3 Night Cruise - Cairns To Townsville
	Highlights • Exclusive Pelorus tropical island • Coates & Nathan reefs • Spectacular Hinchinbrook Channel • Dunk Island rainforest trails • Marine naturalist & dive master
Experience tropical islands where the rainforest canopy towers overhead, visit reefs where multitudes of coloured fish decorate rich coral gardens and cruise where dolphins play and dugongs glide in the unique Hinchinbrook Channel. Depart Cairns Departs Returns Cairns Trinity Wharf Boarding 30 minutes prior to departure 11.00am Saturday * Townville at 10.00am Tuesday Townsville Breakwater Terminal, Sir Leslie Thiess Drive Boarding 30 minutes prior to departure 1.00pm Tuesday 1.30pm Friday Cairns
Sample Itinerary
	Day 1: 12:30pm: Board your small ship cruise 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. 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 your very own tropical island, Pelorus. Enjoy our beach BBQ, freshly prepared by the Captain. After breakfast, explore the surrounding rainforest on a guided nature walk or enjoy a guided snorkelling tour, glass bottom boat excursion or SCUBA dive. 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, or join a guided rainforest walk.
Day 3: Enjoy a full day to discover Nathan Reef. Snorkelling, glass bottom boat rides or SCUBA diving all await you.
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. Also operates in reverse direction, Cairns to Townsville. Itineraries subject to change due to weather and other operational requirements
Note: Due to weather, tides or mechanical reasons the itinerary may be subject to change without notice.
DESTINATION INFORMATIONS
The Great Barrier Reef In recognition of its outstanding universal value, the Great Barrier Reef, stretching some 2,000 kms along the Queensland Coast, was inscribed on the World Heritage List on 26th October, 1981, under the Unesco Convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage. The purpose of the Convention is to ensure international co-operation for the protection and care of the world's outstanding and irreplaceable heritage. Over 200 World Heritage sites are scattered around the world including the Grand Canyon in the USA, the Pyramid Fields of Egypt and the Taj Mahal in India. In the Australian Government's nomination of the Barrier Reef to the World Heritage List it stated "The Great Barrier Reef is by far the largest single collection of coral reefs in the World. Biologically the Great Barrier Reef supports the most diverse ecosystems known to man. Its enormous diversity is thought to reflect the maturity of an ecosystem which has evolved over millions of years...." Today the Great Barrier Marine Park, including over 2,500 individual reefs and island national parks, is managed by the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife service and is made available for the appreciation and enjoyment of this and future generations from around the world. THE REEFS The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest collection of living corals. Corals actually refer to a number of similar marine animals, which form the main structure of coral reefs. Each coral contains polyps which bud in a variety of ways. This budding process is responsible for the many shapes and textures of corals. Coral reproduction, which occurs for just a few short days each year in a spectacular display of colour, is one of the most amazing spectacles on the Barrier Reef. Coral reefs are also havens for thousands of marine animals and plants, in a vista of colour, shape and design. Over 1500 species of fish are known to exist on the Barrier Reef including the world's smallest and largest, giant clams sometimes up to a metre long and 200 kg in weight, and 15 metre whale sharks (thankfully harmless plankton eaters) among many. THE RAINFOREST The Great Barrier Reef islands and coastline, encompassing the world heritage Daintree Rainforest, boasts an amazing variety of ecosystems. The sub tropical vegetation varies from towering rainforest canopies, to eucalypt forests, to dense mangrove mud flats and coastal lowlands. The Southern islands, lying between Cairns and Townsville, are the most tropical of all the islands in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Entire islands such as Hinchinbrook, (Australia's largest island national park) have been declared flora and fauna havens - sanctuaries for Australia's fascinating wildlife. Both Dunk and Fitzroy Islands offer dense tropical rainforests, and a colourful variety of birdlife, nesting high in the forest canopy. North of Cairns, on the Far North Queensland coast, lies Mossman Gorge and the magnificent Daintree Rainforest. One of the most beautiful coastal locations on the reef is Cape Tribulation, where the rainforest meets the waters of the Coral Sea. EARLY EXPLORATION The hundreds of shipwrecks littering the Great Barrier Reef attest to the hazard the Reef posed for coastal navigators. Sixteenth Century Portuguese navigators were the first to describe the treacherous waters off north eastern Australia. A map from this period marked the area as "COST DANGEREUSE". Two centuries later, James Cook reached Australia during his epic voyage of exploration. Cook described the maze of coral reefs as "Memorials to Distress". His ship the "Endeavour" ran aground on the Endeavour Reef in June 1770. The first mapping survey of the Great Barrier Reef was conducted in 1802 by Matthew Flinders. Throughout the 1800's, survey of the Reef was slow but eventually resulted in the opening of the Torres Strait Passage to increased sail and later steamer traffic. In 1884 the Torres Strait Pilot Service was officially established.

Honeymoon Packages:
Standard Honeymoon Bonus: Complimentary bottle of sparkling wine in room on arrival.

Special Honeymoon Package:
Surcharge of $80.00 pp on Stateroom fare including complimentary upgrade from Stateroom to Top Deck Stateroom (subject to availability at time of sailing), chauffeur driven limousine transfer (one way) to or from Cairns airport to Trinity Wharf, bottle of sparkling wine on arrival, matching his & hers Reef Endeavour t-shirts on arrival.

Early Booking Saver (EBS) Availability & Discounts:
Book early to secure Early Booking Saver (EBS) fares which represent discounts of up to 20% on 2008/09 selected Brochure Fares. EBS fares are capacity controlled. Captain Cook Cruises has set aside cabins which are available at these discounted fares. Once these cabins are sold, fares may revert to a higher fare or the full Brochure Fare. Savings apply to cruise fares only - they do not apply to other fees/charges including but not limited to transfers, shore excursions, fuel surcharges, government taxes or other fees as applied from time to time.

Onboard Charges
The following onboard charges apply to all passengers. These charges are not included in your cruise fare and are payable at the conclusion of your cruise. All amounts are charged to your onboard cabin account, payable at the end of your cruise by credit card, cash or traveller’s cheque. Please note surcharges are subject to change.

Fuel Surcharge - Please confirm amount at time of check-in
Environmental Management Charge (EMC) of $16.50 per adult (under 3 years free of charge)

General Conditions:
Per person prices in Australian Dollars (AU$). Special prices, itineraries and conditions apply on selected special event cruises. All bookings are subject to the terms and conditions of the Passenger Cruise Contract. Cancellation charges apply. Prices exclude any levies or surcharges such as credit card surcharges, Environmental Management Charge or Onboard Charges such as fuel surcharges as applied from time to time. All rates are inclusive of Australian Goods & Services Tax (GST 10%) or Fijian Value Added Tax (VAT 12.5%) at the current legislated rate (Sep 2005) and may be subject to variation by the Government of the day. Captain Cook Cruises reserves the right to increase fares without prior notice, however fully paid guests will be protected at their booked rate, except for fuel surcharges, government taxes or other surcharges.


Confirmation of Bookings:
Bookings are confirmed upon receipt of a deposit of $200.00 per person, and acceptance of the terms and conditions of the Passenger Cruise Contract. Final payment of the cruise fare must be made at least 60 days before sailing otherwise bookings will be cancelled.

Cancellations & Refunds

All cancellations are subject to an $50.00 administration fee per person. Cancellation fees, less the administration fee, may be applied to another cruise if completed within 12 months of original booking. Cancellations received inside 60 days of sailing will be subject to cancellation charges at the following rates:

CANCELLATION
within 30-59 days	$200.00 pp deposit
within 15-29 days	50% of fare
14 days or less	100% of fare
no-shows at sailing	100% of fare
Special cancellation and payment policies apply to groups of 15 or more.

 

 

 

 

It is strongly recommended that passengers take out cancellation and travel insurance from the time of deposit. It is your responsibility to ensure you have the necessary passports and visas.

For your comfort it may be necessary to amend itineraries or arrangements due to weather or other operational needs. Captain Cook Cruises reserves the right to vary fares, cabin allocation, itineraries, vessels, schedules and conditions of cruise without notice.

Email: cruising@rivercruising.com
www.rivercruising.com