My first impression of boarding the rebranded Carnival Encounter is best summed up as “Same Same But Different.” Carnival Encounter was waiting at the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal wearing a new “outfit” (hull design) and, as we discovered, ready to show off. Boarding in Brisbane is way less appealing than the ship, with the dismal journey through industrial estates and the occasional waft of effluent from a waste recycling plant on the fringes of the port ready to welcome guests. On the plus side, the Port staff members are not just efficient, but also incredibly friendly, always ready with smiles and directions when needed, making my wife and I feel truly welcomed.

There is still no public transport available to get to you to and from the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal, so plan for a taxi, Uber or transfer if you aren’t able to drive out there yourself. If you are, the carparks at the terminal aren’t huge, so book ahead to avoid disappointment. If you want to stay overnight at a hotel that’s (reasonably) close to the terminal, you’ll find some suggestions here. There are also parking providers available near the terminal, so this is an option for last-minute planners.

Boarding on Carnival Encounter is done using the Carnival HUB App, which is available for both Apple and Android devices. This convenient option is something P&O Cruises didn’t offer and means you can check in online for a more streamlined boarding process, plan your onboard activities, and pre-book dining in advance. Another helpful inclusion in the app is free messaging without having to purchase a Wi-Fi package, which makes it easy to stay in touch with friends and family on the same cruise. If you’re old school, you can also have a printout of all your documents so staff can scan them on arrival.

If you’re travelling as a family, once onboard, head straight up to Deck 15 to register your children at the kids’ club and sign in for any activities or permissions that require an adult signature. Kids aged under two can attend the Turtles Kids Club, a brand-new childcare program offering story time, crafts, dancing, and more under the guidance of qualified childcare professionals. Nappy changing is included here if you provide nappies for your child. Unlike the kids club offerings for older children, the Turtle Kids Club costs AU$ 8 per hour, but it’s worth it for a little me time or a special night out.

Carnival also has a loyalty program, the VIPF Club, allowing you to earn points (24 per cruise) and accumulate status upgrades. Although the program provides minimal benefits for first-time users who don’t cruise frequently, it offers some attractive perks, including drinks, laundry, and other benefits, for regular cruisers in the higher membership tiers.

Carnival Encounter deck plan and finding your way around

We found the Carnival Encounter deck plan easy to follow. For anyone who had been on this ship before, either when it was sailing for Princess Cruises as Star Princess or Pacific Encounter for P&O Cruises, it would be even easier. Entering on Deck 5, we were greeted with The Lobby lounge and a glittering atrium that extended up to Decks 6 and 7. This area is designed to impress, and it succeeds. Also located here you’ll find the important Avalon Café for morning coffee and the two bars, Lilly’s and Charlie’s. Additionally, on Deck 5, we found the main restaurant, the Waterfront, a small library with novels available for borrowing while onboard, and the Destination Lounge, which has seating but no views. At the end of the Destination Lounge is the desk for Carnival Adventures, which can organize ship tours, such as a behind-the-scenes ship tour or shore excursions in port.

Before venturing any further, we went to our cabin located on Deck 10, where we found our cabin keys in the document holder next to our door. The cabin was a nice size and had the carpet, linens and soft furnishings from when the ship was sailing for P&O Cruises. The furniture and bathroom hadn’t changed from the Star Princess and P&O days and is looking a little dated. Australian power points and a USB charging port is available in the lamps beside the bed. These were added when the ship changed from Princess Cruises to P&O Cruises and they remain a handy addition.

Carnival Encounter muster drill

The procedure for the muster drill on Carnival Encounter is to watch the demonstration of putting on the life jacket on the TV in your cabin and then proceed to your muster station. Look at the back of your cabin door to find out where to go. The muster stations are staffed from the time you get onboard until sailaway so you can proceed there at your leisure to have your name checked off (don’t bring your life jacket). Watch the video and go sooner rather than later as it gets busier later in the day as more people get on board.

Carnival Encounter cabins

On Carnival Encounter, you can choose from an inside, ocean view or veranda cabins. No cabins have been renovated as part of the changeover but they are in good repair, even though they are looking a little dated. There is an excellent choice of family cabins onboard this ship, such as quad-share cabins with one bunk bed and an adjoining cabin with a single bed and a sofa bed that can be booked as interconnecting. Triple berth cabins with a single sofa bed and double bed, plus a family suite with two separate bedrooms that sleeps eight people are also available.

Suites on Carnival Encounter are great value. Not only are they particularly large, they also come with a spacious bathroom with a separate shower and tub with spa jets, plus a large balcony with a dining table for four and two sun loungers. The room’s fold-out couch can be separated from the main sleeping area with a privacy curtain, a bonus for those with kids.

Most suites come with access to the Carnival Cruise Lines’ Byron Beach Club, which includes a bottle of wine, a basket of fruit, fresh canapés, and two large bottles of water, plus a welcome letter listing all the amenities of the Byron Beach Club. Inclusions such as complimentary access to the Byron Beach Club is also provided, plus breakfast at Angelo’s in a special area. Plus a complimentary in-suite continental breakfast menu, an in-suite coffee machine, and last but not least, Byron Beach Club bathrobes and slippers to use during the cruise.

Carnival Encounter cabins to avoid

Passengers in Carnival Encounter cabins on the higher decks can hear the music and some noise from top-deck parties, such as 80s Rock and Glow Night, but these generally wrap up around 10 pm. As is the case on any ship, it’s also best to avoid cabins below the pool area or any of the restaurants for a quieter sleep. The balcony cabins along the sides of Carnival Encounter on Decks 9 and 10 have limited or no cover overhead, which means people in the cabins above can see you when they look down. Interconnecting cabins, like the one we had, can be noisy if your neighbours. Our neighbour was a super snorer which we could hear through the interconnecting door which was funny. That said, this interconnecting cabin issue is the same on every ship and is only really an issue if you’re a light sleeper which we’re not.

Carnival Encounter laundry

There is a self-service laundry on each cabin deck from level 8 to 12. These are great for longer cruises, but make sure you select a cabin that’s well away from these, as they do get busy and can have noise-related issues. All of the laundry rooms have ironing boards and irons for pressing your clothes.

Carnival Encounter dining

Carnival Encounter has pre-booked rotational dining, so everyone on our cruise got to experience the two complimentary specialty restaurants, Dragon Lady and Angelo’s, and the main Waterfront Restaurant. You can find the booking times in a letter in your stateroom upon boarding. If you wish to change your bookings or make a booking at one of the for-fee specialty restaurants, please visit Dragon Lady on Deck 6 to have your restaurant bookings made or reconfirmed. Stationed at the Dragon Lady restaurant are 4-6 staff members with a computer to assist with booking specialty and non-specialty restaurants for your cruise. Byron Beach Club guests get priority bookings and you can also book restaurants via the Carnival Cruises app.

Carnival Encounter offers a variety of dining options onboard, including several complimentary venues such as the Waterfront Restaurant and The Pantry, a buffet-style food court. One major change we noticed compared to when the ship was sailing as P&O Cruises is the Waterfront Restaurant is no longer open on boarding day. Head to Trattoria for free pizza to avoid the crowds at The Pantry buffet.

Extra-cost restaurants include Luke Mangan’s Salt Bar & Grill and the for-fee Trattoria. Quick eats are also available on the pool deck at Luke’s Burger Bar and the Pizzeria, plus cones and more at New Zealand Ice Cream. All of these venues are chargeable. The restaurants on board were very good at the paid and free venues we visited, aside from Luke’s Burger Bar which didn’t feel like it was worth the cost.

The standout during our sailing was Luke’s Bar and Grill, followed closely by our meal at Trattoria where the steak and the towering ice cream dessert were both standouts. We didn’t have dinner at Angelo’s as our cruise was only three nights but other passengers said they enjoyed it. Breakfast in Angelo’s is available for all guests, which is a change as this option used to only be available for Byron Beach Club guests. Byron Beach Club guests have a special entrance at Angelo’s on the left-hand side and extra complimentary hot dishes like eggs Benedict and minute steak and eggs.

When it came to lunch, we didn’t try the free pizza at the Trattoria, but other passengers said it was tasty and they enjoyed being able to sit and enjoy their meal in the fancy surroundings of this restaurant, which usually charges a fee. Our only disappointment food-wise was the rather bland $15 beef burger and chips we got at Luke’s Burger Bar on boarding day. It wasn’t a patch on the tasty (free) burgers at Guy’s Burger Joint on Carnival Splendour. If you’re keen for some lunchtime gourmet dining, Luke’s Bar and Grill is open on sea days which we enjoyed and highly recommend, although it’s the same menu as the one offered at dinner. There is also a new (for-a-fee) High Tea offering in Angelo’s on some sea days and Yum Cha at Dragon Lady.

Carnival Encounter bars and coffee

Coffee lovers can head to the Avalon Café or New Zealand Ice Cream for their daily early morning hit but have patience as even with multiple machines and good baristas, you do have lots of caffeine-starved passengers after an espresso style brew, especially in the mornings. The barista coffee onboard is very good and worth the spend but like most cruise ships, the free restaurant coffee is best avoided unless you’re (really, really) desperate for a caffeine hit.

The Bond Store bar on Deck 6 is decorated like a speakeasy and perfect for a romantic cocktail or small get-together. The Casino Bar is located in the casino (surprise, surprise) and is good for a grab-and-go beverage on your way to another lounge or bar unless you want to hit the tables or play the pokies.

Up on Deck 7 are the cool cat areas with the tropical decor of the Encounter Hotel beckoning with a dance floor and afternoon/evening entertainment. It reminded us of a trendy Cairns pub. Adjacent is the Ocean Bar which is a favourite hang-out in the mornings (coffee) and afternoons (drinks).

The place to be in my opinion is Piano Bar 88, a sophisticated bar and lounge that is ideal for late afternoon and pre-dinner drinks or a late evening nightcap. We liked the Encounter Hotel but often ended up somewhere else for a quiet drink as the hotel doubled as a trivia venue around this time on our sailing and was often full.

Way up on Deck 14 are the sun lovers’ drinking spots like the Pool Bar and Oasis Bar at the stern. The Oasis is an adults-only area on the ship with its own pool and sun deck and was a popular hangover recovery zone in the mornings on my sailing. Later in the day, people got into the cocktails and went for a dip in the pool. This area is free to use. Deck 15 has the Sky Bar which overlooks the main pool and big screen.

The Byron Beach Club, located on Deck 16, features its own pool, sun deck, bar, and cabanas. The ship’s ‘spoiler’ incorporates the Altitude Nightclub, which is also a great spot to chill out and read during the day with 180 degree views. It’s perfect for watching the sunset if you can get a seat and at night it’s a disco and late night party hangout.

Carnival Encounter activities

A must-do on Carnival Encounter is Blanc de Blanc, a strictly 18+ show that combines, comedy, circus and burlesque in the Black Circus Theatre. This sold out on the night we went and costs $30 each or $140 for 2 for VIP seating, which includes a bottle of Champagne and the best seats in the house.

The other big show on board our cruise was Musicology, a Broadway-style production of major music hits over the decades with all the sequins and feather action you expect on cruise ships. It is very entertaining and good for all ages. More entertainment was provided by guest performers in the main theatres and lounge and bar areas throughout the ship, all of it of a good quality.

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On Deck 16 there are plenty of activities for adrenaline junkies, such as a zip line, rock climbing, bridge roof walk, and walking the plank. This is an extra expense, either as a one-off fee per activity or as a package that lasts for your entire cruise. We loved our sunset bridge walk which involved walking on top of the ship’s bridge when the sun was setting. It wasn’t scary and there was a beautiful view!

There are waterslides on the pool deck plus pools and spas that are all worth a dip especially when the ship heads north or east for tropical island escapes. The main family pool on Deck 14 is popular for all and the separate kid’s pool has a retractable roof for weather protection. The last pool on Deck 14 in the Oasis which has a good view of the ship’s wake.

One pool area that is a bit of a secret is the one on Deck 15 which has a little kids’ water play area and a small, deep pool for their parents. Also on Deck 15 is the Byron Beach Club pool area which is accessible through the spa but only for Club guests. We’ve written a detailed Byron Beach Club review if you would like to know more.

More things to do on board are the daily activities such as trivia, game shows, and bingo that take place in the Encounter Hotel or Black Circus Theatre. All of these are very popular so get in early for seats. The ship also has a spa and a gym plus a dedicated workout studio for yoga and F45 fitness sessions (these classes cost extra). Free stretch and meditation classes are also available here.

Carnival Encounter offers an affordable and enjoyable cruise experience on a welcoming ship that overdelivers for the price. Multigenerational families in particular will love this ship as it offers something for everyone to enjoy, with no need to spend any extra unless you want to treat yourself to an extra special experience. With its glamorous bars, tasty fee-free specialty dining venues, attractive public spaces and first-class musical entertainment, Carnival Encounter offers an affordable mainstream cruise experience that over-delivers in multiple areas.

Disclosure: The writer travelled as a guest of Carnival Cruises and would not hesitate to cruise on this ship again as his own expense.

Want more great cruise advice? Check out our tips for choosing the perfect cruise, cruising with grandchildren, cruising with tweens and cruising with kids of all ages, solo cruising, the best activities on Ovation of the Seas, doing a Transatlantic cruise with kids, cruising in Australia or Papua New Guinea, Iceland cruise tips, cruising on a megaship, scoring a bargain cruise fare, cruising the Mediterranean, making the most of a cruise ship kids club, luxury cruising with kids, and the Byron Beach Club on Carnival Cruises. We have also reviewed Disney Wonder, Carnival Encounter, Celebrity Edge, Carnival Adventure, Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas, Carnival Splendor, Voyager of the Seas, Pacific Adventure, Nieuw Statendam, Viking Helgrim, Pride of America, Coral Expeditions in Tasmania and the Great Barrier Reef, Celebrity Solstice, and Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth.