The 5 Best Luxury Cruises in Australia

1.Ocean Freedom Great Barrier Reef Luxury Snorkel and Dive Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,895 reviews · from $181Our pick

From Cairns, ride the 65-foot Ocean Freedom catamaran to Upolu Cay and Wonder Wall. You get six hours at two reef sites, guided snorkeling, a glass-bottom boat tour, gear, lunch, and help from marine guides. Certified and introductory scuba options cost extra. The group is capped at 75 people.

“Great tour! Experienced instructors, well managed snorkeling & diving, and safety being maintained all the way. Plus the food is good : )”

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2.From Fremantle: 2-Hour Luxury Whale-Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 455 reviews · 2 hours · from $67

Cruise from Sardine Jetty aboard Steep Point, a three-level catamaran with five viewing decks, heated lounge seating, and live commentary from marine mammal experts. Look for humpback whales resting near Perth during their southern migration. Mothers and calves are often seen from October, and a free return trip is offered if no whales appear.

“We managed to see a lot of whales and learned more about them”

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3.Port Douglas: Sunset Sailing Cruise on Luxury Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 342 reviews · 1h 30m · from $66Best value

Meet at Sailaway’s office at Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina at 4:30pm for a 90-minute sunset sail. You’ll cruise the Coral Sea beside the Daintree coastline, enjoy hot and cold canapés, and receive one beer, wine, champagne, or soft drink. The catamaran is limited to small numbers, with English-speaking crew and extra drinks available by Eftpos.

“Laid back smooth sailing during sunset. Crew was professional and friendly. Wonderful end to an amazing day”

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4.From Port Douglas: Outer Reef Cruise by Luxury Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 182 reviews · 9 hours · from $240

Sail from Port Douglas to Mackay Cay on a luxury catamaran, with morning tea, reef talks, guided snorkeling, a glass-bottom boat ride, and a tropical buffet. Guides such as Zara help you spot turtles, giant clams, and reef fish. You get two reef visits, time on a sandy cay, and a quieter day than many larger reef boats.

“Perfect event! Great catamaran, crew, spots for snorkeling, food and drinks! One of the best trips we ever had! A lot of space on the boat, only about 25 guests! The small sandy island is very nice. We saw turtles and a shark chasing some stingrays!”

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5.Private Luxury Sydney Harbour Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 77 reviews · from $559

Meet your captain at Campbell’s Cove and cruise Sydney Harbour aboard a private 52-foot motor cruiser. Choose a two-hour morning tea trip, a four-hour daytime cruise with barbecue lunch, or a sunset sailing with dinner. Your captain may tailor the route for views of the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Fort Denison, and Shark Island.

“Nobody ever showed up for us and we had no way to contact anybody!!! We had 12 family members very excited to do this and extremely disappointed that nobody ever showed up!! Not how we wanted to spend Christmas!!!”

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