3 Night Coral Princess Great Barrier Reef Cruises

Coral Princess Cruises operates a choice of 3, 4 or 7 day Great Barrier Reef Cruises. Small ship cruising is what Coral Princess does best - discover a paradise of uninhabited islands, remote and unique coral cays. Coral Princess provides not just a cruise holiday but an expedition cruise to the tropical wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. The 3 Night Cruise travels from Townsville to Cairns (and alternatively Cairns to Townsville) cruising amongst Palm Group of Islands, Hinchinbrook Channel and visit Dunk Island Resort.

Passengers can go snorkeling and coral viewing with a full day to discover Nathan Reef. Coral Princess also has its own exclusive destination called Pelorus Island. Here you can linger over the platform reefs and abundant marine life. Coral Princess Cruises has exclusive reef moorings which mean you won't be surrounded by hundreds of other reef visitors. Coral Princess vessels accommodate approximately 50 guests ensuring a personal and intimate cruising experience.

Coral Princess Cruises operates two different vessels on the Great Barrier Reef - Coral Princess operates six months of the year and Coral Princess II throughout the year. Passengers will not only experience the reef, rainforest and islands but can also relax on the sun deck, open-bridge or spa as your cruise takes through this beautiful tropical region.

Itinerary

Day 1: Boarding at 12.30pm. Board your Coral Princess Cruises small ship at Breakwater Terminal for a 1.00pm departure. Departing Townsville, we cross Halifax Bay, passing close to Magnetic Island before cruising amongst the spectacular Palm Group of Islands. There is time to settle in and discover your “home” for the next three nights. In the evening, join our crew and travelling companions on the top deck as the sun spectacularly sets over the reef.

Day 2: This morning we awaken moored beside Coral Princess Cruises' very own tropical island, Pelorus. We invite you to join us on the beach for a delicious beach BBQ, freshly prepared by the Captain. After breakfast, explore the surrounding rainforest on a guided nature walk. Pelorus' fringing reef, in the shallow waters just meters off the beach, offers some fantastic snorkelling opportunities, allowing us to enjoy an up-close view of the colourful coral growing on this section of reef. Our experienced crew will be on hand to provide assistance, advice and guided snorkelling tours for less experienced swimmers. Admire the many varieties of colourful corals from the glass bottom boat with the Marine Biologist, accompany our Dive Instructor on an unforgettable SCUBA dive or simply relax on the long stretch of golden sandy beach, the choice is yours! Cruising northward, discover the towering island cliffs and mangroves of the Hinchinbrook Channel and the Family Group of Islands. This afternoon we visit Dunk Island Resort where there is time to relax by the resort's pool, enjoy a drink in the cocktail bar or join a guided rainforest walk discovering the island's unique flora and fauna. We may be lucky enough to see the brightly coloured blue-winged Ulysses Butterfly, impossible to miss against the ancient rainforest background. Keen birdwatchers should keep an eye out for many of the up to 100 species of native birds recorded on the island, including the Yellow-bellied Sunbird, Emerald Dove or Orange-footed Scrubfowl.

Day 3: Enjoy a full day to discover Nathan Reef. This section of the reef offers some of the most colourful coral gardens found anywhere along the length of the reef, allowing us to view many of the 400 different species of coral living in this World Heritage-listed wonderland. Venture in to the warm tropical waters to explore the corals and marine life on a guided snorkelling tour and join the Marine Biologist for a glass bottom boat tour. For the ultimate Great Barrier Reef experience, accompany our Dive Instructor on an unforgettable SCUBA dive. Later, discover some of the amazing creatures living on the reef with our Marine Biologist at the on-board display tank. Enjoy the rare opportunity for a close up look at sea cucumbers, colourful starfish and other marine life living on this part of the reef. This evening, relax with our crew and new-found friends on the top deck as we enjoy our final night cruising the Great Barrier Reef.

Day 4: Anchoring off Thetford Reef and Sudbury Cay we enjoy our final opportunity to snorkel over the reef. Join our Marine Biologist for a glass bottom boat tour over the colourful coral gardens before gathering on the snorkel deck to participate in a fish feed. Discover some of the 1500 species of tropical fish that call the reef home, including Spangled Emperor, Giant Trevally and the Hump-Headed Maori Wrasse as they are hand fed by the Marine Biologist. Early this afternoon we cruise through Trinity Bay before arriving in tropical Cairns at 1.30pm for disembarkation at Trinity Wharf.

This itinerary is available in reverse - Cairns to Townsville.

Accommodation

Coral Princess offers resort style cruising at its best. Passengers can select from four types of spacious and elegantly appointed accommodation.

All cabins feature: Air-conditioning Private ensuite bathroom Wardrobe Suitcase cupboard Speaker Large windows Desk Hairdryer 240 volt Power Point - Australian Plug Shaving outlet in bathroom

Cabin: Size is 10.5sqm. Bedding is either bunk beds or twin beds. Maximum room capacity is 2 adults.

Stateroom: Size is 14sqm. Bedding is either twin or double beds. Maximum room capacity is 3 adults.

Upper Deck Stateroom: Size is 14sqm. Bedding is either twin or double beds. Maximum room capacity is 2 adults.

Deluxe Stateroom: Size is 15sqm. Bedding is either twin or double beds. Maximum room capacity is 2 adults.

Deck plans for Coral Princess II [floorplan]

Dining

Provided in your cruise cost are three meals per day as well as morning and afternoon teas. Tea and coffee station is open 24 hours. All meals provided onboard are buffet style. The galley will meet any special dietary requirements, however two weeks notice must be given.

Departures

3 Night Cairns to Townsville (CT3): Departs Cairns Saturday at 11.00am. Departs alternate Saturdays from 22March to 04October.

Cairns to Towsville: 26Jul08 09Aug08 23Aug08 06Sep08 20Sep08 04Oct08 11Oct08 18Oct08 25Oct08 01Nov08 08Nov08 15Nov08 22Nov08 06Dec08 20Dec08 27Dec08 10Jan09 17Jan09 24Jan09 31Jan09 07Feb09 14Feb09 21Feb09 28Feb09 07Mar09 14Mar09 21Mar09 04Apr09 18Apr09 02May09 16May09 30May09 13Jun09 27Jun09 11Jul09 25Jul09 08Aug09 22Aug09 05Sep09 19Sep09 03Oct09 10Oct09 17Oct09 24Oct09 31Oct09 07Nov09 14Nov09 21Nov09 28Nov09 05Dec09 12Dec09 26Dec09 02Jan10 16Jan10 23Jan10 30Jan10 06Feb10 13Feb10 20Feb10 27Feb10 06Mar10 13Mar10 20Mar10

3 Night Townsville to Cairns (TC3): Departs Townsville Tuesday at 1.00pm. Departs alternate Tuesdays from 25March to 07October.

Townsville to Cairns: 29Jul08 12Aug08 26Aug08 09Sep08 23Sep08 07Oct08 14Oct08 21Oct08 28Oct08 04Nov08 11Nov08 18Nov08 25Nov08 09Dec08 23Dec08 30Dec08 13Jan09 20Jan09 27Jan09 03Feb09 10Feb09 17Feb09 24Feb09 03Mar09 10Mar09 17Mar09 24Mar09 07Apr09 21Apr09 05May09 19May09 02Jun09 16Jun09 30Jun09 14Jul09 28Jul09 11Aug09 25Aug09 08Sep09 22Sep09 16Oct09 13Oct09 20Oct09 27Oct09 03Nov09 10Nov09 17Nov09 24Nov09 01Dec09 08Dec09 15Dec09 29Dec09 05Jan10 19Jan10 26Jan10 02Feb10 09Feb10 16Feb10 23Feb10 02Mar10 09Mar10 16Mar10 23Mar10

Vessel Details

Coral Princess Cruises operates two vessels in the Great Barrier Reef region, the Coral Princess and the Coral Princess II. Coral Princess was commissioned in July 1988, it is based on the Barrier Reef for 6 months of the years and then undertakes cruise itineraries in The Kimberley region. Coral Princess Cruises expedition cruise program became so popular the Coral Princess II was brought into service in early 1996. The Coral Princess II operates on the Great Barrier Reef throughout the year.

Coral Princess II: Length 35 metres Beam 12 metres Speed 12 knots Draught 2.5 metres Tonnes 884 Cabins 24 Passengers 46 Crew 12

Coral Princess: Length 35 metres Beam 13 metres Speed 13 knots Draught 2.5 metres Tonnes 730 Cabins 27 Passengers 50 Crew 12

Facilities

Air-conditioned dining room Two modern air-conditioned lounges Sundeck and Spa Pool Pool towels Comprehensive reference library featuring videos and books on the reef, islands and outback Phone and fax facilities Security Safe Fully stocked cocktail bar Comprehensive dive shop A range of souvenirs and personal items is available for purchase

Inclusions

All meals, morning and afternoon teas Tea and coffee 24 hours a day Use of snorkeling equipment, masks and fins Guided glass bottom boat coral viewing and snorkeling excursions Presentations by Marine Biologists Access to islands, marine and national parks Use of comprehensive range of library and video resources An introductory scuba experience for first time divers

Additional Information

Children: 0-3 years are Free of Charge, Children aged 4-14 years are charged child rate, Passengers 15 years and over are charged the adult rate
Exclusions: Pre and Post flights and transfers, personal items such as telephone, facsimile charges, laundry, bar charges and travel insurance
Environmental Management Charge (EMC): is additional and payable on board
Cancellation fees: and conditions apply for cruises cancelled inside 60 days of travel