Great Barrier Reef Cruise

Explore Australia's Great Barrier Reef - one of the wonders of the world - with a choice of 4 day, 5 day or 8 day cruises.

Stretching over 3000 sunny kilometres, the Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest marine park. Beautiful beyond belief - here you will find the world's largest collection of living corals and a kaleidoscope of over 1400 species of fish. It's a giant marine reserve - home to a profusion of unbelievable sea creatures. 



Hundreds of exotic coral and rainforest islands are sprinkled along the lagoon - exotic islands such as Lizard, Dunk and tiny uninhabited coral cays, each with their own unique charms. Entire islands such as Hinchinbrook have been declared flora & fauna havens - home to Australia's fascinating wildlife.



Nestled between the world heritage Daintree Rainforest and Atherton Tablelands is our departure point of Cairns - the international gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. An exotic centre, Cairns offers all the comforts of a large city as well as the pleasures of a tropical resort.

Purpose built for Great Barrier Reef cruises, your ship, the Coral Princess, mixes adventure cruising with good living. It has an air-conditioned dining room, two modern air-conditioned lounges, sun deck and spa pool.



The "Explorer" is a specially designed aluminium excursion vessel used for the majority of the excursions. This vessel has high horsepower engines and will accommodate all passengers at one time. The "Explorer" will be used for landings and for extensive exploration of rivers and tributaries. For your added convenience and comfort, the "Explorer" is equipped with an awning and toilet.

There will also be two inflatable landing craft (Zodiacs). Designed for expedition work, these large and heavy-duty inflatables are extremely safe. The flat bottom design permits these crafts to land directly onto the beaches. Expect nonetheless to wade through shallow water to reach the shore.

View information about your cruises ship, the Coral Princess and Coral Princess 2

The Great Barrier Reef is a perfect place for a honeymoon and to help you celebrate in style we have put together a special package. Contact us for details.

Departures from Cairns, Australia 7-night cruise: Cairns-Townsville Departs Cairns Tuesdays 5.00pm  7-night cruise: Townsville-Cairns Departs Townsville Tuesdays 1.00pm  3-night cruise: Cairns-Townsville  Depart Cairns Saturdays 11.00am or 3-night cruise: Townsville-Cairns   Depart Townsville Tuesdays 1.00pm 4-night cruise: Cairns-Lizard Island-Townsville Depart Cairns  Tuesdays & Fridays 5.00pm Townsville cruises depart Townsville Breakwater Terminal, Sir Leslie Thiess Drive. Cairns cruises depart Trinity Wharf, Cairns. Boarding is 30 minutes prior to departure The weekly itinerary has been specially designed into two unique voyages. On the Northbound Voyage (4 nights) you will cruise to remote and spectacular destinations including Lizard Island and the continental shelf 'ribbon' reefs. The Southbound Voyage (3 nights) has an accent on the fascinating flora and fauna of the tropical rainforest islands and the outer `bombora' reefs. Combined over seven unforgettable nights this is the ultimate Barrier Reef and Rainforest experience. These cruises operate alternate weeks between March and October. Please contact us for direction and date information

Great Barrier Reef cruises Australian Dollar price per person Dates 1 Apr 2008 to 31 Mar 2009 Cabin Type 7nts 4nts 3nts Cabin 2589 1725 1294 Stateroom 2917 2145 1620 Upper Deck Stateroom 3097 2365 1784  Deluxe Stateroom 3241 2435 1917   Click here for Apr 2009 - Mar 2010 Fares Prices are per person based on two people travelling together and sharing a twin cabin. Single supplements are available (please call). Some Triple or Quad Share cabins available. Additional payments to be made onboard - no advance payments: A Government Environmental Management Charge (EMC) of AU$15 per person. (Under 4 years free of charge) and a fuel surcharge of AU$10 per person per night (Under 15 years free of charge). All rates are inclusive of Goods & Services Tax (GST) at the current legislated rate (March 2004) of 10% and may be subject to variation by the Government of the day. Holidays will be charged in your own currency at the current conversion rate. Currency Convertor popup (excludes bank conversion charges)

The cruise price includes • Voyage in cabin grade of your choice including full board • All onboard facilities, snorkelling equipment, glass bottom boat tours, island and rainforest guided walks where applicable Not included: Travel insurance, travel to Cairns and departure jetty, drinks and personal purchases, optional tours such as scuba diving, diving fees for holders of Open Water Dive Certificate.

Call us to check availability:
UK: 01756 706527
Overseas: +44 1756 706527

Go to Coastal Cruises Index

Call us to check availability:
UK: 01756 706527
Overseas: +44 1756 706527

Go to Coastal Cruises Index

Itinerary 7-night cruise comprises both cruises below, taken in either order
Cairns - Lizard Island - Cairns: 4-nights
• Historic mainland Cooktown • Lizard Island clam gardens and trails • Ribbon Reef coral gardens
DAY 1	Board your small ship cruise and depart from Cairns. As we depart Cairns and cruise Trinity Bay, there is time to settle in and discover your ‘home’ for the next four nights. In the evening, join our crew and travelling companions on the top deck to enjoy a glass of champagne as we cruise northward, passing Double Island and the pretty beachside village of Palm Cove. Admire a spectacular sunset over the World Heritage-listed rainforest of the Macalister Range.
DAY 2	We have the morning to discover historical Cooktown. It was here that the famous explorer Captain James Cook took refuge during his voyage of discovery after claiming Australia as a British colony in 1770. You have the option to visit Cooktown’s fascinating historical museum, featuring original artefacts from Cook’s ship – Endeavour. See the original anchor and cannon, jettisoned overboard after Endeavour struck a reef and began taking on water. Cooktown is steeped in history with most stone buildings dating back almost a century. Enjoy time to discover Cooktown at your own pace. Perhaps visit the Botanic Gardens, where you may catch a glimpse of some native Australian wildlife including Kangaroos and Wallabies. This afternoon we visit one of the remote uninhabited islands of the Great Barrier Reef. Join our marine biologist for a glass bottom boat tour over the colourful coral gardens and discover some of the 1500 species of tropical fish that call the reef home. You may wish to enjoy our first snorkelling opportunity for an up-close view of the hundreds of varieties of coral growing on this section of reef. Our experienced crew will be on hand to provide assistance, advice and guided snorkelling tours for less experienced swimmers.
DAY 3	This morning we awaken moored beside beautiful Lizard Island. The energetic may join our guides on a walk to ‘Cook’s Look’ on the island’s peak. It was from here, the highest lookout on this part of the reef, that Captain Cook was able to navigate a safe passage back through the treacherous waters after repairing the Endeavour near Cooktown over 200 years ago. A photographer’s delight, the views from the lookout over the World Heritage-listed reef and surrounding tropical islands are magnificent. Lizard Island’s fringing reef, in the shallow waters just metres off the beach, offers some fantastic snorkelling opportunities. Discover giant clams and a profusion of fish. Simply relax on the beach, join the Marine Biologist for a glass bottom boat tour, or for the ultimate Great Barrier Reef experience, accompany our Dive Instructor on an unforgettable SCUBA dive. The choice is yours! This afternoon we cruise to Ribbon Reef No 9, a spectacular and seldom visited part of the reef where our activities will include more snorkelling opportunities and glass bottom boat tours with the Marine Biologist.
DAY 4	The Great Barrier Reef is not actually one continuous reef, but a series of thousands of individual coral cays stretching over 1800 miles between the town of Bundaberg and the tip of Australia at Cape York. We spend today visiting two of the most spectacular sections of the reef, Ribbon Reef No 3 and Rachel Carson Reef. Explore the coral gardens and marine life with guided snorkelling and glass bottom boat tours. Our Marine Biologist will explain the natural history and evolution of the reef and help you discover the local wildlife, which includes sea turtles, giant clams, rays and over 200 different species of native birds. Today will also be your last opportunity to experience the reef through SCUBA diving, so allow our Dive Instructor to guide you on an unforgettable experience of a lifetime. This evening, we enjoy our final memorable night cruising the Great Barrier Reef.
DAY 5	Farewell to our Captain, crew and new-found friends before disembarking at Trinity Wharf in Cairns.
Cairns to Townsville: 3-nights
• Spectacular Hinchinbrook Channel • Dunk Island rainforest trails • Marine naturalist & dive master
DAY 1	Board your small ship cruise and depart from Cairns. As we depart Cairns and cruise Trinity Bay, there is time to settle in and discover your ‘home’ for the next three nights. This afternoon we arrive at the outer Great Barrier Reef, anchoring off Thetford Reef and Sudbury Cay. Join our Marine Biologist for a glass bottom boat tour over the colourful coral gardens before gathering on the snorkel deck to participate in a fish feed. Discover some of the 1500 species of tropical fish that call the reef home, including Spangled Emperor, Giant Trevally and the Hump-Headed Maori Wrasse as they are hand fed by the Marine Biologist. You may wish to enjoy our first snorkelling opportunity for an up-close view of the hundreds of varieties of coral growing on this section of reef. Our experienced crew will be on hand to provide assistance, advice and guided snorkelling tours for less experienced swimmers. In the evening, join our crew and travelling companions on the top deck as the sun spectacularly sets over the reef.
DAY 2	This morning we enjoy ample time to discover Coates or Nathan Reef. This section of the reef offers some of the most colourful coral gardens found anywhere along the length of the reef, allowing us to view many of the 400 different species of coral living in this World Heritage-listed wonderland. Venture in to the warm tropical waters to explore the corals and marine life on a guided snorkelling tour and join the Marine Biologist for a glass bottom boat tour. For the ultimate Great Barrier Reef experience, accompany our Dive Instructor on an unforgettable SCUBA dive. Later, discover some of the amazing creatures living on the reef with our Marine Biologist at the on-board display tank. Enjoy the rare opportunity for a close up look at sea cucumbers, colourful starfish and other marine life living on this part of the reef. This afternoon we visit Dunk Island Resort where there is time to relax by the resort’s pool, enjoy a drink in the cocktail bar or join a guided rainforest walk discovering the island’s unique flora and fauna. We may be lucky enough to see the brightly coloured blue-winged Ulysses Butterfly, impossible to miss against the ancient rainforest background. Keen birdwatchers should keep an eye out for many of the up to 100 species of native birds recorded on the island, including the Yellow-bellied Sunbird, Emerald Dove and Orange-footed Scrubfowl.
DAY 3	Enjoy a delicious breakfast as we cruise further amongst the scenic Family Group of Islands, the only tropical islands on the Australian coast. Discover the towering island cliffs and mangroves of the Hinchinbrook Channel before arriving at your very own tropical island, Pelorus. We invite you to join us on the beach for a delicious beach BBQ, freshly prepared by the Captain. After lunch, explore the surrounding rainforest on a guided nature walk. Pelorus’ fringing reef, in the shallow waters just metres off the beach, offers some fantastic snorkelling opportunities. Admire the colourful corals from the glass bottom boat with the Marine Biologist, accompany our Dive Instructor on an unforgettable SCUBA dive or simply relax on the long stretch of golden sandy beach, the choice is yours! This evening, relax with the crew and new-found friends on the top deck as we cruise through the spectacular Palm Islands before settling in for our final night cruising the Great Barrier Reef.
DAY 4	This morning we cross Halifax Bay, passing close to Magnetic Island before arriving in Townsville where you will disembark the ship.
It may sometimes be necessary to amend itineraries or arrangements due to weather or other operational needs.