Great Barrier Reef Cruise - small ship cruise aboard Orion

Great Barrier Reef Luxury Cruise

trip specifics

price

2013

Ctgy	Type	Price ($US)
B	Stateroom	3,380
A	Stateroom	4,445
JS	Junior Suite	5,280
DS	Deluxe Suite	5,785
BS	Balcony Suite	6,905
OS	Owners Suite	8,020

*Prices are per person based on double occupancy

duration

6 days

trip dates

Dec 08 - Dec 13, 2013

trip level

view explanation

highlights

Cairns
Hardy Reef
Hayman Island
Percy Island
Newcastle

accomm types

Small Ship

activities

hiking

trip details

australia

all trip destinations

Cruise the Galapagos Islands aboard the intimate and affordable Motor Yacht Beluga. The 16-guest Beluga features comfortable double or triple cabins each with private bath and air conditioning. The Beluga is outfitted exclusively for the Galapagos Islands and has been awarded the Smart Voyager certification for adhering to conservation standards. Beluga also complies with all international maritime regulations and is SOLAS certified. A Galapagos cruise aboard the Beluga is an exceptional value for families, small groups and charters.

Day 1 - Cairns, Queensland

The Cairns region is internationally recognized for world class attractions, superb natural features and friendly north Queensland hospitality. It is the focal point for the magnificent World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and is surrounded by tropical rain forests. Visitors enjoy browsing at indigenous art galleries, shopping at the night markets and dining out on multicultural cuisine in the many restaurants along the esplanade. Board the Orion for your Great Barrier Reef small ship cruise.

Accommodations: Orion
Included Meals: dinner

Day 2 - Hardy Reef, Queensland

Relaxed and ready to explore, Orion guests will meet the day with snorkels in hand. Hardy Reef will offer the opportunity to experience the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef first hand. The colored coral expanses just below the surface of the warm, crystal clear tropical waters are home to an unbelievable array of sea life just below the dazzling surface.

Accommodations: Orion
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3 - Hamilton Island

One of the best known islands on the Great Barrier Reef, Hamilton Island is the largest inhabited island in the Whitsunday Island group. Originally developed in the 1970’s by Keith Williams, the island has continued to grow and develop over the years and was just recently featured in the “Best Job in the World” promotion.

As with most of the Whitsunday Islands, Hamilton was formed as sea levels rose over time, “drowning” once coastal mountain ranges, turning them into islands. After a short Zodiac transfer to the Hamilton Island Marina you are free to explore the island. Take advantage of the shuttle bus to move around the island, you can easily access Cat’s Eye Beach for swimming and snorkeling, or access the island resort center with its swimming pool, bars and restaurants. Take a walk down Front Street for some shopping, drop into the art gallery or prop yourself at one of the cafes or bars, or take one of the island trails for some more energetic walking (maps of the island trails will be available to you).

Accommodations: Orion
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4 - Percy Island

The explorer Matthew Flinders visited the Percy Isles in September 1802 and described one of the coves as "one of the prettiest little places imaginable". Middle Percy, the largest of the three islands in the group, is a favorite stop for cruising yachtsmen en route between the tropical north and southern seas. An A-frame hut on the beach is decorated with memorabilia and souvenirs from these yachts. Middle Percy was first settled in 1870 and the homestead dating from that time is today occupied by the island caretakers.

What more perfect way to spend your day than to while it away in the shade or in the shallows with a glass of wine in your hand? A sumptuous beach BBQ is provided today, our fleet of sea kayaks will be available for you to explore the coast and estuaries of Middle Percy (tide and weather permitting) and the island has a series of walking trails where you may come across resident population of Emu and other native and introduced wildlife.

Accommodations: Orion
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5 - Lady Elliot Island

In addition to swimming and snorkeling on the idyllic beach, Orion guests are offered an included glass bottom boat and snorkel tour around the island. There are also optional scuba tours for certified divers and beginners who wish to experience scuba diving. The diving and snorkeling environment on Lady Elliott Island is second to none.

Accommodations: Orion
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6 - Brisbane, Queensland

Situated midway up the east coast of Australia is Brisbane, capital city of Queensland. With the Gold Coast beaches to the south and the Sunshine Coast to the north, Brisbane is well situated to end your Orion journey.

Accommodations: n/a
Included Meals: breakfast

There are three unique Galapagos Beluga cruise itineraries (one 4-day/3-night cruise, one 5-day/4-night cruise, and two 8-day/7-night cruises) to choose from. When combined consecutively the 8-day cruises equal a 15-day/14-night Galapagos cruise with no repeated landing sites. Click on the links below for more information on Beluga's four different itineraries.

Beluga Fernandina Cruise 8 day/7 night

Day 1 - FRI - Baltra, Santa Cruz Highalnds, Charles Darwin Research Station
Day 2 - SAT - Cormorant Pt, Devil’s Crown, Post Office Bay (Floreana)
Day 3 - SUN - Puerto Villamil, Tintoreras & Sierra Negra (Isabela)
Day 4 - MON - Puerto Moreno & Elizabeth Bay (Isabela)
Day 5 - TUE - Urbina Bay & Tagus Cove (Isabela)
Day 6 - WED - Punta Espinoza & Punta Vicente Roca (Fernandina)
Day 7 - THU - Pto Egas & Bartolome (Santiago)
Day 8 - FRI - North Seymour to Baltra
Beluga Fernandina Itinerary Details

Beluga Tower Galapagos Cruise 8 day/7 night

Day 1 - FRI - Baltra Airport to Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz)
Day 2 - SAT - Santa Fe & Plazas
Day 3 - SUN - Witch Hill, Kicker Rock & Puerto Moreno
Day 4 - MON - Gardner Bay & Punta Suarez (Hood)
Day 5 - TUE - Highlands & Charles Darwin Station (Santa Cruz)
Day 6 - WED - Sombrero Chino & Sullivan Bay (James)
Day 7 - THU - Darwin Bay & Prince Phillip's Steps (Tower)
Day 8 - FRI - Turtle Cove to Baltra
Beluga Tower Itinerary Details

NOTE - The Beluga Tower itinerary can be booked as shorter cruises (James or Hood) listed below.

Beluga Hood Galapagos Cruise 5 day/4 night

Beluga James Galapagos Cruise 4 day/3 night

Day 1 - TUE - Baltra, Santa Cruz Highlands
Day 2 - WED - Sombrero Chino & Sullivan Bay (James)
Day 3 - THU - Darwin Bay & Prince Phillip's Steps (Tower)
Day 4 - FRI - Turtle Cove to Baltra
Beluga James Itinerary Details

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