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.
Stroll along fringes of white sand and snorkel amongst a kaleidoscope of fish on the outer Ribbon and Hedley Reefs. Discover Lizard Island's giant clam gardens only metres from the shore. Hear native birds call from the towering rainforest canopy on Dunk and Fitzroy Islands and climb the same lookouts as the first explorers to Australia. The Great Barrier Reef is the only living thing on earth that you can see from space so imagine what it is like face to face.
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.
Three, four and seven night cruises allow you to swim, snorkel and SCUBA dive amid the fish and corals in the clear tropical waters. Join the marine biologist aboard the glass bottom boat, stroll golden sandy beaches on remote coral cays or visit secluded tropical islands and ancient rainforests, while our on-board experts interpret the natural wonders of the reef, rainforest and island habitats. We’ll show you the reef most visitors never see – and you can choose to be as adventurous or as relaxed as you please.
View information about your cruise ships, the Coral Princess and Coral Princess 2
| C380: Cruise Departure Dates 2010/11 |
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Cairns to Townsville
2010: Apr 1, 15, 29; May 13, 27;
Jun 10, 24; Jul 8, 22; Aug 5, 19;
Sep 2, 16, 30; Oct 14, 28; Nov 11, 25;
Dec 9, 23; 2011: Jan 6, 20; Feb 3, 17;
Mar 3, 17, 31
Townsville to Cairns
2010: Apr 8, 22; May 6, 20; Jun 3, 17;
Jul 1, 15, 29; Aug 12, 26; Sep 9, 23;
Oct 7, 21; Nov 4, 18; Dec 2, 16, 30;
2011: Jan 13, 27; Feb 10, 24; Mar 10, 24;
Apr 7 |
C380: Great Barrier Reef Cruise 2010/11
Australian Dollars price per person |
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| Prices are based on 2 people sharing a twin/double cabin |
| 4-night cruise costs approximately two-thirds and 3-night cruise approximately half cost of 7-night cruise |
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| The cruise price includes |
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Voyage in cabin grade of your choice including full board |
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All meals (buffet style), morning and afternoon teas, with tea and coffee available at all times |
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All onboard facilities, snorkelling equipment, glass bottom boat tours, island and rainforest guided walks where applicable |
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Presentation by Marine Biologists |
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Access to islands, marine and national parks |
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Library and video resources |
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Introductory SCUBA expereince for first time divers |
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| The cruise price does not include |
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Return flight from Townsville to Cairns (AUD180pp) |
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Pre- and post-cruise transfers |
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Costs associated with SCUBA diving |
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Government EMC (AUD16.50 approx) |
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- Call our dedicated Cruise Team
- UK: 01756 706527
International: +44 1756 706527
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- Call our dedicated Cruise Team
- UK: 01756 706527
International: +44 1756 706527
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| 7-night cruise Day 1 |
4-night cruise Day 1
4:00pm: Board your small ship cruise for a 5:00pm departure from Cairns. 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.
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| 7-night cruise Day 2 |
4-night cruise Day 2
We have the morning to discover historical Cooktown. Visit Cooktown’s fascinating historical museum, featuring original artefacts from Cook’s ship – Endeavour. 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 or have your first opportunity of snorkelling.
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| 7-night cruise Day 3 |
4-night cruise 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. Relax on the beach, snorkel in Lizard Island's turquoise bays, or take a glass bottom boat tour. 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
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| 7-night cruise Day 4 |
4-night cruise Day 4
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. This evening, we enjoy our final memorable night cruising the Great Barrier Reef.
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| 7-night cruise Day 5 am |
4-night cruise Day 5
8:00am: 4-night cruise passengers say farewell to our Captain, crew and new-found friends before disembarking at Trinity Wharf in Cairns.
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| 7-night cruise Day 5 pm |
3-night cruise Day 1
10:30am: Board your small ship for an 11:00am departure 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.
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| 7-night cruise Day 6 |
3-night cruise 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 or Orange-footed Scrubfowl.
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| 7-night cruise Day 7 |
3-night cruise 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 Coral Princess Cruises’ 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 meters 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 our 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.
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| 7-night cruise Day 8 |
3-night cruise Day 4
This morning we cross Halifax Bay, passing close to Magnetic Island before arriving in Townsville at 10:00am for disembarking.
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Itineraries subject to change due to weather and other operational requirements
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