Aitutaki, Cook Islands

Aitutaki is an island in the southern Cook Islands. Ships wait outside the lagoon and guests go ashore by tender to Arutanga, the island's main village. More about Aitutaki →

Aerial view of One Foot Island in Aitutaki Lagoon, with white sandbars, palms and a lagoon-cruise boat
credit

Ship schedule

Next 10 calls · all times local (Cook Islands Standard Time)

ShipDateArrivalDeparture
November 2026
Paul Gauguin
Paul Gauguin Cruises
Tue 24 Nov
Arrival08:00
Departure18:00
January 2027
Paul Gauguin
Paul Gauguin Cruises
Tue 5 Jan
Arrival08:00
Departure18:00
Paul Gauguin
Paul Gauguin Cruises
Tue 19 Jan
Arrival08:00
Departure17:00
February 2027
Le Jacques Cartier
Ponant Cruises
Fri 12 Feb
Arrival08:30
Departure17:00
Sat 13 Feb
Arrival08:00
Departure18:00
March 2027
ms Europa 2
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
Wed 24 Mar
Arrival08:00
Departure18:00
April 2027
Silver Cloud
Silversea
Tue 6 Apr
Arrival06:00
Departure17:00
Paul Gauguin
Paul Gauguin Cruises
Thu 22 Apr
Arrival08:00
Departure17:00
May 2027
Norwegian Spirit
Norwegian Cruise Line
Mon 10 May
Arrival10:00
Departure20:00
June 2027
Star Breeze
Windstar
Thu 3 Jun
Arrival08:00
Departure17:00

Showing 10 of the next 37 calls

Cruise Ships in Aitutaki

Today and the next 7 days · all times local (Cook Islands Standard Time)

Today · Tue 3 NovNo ships
0 people in port
No cruise ships today

Planning a day in Aitutaki?

The crowd calendar shows every ship and how busy the port is, hour by hour, plus the quietest and busiest days for the next 90 days.

See the Aitutaki cruise crowd calendar

Where is the Aitutaki cruise port?

Aitutaki has no cruise pier. Ships wait outside the lagoon and guests go ashore by tender to Arutanga Harbour, in the island's main village. Whether tenders run is confirmed on the morning of arrival. From the harbour, the village and its church are a short walk, and Ootu Beach is about 9 km by road.

Cruise port

Getting to the Aitutaki cruise port

Ootu Beach → Arutanga Harbour

9 km · ~16 min by car

Long white-sand beach on the east side of the island, beside the lagoon and the airport, about 9 km by road to the harbour, around 16 minutes.

Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.

TransportTypical priceJourneyGood to know
Taxi
Variesper vehicle
~16 min
Taxis and island tours can be arranged on the island; no official fare is published.

Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.

Driving to the port

Guests go ashore by tender to Arutanga Harbour, in the island's main village; check on board for any shuttle. Taxis and island tours can be arranged on the island; no official fares are published.

Destination

About Aitutaki

Aitutaki is an island in the southern Cook Islands. Ships wait outside the lagoon and guests go ashore by tender to Arutanga, the island's main village. Visitors come for lagoon cruises, snorkelling, beaches and One Foot Island. Before travelling, check your government's travel advice.

Time zone
Cook Islands Standard Time
Currency
New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Things to Do in Aitutaki

Aitutaki Lagoon and One Foot Island

One Foot Island (Tapuaetai) in Aitutaki's lagoon has a white-sand beach and a tiny post office where visitors get their passports stamped. Full-day lagoon cruises from NZD 230 per adult (NZD 115 for children 4-11).

Ootu Beach

Ootu Beach is a long stretch of white sand on the eastern shore, with calm, shallow lagoon water for swimming and views across to the outer islets. There is no fee to visit the beach.

Maungapu

Maungapu is the highest point of Aitutaki. A short, steep trail of about half an hour leads to the top, with wide views over the island and its lagoon. There is no fee for the walk.

Cook Islands Christian Church, Arutanga

The Cook Islands Christian Church in Arutanga, built of coral and limestone, is the oldest church in the country. Inside are stained-glass windows, carved wood and an anchor hanging from the ceiling. Visitors are welcome.

Cruise Ships Visiting Aitutaki

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

Norwegian Cruise Line

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Ponant Cruises

Regent Seven Seas

Silversea

Windstar