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Great Barrier Reef Solar Eclipse Cruises
price
7 Day
|
Category |
Twin Share |
Single |
|
Cabin |
$3196 |
$3995 |
|
Stateroom |
$3696 |
$4620 |
| Upper Deck Stateroom |
$4046 |
$5058 |
|
Deluxe Stateroom |
$4246 |
$5308 |
5 Day
|
Category |
Twin Share |
Single |
|
Cabin |
$1996 |
$2495 |
|
Stateroom |
$2296 |
$2870 |
| Upper Deck Stateroom |
$2476 |
$3095 |
|
Deluxe Stateroom |
$2646 |
$3308 |
Prices per person double occupancy
Prices in Australian Dollars (AUD)
For currency exchange see trip notes No single supplement fee
duration
7 daystrip dates
trip level
highlights
CairnsRibbon Reef No 3
Rachel Carson Reef
Lizard Island
Cooktown
Moore Reef
Thetford Reef
Sudbury Cay
Fitzroy Island
accomm types
Small Ship
On the morning of November 14, 2012 the eyes of amateur astronomers and the scientific community from around the world will focus firmly on Northern Australia and the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef. Tropical North Queensland lies on the ‘centreline’ of the prime eclipse viewing area, and what better way to experience this monumental event than aboard a Coral Princess Cruises small-ship cruise discovering the wonders of the Reef, Rainforests and tropical Islands of this beautiful region.
For most travelers, a visit to the Great Barrier Reef is a once in a lifetime experience. With only a few precious days to discover the natural wonders of Tropical North Queensland, making the most of your time is vital. That’s why when you join Coral Princess Cruises you will discover more of the reef, rainforest and islands than you ever thought possible.
Only when you travel with Coral Princess Cruises will you awaken each morning at exclusive reef moorings, with the very best of the reef and secluded tropical islands right outside your window. Traveling with an intimate group of just 50 like-minded guests you will explore well beyond the reach of the busy day tour groups; it really will feel like you have this World Heritage-listed wonderland all to yourself. Savor unhurried snorkeling and glass bottom boat tours in the company of our onboard Marine Biologist, their expert knowledge ensuring you gain a full appreciation for the reef and its colorful marine life.
7 Day Cruise
Day 1 - Embark, Cairns
10:00am: Board your Coral Princess Cruises 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 six nights. This afternoon enjoy your first opportunity for snorkeling and glass bottom boat tours before joining our crew and traveling companions on the top deck as we admire a spectacular sunset over the World Heritage-listed rainforest.
Accommodations: Coral Princess, or Coral Princess II
Included Meals: lunch & dinner
Day 2 - Ribbon Reef No 3 and Rachel Carson Reef
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 snorkeling 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.
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 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. 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. Later, visit the fascinating Lizard Island Research Station and discover how local scientists are helping to protect the future of the Reef to ensure it is sustainable for future generations.
Accommodations: Coral Princess, or Coral Princess II
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 4 - Cooktown
We have the morning to discover historic Cooktown. You have the option to visit the fascinating historical museum and 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. Later, we join a local Aboriginal guide to learn of the region’s indigenous history and tradition, rock art, bush foods and bush medicines. 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 colorful coral gardens and discover some of the 1500 species of tropical fish that call the reef home. Later, we cruise southward, arriving at our overnight anchorage located in our prime viewing position for tomorrow’s eclipse.
Accommodations: Coral Princess, or Coral Princess II
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 5 - Eclipse Viewing - Moore Reef
This morning, awaken anchored close to the center-line of the eclipse for what is sure to be an unforgettable morning. Join your traveling companions on the deck and watch as the moon passes in front of the sun, resulting in a total solar eclipse lasting some two minutes. After the morning’s excitement we enjoy the opportunity to snorkel at nearby Moore Reef and enjoy glass bottom boat tours and optional SCUBA diving.
Accommodations: Coral Princess, or Coral Princess II
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 6 - Thetford Reef & Sudbury Cay
Enjoy a full day 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 colorful 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. In the evening, join our crew and traveling companions on the top deck as the sun spectacularly sets over the reef.
Accommodations: Coral Princess, or Coral Princess II
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 7 - Fitzroy Island - Disembark, Cairns
This morning travel ashore to Fitzroy Island where there is the opportunity to explore the island and its many beaches. Perhaps join a walk through native trees to the island’s lookout, which affords fantastic views of the surrounding reef and islands. Keep an eye out for the many varieties of native birds and wildlife that call the island home. Early this afternoon we cruise through Trinity Bay before arriving in tropical Cairns at 1:30pm for disembarkation at Trinity Wharf.
Accommodations: Coral Princess, or Coral Princess II
Included Meals: breakfast and lunch
5 Day Cruise
Day 1 - Embark, Cairns
4:00pm: Board your Coral Princess Cruises small ship for a 5:00pm departure 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 traveling companions on the top deck to admire a spectacular sunset over the World Heritage-listed rainforest of the Macalister Range before arriving at our overnight anchorage located in our prime viewing position for tomorrow’s eclipse.
Accommodations: Coral Princess, or Coral Princess II
Included Meals: dinner
Day 2 - Eclipse Viewing - Ribbon Reefs
This morning awaken anchored close to the centreline of the eclipse for what is sure to be an unforgettable morning. Join your traveling companions on the deck and watch as the moon passes in front of the sun, resulting in a total solar eclipse lasting some two minutes. Following the excitement of the eclipse we make our way to the spectacular Ribbon Reefs, offering some of the Great Barrier Reef’s finest coral gardens. Explore the colorful corals and marine life with guided snorkeling 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.
Accommodations: Coral Princess, or Coral Princess II
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 3 - Lizard Island
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 Endeavor 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 meters off the beach, offers some fantastic snorkeling 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 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 Reef No. 3 and Rachel Carson Reef
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. 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 snorkeling and glass bottom boat tours. 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.
Accommodations: Coral Princess, or Coral Princess II
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 5 - Disembark, Cairns
8:00am: Farewell our Captain, crew and new-found friends before disembarking at Trinity Wharf in Cairns.
Accommodations: Coral Princess, or Coral Princess II
Included Meals: breakfast
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.
Included aboard Coral Princess I or II: Included in your cruise fare are accommodations as booked, All meals, morning and afternoon teas, tea and coffee; Accommodation in spacious cabins or staterooms; Use of snorkeling equipment, masks and fins; Guided glass bottom boat coral viewing, snorkeling excursions and island and rainforest walks; Presentations by Marine Biologists; An introductory SCUBA experience for first time divers; Port Charges and Gratuities.
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 Solar Eclipse 7 day cruise begins and ends in Cairns. Embarkation time is 11:00am on day of departure. Please be at the dock no later than 10:00am for boarding. Disembarkation is after breakfast on final day at 1:30pm. The 5 day cruise also begins and ends in Cairns. Embarkation time is 4:00pm on day of departure. Disembarkation is early morning after breakfast 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.
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.
