Getting ashore
Papeete is usually a dock stop.
Most ships dock at Papeete, which usually makes the day simpler: walk off the ship, meet your tour, and get back on board without tender queues.
French Polynesia
Cruises from Papeete
Papeete is a cruise embarkation gateway with moderate cruise traffic, typically smaller vessels, and departures throughout the year, but concentrated in January, February, April, October, November, and December.
Usually docks
Moderate traffic
Cruises start or end here
Smaller ships
What to expect in Papeete
How much time will you have?
About 17h 30m is typical
Most cruises spend 15h to 17h 59m in Papeete, which makes it a relatively long port day compared with many stops.
How busy does Papeete get?
Some dates are noticeably busier than others.
Multiple ships are in port on roughly 20% of days, so the exact date can change the port experience considerably.
- Typical day: ~700 passengers
- Busy day: 3,200+ passengers
- Multiple ships on 20% of days
When to cruise from Papeete
Cruises depart throughout the year, with the busiest season from January, February, April, October, November, and December.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Departures
20
14
13
16
12
14
11
15
15
23
16
12
Price/night
$457
$594
$530
$682
$690
$593
$546
$485
$717
$690
$561
$556
↑
Cheapest
↑
Priciest
Check your date
November 2026
Jump
Better value
Pricier
Sailings
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Where Papeete fits into a cruise
Cruises from Papeete most commonly head into Tahiti & French Polynesia itineraries, often starting with Moorea and Raiatea .
Commonly arrives from
Papeete
Commonly continues to
Who sails here?
Ships visiting Papeete typically carry around 352 guests, with Star Breeze, Wind Star, and Paul Gauguin calling most often.
Most frequently visiting ships
- 1 Star Breeze 113 calls
- 2 Wind Star 31 calls
- 3 Paul Gauguin 29 calls
- 4 MSC Magnifica 24 calls
- 5 Silver Whisper 22 calls
- 6 Vasco Da Gama 14 calls
Next port calls
Nov 1 Le Jacques Cartier · Silver Whisper
Nov 5 Star Breeze
Nov 7 Paul Gauguin
Nov 12 Star Breeze
Nov 14 Paul Gauguin
Best current deals from Papeete
These departures currently offer some of the best prices for comparable sailings.
Seabourn Pursuit
Papeete → Anaa → Easter Island → San Antonio
Sep 29, 2027 · 19 nights
$17,998 suite · $947/night
40% below typical · 3-month low
Silver Whisper
Papeete → Raiatea → Kahului → Honolulu
May 7, 2028 · 14 nights
$7,300 suite · $521/night
56% below typical · 3-month low
Silver Whisper
Papeete → Honolulu → Hilo → San Diego
Dec 6, 2028 · 17 nights
$4,500 suite · $265/night
61% below typical · 3-month low
Vasco Da Gama
Papeete → Huahine → Chan May → Ho Chi Minh City
Jan 22, 2027 · 62 nights
$12,134 oceanview · $196/night
32% below typical · Price trending down
Silver Whisper
Papeete → Huahine → Kahului → Honolulu
Apr 18, 2027 · 14 nights
$7,000 suite · $500/night
60% below typical · Price trending down
Star Breeze
Papeete → Fakarava → Papeete → Moorea
Dec 28, 2026 · 10 nights
$5,216 balcony · $522/night
30% below typical · 3-month lowCruise routes from Papeete
Tahiti & French Polynesia · Polynesia
Anaa → Fakarava → Pitcairn Island + 1 more
19 nights · Next Sep 29
From $17,998 suite · $947/night
Best departure: 40% below typical
1 upcoming departure · 1 ship
Japan
Papeete → Huahine → Bora Bora + 21 more
Next Jan 22
From $12,134 oceanview · $196/night
Best departure: 32% below typical
1 upcoming departure · 1 ship
Tahiti & French Polynesia · Hawaii
Huahine → Moorea → Rangiroa + 3 more
14 nights · Next Apr 18
From $7,000 suite · $500/night
Best departure: 60% below typical
1 upcoming departure · 1 ship
Tahiti & French Polynesia
Fakarava → Rangiroa → Motu Mahaea + 3 more
10 nights · Next Dec 28
From $5,216 balcony · $522/night
Best departure: 30% below typical
2 upcoming departures · 1 ship
Tahiti & French Polynesia
Raiatea → Motu Mahaea → Bora Bora + 2 more
7 nights · Next Jan 21
From $2,676 oceanview · $382/night
Best departure: 31% below typical
10 upcoming departures · 2 ships
East Asia
Papeete → Huahine → Bora Bora + 14 more
Next Jan 22
From $8,722 oceanview · $190/night
Best departure: 33% below typical
1 upcoming departure · 1 ship
FAQ about cruises from Papeete
What is the cheapest month to cruise from Papeete?
January currently has the lowest median nightly fares from Papeete.
When do cruises from Papeete usually get expensive?
September is currently the priciest month for upcoming departures from Papeete.
What itineraries are most common from Papeete?
The most common upcoming itinerary families from Papeete include Tahiti & French Polynesia One-Way: Anaa & Fakarava, Transpacific Crossing via Papeete, Huahine & Apia, and Tahiti & French Polynesia Repositioning: Huahine, Moorea & Hilo.
How far in advance should I book a cruise from Papeete?
Start tracking cruises from Papeete early, then book when a sailing moves below its typical range or hits a new recent low.
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