Apia (Upolu Island), Samoa Cruise Ship Port Guide

Ships calling at Samoa pull straight up alongside Matautu Wharf in Apia Port, on Upolu’s north coast, so you skip the tender altogether, that’s the small boat that ferries you ashore when a ship can’t get close enough to dock. It’s the only cruise port in the country, and central Apia is a flat walk or a short taxi ride from the gangway.

Apia cruise port at a glance

Apia’s cruise port sits on Matautu Wharf, a working harbour just east of the capital on Upolu Island. Ships dock directly alongside, and the terminal itself is modest, think pop-up marquees, a few craft stalls and a tourist information desk, rather than a purpose-built building. If you’ve only got a few hours ashore, the island’s best sights sit well outside the port gates, not inside them.

Apia, Upolu: Samoa’s only cruise port

Apia sits on Upolu, Samoa’s largest island, and it’s the country’s only cruise port, small enough to see plenty of in a single day ashore. Worth clearing up: Apia is the capital city, not an island of its own, whatever you might have read elsewhere. Most visitors to Samoa still arrive by air rather than sea, according to the Samoa Bureau of Statistics, so a cruise call gives you a shorter, more curated look at the island than most people get.

For the bigger picture, our Pacific Islands Cruise Ports Guide covers how Apia fits alongside stops like the Port of New Caledonia on longer South Pacific itineraries.

The Port of Apia is a working container port, not a terminal

The Port of Apia sits at Matautu, a village just east of the capital, and handles nearly all of Samoa’s international freight. A recent redevelopment, co-funded by the Asian Development Bank, added a wharf extension, new navigation aids and a Border and Customs facility with an X-ray scanner for containers. None of that money went on passenger comforts though, so what greets you is still temporary marquees on the dock rather than a proper terminal building.

Here’s the one real snag: toilets are about 200 yards from the berth, near a small retail area on the walkway into town, so there’s nothing right at the gangway. Use the facilities on the ship before you leave, or treat the walk into town as your first stop since there’s a small retail area and tourist information desk along the way anyway. The gates are secure but nobody’s herding you onto a shuttle, so you’re free to walk out on foot whenever you like.

Apia, Samoa is not Pago Pago, American Samoa

Apia sits in the independent nation of Samoa, on Upolu Island. Pago Pago is the main port of neighbouring American Samoa, a separate country entirely despite the shared name. Some South Pacific itineraries call at both on the same cruise, which is probably why the two get muddled up. If your cruise stops at both, treat them as two completely different ports: see our Pago Pago (Tutuila Island) Cruise Ship Port guide for what’s different about that one.

Walking from Matautu Wharf into central Apia

Sources don’t quite agree on timing, but everyone agrees the walk from the wharf into central Apia is flat and easy, running along the scenic Beach Road for a little over a mile. Some say 10 minutes, others nearer 20, so allow 15 to 20 minutes at a relaxed pace with a stop or two for photos.

A taxi from the wharf takes about five minutes, if you’d rather save your legs for later. Taxis in Apia don’t run on meters, so agree the fare with the driver before you set off, not after you’ve arrived and the number suddenly changes.

Getting around: unmetered taxis and the local bus

Taxis and shuttle buses wait right at the pier, and since fares aren’t metered, settle the price before you climb in rather than after. For something more local, hop on one of the brightly painted wooden Samoan buses running from the main terminal downtown. You pay the driver in cash, no card to buy or top up.

English is spoken as widely as Samoan, so you’re unlikely to hit a language barrier. Dress matters more here than in a lot of ports though: once you leave the wharf, cover shoulders and knees, particularly near villages or churches, out of respect for Fa’a Samoa, the Samoan way of life.

To Sua Ocean Trench and other half-day shore excursions

Samoa’s standout sight is To Sua Ocean Trench, a natural swimming hole some 30 to 35 metres deep. You climb down a wooden ladder into clear water, with a fale, an open-sided shelter, alongside for anyone who’d rather watch than swim. It’s usually paired with Sopoaga Falls, a roughly 50-metre drop surrounded by rainforest, as part of a shore excursion, the organised tour you can book through your cruise line or sort out independently once you’re ashore.

Closer to the ship, the Papaseea Sliding Rocks give you natural water slides carved into volcanic rock, and the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum in Apia covers the author’s final years on the island. An Apia Town Tour usually also takes in the National Museum of Samoa, the market, Mulivai Cathedral and the Samoa Cultural Village.

Most of these fit comfortably into four to five hours, which suits a typical day in port. Booking independently once you’re ashore is often cheaper and more flexible than taking the same tour through the ship. If you’re planning to swim at To Sua or snorkel later on, pack reef safe sunscreen so you’re not caught out without any.

Palolo Deep Marine Reserve, a short walk from the wharf

If you’d rather not venture far, Palolo Deep Marine Reserve is just five to ten minutes’ walk from the port, right next to the harbour, with central Apia a further 20-minute walk or five-minute taxi ride beyond that. It’s a natural coral hole close to shore, good for a snorkel without booking anything in advance. A waterproof phone pouch is handy if you want photos in the water without worrying about your phone.

Savai’i as a day trip: Alofaaga Blowholes and Afu Aau Waterfall

A ferry from Upolu to the neighbouring island of Savai’i opens up the Alofaaga Blowholes and Afu Aau Waterfall, but this is a full day out, not something you can fit around a single call. Keep it in mind if you’re staying on Upolu before or after your cruise, rather than trying to squeeze it into the few hours the ship is actually in port.

Hotels near Apia Harbour with a pool

If you’re extending your trip before or after the cruise, several hotels sit close to the water. Aggie Grey’s Hotel & Bungalows, now run as the Sheraton Samoa, is a long-standing colonial-era waterfront property with 175 rooms, including garden bungalows overlooking Apia Harbour. Tauese Seaview Hotel is also right on the harbour, with 25 rooms including king and twin options.

• Vaea Hotel Apia has an outdoor pool set in tropical gardens, about two minutes’ drive from the harbour and the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum.
• Lava Hotel has an outdoor pool and sits around a 14-minute walk from Palolo Deep Beach.
• Taumeasina Island Resort guests can walk straight onto the beach or use the pool, according to visitor reviews.

Common Questions

Do cruise ships tender into Apia, or dock directly?

Ships dock directly alongside Matautu Wharf, so there’s no tender boat needed to get you ashore.

Is Apia in Samoa or American Samoa?

Apia is the capital of the independent nation of Samoa, on Upolu Island. It’s not American Samoa, whose main port is Pago Pago.

How far is it from the ship to central Apia?

Allow 15 to 20 minutes on foot along a flat route, or about five minutes by taxi if you’d rather not walk.

Are taxis in Apia metered?

No. Agree a fare with the driver before you set off, since none of the local taxis run on meters.

Can passengers walk out of the port unescorted?

Yes. The port has secure gates but no mandatory shuttle, so you’re free to walk into town on foot.

How far is Faleolo International Airport from the port?

Roughly 30 to 45 minutes by road, useful to know if you’re flying in or out around your cruise.

What should I wear once I leave the wharf?

Cover shoulders and knees once you’re ashore, especially near villages and churches, out of respect for Fa’a Samoa.

Is there anywhere to swim close to the ship?

Yes. Palolo Deep Marine Reserve is a five to ten minute walk from the wharf, with no excursion booking required.

Where can I find local information at the port?

There’s a tourist information desk at the wharf itself, plus the Samoa Tourism Authority Information Fale on Beach Road nearby.

Why Trust About2Cruise

This guide draws on published port data, cruise line port information and traveller accounts of Matautu Wharf, pulled together to cover what you actually need for a few hours ashore. We haven’t sailed into Apia ourselves, so where sources disagreed, like the exact walking time into town, we’ve said so rather than just picking a number to sound certain. You can read more about how we put our guides together on our about us page.