Australia: Unique Travel: Boats & Cruises: Coral Princess

A Coral Princess Cruise is a Great Barrier Reef and Island Experience you will never forget. A cruise of discovery and adventure exploring Australia's renowned tropical paradise and World Heritage Marine and National Parks.

Coral Princess offers exclusive cruise itineraries that introduce the very best of the Great Barrier Reef and Islands including excusive reef moorings and the vessels very own tropical island.... All of which is done in a superior level of comfort.

The expedition style cruise ships are large enough to provide all the comforts of larger cruise ships, yet small enough to enable you to access reef and island sites inaccessible to other vessels. As the boat can only carry a maximum of just 54 passengers, your environmental experience will be both personal and memorable.

The Coral Princess offers 3 and 4 night cruise itineraries, with the option of combining both into a 7-night adventure. Guests can venture north from the beautiful town of Cairns and head to the extremely isolated and beautiful isle of Lizard Island. Or venture south and discover the secluded islands and reefs on the way to Townsville.

There is such an array of activities available on this itinerary that you can do as much or as little as you like - snorkeling, guided rainforest walks and presentations by an onboard marine biologist - or simply take the time to relax on the sundeck or in the spa. The choice is yours.

3 Night Itineraries: (Cairns to Townsville) also option of (Townsville to Cairns)

Day 1
Board the Coral Princess vessel at Cairns and head for the outer Greater Barrier Reef visiting Thetford Reef and Sudbury Cay for fish feeding, snorkelling, coral viewing, scuba diving and reef fishing.

Day 2
Visit Coates or Nathan Reefs to further enjoy the Great Barrier Reef. Visit Dunk Island resort and enjoy a guided rainforest walk.

Day 3
Cruise the Family Group of Islands, (the only tropical rainforest island on the Australian coast) Hinchinbrook Channel and become an exclusive guest at Pelorus Island with its magnificent fringing reef, beach and rainforest. Enjoy a Beach BBQ. Cruise the Palm Group of Islands.

4 Night Itineraries: (Cairns – Lizard Island – Cairns)
Day 1
Board the Coral Princess vessel at Cairns and settle in to your "home" for the next four nights.

Day 2
Visit one of the remote uninhabited islands of the Great Barrier Reef. Enjoy a swim or glass bottom boat trip. After cruising into Cooktown visit the historical museum featuring original artefacts recovered from James Cook’s vessel. – The Endeavour.

Day 3
Arrive at Lizard Island. Climb the island peak that Captain James Cook climbed back in 1770. Enjoy the spectacular views. Or if you wish, snorkel off the beach over coral cays. Discover giant clams and a profusion of fish. Enjoy a glass bottom boat trip with the Marine Biologist or a scuba dive with the Dive Instructor. Later cruise to Ribbon Reef No 9 where you will have time to further enjoy the water activities on offer.

Day 4
Spend the day exploring Ribbon Reef No 3 and Rachel Carson Reef. These two magnificent reefs offer some of the best snorkelling, and scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef. Enjoy a guided snorkelling tour, or allow our Marine Biologist to show you the beauty of the reef aboard the glass bottom boat.

Day 5
Arrive Cairns early morning

Departs: 3 Night Itineraries
Saturday AM (Cairns – Townsville)
Tuesday PM (Townsville – Cairns)

4 Night Itinerary
Friday and Tuesday PM (Cairns – Lizard Is – Cairns)

Inclusions:
All meals
Morning and afternoon tea
Tea & coffee
Snorkeling equipment
Coral viewing
Reef fishing
Presentations by marine biologist
Access to islands
Marine and national parks
Use of comprehensive range of library and video sources
An introductory scuba experience for first time divers

For more information on any of our Great Expeditions Travel Adventures, contact us today!

Our collage photos are courtesy of The Coral Princess