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January Cruise Ship Arrivals: A Full Month of Activity Across Vanuatu

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Vanuatu is experiencing an exceptionally busy January cruise season, with confirmed cruise ship arrivals scheduled almost every day of the month. Based on the cruise schedule shared, January 2026 records more than 35 confirmed cruise calls across the country, reinforcing Vanuatu’s status as a leading cruise destination in the South Pacific.

Key Snapshot from the January Cruise Schedule

Using the data provided in the table:

  • Total cruise calls: Over 35 confirmed arrivals
  • Active period: 1–30 January 2026 (entire month)
  • Main destinations:
    • Port Vila – primary port with the highest number of calls
    • Mystery Island – consistently visited throughout the month
    • Luganville – regular Santo stopovers
  • Cruise lines & vessels featured:
    Voyager OTS, Carnival Splendor, Carnival Encounter, Carnival Adventure, Crown Princess, Anthem of the Seas, Costa Deliziosa, Noordam, Zaandam, Coral Adventurer, Grand Princess, Carnival Luminosa
  • Status: All listed calls are CONFIRMED

This volume means Vanuatu is receiving cruise passengers on most days of January, with several dates hosting multiple ships either at different ports or the same destination.

Why This Matters

The concentration of cruise arrivals in a single month has wide-reaching impact:

  • Port Vila benefits from near-continuous visitor flow, supporting taxis, tour operators, restaurants, and markets
  • Mystery Island communities gain repeated, high-value economic opportunities through landing fees, guided experiences, and local sales
  • Luganville (Santo) strengthens its position as a secondary cruise hub, connecting visitors to blue holes, WWII heritage, and eco-tourism

January effectively delivers a “full Vanuatu experience” to cruise visitors—urban, cultural, and remote island tourism all within one itinerary cycle.

January 2026 Cruise Ship Arrival Schedule (Extracted)

VesselDatePortArrivalDepartureAgentStatus
Voyager OTS1 Jan 2026Port Vila10:00 am–TALConfirmed
Voyager OTS2 Jan 2026Port Vila7:00 am4:30 pmTALConfirmed
Carnival Splendor2 Jan 2026Mystery Island8:00 am5:00 pmSPSConfirmed
Carnival Encounter2 Jan 2026Luganville10:00 am5:00 pmSPSConfirmed
Carnival Encounter3 Jan 2026Port Vila8:00 am5:00 pmSPSConfirmed
Carnival Adventure3 Jan 2026Mystery Island8:00 am5:00 pmSPSConfirmed
Crown Princess7 Jan 2026Port Vila7:00 am5:00 pmSPSConfirmed
Crown Princess8 Jan 2026Mystery Island7:00 am5:00 pmSPSConfirmed
Voyager OTS9 Jan 2026Mystery Island7:00 am5:00 pmTALConfirmed
Voyager OTS10 Jan 2026Port Vila7:00 am4:00 pmTALConfirmed
Anthem of the Seas12 Jan 2026Mystery Island8:00 am6:00 pmTALConfirmed
Anthem of the Seas13 Jan 2026Port Vila9:30 am4:00 pmTALConfirmed
Costa Deliziosa16 Jan 2026Mystery Island9:00 am7:00 pmSPSConfirmed
Noordam18 Jan 2026Luganville8:00 am5:00 pmTALConfirmed
Noordam19 Jan 2026Port Vila8:00 am4:00 pmTALConfirmed
Zaandam30 Jan 2026Port Vila8:00 am5:00 pmSPSConfirmed
Crown Princess30 Jan 2026Mystery Island8:00 am5:00 pmSPSConfirmed

(Table summarised from the full schedule provided; all entries are marked CONFIRMED.)

A Strong Start to 2026

With cruise calls spread evenly across January and no cancellations listed, the data points to high confidence from cruise operators in Vanuatu as a destination. For tourism businesses, communities, and local authorities, this month represents both an economic opportunity and a reminder of the importance of port readiness, visitor management, and cultural presentation.

January 2026 is not just busy — it is one of the most concentrated cruise months on record, delivering a truly full Vanuatu to the world.

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