Apia Cruise Port
Apia, Samoa · Pacific
Cruise ships dock at Matautu Wharf - Main Cruise Berth, Apia.
Plan my port daysWalk-off wharf on Apia Harbour with a compact capital nearby and To Sua Ocean Trench the big day-trip.
At a glance
Port summary
Ships berth alongside at Matautu Wharf, a working commercial port a short walk from central Apia. The town is easily explored on foot, but the famous sights — To Sua Ocean Trench, Piula Cave Pool and the sliding rocks — are spread around Upolu and need a taxi, rental car or tour. If your call falls on a Sunday, most of Apia closes for church.
Cruise dock
Matautu Wharf - Main Cruise Berth
The single main berth at the Port of Apia, a working commercial wharf in Matautu that also handles cruise ships one at a time. Central Apia is a flat 20-minute walk away and taxis wait at the gate.
Latitude: -13.825027, Longitude: -171.759411
See dock on port map →Getting to Apia
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Carry cash in Samoan tālā — markets, taxis, buses and To Sua entry are all cash-only, and there is no ATM at the wharf.
Build your perfect day in Apia
Tell us your cruise line, ship and departure date and we'll give you a complete set of full port information and playbooks of how to spend your day.
Inside the South Pacific collection
Here's a peek at everything waiting for your Apia cruise day.
Typical weather
Emergency & contacts
Excursions compared
3 comparedApia city tour and the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum
≈ 3.5 h · sold by 5 cruise lines
Cruise line
€110$125
Do it yourself
€40$46
Save ≈ €70Save ≈ $80 (64% off)
Matautu Wharf is a flat 20-minute walk from Beach Road, so the whole town half — cathedral, Maketi Fou market and the Museum of Samoa — is free and walkable. The one paid leg is the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum at Vailima, a 15-minute taxi inland (~WS$20–30 / €8 each way, agree the fare first); entry is ~WS$20 / €7.
See the DIY plan →
To Sua Ocean Trench and eastern Upolu swims
≈ 6 h · sold by 4 cruise lines
Cruise line
€135$154
Do it yourself
€65$74
Save ≈ €70Save ≈ $80 (52% off)
There is no useful public transport to the south-east coast, so the DIY version means hiring a taxi/driver for the day at the wharf (about WS$350–400 / €40pp split among four), roughly 60–75 minutes each way to To Sua. Entry fees are cash in tālā — To Sua ~WS$20 / €7 and Piula ~WS$5–10 / €3 — so carry small notes and agree a firm turnaround time with the driver.
See the DIY plan →
Ready-made port days
9 plansApia: The Free Flat Town Day
Walk off the wharf into a cathedral, the little national museum and the market without spending a tālā
Apia: Palolo Deep Family Snorkel
Snorkel a coral hole straight off the beach a ten-minute walk from the ship, with easy town bail-outs
Apia: Stevenson's Vailima & the Mt Vaea Grave Hike
Tour Treasure Island's author at his tropical home, climb to his hilltop tomb, then a falls lookout
Apia: To Sua Ocean Trench South-Coast Day
A driver, a giant garden swimming trench down a wooden ladder, and a waterfall lookout on the way
Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Apia?
- Your ship docks directly at the Apia cruise terminal in Samoa.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Apia?
- Yes. Apia is walkable from the cruise port — many cruisers reach the city centre on foot.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Apia centre?
- Typical options include On foot, Taxi, Shuttle bus, Local bus, Car rental. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Apia?
- Plan for at least 3 hours ashore to see Apia independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Apia and are cards accepted?
- Apia uses the Samoan Tala. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Wi-Fi isn't reliably available at the Apia cruise terminal. Consider a local SIM or your cruise line's data package.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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