Coral Princess - Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef Cruise from Cairns to Pelorus or Lizard Island return, is a reef and island experience you will never forget. Enjoy 3 nights of discovery and adventure aboard Coral Princess exploring Australia's renowned tropical paradise and world heritage marine and national parks.Travelling on Coral Princess’s award-winning 35 metre expedition style cruise ships, Coral Princess and Coral Princess II, you’ll enjoy all the comforts and facilities you would expect from larger cruise ships, on a ship small enough to enable reef access and island visits inaccessible to other larger vessels.
With a maximum of just 50 passengers, Coral Princess operates an open bridge policy, ensuring your experience will be both personal and memorable.
Onboard there is as much to do as you want - snorkelling, guided coral viewing excursions in glass bottom boats, scuba diving, guided rainforest walks and presentations by marine biologists - or as little as you like - simply take the time to relax on the sundeck or in the spa. The choice is yours!
Cruise inclusions:
- All meals, morning and afternoon teas
- Tea and coffee 24 hours a day
- Use of snorkelling equipment, masks and fins
- Guided glass bottom boat coral viewing and snorkelling excursions
- Presentations by marine biologists
- Access to islands, marine and national parks
- Use of comprehensive range of library and video resources
- An introductory scuba experience for first time divers
Optional extras
- Pre- and post-cruise transfers
- Bar and shop purchases
- Shop to shore telephone and fax calls
- Scuba diving
- The Government Environmental Management Charge (EMC)
Cairns to Pelorus Island return - 3 nights (ask for details of their 4 night Cairns - Lizard Island return cruise)
Day 1: Cairns and Thetford Reef
10:30am: 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 meet your fellow travellers, settle in and explore your home for the next three nights. After a delicious lunch we arrive at our exclusive Great Barrier Reef mooring at Thetford Reef and Sudbury Cay. Join the Marine Biologist aboard the glass bottom boat for your first encounter with the reef before gathering on the snorkel deck to participate in a fish feed. Discover some of the 1,500 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 colourful corals and tropical fish. 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 in the top deck lounge as the sun spectacularly sets over the reef before sitting down to a memorable dinner.
Day 2: Hinchinbrook Channel and Pelorus Island Beach BBQ
Awaken this morning as we cruise the spectacular Hinchinbrook Channel, discovering Hinchinbrook Island's towering cliffs and mangrove eco-systems. Subject to tides, we will 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. We invite you to join us on the beach for a gourmet beach BBQ, freshly prepared by the Captain. Explore the island's rainforest on a guided nature walk. Pelorus' fringing reef, in the shallow waters just metres off the beach, offers fantastic snorkelling, including the opportunity to view a giant clam garden. Admire the colourful corals from the glass bottom boat with the Marine Biologist, join our Dive Instructor on a guided SCUBA dive or simply relax on the long stretch of golden beach and soak up the sun, the choice is yours!
Day 3: Dunk Island and Nathan Reef
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 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. Following lunch, discover Nathan Reef at your own pace. From our exclusive mooring experience some of the most colourful 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 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 at the on-board display tank. Enjoy the rare opportunity for a close up look at sea cucumbers, brightly coloured 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, join us in the dining room for another sumptuous dinner as we settle in for our final night cruising the Great Barrier Reef.
Day 4: 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. Savour our final snorkelling opportunity over the island's fringing reefs, just metres 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.
Note: Due to weather, tides or mechanical reasons itineraries may be subject to change without notice.
To book, call 0845 643 6548
To book this travel offer, call one of our tailor-made travel experts now, quoting reference WEX101586.
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