destination
australia
Great Barrier Reef Cruises 4, 5, 8 Days
trip specifics
price
|
Cabin |
8 Day |
5 Day |
4 Day |
|
Twin |
$2968 |
$1946 |
$1546 |
|
Stateroom |
$3436 |
$2246 |
$1796 |
|
Upper Deck |
$3716 |
$2416 |
$1956 |
|
Deluxe |
$3971 |
$2576 |
$2096 |
|
Triple |
$2577 |
$1685 |
$1347 |
Prices per person double occupancy
Prices in Australian Dollars (AUD)
No single supplement fee
For currency exchange see trip notes
Coral Princess II: Sails March 20, 2012-November 10, 2012,
and the rest of the cruise dates
Coral Princess: Sails February 4, 2012-March 20, 2012
November 10, 2012–February 5, 2013
4 Day departs Saturdays
5 Day departs Tuesdays
duration
4 daystrip dates
Jun 02 - Jun 09, 2012 *Jun 05 - Jun 12, 2012
Jun 09 - Jun 16, 2012 *
Jun 12 - Jun 19, 2012
Jun 16 - Jun 23, 2012 *
Jun 19 - Jun 26, 2012
Jun 23 - Jun 30, 2012 *
Jun 26 - Jul 03, 2012
Jun 30 - Jul 07, 2012 *
Jul 03 - Jul 10, 2012
Jul 07 - Jul 14, 2012 *
Jul 14 - Jul 21, 2012 *
Jul 17 - Jul 24, 2012
Jul 28 - Aug 04, 2012 *
Jul 31 - Aug 07, 2012
Aug 04 - Aug 11, 2012 *
Aug 07 - Aug 14, 2012
Aug 11 - Aug 18, 2012 *
Aug 14 - Aug 21, 2012
Aug 18 - Aug 25, 2012 *
Aug 21 - Aug 28, 2012
Aug 25 - Sep 01, 2012 *
Aug 28 - Sep 04, 2012
Sep 01 - Sep 08, 2012 *
Sep 04 - Sep 11, 2012
Sep 08 - Sep 15, 2012 *
Sep 11 - Sep 18, 2012
Sep 15 - Sep 22, 2012 *
Sep 18 - Sep 25, 2012
Sep 22 - Sep 29, 2012 *
Sep 25 - Oct 02, 2012
Sep 29 - Oct 06, 2012 *
Oct 02 - Oct 09, 2012
Oct 06 - Oct 13, 2012 *
Oct 09 - Oct 16, 2012
Oct 13 - Oct 20, 2012 *
Oct 16 - Oct 23, 2012
Oct 20 - Oct 27, 2012 *
Oct 23 - Oct 30, 2012
Oct 27 - Nov 03, 2012 *
Oct 30 - Nov 06, 2012
Nov 03 - Nov 10, 2012 *
Nov 06 - Nov 13, 2012
Nov 17 - Nov 24, 2012 *
Nov 20 - Nov 27, 2012
Nov 24 - Dec 01, 2012 *
Nov 27 - Dec 04, 2012
Dec 01 - Dec 08, 2012 *
Dec 04 - Dec 11, 2012
Dec 08 - Dec 15, 2012 *
Dec 11 - Dec 18, 2012
Dec 15 - Dec 22, 2012 *
Dec 18 - Dec 25, 2012
Dec 22 - Dec 29, 2012 *
Dec 25 - Jan 01, 2013
Dec 29 - Jan 05, 2013 *
Jan 01 - Jan 08, 2013
Jan 05 - Jan 12, 2013 *
Jan 08 - Jan 15, 2013
Jan 12 - Jan 19, 2013 *
Jan 15 - Jan 22, 2013
Jan 19 - Jan 26, 2013 *
Jan 22 - Jan 29, 2013
Jan 26 - Feb 02, 2013 *
Jan 29 - Feb 05, 2013
Feb 02 - Feb 09, 2013 *
Feb 05 - Feb 12, 2013
Feb 09 - Feb 16, 2013 *
Feb 12 - Feb 19, 2013
Feb 16 - Feb 23, 2013 *
Feb 19 - Feb 26, 2013
Feb 23 - Mar 03, 2013 *
Feb 26 - Mar 04, 2013
Mar 02 - Mar 09, 2013 *
Mar 05 - Mar 12, 2013
Mar 09 - Mar 16, 2013 *
Mar 12 - Mar 19, 2013
Mar 16 - Mar 23, 2013 *
Mar 19 - Mar 26, 2013
Mar 23 - Mar 30, 2013 *
* Reverse Itinerary
trip level
view explanation
highlights
CairnsCooktown
Lizard Island
Ribbon Reefs
Thetford Reef
Sudbury Cay
Hinchinbrook Channel
Pelorus Island Beach
Dunk Island
Nathan Reef
Fitzroy Island
accomm types
Small Ship
special offer
Save 15% On Great Barrier Reef Cruises: Book an 8 day small ship cruise aboard Coral Princess or Coral Princess II for ... view details
Discover a paradise of remote and uninhabited islands, become a lazy beachcomber or an inquisitive adventurer. The starkness of the remote and unique coral cays will fascinate you. Go snorkeling and coral viewing amongst the brilliant corals and teeming fish life on the fringing reefs of Lizard Island and Pelorus Island (exclusive to small ship cruises aboard the Coral Princess), or linger over the top of the spectacular platform reefs, all abundant with marine life and dancing corals.
Board the Coral Princess or Coral Princess II from Cairns for a 4, 5 or 8 day Great Barrier Reef small ship cruise and enjoy one of the most comprehensive reef tours in Australia. The 8 day itinerary is detailed below and the shorter versions brief itineraries are listed at the bottom.
Day 1 - Cairns
4:00pm: Board ship for a 5:00pm departure from Cairns. Cruise Trinity Bay while settling in and discovering your home for the next seven nights. Join the crew and traveling companions on the top deck for a glass of champagne and enjoy the sights while cruising northward, passing Double Island and the pretty beach side village of Palm Cove. Admire a spectacular sunset over the World Heritage-listed rainforest of the Macalister Range before sitting down to a sumptuous dinner.
Accommodations: Coral Princess, or Coral Princess II
Included Meals: dinner
Day 2 - Historic Cooktown and the Reef
Spend the morning discovering historic 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 artifacts from Cook’s ship – Endeavour, to see the original anchor and cannon, jettisoned overboard after Endeavour struck a reef and began taking on water. Enjoy time to discover Cooktown at your own pace. Perhaps visit the Botanic Gardens, where you may catch a glimpse of native Australian wildlife including kangaroos and wallabies. This afternoon, visit one of the remote uninhabited islands of the Great Barrier Reef. Join the marine biologist for a glass bottom boat tour over the colorful coral gardens before your first snorkeling opportunity for up-close views of the hundreds of varieties of coral growing on this section of reef.
Accommodations: Coral Princess, or Coral Princess II
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 3 - Lizard Island
This morning awaken moored beside beautiful Lizard Island. The energetic may join our guides on a walk to ‘Cook’s Look’ on the island’s peak. 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 meters off the beach, offers some fantastic snorkeling opportunities. Discover giant clams and a profusion of fish. Enjoy the remainder of the morning at your leisure. You may wish to simply relax on the golden beach soaking up the sun, join the Marine Biologist for a glass bottom boat tour, or for the ultimate Great Barrier Reef experience, take the plunge with a Dive Instructor on a guided SCUBA dive. The choice is yours! This afternoon, cruise to Ribbon Reef No. 9, a spectacular and seldom visited part of the reef for more snorkeling opportunities and glass bottom boat tours with the Marine Biologist.
Accommodations: Coral Princess, or Coral Princess II
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 4 - Ribbon Reefs
The Great Barrier Reef is not actually one continuous reef, but a series of thousands of individual coral cays stretching over 3,000 kilometers between the town of Bundaberg and the tip of Australia at Cape York. Spend today visiting two of the most pristine sections of the reef, Ribbon Reef No. 3 and Rachel Carson Reef. Explore the coral gardens and marine life with guided snorkeling and glass bottom boat tours. The 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.
Accommodations: Coral Princess, or Coral Princess II
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 5 - Thetford Reef and Sudbury Cay
Enjoy the afternoon experiencing the reef at the exclusive Thetford Reef and Sudbury Cay moorings. Take a glass bottom boat tour over the colorful coral gardens before gathering on the snorkel deck to participate in a fish feed. Discover some of the 1500 species of fish that live on the reef, including Spangled Emperor, Giant Trevally and the Hump-Headed Maori Wrasse as they are hand fed by the Marine Biologist. Enjoy the remainder of the afternoon to snorkel in the shallow waters for up-close views of the hundreds of varieties of colorful corals and tropical fish.
Accommodations: Coral Princess, or Coral Princess II
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 6 - Hinchinbrook Channel and Pelorus Island Beach BBQ
Awaken this morning cruising the spectacular Hinchinbrook Channel, discovering Hinchinbrook Island’s towering cliffs and mangrove eco-systems. Subject to tides, cruise the length of the channel, separating the Australian mainland and the island, one of the most diverse marine environments on the Australian coast. Keep an eye out for myriad marine life including crocodiles, dolphins, turtles and dugongs, all of which feed on the region’s plentiful sea grasses and can often be seen frolicking in these waters.
Next, enjoy the afternoon to discover Coral Princess Cruises’ very own tropical paradise, Pelorus Island. Head to the beach for a gourmet beach BBQ, freshly prepared by the Captain. Then, explore the surrounding rainforest on a guided nature walk. Pelorus’ fringing reef, in the shallow waters just meters off the beach, offers some fantastic snorkeling opportunities. Admire the colorful corals from the glass bottom boat with the Marine Biologist, accompany the Dive Instructor on an unforgettable SCUBA dive or simply relax on the long stretch of golden beach, the choice is yours!
Accommodations: Coral Princess, or Coral Princess II
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 7 - Dunk Island and Nathan Reef
This morning join our naturalist guides on a fascinating rainforest walk discovering Dunk Island’s unique flora and fauna. We may be lucky enough to see the brightly colored 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. Following lunch, discover Nathan Reef at your own pace. From our exclusive mooring experience some of the most colorful coral gardens that can be found anywhere along the entire length of the reef. 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 snorkeling tour and join the Marine Biologist for a glass bottom boat tour.
For the ultimate Great Barrier Reef experience, accompany the Dive Instructor on an unforgettable SCUBA dive. Later, discover some of the amazing creatures living on the reef at the on-board display tank. Enjoy the rare opportunity for a close up look at sea cucumbers, brightly colored starfish and other marine life. Laze away the late afternoon on the sun deck, enjoying the comfortable onboard facilities including the spa pool and sun lounges. Tonight, head to the dining room for another sumptuous dinner as we settle in for our final night cruising the Great Barrier Reef.
Accommodations: Coral Princess, or Coral Princess II
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 8 - Fitzroy Island and Cairns
Travel ashore to explore beautiful Fitzroy Island. Surrounded by a reef system that forms part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Fitzroy Island offers wonderful bush walking opportunities and idyllic white sandy beaches. Savor our final snorkeling opportunity over the island’s fringing reefs, just meters from the beach in the sheltered waters. Following lunch, early this afternoon we cruise through Trinity Bay before arriving in Tropical Cairns at 1:30pm for disembarkation at Trinity Wharf.
Accommodations: n/a
Included Meals: breakfast
Note: Due to weather, tides or mechanical reasons the itinerary may be subject to change without notice.
8 Day Reverse Itinerary
Day 1: Cairns and Thetford ReefDay 2: Hinchinbrook Channel and Pelorus Island Beach BBQ
Day 3: Dunk Island and Nathan Reef
Day 4: Fitzroy Island
Day 5: Historic Cooktown and the Reef
Day 6: Lizard Island
Day 7: Ribbon Reefs
Day 8: Cairns
Great Barrier Reef Cruise 4 Day/3 Night
Day 1 - Cairns and Thetford Reef
Day 2 - Hinchinbrook Channel and Pelorus Island Beach BBQ
Day 3 - Dunk Island and Nathan Reef
Day 4 - Fitzroy Island and Cairns
Or Reverse
Great Barrier Reef Cruise 5 Day/4 Night
Day 1 - Embark Cairns
Day 2 - Historic Cooktown & Great Barrier Reef
Day 3 - Lizard Island, Reef & Snorkeling
Day 4 - Spectacular Ribbon Reefs
Day 5 - Carins Disembark
Fly And Cruise Option
Fly from Cairns to Townsville prior to your Townsville-Lizard Island-Cairns cruise departure, or fly back to Cairns from Townsville after your Cairns-Lizard Island-Townsville cruise. Call for pricing and details.
Notes on Itinerary: We may occasionally alter itineraries slightly for safety, or to take advantage of weather, wildlife, and unplanned discoveries. Our ability to be flexible makes our style of cruising unique.
Currency Exchange: Prices for the Great Barrier Reef Cruise aboard the Coral Princess is in Australian Dollars. For today's exchange rate visit USD to AUD. We will accept payment in U.S. Dollars based on the exchange rate the day you make your payment.
Cost Includes: Included in your cruise fare are accommodations as booked, cruise transportation, all meals onboard, 24-hour room service, entertainment and educational programs, use of all of our onboard facilities, including our comprehensive range of library and video resources, use of snorkeling equipment such as masks, fins, flotation vests and wetsuits plus a free scuba skills lesson.
Not Included: Fares do not include items of a personal nature, including but not limited to: travel and medical insurance, laundry charges, shopping onboard, bar expenses, hair dressing and massage treatments, optional shore experiences, medical treatment, telephone and internet charges, plus a Government Environmental Management charge of $16.50 per person - payable on board.
Shareseveral triple share rooms at “Stateroom” category accommodation level are available. The third bed is a “Pullman bunk” and these are suited to the third person being a child or small adult. When using the triple share room the per person triple share price is 75% of the twin share price. Exclusive charter and group rates available.
Children Children rates: 0-3 years free of charge. 2 adults and 2 children(age 4-14 years) receive one room at the normal price, and the children's room at 50% of the adult price. 2 adults + 1, or 1 adult + 2 children child sharing use triple share rate.
Deposit and Final Payment: To secure your reservation a deposit of 20% of the fare is due within 7 days of placing your booking. Final Payment is due 30 days prior to departure.
Cancellation Policy: The following cancellation fees will apply to all reservations. Cancellations made within 30 days of departure will incur the following fees:
From 14-30 days - forfeit 20% of relevant fare
From 7-13 days - forfeit 50% of relevant fare
From "no-show" to 6 days - forfeit 100% of relevant fare
Travel Insurance: We highly recommend our travelers protect their investment with Travel Insurance. Please note that you must purchase your Travel Insurance policy within 14 days of booking your trip for it to cover pre-existing medical conditions.
Arrival/Departure Information: The Great Barrier Reef cruises begin and end in Cairns. Embarkation time is 1:00pm on day of departure. Disembarkation is after breakfast on final day at 8:00am. Please schedule flights accordingly.
Qualifications: This trip will be enjoyed by anyone who is in good health and leads an active life. Any medical condition, advanced pregnancy or disability must be advised to AdventureSmith Explorations when a request for accommodation is made. Guests should be sure to bring onboard sufficient supplies of any prescription medication they may require.
Accommodations Aboard: The award-winning 35 meter expedition style cruise ships, Coral Princess and Coral Princess II, are large enough to provide all the comforts and facilities you would expect from larger cruise ships, yet small enough to enable us to access reef and island sites inaccessible to other vessels. With an open bridge policy and a maximum of just 50 passengers, your environmental experience will be both personal and memorable. The Great Barrier Reef small ship cruise aboard the Coral Princess is the ultimate Great Barrier Reef cruise.
General Information: This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms & Conditions:. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A packing list, extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information is sent upon confirmation. We strongly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance through AdventureSmith Explorations. If purchased within 14 days of sign-up, the pre-existing condition exclusion is waived.
We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Call today.
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