Cairns Cruise Ship Tours | Explore the Great Barrier Reef | Remote Islands
An intimate Great Barrier Reef Cruise Ship Tour with all the comforts, without the crowds, awaits you!
Call 07 4059 5959 to ask about our latest Cruise Ship Deals
Ask about our great pre-post Cairns accommodation deals
Discover the best of the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef, on a 7 day cruise ship tours from Cairns and return. These bespoke small ship, all inclusive boat cruises offer spacious, comfortable accommodation with spectacular views with only a maxium of 72 discerning cruise ship passengers on board.
The local Cairns cruise ship crew will attend to your every need as your boat cruises along the edges of the Great Barrier Reef along the Australian coastline to the northern tip.
Hand picked for their local knowledge, personality and attention to detail and excellent service you, your partner and or friends will be in good hands for your bespoke small cruise ship holiday on Australia's mighty Great Barrier Reef.
The modern Australian cuisine on board your cruise ship features an abundance of local seafood and fresh tropical produce, and dining experiences that won't dissapoint.
If you are a 'scuba diver or snorkeler there is plenty of opportunity to expore some really amazing sites amongst the pristine coral reefs where not another person will be seen. This paradise of coral gardens with literally thousands of species of marine life will be only viewable to you and your group of scuba diving buddies.
The big benefit of booking a holiday on a small bespoke expedition style cruise ship tour from Cairns is the one-on-one attention you will recieve with the on board Marine Biologist and knowlegable guides providing hands on experiences and lectures over the days you luxuriate on the cruise ship.
The cruise ships 'open bridge' policy will also allow you to visit the ships Captain and crew on the bridge and chat about what's in store for you or to listen to some tales of previous Great Barrier Reef cruise adventures.
Of course there is plently of time to relax and take in the sights at your own pace and soak up the tropical Queensland sun from the sun deck and sipping that tropical cocktail but don't wait too long you need to book early as these small cruise ships book out years in advance!
View all Great Barrier Reef cruises on offer.
Cairns Only Bespoke Small Ship Cruise Tour Company on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia
Our Cairns based cruise ship team have curated our luxury expedition cruise ship tours specifically for passengers who are looking for totally new and unique experiences and associated discoveries to be immersed and fully participate in experiential situations.
On each Great Barrier Reef cruise ship voyage we have on board specialists from a plethora of fields such as marine biologists, marine scientists, qualified expedition leaders and guest lecturers for shore excursions in the UNESCO World Heritage Northern section of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
Each one and expert in their field of knowledge on flora and fauna, landscapes, corals and marine life and Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander indigenous culture, they will ensure your Great Barrier Reef cruise experience is as rich and rewarding as possible
Luxury Cruise Ship Launched In Cairns
Launched back in 2020, a new era of reef exploration began with the introduction of the brand new yacht-like expedition cruise ship to the reef commencing immersive 7-day voyages to the remote and untouched Northern Great Barrier Reef precinct with departures from Cairns.
This luxury new expedition style cruise ship will accommodate a maximum of 72 guests to explore the hidden corners, uninhabited sand cays, small islands and pristine reef systems of the World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef.
Journey beyond the known and to the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef to discover abundant marine life, ancient cultures, seabirds and solitude.
Meet charismatic marine species including the sea turtles surfing the ocean currents, find Nemo nestled amongst the coral gardens and marvel at the magnificent humpback whale migration in the deep blue of the Coral Sea.
Share the journey with soaring seabirds and swim, dive and snorkel at far-flung Osprey, Escape and Ribbon Reefs. Learn about ancient indigenous culture and Australian heritage at historic Cooktown.
Visit a Turtle Rehabilitation Centre and stretch your legs with a hike to the summit of “Cooks Look”. Enjoy a sundowner with the sand beneath your toes and the setting sun at deserted Sudbury Cay.
Onboard, you will be accompanied by expert guides and our purpose designed small ships are custom built for expedition cruising. With refined steering capabilities, shallow draught and nimble explorer tenders we will bring you closer to remote sites and natural habitats
You will enjoy freshly prepared small-batch cuisine featuring the best local ingredients and relax and enjoy quality local beers and wines. With an intimate atmosphere and our renowned warm Australian hospitality, you will quickly feel at home and make new connections with new friends.
Great Barrier Reef Cruise Ship Highlights
- Our brand new 7 night 8 day Great Barrier Reef cruise will offer some of the most amazing snorkelling and scuba diving you have ever done as we explore remote reefs in Northern Australia on the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef
- Created for guests looking for an adventure and an experience, one that is totally unique to all other larger commercial style cruises, our small luxury cruise ship tours cater for a limited number of passengers up to a full capacity of only 72 guests
- Join our wildlife experts, marine biologists and guest lecturers as they explore islands and remote reefs and talk about the connection with Aboriginal indigenous culture, Australian heritage and the wonderful corals and marine life on the Great Barrier Reef
- Book your berth on our inaugural luxury 7 night Northern Great Barrier Reef cruise ship tours for 2020 on our yet to be launched newly built luxury small expedition style cruise ship
DAY 1: CRUISE SHIP DEPARTURE FROM CAIRNS
Board the cruise ship at 4:00pm and enjoy time to settle into your cabin before our 5:00pm departure. Take the time to become acquainted with all the facilities onboard as we cruise northwards from Cairns toward Cooktown.
At days end join fellow explorers and crew for the Captain’s Welcome Drinks.
DAY 2: COOKTOWN
Come ashore in historic Cooktown and experience a traditional welcome to country ceremony. Share a spiritual connection through storytelling and the traditional smoking ceremony with the Guugu Yimithirr, the first people of this ancient country. Discover recent European history with a visit to the site where Lt. James Cook beached HMB Endeavour to effect repairs in 1770.
Wander through the rare flora collection at the Botanic Gardens and visit James Cook Museum, where the story of Cook’s landing is told from an Aboriginal perspective and where artifacts are on display.
Later, we cruise towards Lizard Island, arriving in time for sunset drinks at Turtle Beach. After dinner, look for giant trevally and tawny nurse sharks during a fish feeding exhibition off the aft deck.
DAY 3: LIZARD ISLAND
We spend a whole day at Lizard Island where there is time to hike to the summit of Cook’s Look and enjoy the same view Lt. James Cook did when searching for safe passage through the maze of coral reefs. Snorkel over giant clam gardens from the beach at Watson’s Bay, relax on the white-sand beach beneath shady she oak trees and learn about the tragic story surrounding Mary Watson.
There may be an opportunity to visit Lizard Island Research Station, operated by the Australian Museum to facilitate coral reef research and education on the Great Barrier Reef
DAY 4: OSPREY REEF
Osprey Reef is the summit of an undersea 2,000m mountain located beyond the continental shelf with no landmass visible. Enjoy amazing underwater visibility here, and observe magnificent corals, plummeting drop-offs and many fish in the crystalline waters.
Osprey Reef is a highly prized tropical dive location amongst scuba divers, called an ‘oasis for living creatures of all kinds’ by Sir David Attenborough.
Osprey Reef is a true expedition-style destination and our visit is subject to appropriate weather conditions.
DAY 5: RIBBON REEF #9 & HOPE ISLAND
The Ribbon Reefs are a narrow line of outer coral reefs on the edge of the continental shelf and are renowned for their prolific marine life and extensive coral species. Enjoy the rare opportunity to snorkel and dive on the Ribbon Reefs which sit on the edge of the continental shelf.
Due to their location far offshore from the Australian coast, the Ribbon Reefs offer excellent diving and snorkelling opportunities, with Ribbon Reef #9 a favourite for its wide variety of marine life and pinnacles cloaked in coral.
Join a guided snorkel tour led by our expert Expedition Team and witness this extraordinary ecosystem up close. These northern reefs are renowned for spotting iconic marine species such as potato cod, wrasse, sharks and turtles.
In the late afternoon we stretch our legs on remote Hope Island before joining fellow explorers and crew for sunset drinks on the beach as the sun sinks below the horizon.
DAY 6: DAINTREE RIVER & RIBBON REEF #3
Explore the 127km-long Daintree River which cuts through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest, the world’s oldest tropical rainforest. With an expert guide onboard we look for the region’s famed wildlife such as saltwater crocodiles, rare and endangered cassowaries and the prolific bird species that inhabit the forest and mangrove-lined river banks.
We step ashore at a Daintree wilderness centre on the banks of the river and walk on forest trails overhung with lush vegetation. Immersed in the rainforest, we learn more about the diverse Wet Tropics ecosystem which contains the largest habitat of flora and fauna in the world.
Cruising southwards along the Ribbon Reefs, there are more spectacular diving and snorkelling opportunities at Ribbon Reef #3 where we look for iconic species as well as the vibrantly coloured coral gardens the Ribbon Reefs are renowned for.
DAY 7: FITZROY ISLAND & SUDBURY CAY
At Fitzroy Island enjoy a walk through the Secret Garden rainforest or for the more fit and adventurous, a walk to the de-commissioned lighthouse rewards hikers with panoramic views of Coral Sea, islands and mainland mountain ranges.
Snorkel over the fringing reef, relax on the beach and lend a hand to the volunteers as we learn about the turtles at the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, where sick and injured turtles are cared for before being returned to the wild.
Late in the afternoon, we arrive at Sudbury Cay, a tiny sand cay that barely rises above the Coral Sea. Far removed from the bustle of civilisation, we slip off our shoes and feel the sand between our toes as the tropical waters of the Coral Sea lap gently against the shoreline. Surrounded by glistening sea and bathed in the glow of twilight, we enjoy sundowner drinks and the company of like-minded explorers as we relax and watch the sun gently sink below the horizon, enjoying the Captain’s Farewell Drinks at sunset on our own private sand island.
DAY 8: cruise ship disembarkation CAIRNS
Our Great Barrier Reef cruise concludes in Cairns this morning as we bid farewell to new-found friends, the Master and crew, disembarking at 8:00am.
Ensure to ask us about Cairns accommodation near the Cairns Cruise Terminal for your cruise holiday!
Follow this link tour our Cruise Ship page for more cruises.
Great Barrier Reef Cruises | Luxury Small Expedition Cruises | 7 Days
- Departs From: Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal
- Duration:
7 Nights
Book your berth on our luxury cruise ship in Cairns on a 7 night Great Barrier Reef Cruise. Our Great Barrier Reef Cruise ship tours from Cairns are for real explorers looking for expedition style cruises covering remote regions of the northern section of the Great Barrier Reef. Personalised style cruising with no assigned seating for meal times, our Great Barrier Reef cruises offer an intimate convivial atmosphere for our 72 guests.
Park Regis City Quays Apartments Cairns
Park Regis City Quays located across from the Cairns Cruise Ship Terminal boasts Hotel Rooms and spacious One Bedroom and dual key two bedroom holiday apartments. Walk to Cairns restaurants, esplanade and shops - Park Regis offers great accommodation pre and post your cruise holiday.
Cairns City Apartments
Located a short walk from the Cairns Cruise Ship Terminal, Cairns City Apartments offer spacious accommodation to explore the Cairns region. With Cairns Central Shopping Centre and Cairns Railway Station acrross the road - everything is within easy walking distance.
Hilton Hotel Cairns
Hilton Cairns located on Cairns Waterfront near Cairns Cruise Ship Terminal offers luxurious accommodation and high level of service, and knowledgeable tour desk service for all your day tour options in Cairns.
Shangri-La Hotel The Marina Cairns
Shangri-La Hotel Cairns overlooking Cairns Marina and Esplanade offers a prime position in Cairns. Enjoy a wide slection of waterfront restaurants, lounge bars and coffee shops. A luxury hotel located close to Cairns' Cruise Ship Terminal for your pre and post cruise holiday.