About The Tour
The Great Barrier Reef Cruise Deluxe takes you to paradise and gives you the chance to explore the mesmerising underwater world of this natural wonder. We'll visit two reef sites during the day, with your snorkelling equipment, one complimentary certified or beginner dive, a glass-bottom boat tour, and more all included in your tour price.
Throughout the day, you’ll have the chance to try your hand at scuba diving and snorkelling, as well as chill out and relax on deck with delicious Aussie food.
Tour Details
Operates: Daily
Departs: 7:30am
Returns: Approx. 4:30pm
Adults: $205
Children: $125 (4 – 11 years)
Please note: various factors may impact your ability to dive including if you are flying within 24 hours of the cruise and some medical conditions. All divers are required to fill out a questionnaire before they are cleared to dive. Please view the questionnaire here and discuss with us anything that may prevent you from diving before you book.
Date changes are permitted up to 48 hours prior to departure (availability dependent). Please see our full cancellation policy here.
Upgrade Options
Top Deck Club experience: $100 per person (minimum of two travellers). Spend the day exploring the Great Barrier Reef from the exclusive Top Deck Lounge with your own dedicated valet service. The Top Deck upgrade includes:
- Dedicated personal valet service for the day to bring your food and drinks, collect equipment and provide assistance throughout the day
- Guided dive or snorkel with your personal crew member
- Delicious hot breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea
- Plunger coffee, tea and chocolates
- Australian sparkling wine and cheese platter on the return journey
- Reserved seating in the Captains Wheelhouse Top Deck Lounge
Additional dives: the below upgrades are available for purchase from the staff on board the boat on the morning of your tour, and cannot be pre-booked.
Upgrade 1 – Additional Certified Dive (2nd Dive): $55 per person
Upgrade 2 – Additional Beginner Dives (2nd Dive): $65 per person
Itinerary
The day starts at 8:00 am where we’ll board the boat from Cairns. Before we set off, you’ll have a quick briefing and snorkelling demonstration so you can get stuck straight in when we arrive at our first reef. As we make our way to the first reef, you can tuck into a mouth-watering breakfast roll to fuel up for the day. When we arrive at the first reef, you’ll have the chance to go on a glass-bottom boat ride or dip below the water’s surface and do some scuba diving.
The reefs we visit will depend on the weather, but we’ll either visit Hastings Reef, Breaking Patches Reef, Saxon Reef, Norman Reef, or Jorgensen Patch. All of these spots boast ideal diving conditions and a unique set of marine life.
After your first dive, we’ll tuck into a yummy lunch and you’ll have ample time to soak up the views of the reef and relax on deck. Then we’ll make our way to our afternoon reef location, where you can once more dabble in some diving and get to know the underwater world.
If diving isn’t your thing, you can either go for a swim, snorkel or simply sit on the deck and soak up some rays.
On the way back to Cairns, soak up the last of the Great Barrier Reef, before we arrive back in Cairns at about 4:30 pm.
Related article: How to Explore the Great Barrier Reef
What's Included?
- Cairns accommodation pickup/drop-off
- Hot breakfast roll
- Delicious lunch (please let us know of any dietary requirements when you book)
- Glass of wine and a light snack on the journey back to Cairns
- All reef fees/taxes
- 6 hours on the Great Barrier Reef
- 15 minute guided snorkelling tour
- Wildlife viewing
- Snorkelling equipment hire & tuition
- Floatation devices
- Glass bottom boat tour (weather permitting)
- x1 complimentary certified dive OR beginners dive
- Water, tea & coffee all day (while vessel is stationary)
Please Note: the glass bottom boat tour will operate subject to weather conditions
Pickup Locations
Please make your way to the A-Finger at the Marina and locate the Reef Experience boat for boarding. The address is 1 Spence Street Cairns.
We can arrange bus transfers from most hotels and hostels in Cairns and Northern Beaches. If you cannot see your hotel as an option for pickup when making your booking, please contact us to advise of your nearest pickup location. We cannot pickup from residential addresses.
Please note that bus transfers from Northern Beaches ($25 per person) are payable in cash on board.
Return transport from Port Douglas can also be arranged for an additional $70 per person (minimum $140, pay on board). Please speak to our staff directly if you wish to add pickup from Port Douglas.
