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.
16 Days One-Way from Lautoka to Melbourne
Visits Vanuatu. Also visits Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand
Crystal Symphony
49 Days One-Way from Auckland to Seattle
Visits Vanuatu. Also visits New Zealand, Australia, New Caledonia
ms Westerdam
35 Days One-Way from Sydney to Seattle
Visits Vanuatu. Also visits Australia, New Caledonia, Fiji
ms Westerdam
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26 Days One-Way from Papeete to Cairns
Visits Vanuatu. Also visits French Polynesia, Society Islands French Polynesia, Cook Islands
Scenic Eclipse 2
14 Days One-Way from Lautoka to Cairns
Visits Vanuatu. Also visits Fiji, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea
Scenic Eclipse 2
24 Days One-Way from Lautoka to Darwin
Visits Vanuatu. Also visits Fiji, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea
Scenic Eclipse 2
13 Days One-Way from Sydney to Brisbane
Visits Vanuatu. Also visits Australia, Fiji
Grand Princess
24 Days One-Way from Darwin to Lautoka
Visits Vanuatu. Also visits Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea
Silver Cloud
18 Days One-Way from Tokyo to Lautoka
Visits Vanuatu. Also visits Japan, United States, Fiji
Silver Whisper
28 Days One-Way from Tokyo to Papeete
Visits Vanuatu. Also visits Japan, United States, Fiji
Silver Whisper
17 Days One-Way from Sydney to Papeete
Visits Vanuatu. Also visits Australia, New Caledonia, Fiji
Seven Seas Explorer
22 Days One-Way from Papeete to Auckland
Visits Vanuatu. Also visits French Polynesia, Society Islands French Polynesia, Samoa
Seven Seas Explorer
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!