestone travellers it offers a rare sense of discovery. Cruise ships use tender landings more often than docks, so flexibility and small-group excursions are the key to an unhurried experience.
Typical routes
- South Pacific Fly-Cruise: 7-14 day loops from Brisbane, Sydney or Auckland calling at Port Vila, Mystery Island, Champagne Beach/Luganville, often with Lifou or Nouméa in New Caledonia.
- Melanesian Expedition: 12-20 day voyages from Australia or Fiji using smaller expedition ships to include Espiritu Santo, Tanna, Pentecost and rarely visited outer islands.
Ports overview
Vanuatu is a tender-heavy destination rather than a port of giant terminals. Cruise ships use Port Vila and Luganville as anchorages or small-craft wharves, and turn beach landings such as Champagne Beach and Mystery Island into all-day water days. Most sailings arrive from Australia or New Caledonia and blend Vanuatu with Fiji and New Caledonia.
Cruise season
May-October is the most comfortable for small-ship and expedition travel; November-April is cyclone season, though Australian market cruises still sail and will alter ports as needed.
Find your Vanuatu sailing
Upcoming sailings calling at Vanuatu, earliest departure first.
20 Days One-Way from Papeete to Sydney
Visits Vanuatu. Also visits French Polynesia, Society Islands French Polynesia, Tutuila Island American Samoa
Seven Seas Splendor
63 Days One-Way from Sydney to Los Angeles
Visits Vanuatu. Also visits Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia
Seabourn Quest
82 Days One-Way from Sydney to Miami
Visits Vanuatu. Also visits Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia
Seabourn Quest
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14 Days Sydney, Australia Round Trip
Visits Vanuatu. Also visits Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia
Grand Princess
17 Days One-Way from Noumea to Papeete
Visits Vanuatu. Also visits New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga
Hanseatic Spirit
15 Days Sydney, Australia Round Trip
Visits Vanuatu. Also visits Australia, New Caledonia, Fiji
Celebrity Edge
18 Days One-Way from Darwin to Lautoka
Visits Vanuatu. Also visits Australia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands
Paul Gauguin
19 Days One-Way from Papeete to Noumea
Visits Vanuatu. Also visits French Polynesia, Society Islands French Polynesia, Cook Islands
Hanseatic Spirit
23 Days One-Way from Lautoka to Hong Kong
Visits Vanuatu. Also visits Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Palau
ms Europa 2
19 Days One-Way from Lautoka to Guam Island Marianas
Visits Vanuatu. Also visits Fiji, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea
Silver Cloud
27 Days One-Way from Brisbane to Los Angeles
Visits Vanuatu. Also visits Australia, New Caledonia, Fiji
Seabourn Quest
46 Days One-Way from Brisbane to Miami
Visits Vanuatu. Also visits Australia, New Caledonia, Fiji
Seabourn Quest
Where Vanuatu cruises start and end
Embarkation ports (0)
No cruises start here.
Disembarkation ports (0)
No cruises end here.
Ships by type: 30 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 Vanuatu cruise
Vanuatu cruise port guide
Cruise ports, what to see, history and practical advice.
Vanuatu cruise port guide →More South Pacific & Australia cruises
Australia · French Polynesia · Society Islands French Polynesia · Fiji · New Zealand · Cook Islands · New Caledonia · Papua New Guinea
Frequently asked questions about Vanuatu cruises
How many places do cruises visit in Vanuatu?
8 Vanuatu places are visited by 31 ships from 14 cruise lines.
When is the best time to take a Vanuatu cruise?
May-October is the most comfortable for small-ship and expedition travel; November-April is cyclone season, though Australian market cruises still sail and will alter ports as needed.
Sources and further reading
Background on Vanuatu draws on these references. Sailing, fare and port data come from cruise line itineraries and are refreshed regularly.
- CIA World Factbook: Vanuatu
- Encyclopaedia Britannica: Vanuatu
- Vanuatu Tourism Office: Visit Vanuatu
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Chief Roi Mata’s Domain
- Lonely Planet: Vanuatu
- Ponant: South Pacific and Vanuatu expeditions
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 31, 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!