WELCOME CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS!
We would be delighted to assist you – we help many cruise ship passengers! You will also note that our prices are much cheaper than what your cruise ships are offering you!
Many of you are docking at Yorkeys Knob Marina (not Trinity Wharf which is in Cairns), which is 20-25 mins from Cairns. Your vessel also does not dock alongside the Marina/wharf so you can not walk ashore.
Everyone therefore MUST come ashore by tender vessel – which can take about an hour to get ashore, which we factor in what offering you tours to suit your timing.
EXAMPLES OF THESE VESSELS THAT DOCK AT YORKEYS KNOB INCLUDE:-
- PACIFIC DAWN
- CELEBRITY SOLTICE
- RADIANCE OF THE SEAS
- PACIFIC PEARL
- AURORA
- QUEEN MARY 2
- MILLENIUM
Many of the passengers from the above vessels want to go out to the Great Barrier Reef.
Vessels that come in at 7 am are not a problem as we can offer them many more options.
However vessels that come in at 8 or 9 or 10 am have less great barrier reef options as most of the reef boats have already left by 7.30 to 8.30 am – however there are some options I can offer passengers from Yorkeys Knob that come in on later cruiseships....!
1. CRUISE SHIPS THAT SPEND ONE DAY IN CAIRNS AND ONE DAY IN PORT DOUGLAS
As your ship is also going to Port Douglas – I would suggest you do the Kuranda Skyrail and Train on your day in Cairns – click here – pick up 10.30 am (can be earlier for ships coming in earlier)– skyrail up to Kuranda, freetime in Kuranda and 2 pm or 3.30 pm train back to Cairns – back at yorkeys by 4.30 pm or 6 pm = $122 per adult.
Then you do the great barrier reef from port douglas instead- there is a fantastic option out to an outer reef pontoon (lunch, semi submarine, underwater observatory, snorkling) that departs port douglas at 10 am (so ideal!) and returns at 4.30 pm. Price $219 pp plus $6 pp reef tax.
2. 11 am to 5 pm Green Island – snorkel and semi submarine and lunch $124 per adult plus $16 pp bus transfers – back in Yorkeys by 5.45 pm – I can also offer a half day option, or a 4 p return for those with an earlier cruise ship departure!
3. 10.30 am cruise to an outer reef pontoon – snorkling, lunch, semi submarine, underwater observatory (although still a little tight for some on a later cruise ship arrival - yorkeys knob is 20 mins from the departure point and it takes about an hour to get everyone ashore by tender from the cruise ship. $208pp per adult, $104 per child (4-14 years) and $520 per family of 4 (2 ads 2 ch 4-14 years) plus $6 pp reef tax, Back at 5.20 pm in Cairns – 25 mins drive to Yorkeys knob – This suits the 7 pm and 8 pm cruise ship departures (Radiance of the Seas, Aurora)
4. Fly by heli out to the outer reef at noon and 3 hours at the outer reef, back by boat at 5.20 pm – bus back to yorkeys – back by 6 pm = $439 pp (FLY / CRUISE) – (ideal for cruise ships that arrive later in Yorkeys Knob and leave at 7 or 8 pm = Celebrity Soltice)
5. For passengers with a very short amount of time in Cairns we can offer you a FLY / FLY option – where you fly out to the reef to a pontoon, enjoy snorkling, semi submarine, underwater observatory and fly back to Cairns at 3.45 pm, back out to Yorkeys by 4 pm = $798 pp.
6. We can also charter you a vessel – small groups to large groups to suit your exact needs and requirements. Anything is possible – just ask us – call +61 7 40559698 (international) or 07 40559698 (within Aus) or email - heidi@visitcairns.com.au
As cruise ship days are VERY busy they book up ahead of time – so I suggest we lock your chosen options in ASAP. Please note our prices are much cheaper than booking the same tour through your cruise ship, so we can save you $$$$$$