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Great Barrier Reef Cruise Tips

Contributor
Roderick Eime

Last updated
Oct 18, 2023

Read time
6 min read
Great Barrier Reef
Great Barrier Reef (photo: JC Photo/Shutterstock)

Australia's Great Barrier Reef is, according to scientists, the largest living organism on the planet. Indeed, pictures from a Great Barrier Reef cruise with Coral Expeditions reveal just how diverse the region is. Easily visible from space, the massive network of coral reefs stretches over 2,000 kilometres from Bundaberg, Queensland, to Papua New Guinea, making it the largest coral reef in the world.

There are several ways to experience the Great Barrier Reef on a cruise. A typical seven-day Great Barrier Reef cruise itinerary offered by the big-ship brands typically includes port stops at Brisbane, Cairns, Airlie Beach and Port Douglas, as well as 'scenic cruising' as an aside.

From the time of year to plan a Great Barrier Reef cruise to the type of cruise ship to book, here’s everything you need to know about cruising this remarkable swathe of Australia.


Set Your Expectations Accordingly When Cruising the Great Barrier Reef

Colorful fish and corals
Colorful fish and corals (photo: Brian Kinney/Shutterstock)

Many of the shore tours involve land-based activities, but if you've made the big trip to see this extraordinary UNESCO-listed site, you'll want to make an effort to see below the waves.

At the Whitsundays, for example, a full-day excursion offers 2.5 hours on a reef pontoon -- a kind of floating observatory with a cafe and activities like glass-bottom boat tours and underwater viewing. Use of a snorkelling kit (including a stinger suit) and lunch are included in the price, but scuba diving is extra, and it can get a bit crowded.

Green Island, near Cairns, offers both reef and rainforest experiences and a chance to snorkel on a part of the reef visited by thousands of snorkellers annually. Tours typically take 7.5-hours, including a buffet lunch and some marine biology interpretation, too.

For those wishing to have a more intimate encounter with the Great Barrier Reef, it may be possible to book a specialised diving tour independently and in line with your experience as a certified scuba diver. This depends on timings and may not be possible with your ship's schedule.


When is the Best Time for Great Barrier Reef Cruises?

Cairns waterfront (Photo:Martin Valigursky/Shutterstock)
Cairns in Queensland's tropical north (Photo:Martin Valigursky/Shutterstock)

June to November has the mildest weather and good underwater visibility. Summer (December to March) is the worst time, due to the torrential rain and harsh heat of north Queensland's wet season.


Which Cruise Lines Visit the Great Barrier Reef?

Coral Expeditions II and a reef in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Coral Expeditions II offers cruises with snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef (Photo: Coral Expeditions)

The locally-based Coral Expeditions offers voyages ranging from seven- to 14-nights on small expedition ships departing from Cairns, including citizen science cruises. Mainstream lines such as P&O Cruises Australia, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean have departures via Sydney and Brisbane that stop at one or all of the three main ports -- Cairns, Port Douglas and Whitsundays (Airlie Beach). Some international ships on world cruises also stop at these ports or provide scenic cruising through the region.


Choose Your Great Barrier Reef Cruise Itinerary Wisely

Underwater shot of a girl, age 5-6, snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef in the tropical north of Queensland, Australia
Snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef (Photo: ChameleonsEye/Shutterstock.com)

We can break down the types of Great Barrier Reef cruises into a few categories and, as with every cruise, it’s important you choose the right one to meet your needs and expectations.

Scenic cruising

This is when your ship will sail through or close to the region and you will get to marvel at the landscape from afar. If you’re keen to get underwater and actually see the kaleidoscope of marine life, however, scenic cruising the Great Barrier Reef is not for you.

 Be warned, it is not uncommon for the big international ships to skip stopping at the Great Barrier Reef due to poor weather conditions in summer (December to March), which is the wet season in northern Queensland. This means passengers often miss out on diving, snorkelling and any other shore excursions.

Up-close experiences

Itineraries with ports of call that include Cairns, Port Douglas and Airlie Beach will enable day trips to the reef, where you'll spend approximately 2.5 hours at a snorkel and dive pontoon, depending on weather conditions.

Expedition-style immersion

Colourful marine life in the Great Barrier Reef
Colourful marine life in the Great Barrier Reef

For those wanting the maximum possible 'bottom time' with full scuba kit, it would be wise to take a well-established expedition-style cruise, such as those run by Coral Expeditions. This will likely cost a lot more than cruising on  a large mainstream ship, but the experience does not really compare if spending time in the water with knowledgeable guides is your goal.

Coral Expeditions' itineraries travel as far as Lizard Island, Cooktown, Cape York and the Torres Strait Islands. Apart from visits to the various islands where you can get off and wander around, these itineraries include snorkelling, swimming and sometimes a whole day out on the reef for scuba diving.

The thing to remember is that you can't just swim off any of the mainland beaches and be among the fish and coral. The real Great Barrier Reef is a couple of hours by fast boat to one of the ribbon reefs or remote coral cays. By cruising on an expedition ship, you're not wasting on the lengthy and bouncy transfer.

Non-divers can also have a pleasant experience snorkelling around the reef because much of the best coral is bathed in the sunlight down to about five metres deep.


Great Barrier Reef Cruise Port Highlights Include Tropical Cities and Upmarket Resorts

Colourful marine life in Australia's Great Barrier Reef
Extraordinary marine life in Australia's Great Barrier Reef

Cairns, Australia

This tropical city is popular with travellers of all ages, which lends a lively atmosphere to the waterfront bars and restaurants. While there are several beaches, it's safest to swim at the crocodile-free manmade saltwater lagoon on Cairns Esplanade in the centre of town. A highlight is the Skyrail cableway that runs above the nearby rainforest to scenic lookouts and the mountaintop village of Kuranda.

Airlie Beach, Australia

Airlie Beach turquoise water and white sand
Airlie Beach's delicious crystalline water and swirls of white sand

The largest town on the Whitsunday coast is favoured by backpackers for its party vibe, as evidenced by the main street lined with hostels, pubs with outdoor decks, and adventure companies offering bungee jumping and white-water rafting trips. Airlie is most often used as a base to visit the 74 Whitsundays islands and Whitehaven, often described as Australia's most spectacular beach.

Port Douglas, Australia

Port Douglas (Photo:Martin Valigursky/Shutterstock)
Dreamy Port Douglas in Queensland (Photo:Martin Valigursky/Shutterstock)

More upmarket than Cairns or Airlie Beach, Port Douglas is perfect for browsing the boutiques and cafes along Macrossan Street, starting at Four Mile Beach and ending at a yacht-filled marina, where freshly caught seafood is sold off the side of a boat. If visiting on a weekend, check out the Sunday Markets, selling only locally made items like art, souvenirs and summery clothing.

 


Additional Considerations When Planning a Great Barrier Reef Cruise

The Great Barrier Reef (Photo: superjoseph/Shutterstock)
Scenes from Australia's Great Barrier Reef (Photo: superjoseph/Shutterstock)

Scuba diving is a relatively easy skill to master, but for people who have never done a scuba dive, there are some important things to consider.

If you suffer from claustrophobia, asthma or ear pain when flying, or if you have diabetes or high blood pressure, you would be well advised to stay away from scuba diving, regardless of your fitness level. It’s advisable to check with your doctor first.

Many tropical locations offer a 'resort dive'. This is where you have a shallow dive with an instructor holding your hand and watching your every breath. If your dive master agrees you have met the health requirements, a resort dive is a great experience on its own -- even if you decide to spend the rest of the time snorkelling.

If you have an Open Water Certification, you can dive (within limits) pretty much anywhere around the reef.


Publish date October 18, 2023
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