Cruise ships finally return to Port Vila in huge win for Vanuatu after earthquake

• Cruise ships will finally be able to return to Port Vila, for the first time since the city suffered an earthquake in December 2024.
• Ships will use a temporary tendering port to get cruisers onto the shore.
• This will inject much-needed tourism dollars into a destination that relies on cruise.

Carnival Australia has confirmed it is planning to cruise to Port Vila in Vanuatu for the first time since the devastating earthquake seven months ago.

Carnival Adventure will visit the port on August 8, marking the first cruise ship to return to the city since December last year. Carnival Encounter and Carnival Splendor will then be visiting later in the month, with the ships wasting no time in getting back to business as usual.

Since the tragic December 2024 earthquake, cruise ships haven’t been able to visit Port Vila, Vanuatu. This has meant fewer tourism dollars flowing into the town. The money is badly needed to help rebuild after the devastating earthquake. 

The city had previously announced a temporary port a few months ago, but after consulting with cruise lines, it was deemed not ready to take passengers.

However, many have been hard at work to make the return of ships happen, and now, once again, Port Vila will be able to greet cruise ship passengers, and cruise ship passengers will be able to enjoy the charm and nature of the Vanuatu capital.

The situation in Port Vila won’t yet be quite the same. The road from the cruise terminal to the centre of the city is still damaged, meaning that guests won’t be able to disembark at the cruise terminal like before.

Instead, a temporary tender port has been arranged, so that cruise passengers can still enter the town even as it continues repairing the earthquake damage.

Carnival Cruise Line said in a statement: “We are delighted to be returning to Port Vila, to bring a much-needed economic boost to the city following the devastating earthquake late last year.

“The Port Vila community has done it tough without cruise visitors this year, so it’s great that Carnival guests will be back from August, to help lift spirits, while spending money with local businesses.”

See our Vanuatu guide here.