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7 Night Great Barrier Reef Cruise, Pelorus Island, Lizard Island & Cairns

11111 164 reviews , updated on : Wed, 05 Feb 2020

There�s no better way to discover the Reef, islands and rainforests of this World Heritage-listed region than aboard 7 night small ship cruise from Cairns. An incredible underwater world hides just beneath the surface and whether you experience the Reef by glass bottom boat, snorkelling or SCUBA diving, it is a mystical world filled with coral, marine life and vibrantly coloured fish. This is undoubtedly the ultimate Australian holiday experience, and a �must do� for any traveller visiting the Great Barrier Reef.

7 Night Great Barrier Reef Cruise, Pelorus Island, Lizard Island & Cairns
From$ aud
Group booking discount

Tour Highlights

  • Macalister Range
  • Pelorus Island
  • Dunk Island's unique flora and fauna
  • Fitzroy Island
  • Historic Cooktown
  • Lizard Island
  • Cape York

Tour Info

Code CP-CC7S
Style
  • Discovery Tour
  • Explorer Tour
Duration 8 Days
Price From $
Departures
Vehicle Cruise Ship
Suitability Open Age
Start Cairns @ 11.00am
Finish Cairns @ 1.30pm
Day 1: More Details

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 seven 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 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 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: Awaken This Morning As We Cruise The Spectacular Hinchinbrook Channel More Details
, 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. Then, 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 a guided SCUBA dive or simply relax on the long stretch of golden beach, the choice is yours!

Day 3: This Morning Join Our Naturalist Guides On A Fascinating Rainforest Walk Discovering Dunk Island More Details
'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 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, take the plunge in the company of 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.

Day 4: Travel Ashore To Explore Beautiful Fitzroy Island More Details
. 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. Enjoy time to relax and explore, relax on the beach or perhaps enjoy a swim in the sheltered waters or a snorkel over the island's fringing reefs.

Day 5: We Have The Morning To Discover Historic Cooktown More Details
. 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 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 native Australian wildlife including kangaroos and wallabies. This afternoon we visit one of the remote uninhabited islands of the Great Barrier Reef.

Day 6: This Morning We Awaken Moored Beside Beautiful Lizard Island More Details
. 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. 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, 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 7: The Great Barrier Reef Is Not Actually One Continuous Reef More Details
, but a series of thousands of individual coral cays stretching over 3,000 kilometres between the town of Bundaberg and the tip of Australia at Cape York. We 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 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 the experience of a lifetime. This evening, we enjoy our final memorable night cruising the Great Barrier Reef.

Day 8: 8 More Details
:00am: Farewell our Captain, crew and new-found friends before disembarking at Trinity Wharf in Cairns.

Note: Due to weather, tides or mechanical reasons the itinerary may be subject to change without notice.

An incredible underwater world will be revealed to you at our numerous exclusive reef sites. Our informative crew will always be on hand to provide assistance and information about the fascinating reef life and habitat. Join our Marine Biologist aboard the glass bottom boat or go snorkelling amongst the brilliant corals and teeming marine life on the fringing reefs of Lizard Island and our exclusive Pelorus Island.. Our experienced Dive Instructor will also be there to offer you the exhilarating experience of scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef. Make use of the resort facilties at Dunk Island or simply enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of these wonderful tropical islands and coastline.

Cruise Itinerary

Onboard Accommodation

Resort style living at its best. Select from four types of accommodation - all spacious and elegantly appointed. The discerning traveller has a choice of Standard, Deluxe, Upper Deck Staterooms, while the more budget conscious may select a Cabin. A number of Staterooms have extra divans or Pullman berths, and others have connecting doors. All accommodation is spacious and air-conditioned with private ensuites and the choice of single or double beds. All rooms are serviced daily.

Cabin Type Area of Cabin Boarding Configuration
Cabin 10 sqm (108 sqft) Twin Beds
Stateroom 13 sqm (140 sqft) Twin or Double Beds
Upper Deck Stateroom 14 sqm (151 sqft) Twin or Double Beds
Deluxe Stateroom 17 sqm (183 sqft) Twin or Double Beds

Onboard Facilities

Onboard amenities include what you would expect of a much larger cruise ship:

  • Air-conditioned dining room
  • Two modern air-conditioned lounges
  • Sundeck and Spa Pool
  • Comprehensive reference library featuring videos and books on the reef, islands and outback
  • Phone and fax facilities
  • Security Safe
  • Fully stocked cocktail bar
  • Comprehensive dive shop
  • A range of souvenirs and personal items is available for purchase

Dining

All meals during the cruise are included. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are usually served the Dining Room located on the Main Deck and are buffet-style. Coffee and tea is available 24 hours. Standard hours are breakfast from 7:00-8:30am, lunch at 12:30pm and dinner at 7:30pm however meal times may vary according to the day's activities. Meal times will be advised in the onboard daily bulletins.

Excursion Boats and Zodiacs

The 'Explorer' is a specially designed aluminium excursion vessel used for the majority of our 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.

We also carry two inflatable landing craft (Zodiacs). Designed for expedition work, these large and heavy-duty infla tables are extremely safe. Separate air compartments retain a large reserve of buoyancy even if the boats damaged. The flat bottom design permits these crafts to land directly onto the beaches. Expect nonetheless to wade through shallow water to reach the shore

Questions

What facilities do the cabins and staterooms provide? 
All rooms are air conditioned, and equipped with ensuite, wardrobe, suitcase cupboard, speaker, large windows (some cabin categories have port holes), desk and hairdryer. Power points onboard are 240 volt for Australian plugs. There is a shaving outlet in each bathroom. All rooms are serviced daily.

Can we fit three adults into a cabin? 
Cabins will only accommodate two adults maximum. Cabins are twin bedded or bunk bedded only. However, a child can be accommodated on a Pullman Bunk or Divan in a Stateroom only.

Can we push two twin beds together to make a double? 
Beds are fixed. If a double bed is required please ensure that you book a Stateroom, Upper-Deck Stateroom or Deluxe Stateroom when making your reservation. 

What size is the bed in a double stateroom? 
Cabins feature a choice of twin beds or double beds.

Do we need to bring our own snorkelling or dive equipment? 
If you wish, you may bring your own equipment with you, however included in the cost of your cruise is the use of full snorkelling and dive equipment. Please remember if you are a certified diver to bring your certification card and logbook with you. Snorkelling is free of charge. An introductory SCUBA experience is complimentary for first time divers. Additional expense is associated with SCUBA Diving.

Do we need to pre book activities or dives prior to boarding? 
All activities while on your cruise can be arranged on board for your convenience.

 

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