Carnival Encounter vs Carnival Luminosa – which one should you book?

Since Brisbane’s new international cruise terminal opened, Carnival has been by far the most prolific line out of the Queensland capital. Carnival has been sailing year-round out of Brisbane with Carnival Encounter, and bringing in Carnival Luminosa to join it for about another six months of the year.  

This means cruisers are often faced with the difficult decision of choosing to cruise on Encounter or Luminosa. 

The decision is made more difficult because while both ships are Carnival, they have vastly different histories and backstories.

Carnival Encounter is a recent recruit for Carnival, coming from P&O Cruises Australia after it was merged into Carnival Cruise Line. It got an initial touch up, as well as a recent drydock. 

Luminosa, on the other hand, comes from Costa Cruises. It also joined the fleet fairly recently, switching to Carnival Cruise Line about four years ago. However, Luminosa’s transition period gave it the chance to transform mostly into a typical Carnival ship, whereas Encounter remains largely with the venues, traits and lay-out of a P&O Australia ship. 

The good news is that both ships sail out of Brisbane and offer the cheapest itineraries in all of Australia, so if you wanted to, you could try out both ships on shorter cruises and see which one takes your fancy.

However, for those looking to take the leap and book their first Carnival cruise out of Brisbane, Cruise Passenger has put together this guide to help you decide which ship could be for you. 

Waterslides and Edge Adventure Park

Given that many who cruise with Carnival do so with young kids, it’s worth mentioning right off the bat a big advantage that Carnival Encounter has over Luminosa is that it has Edge Adventure Park and waterslides, which Luminosa does not have.

Water slides are of course a cruise ship favourite and most Carnival ships do have them, but Luminosa does not, and that should be a consideration for those going with younger children who may be looking forward to enjoying waterslides. 

Edge Adventure Park has more than just waterslides too. It has ziplines, bridge walks, rock climbing and more and makes a great space for kids and teens to have a wild time at sea. 

If the criteria for your cruise strictly involves your kids having as much to do as possible, particularly in the realm of adventure activities, then Encounter is probably the ship for you. 

The classic Carnival experience 

If you’re a regular Carnival cruiser and you’ve already cruised with Carnival Splendor or other Carnival ships around the world, then you should be aware that what you’ll get on Carnival Encounter is a different experience. Apart from just seeing unfamiliar venues, the ship has a different layout, the perks you’re used to may not be the same and the ship does have a different feel.

This isn’t necessarily a negative, sailing with Carnival Encounter gives you the chance to try something new that’s within the realms of the Carnival experience if that’s what you’re looking for. However, if you’re adjusted to the classic Carnival experience and that’s what you’re looking for, then you’ll probably want to opt for Carnival Luminosa and you can be assured that you’ll receive a classic and polished Carnival experience. 

The venues you should think about

As mentioned above, despite both being Carnival ships sailing out of the same port, the venues and restaurants you’ll find onboard are completely different due to Carnival Encounter still maintaining most of its venues from its time as part of the fleet of P&O Australia.

For now, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse and Bonsai Sushi Express are the only restaurants that can be found on both ships.

Luminosa has Carnival classics like Carnival Deli, Lido Buffet, Pizzeria del Capitano, JavaBlue, the typical main dining room and more. Whereas on Encounter you’ll find restaurants from the P&O days like Angelo’s, Dragon Lady, The Pantry, Waterfront Restaurant, Luke’s Burgers and more. The ships are fairly evenly matched in the amount of dining options dining, but the restaurants themselves are distinctly different. 

Similarly with bars and clubs, while you’ll find a similar vibe on both, the venues themselves are different. Luminosa has a bit more in the way of cocktail bars, whereas Encounter brings more of a party atmosphere, but the bar scene on both ships is versatile and you’ll be able to find the kind of energy that you’re looking for. 

The perks of it all

A big controversy for both Carnival Encounter and Carnival Adventure since coming over from P&O is that they don’t quite include all the perks that you would generally be accustomed to on a Carnival ship. 

The perks that are most commonly mentioned are 24/7 free pizza slices and free soft serve. These are two perks beloved by Carnival cruisers and while you can get free pizza on Encounter, it’s only in a specific time period, not with the 24/7 freedom of other ships. 

In general, a Carnival Encounter fare doesn’t include all the perks of a Luminosa fare or those of other ships. But this perhaps shouldn’t be your only deciding factor as there are many things that Encounter has which Luminosa doesn’t – but it’s a worthy consideration.

If you are looking for that Carnival feeling of service and perks, Luminosa would be the ship to go for. 

Consider dry dock timing 

Carnival Encounter has just gone through a dry dock a couple of months ago, which in theory should mean that it’s a bit more tidy and polished than Luminosa. However, some critics have mentioned that they feel the upgrade was underwhelming.

In saying this, certain areas of the ship have definitely been redone, especially pools and hot tubs, which does add a certain polish to Encounter at the moment.

However, depending on when you plan to travel, Luminosa will be sailing to Singapore for a dry dock from October 23, 2026 and getting about a month’s worth of work done. After this she’ll begin sailing for the 2026/27 season, meaning Aussies will have the chance to sail right after her dry dock and you’d assume she’ll be polished up and potentially even with some new or reworked venues. 

If you want a slightly more touched up ship right now Carnival Encounter would be the go, but from October onwards, Luminosa would be the move. 

What time of the year are you sailing? 

As mentioned, Carnival Encounter sails year-round compared to Luminosa which is only here for the summer and shoulder months. 

Therefore, if you’re looking to cruise outside of the main months, your decision is of course already made for you, but cruising outside of the main Aussie wave season is a consideration all on its own.

Cruising to the Great Barrier Reef or to the South Pacific during the Australian winter actually provides another advantage beyond just snatching a potential deal or beating the crowds. It also offers the chance to visit these tropical areas outside of the hurricane season, which generally means better weather and less chance of having port days cancelled due to rain or poor sea conditions. 

Therefore, if you’re particularly looking to cruise to a tropical destination, you might want to consider the off-season and cruise with Carnival Encounter.

Pools and hot tubs 

If a big part of your cruise experience is spending time in pools and hot tubs, then Carnival Encounter is probably the ship for you, as its pools and hot tubs outnumber Luminosa‘s.

Encounter has four pools and eight hot tubs, compared to Luminosa with two pools and four hot tubs. 

The larger number of pools means you can also find less crowds, even considering that Encounter is the larger ship.

As a bonus, Encounter’s recent dry dock involved restoring pool facilities meaning that the pools and hot tubs are particularly polished up at the moment. Therefore, if you love lounging by the pool and rate it as one of the most important points of your holiday, go with Encounter.

The verdict

• For the most classic Carnival experience, go with Luminosa. 
• If waterslides and a waterpark are a particular draw, choose Encounter. 
• If you want the most perks possible, like included meals, pizza and soft serve, go with Luminosa.
• In terms of pure things to do and entertainment, Encounter is your best bet. 
• If you want to enjoy a ship right off a dry dock, sail in the next summer season with Luminosa.
• If your sailing to the tropics, consider a winter cruise with Encounter.