Le Jacques Cartier • Ponant Cruises
16-night Melanesia One-Way via Thursday Island, Samarai & Luganville
Aug 21, 2026 → Sep 6, 2026 • Darwin → Lautoka
From $12,168
$761/night
Great deal
↓34% below typical
Samarai
•
Melanesia
Cruise destination intelligence
•
Papua New Guinea
Cruises visiting Samarai
Quietest
Aug-Feb
Busiest
Aug-Feb
Upcoming
5+ upcoming port calls
Best time to visit: Aug-Feb (fewer ships)
Avoid: Peak winter weekends (crowded port days)
Based on 3+ sailings and upcoming visits • Updated daily
Find the best times to visit, avoid peak crowds, and explore itineraries that include Samarai.
Use the congestion calendar to compare timing first, then bring price into the decision once you narrow the right visit window.
Best cruises that visit Samarai
These sailings rank first because they visit Samarai while also showing stronger-than-typical pricing, healthy availability, and current value signals.
Paul Gauguin • Paul Gauguin Cruises
20-night Southeast Asia One-Way via Port Vila, Alotau & Dili
Jan 28, 2027 → Feb 17, 2027 • Lautoka → Benoa, Bali (Denpasar)
From $9,918
$496/night
Good value
↓13% below typical
Paul Gauguin • Paul Gauguin Cruises
17-night Melanesia One-Way via Thursday Island & Alotau
Mar 29, 2027 → Apr 15, 2027 • Darwin → Lautoka
From $8,429
$496/night
Good value
↓13% below typical
Seven Seas Navigator • Regent Seven Seas Cruises
9-night Melanesia Loop via Rabaul & Alotau
Jul 25, 2027 → Aug 3, 2027 • Cairns ↔
From $4,678
$520/night
Typical price
↓1% below typical
Seven Seas Navigator • Regent Seven Seas Cruises
21-night Australia Repositioning via Brisbane, Willis Island & Rabaul
Jul 13, 2027 → Aug 3, 2027 • Sydney → Cairns
From $14,865
$708/night
Typical price
↑7% above typical
When ships are in port
Scan for dates when ships visit Samarai, use color shading to spot the busiest passenger days in port, and use density dots to see how many cruise ships call on Samarai that day.
Samarai is busiest from Aug-Feb, with multiple ships per day. Aug, Feb are significantly quieter.
February 2027
Jump
Quieter
Busier (more ships in port)
Number of ships
Colors show estimated total passengers in port on each day
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
31
No port calls
1
No port calls
2
No port calls
3
No port calls
4
No port calls
5
No port calls
6
No port calls
7
1
~400 passengers
$496/night
↓13% vs typical
8
No port calls
9
No port calls
10
No port calls
11
No port calls
12
No port calls
13
No port calls
14
No port calls
15
No port calls
16
No port calls
17
No port calls
18
No port calls
19
No port calls
20
No port calls
21
No port calls
22
No port calls
23
No port calls
24
No port calls
25
No port calls
26
No port calls
27
No port calls
28
No port calls
1
No port calls
2
No port calls
3
No port calls
4
No port calls
5
No port calls
6
No port calls
Selected port-call day
Sunday, February 7, 2027
1 ship visit Samarai on this date, carrying about ~400 passengers in total.
Day snapshot
- Ships
- 1
- Passengers
- ~400 passengers
- Cruises
- 1
- Best fare
- $496/night
Best cruise on this port-call day
Top value among the sailings scheduled to visit Samarai on this date.
Paul Gauguin • Paul Gauguin Cruises
20-night Southeast Asia One-Way via Port Vila, Alotau & Dili
Jan 28, 2027 → Feb 17, 2027 • Lautoka → Benoa, Bali (Denpasar)
From $9,918
$496/night
Good value
↓13% below typical
Best time to visit Samarai on a cruise
This monthly view combines ship traffic and pricing so you can spot quieter windows, busier stretches, and the months where cruises visiting Samarai still look attractively priced.
August
Priciest
Median price/night
$761
1 visits
Traffic
↓34% vs typical
1 ships • 1 priced sailings tracked
February
Median price/night
$496
1 visits
Traffic
↓13% vs typical
1 ships • 1 priced sailings tracked
April
Cheapest
Median price/night
$496
1 visits
Traffic
↓13% vs typical
1 ships • 1 priced sailings tracked
Cruise itineraries that include Samarai
Compare the itinerary families that stop in Samarai, then open the routes with the best mix of schedule fit, pricing, and sailing availability.
Melanesia One-Way via Thursday Island, Samarai & Luganville (Best Balance)
Melanesia • Next: Aug 21
From $12,168
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
Southeast Asia One-Way via Port Vila, Alotau & Dili (Best Balance)
Southeast Asia • Next: Jan 28
From $9,918
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
Melanesia One-Way via Thursday Island & Alotau (Sea-Day Heavy)
Melanesia • Next: Mar 29
From $8,429
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
Upcoming port calls in Samarai
See the next scheduled ship visits into Samarai.
| Date | Ship | Line |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 26, 2026 | Le Jacques Cartier | Ponant Cruises |
| Feb 7, 2027 | Paul Gauguin | Paul Gauguin Cruises |
| Apr 4, 2027 | Paul Gauguin | Paul Gauguin Cruises |
| Aug 1, 2027 | Seven Seas Navigator | Regent Seven Seas Cruises |
FAQ about cruises visiting Samarai
Short answers for common search intent around the best time to visit, itinerary patterns, and how to compare cruises that include Samarai.
What is the best time to visit Samarai on a cruise?
April currently looks strongest on value for cruises visiting Samarai, based on Jibhop's tracked median nightly fares. Use the port-call calendar above to compare exact ship dates because pricing can vary a lot within the month.
When is Samarai busiest for cruise traffic?
August currently shows the most upcoming cruise visits to Samarai. Busier months usually mean more ship choice, but also more crowding and less pricing flexibility.
Which cruise itineraries usually include Samarai?
Common upcoming itinerary families that include Samarai include Melanesia One-Way via Thursday Island, Samarai & Luganville (Best Balance), Southeast Asia One-Way via Port Vila, Alotau & Dili (Best Balance), and Melanesia One-Way via Thursday Island & Alotau (Sea-Day Heavy). Open any itinerary card to compare route mix, next departures, and which sailings look strongest on price.
How should I compare cruises that visit Samarai?
Start with the best cruises section to see today's strongest pricing signals, then use the port-call calendar to find the exact visit dates that fit your trip. Once you narrow the timing, compare itineraries and ships rather than choosing on this stop alone.
Plan your route
Explore cruises that visit Samarai
See itineraries, compare routes, and find the best way to include Samarai in your trip.