HAL Cairns Grt Barrier Reef Excursion uses Platform?

[SFO Peter]

I am trying to find out if HAL's Volendam Great Barrier Reef Excursion from Cairns will use a platform. We are signed up for their October 25 tour but it does not mention using a platform. Did anyone take this tour in 2014? And was a platform/pontoon in use? According to Capt Mercer's blog they used one in 2012.

 

Thanks for a reply.

[GradUT]

If you read the description of the HAL excursion to the GBR, "The Great Barrier Reef--A UNESCO World Heritage Site", you will see at the end of the description, "Swimming/snorkeling is undertaken in a deep-water environment from the back of a vessel..." The description also indicates that the boat goes to a "mooring", not a "platform". So, I think it's pretty clear that this excursion is not to a fixed platform.

 

The only boat out of Cairns which goes to a fixed pontoon/platform is Reef Magic. You could always call HAL and ask if the provider for this excursion is Reef Magic, but it sure doesn't sound like it is.

 

http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-destinations/ExcursionDetails.action?excursionCode=100055417&portCode=CNS&destCode=P&requestSource=shoreExcursions