Great Barrier Reef Cruise by Premium Catamaran from Cairns

About This Experience

Passions of Paradise is a Cairns operator that runs this day on a large sailing catamaran, and with 3,877 reviews it is the most-reviewed reef cruise on this site. You check in at the Reef Fleet Terminal on Spence Street and make your own way there, because hotel transfers are not part of the booking.

The day opens with about 30 minutes of tea, coffee and welcome refreshments while the crew runs through the plan. The crossing to the outer reef takes around two hours. The skipper chooses the two sites on the morning based on wind and swell, drawing on reefs that include Flynn, Milln, Norman and Hastings, so you won't know the exact pair until you are out there.

At the first site you get about two hours in the water. You can snorkel straight off the back of the boat, join the guided snorkel tour, or float with a flotation belt while the crew keeps an eye on you. Lunch is an hour-long buffet cooked on board, with hot and cold dishes, salads and tropical fruit, and vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options if you ask ahead. A second session of about an hour and a half follows at the next site before the two-hour run home, when the crew raises the sails if conditions allow. A marine presentation fills part of the day, and the crew talks about the reef research the company supports.

It suits first-timers, nervous swimmers and mixed groups where some want to snorkel and one person wants to try scuba. Recent guests who could not swim well wrote that the crew kept them close and safe. Scuba is an optional extra, and every diver fills in a Queensland medical declaration first; the minimum age is 12.

Pack sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and swimwear, and bring money for the bar, since bottled water, snacks and drinks are sold separately. Snorkel gear, prescription masks, and wetsuits or Lycra suits (depending on the season) are supplied. Sea conditions decide how the crossing feels, so take seasickness tablets before you board if you are prone to it.

Highlights

• Two outer reef sites chosen on the day from reefs that include Flynn, Milln, Norman and Hastings
• About three and a half hours of snorkelling across two sessions, split around lunch
• Snorkel straight off the boat or join a crew-led guided snorkel tour
• Room to spread out on the upper sun deck and the netted trampoline at the bow
• Sail home under canvas when the wind and sea allow
• Eco-certified crew with a marine talk on the reef and its wildlife

What's Included

• ✓ Morning and afternoon tea
• ✓ Chef-prepared buffet lunch, with dietary needs catered for on request
• ✓ Snorkel equipment, flotation belts and prescription masks
• ✓ Snorkelling tuition and guided snorkel tours
• ✓ Wetsuits or Lycra suits, depending on the season
• ✓ On-board marine life presentation

Not Included

• Hotel transfers
• Scuba diving (optional extra)
• Bottled water, snacks and bar drinks
• Underwater camera hire and photo packages
• Souvenirs

What to Bring

• Swimwear
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Sun hat
• Comfortable clothes for the boat
• Dive certification card if you plan a certified dive

Good to Know & Caveats

• Hotel transfers are not included; make your own way to the Reef Fleet Terminal in central Cairns.
• Reef sites are chosen each day, and weather, sea conditions or safety can change the itinerary without notice.
• Anyone who scuba dives must complete a Queensland medical declaration; some past or present conditions rule diving out, so contact the operator before travel if unsure.
• The minimum diving age is 12, with parental consent, and guests under 18 must travel with an adult.
• A moderate level of fitness is recommended for the in-water activities, and the crossing can be rough on windy days.
• Infants travel free but are booked directly with the operator.

Meeting Point

Check in at the Reef Fleet Terminal, 1 Spence Street, on the Cairns waterfront. Hotel transfers are not included, so allow time to walk or taxi there before boarding.