Carnival Encounter sails year-round from Brisbane and is perfect for families, couples and groups of friends who want to lean into both fun and relaxation on their holiday.

Guests can expect the perfect blend between everyone’s interests with kids clubs, teen-friendly hangout spaces, an adult-only retreat, dining that ranges from casual to connoisseur, and entertainment for all ages.

Water lovers will be spoilt for choice with spas, four pools, and waterslides. Thrill seekers are covered too with Edge Adventure Park, complete with ziplining, rock climbing and abseiling. More of a chill seeker? You’ll love the exclusive Byron Beach Club, the Adult-Only Oasis Retreat, and the day spa and salon.

As the sun goes down, the fun only goes up. Dive into delicious dining options like Angelo’s, Dragon Lady, or celebrity-chef dining at Luke’s Bar & Grill. Be entertained with live comedy and dazzling stage shows. Or dance the night away at a classic Carnival deck party. Yep, Carnival Encounter has got it all!

It is customary for our guests to extend gratuities to the shipboard staff in appreciation for their hard work and exceptional service. 100% of your gratuities are distributed to the crew who you interact with, such as your stateroom attendants, dining and culinary services staff, as well as other members of the onboard team who work behind the scenes to enhance your overall cruise experience. Applying this charge automatically streamlines the recognition process and ensures our crew will share in your generosity.

To help you plan, we have provided the recommended onboard gratuities guidelines.

• Standard Staterooms: $16.00 USD per person, per day
• Suite Staterooms: $18.00 USD per person, per day

You may pay this daily gratuity in two different ways:

Pre-Pay

Gratuities can be added at the time of booking or anytime up to the sail date. Guests who booked directly with Carnival may add their pre-paid gratuities on Carnival.com. If a guest booked with a travel agent, they may contact their travel professional to add pre-paid gratuities to their booking. Prepaid gratuities are reflected in the 'Miscellaneous Charge' field on the confirmation and in the guest's E-Documents.

Sail & Sign®

If guests have not pre-paid their gratuities, the recommended, per person, amount will be posted to their Sail & Sign account on the second to last day of the cruise. Should a guest not be satisfied with the service they receive, they can contact the Guest Services desk while on board. This will allow us to address their concerns in a timely and appropriate fashion. At the discretion of the guest, gratuities may be adjusted after they have been posted on the guest's account, while on board. Gratuities, as posted on a guest's Sail & Sign account, will be considered final after a guest disembarks and no changes will be made after the cruise.

Additional Information

• Gratuities are assessed on all guests, with the exception of children under the age of 2.
• Gratuities apply regardless of the dining options selected, such as eating at the casual dining restaurant or open seating dining.
• For beverage purchases, an 18% service charge will be added to the bill.
• An 18% service charge will be added to the reservation fee the Chef’s Table and Bonsai Teppanyaki as well as the nominal à la carte fee at Bonsai Sushi, Emeril’s Bistro, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse and Seafood Shack; additional gratuities can be added at the guest's discretion.
• A gratuity may be extended to room service staff as service is rendered.
• Thank you for your generous recognition of our onboard team. Our crew works hard to provide you with a great vacation and takes pride in being part of the best team in the cruise industry.