Papeete, French Polynesia

Today, Friday 13 November 2026, 1 cruise ship with about 320 passengers is scheduled in Papeete. Over the next 12 months, 263 calls bring about 138,000 passengers; the busiest day is Tuesday 5 October 2027, with 3 ships.

Papeete waterfront promenade with palm trees, a thatched pier and the harbour on a sunny day
credit

Ship schedule

Next 10 calls · all times local (Tahiti Time)

November 2026
Paul Gauguin
Paul Gauguin Cruises320 passengers
Fri 13 Nov
Arrival7:30 pm
DepartureNot yet published
Paul Gauguin
Paul Gauguin Cruises320 passengers
Sat 14 Nov
ArrivalNot yet published
Departure6:30 pm
Silver Whisper
Silversea388 passengers
Sun 15 Nov
Arrival5:00 am
Departure10:00 pm
Le Jacques Cartier
Ponant Cruises184 passengers
Sun 15 Nov
Arrival7:30 am
Departure6:00 pm
Norwegian Spirit
Norwegian Cruise Line2,012 passengers
Tue 17 Nov
Arrival3:00 am
Departure10:00 pm
Crown Princess
Princess Cruises3,090 passengers
Wed 18 Nov
Arrival8:00 am
Departure11:00 pm
Paul Gauguin
Paul Gauguin Cruises320 passengers
Fri 20 Nov
Arrival7:30 pm
DepartureNot yet published
Paul Gauguin
Paul Gauguin Cruises320 passengers
Sat 21 Nov
ArrivalNot yet published
Departure6:30 pm
Star Breeze
Windstar312 passengers
Mon 23 Nov
Arrival9:00 am
Departure6:00 pm
Costa Serena
Costa Cruises3,014 passengers
Wed 25 Nov
Arrival9:00 am
Departure6:00 pm

Showing 10 of the next 50 calls

Cruise Ships in Papeete

Today and the next 7 days · all times local (Tahiti Time)

Today · Fri 13 NovLight
537 people in port
1 ship · 1 turnaround

45% quieter than a typical day in Papeete. Busiest 7 pm – midnight, when 1 ship is alongside.

Next 7 days

Quietest: Fri 13 Nov · busiest: Wed 18 Nov
  1. Fri
    13 Nov
    537Light
    1
  2. Sat
    14 Nov
    537Light
    1
  3. Sun
    15 Nov
    979Typical
    2
  4. Mon
    16 Nov
    –No ships
    0
  5. Tue
    17 Nov
    2.9kPeak
    1
  6. Wed
    18 Nov
    4.3kPeak
    1
  7. Thu
    19 Nov
    –No ships
    0

Thousands of people in port, guests plus crew. Crowd level compared with a typical Papeete day.

Planning a day in Papeete?

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 Papeete cruise crowd calendar

Where is the Papeete cruise port?

Cruise ships berth at Port autonome de Papeete's cruise quay and its two large piers, which can take four ships at once, along the waterfront in downtown Papeete. The Te Anuanua international cruise terminal handles embarkation with check-in and baggage halls and an underground car park. The port is within walking distance of markets, shops, restaurants and many local attractions; the municipal market is about 500 m away along Boulevard Pomare. Faa'a International Airport is 7.1 km away, typically 12-20 minutes by taxi.

Terminal

Getting to the Papeete cruise port

Faa'a International Airport (PPT) → Te Anuanua cruise terminal, Papeete

7.1 km · 12–20 min by car

Tahiti Faa'a Airport is 7.1 km from the cruise terminal via Boulevard de la Reine Pomare IV, typically 12-20 minutes by road. A taxi stand is in front of Terminal 1.

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

Taxi
Variesper vehicle
12–20 min
No flat fare is published; taxis charge the official metered tariff.
Cruise line transfer
Variesper person
Varies
Varies by sailing; book through your cruise line.

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

Driving to the port

Routes are given to the Te Anuanua cruise terminal on Papeete's waterfront: from the airport for embarking passengers, and from the market and the main sights for passengers on a port call. Taxis wait in front of Terminal 1 at Faa'a Airport; the nearest airport bus stops are on the main road outside the airport, but no bus fare is published. Taxi fares are metered under the official government tariff; no flat airport fare is published.

Papeete Cruise Terminals

1 terminal

Te Anuanua international cruise terminal

Port autonome de Papeete's international cruise terminal, designed for ships starting and ending cruises, with capacity for 1,400 passengers, extendable to 2,400. It has a 700 m2 check-in hall, a 750 m2 baggage hall, a 430 m2 space for local crafts and a 205-space underground car park. The port's two large cruise piers can take four ships at once. The public promenade from Parc Paofai to the ferry terminal runs past it along Boulevard Pomare.

Parking at the Papeete cruise port

The Te Anuanua cruise terminal has a 205-space underground car park run by Port autonome de Papeete. It charges 150 XPF for the first hour and 100 XPF for each further half hour. No daily or per-cruise rate is published, so check with the port before leaving a car for a whole cruise.

Parking facilities

Te Anuanua terminal underground car parkPort autonome de Papeete
XPF 100 – XPF 150/hour
Serves Te Anuanua international cruise terminal · Reservation: —
First hour. · Each further half hour after the first hour.

Where to Stay Before Your Cruise

Pick the area first. Typical nightly prices, approximate.

Papeete centre

Walking distance to the terminal

Pre-cruise nights within walking distance of the waterfront, the market, shops and restaurants.

  • Boutique Hotel Kon Tiki Tahiti
  • Fare Suisse
  • Tahiti Nui Hotel

Faa'a

Late arrivals near the airport

Late-night arrivals and early flights, with options from airport lodges to resort hotels.

  • Tahiti Airport Motel
  • Hilton Hotel Tahiti
  • InterContinental Tahiti Resort & Spa

Punaauia

Longer pre- or post-cruise stays

Adding a few extra days on Tahiti before or after the cruise, a short drive from the museum.

  • Le Relais Fenua - Pension de Famille
  • Tahiti Lagoon Resort
  • Manava Suite Resort Tahiti

Eating in Papeete

Where to eat

Boulevard Pomare waterfront

Brasseries and cafes along the waterfront boulevard a short walk from the cruise terminal.

Papeete Market area

Cafes in and around the municipal market in the town centre, about 500 m from the terminal.

Destination

About Papeete

Papeete is French Polynesia's capital, on the island of Tahiti, and both a port of call for international cruise ships and a home port for cruises around the islands. Ships berth on the downtown waterfront at the Te Anuanua international cruise terminal, within walking distance of markets, shops and restaurants. The municipal market sells fish, fruit, flowers, pareos and crafts from early morning, and Notre-Dame Cathedral stands at PK 0 in the heart of the town. Further out are the black-sand beach and historic lighthouse at Pointe Venus and the Musee de Tahiti et des Iles in Punaauia, each about half an hour by road. Faa'a International Airport is 7 km away for embarking passengers.

Climate
Hot and humid all year. Average daily highs range from 29.0°C in August to 31.5°C in March, and lows from 21.9°C in August to 24.7°C in March. Rainfall is 1,578.8 mm a year, from 41.3 mm in August to 279.1 mm in December, with 2,660.4 sunshine hours a year.
Time zone
Tahiti Time
Currency
CFP Franc (XPF)

Things to Do in Papeete

Papeete Market (Marche Mapuru a Paraita)

Papeete's covered municipal market has halls for fish and meat, fruit and vegetables, flowers and pareos, with a mezzanine for local crafts. The best time to visit is very early in the morning, especially on Sunday.

Notre-Dame Cathedral of Papeete

The cathedral of the Archdiocese of Papeete stands at PK 0 in the heart of the town, with Mass celebrated daily.

Pointe Venus

Point Venus in Mahina, in the north of Tahiti, is known for its black-sand beach and historic lighthouse, with views of Matavai Bay and Moorea and restaurants and a craft shop near the beach.

Musee de Tahiti et des Iles

Tahiti's museum in Punaauia. Entry 1,000 XPF; free for under-18s and students; audio guide 500 XPF.

Cruise Ships Visiting Papeete

Phoenix Reisen

Holland America Line

Azamara Cruises

Carnival Cruise Line

Crystal Cruises

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

Norwegian Cruise Line

Oceania Cruises

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Ponant Cruises

Regent Seven Seas

Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection