10-Night Great Barrier Reef CME AWAY® Cruise

Detailed Port Descriptions

Sydney, Australia

Considered one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the Southern Hemisphere, Sydney offers so much—from beaches and wineries to stunning landmarks and world-class shopping. Tour architectural marvels like the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge, view life below the surface from Sydney Aquarium’s underwater walkways, or take it all in from above on a tour of the Sydney Tower. You’re never far from nature in this thriving urban center. Well-known surf beaches, zoos, national parks, whale watching tours, bush tours, and the Royal Botanic Gardens—featuring over 7,500 plants—offer visitors a chance to enjoy the area’s sunshine, lush greenery, wildlife, and clear blue oceans. Sydney is not only Australia’s oldest city, it is also one of the most ethnically diverse cities on the globe, offering a wealth of cuisines, unique museums, and cultural opportunities.  Explore lively pubs, shops, and historic  buildings at The Rocks, located on Sydney harbor.

Eden, Australia

Eden means "a delightful place," which is what you can expect to see in New South Wales' most southerly town. Eden is known as one of Australia's best whale watching locations. Humpback and southern right whales can be spotted in Eden's Twofold Bay from September to November, as they migrate back to those chilly Antarctic waters. Natural attractions are the aim of the game in delightful Eden as well. Cruise to Eden to visit Ben Boyd National Park and walk along its rugged cliffs to Boyd Tower and Red Point Lookout.

 Airlie Beach, Qld, Australia

On your cruise to the Great Barrier Reef, this is the perfect departure point for local excursions. The coral reef is the largest  living thing on the planet—so big you can see it from space—but made of billions of tiny organisms known as polyps. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the reef supports a vast diversity of marine life, with 600 types of soft and hard corals, 1,625 types of fish, and 30 species of whales and dolphins. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park covers 133,000 square miles, including 3,000 coral reefs and 900 islands. The snorkeling and diving here are unmatched. Airlie Beach is popular with backpackers, yachtsmen, and other lovers of the tropical lifestyle. Sailing among the calm, protected waters of the Witsunday Islands and skydiving over the pristine shorelines are a couple of the must-do adventures for many visitors. When it's time for some shopping during your Airlie Beach cruise, you'll find lovelyseaside markets and galleries with friendly artists, handmade jewelry, colorful paintings, stunning photos, and tropical beachwear—perfect for a leisurely browse after breakfast.

Cairns (Yorkey's Knob), Australia

In tropical North Queensland, surrounded on three sides by lush rainforest, your Cairns cruise makes the perfect launchpad for excursions to the Great Barrier Reef. This reef is the largest living thing on the planet—so big you can see it from space—but it's made up of billions of tiny organisms known as coral polyps. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the reef supports a vast diversity of marine life, with 600 types of soft and hard corals, 1,625 types of fish, and 30 species of whales and dolphins. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park covers 133,000 square miles, including 3,000 coral reefs and 900 islands. The snorkeling and diving here are unmatched. Inland, explore the rainforest by cable car and scenic railway, soaring above treetops, peering into gorges, and  observing jungle waterfalls. Join a whitewater rafting adventure in Barron Gorge National Park. Stop at a rainforest village to see kangaroos, birds, butterflies, and reptiles. Hold a koala in your arms and feed a wallaby. Watch traditional Aboriginal dancers perform and artisans create their pottery, paintings, glass works, jewelry, and fabrics. You can shop for these original keepsakes to take back aboard your Cairns cruise. Back in town, stroll the lovely native flowers, plants, and trees at Cairns Botanic Gardens. You might even get lucky in the local casino. What a way to top off your cruise to Cairns.

Port Douglas, Australia

The once-sleepy, now-bustling seaside village of Port Douglas will be your hub to the Great Barrier Reef, home to some 1,500 species of fish, 5,000 species of mollusk and 400 species of coral for your exploration. During your Cruisetour, you'll enjoy a full day of marine adventure with opportunities to swim, snorkel, dive or view the reef from an underwater observatory.

Willis Island (Cruising), Australia

We will be arriving along Willis Island around 11 am, so why not get 2 hours in of CME beforehand? After that, you can enjoy the scenery while sitting out on your verandah or out on one of the decks. The only humans that make their home on this tiny island—just 1,600 feet long and 490 feet wide—are meteorologists manning a weather monitoring station. From the ship’s deck you'll see thousands of seabirds such as Boobies, wedge-tailed shearwaters and sooty terns. Other highlights include a nearby coral reef and turtle nesting ground.