Carnival has informed passengers that it will not dock cruise ships in Port Vila for the time being, six months after an earthquake caused widespread devastation across Vanuatu.
The town’s wharf and cruise terminal were affected by the landslides caused by the December 2024 earthquake. To safely resume operations, Vanuatu’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities signed a six-month contract with Tropical Agency Ltd and Knight Bridge to designate Port Vila as a temporary tender port.
This means that instead of docking at the main terminal, cruise ships will anchor offshore and transport passengers to land using smaller boats called tenders while Port Vila continues its longer-term work on restoring full cruise facilities. But Carnival Corporation & plc has chosen not to take that option.
Carnival notified guests sailing on Carnival Adventure and Carnival Splendor, due to visit Vanuatu in June, of itinerary changes that will see the ships spend extra time at sea, not in Port Vila.
Carnival said it continued to work closely with Vanuatu authorities on the return of cruise ships to Port Vil. Carnival Adventure is set to depart Sydney on 2 June on a 10-night Pacific Islands Cruise and was due to arrive in Port Vila on 8 June, with passengers informed yesterday of the changes.
“We are pleased we are a step closer to returning to Vila, because we know how important cruise ships are to the Vanuatu economy,” a spokesperson said. “Our priority is to ensure guests can have a safe, enjoyable experience while visiting Vila, so we will only resume calls when we are confident there are appropriate traffic management systems to handle large numbers of visitors to the city.
“Guests sailing on Carnival Adventure and Carnival Splendor due to visit Port Vila in June have been advised of their itinerary changes and we thank them for their understanding.
Given that cruise tourism is a significant contributor to the local economy, the lack of cruise facilities has put an extra strain on the town as it attempts to rebuild and recover.
As reported yesterday, a statement from the Vanuatu Public Works Department outlines why a temporary port is an important step and how it will be carried out.
“This vital initiative supports the resumption and growth of cruise tourism in Port Vila as the city undergoes recovery from recent earthquakes, including wharf road repairs and broader infrastructure restoration. While long-term developments are in progress, this temporary solution will help sustain tourism and economic activity.
“The Seafront will operate as a provisional tendering point for cruise ship passengers. Tropical Agency Ltd, a key shipping agency in Vanuatu, will manage the day-to-day operations of the temporary berth.
“This partnership directly supports the Vanuatu Government’s 100-Day Plan, aimed at driving sustainable tourism and supporting economic recovery efforts.”
