Seeking Advice on Princess excursions at Airlie Beach, Port Douglas & Darwin

[gymswim]

On our February 2012 Diamond Princess cruise, Princess offers two reef excursions at Airlie Beach (7 hr Great Barrier Reef $199 - trip by ship to pontoon is 2 hours) and again at Port Douglas (7 hours, $279) - 90 minutes by boat from Cairns to a pontoon. One of us is a is certified diver and the others might snorkle depending on sea conditions and jellies.

 

Darwin - either Scenic City Drive 2 hrs- $49; or Territory Wildlife Park & Jenny Orchid Gardin 5 hrs $129) . Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[lovevacadays]

Hello, I'm not sure how to post the link so I apologize but you may get some answers if you go to the ports of call forum towards the bottom on the forum page and post in the Australia forum

 

Sounds like a wonderful cruise that you will be on.

[caribill]

On our February 2012 Diamond Princess cruise, Princess offers two reef excursions at Airlie Beach (7 hr Great Barrier Reef $199 - trip by ship to pontoon is 2 hours) and again at Port Douglas (7 hours, $279) - 90 minutes by boat from Cairns to a pontoon. One of us is a is certified diver and the others might snorkle depending on sea conditions and jellies.

 

Darwin - either Scenic City Drive 2 hrs- $49; or Territory Wildlife Park & Jenny Orchid Gardin 5 hrs $129) . Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

When we took the trip, it was with Sydney as the end point, so we hit Port Douglas before Airlie Beach. Both are tender ports. It ended up that the water was too rough to tender at Airlie Beach, so all those who had scheduled their GBR tour there were very disappointed. Those who had scheduled it at the earlier Port Douglas stop did get to take their GBR tour.

 

So I have no suggestion other than be aware a stop at both of these ports is not guaranteed.

 

For Darwin, we did "Litchfield National Park: Termite Mounds & Falls", a 7.5 hour tour.

[Karennella]

Yes probably wise to book the reef trip at the first port you go to and if it is too rough to tender, you should be able to rebook for the second port. It is the wet season and the weather is unpredictable.

[gymswim]

Many thanks for the excellent advice. Very helpful.

Bill