Cairns Queensland Australia
Australia

453 Cruises availables At departure or passage at this port

Azamara Club Cruises (42 Cruises)

Azamara Pursuit

1112 Passengers
30277 tons
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5 February 19 days One-way from Sydney to Singapore
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5 February 48 days One-way from Sydney to Tokyo
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5 February 48 days One-way from Sydney to Tokyo
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5 February 35 days One-way from Sydney to Kobe-Osaka
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5 February 19 days One-way from Sydney to Singapore
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9 September 59 days One-way from Tokyo to Sydney
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3 October 35 days One-way from Hong Kong to Sydney
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16 October 20 days One-way from Singapore to Sydney
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17 October 21 days One-way from Singapore to Sydney
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23 October 15 days One-way from Benoa to Sydney
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14 November 11 days One-way from Sydney to Cairns
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14 November 10 days One-way from Sydney to Cairns
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24 November 27 days One-way from Cairns to Auckland
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24 November 26 days One-way from Cairns to Auckland
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24 November 11 days One-way from Cairns to Sydney
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24 November 10 days One-way from Cairns to Sydney
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Carnival Cruise Line (38 Cruises)

Carnival Encounter.

Carnival Encounter

2600 Passengers
108865 tons
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6 April 7 days Round-trip from Brisbane, Australia
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30 May 7 days Round-trip from Brisbane, Australia
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3 July 8 days Round-trip from Brisbane, Australia
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8 August 7 days Round-trip from Brisbane, Australia
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4 September 7 days Round-trip from Brisbane, Australia
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25 September 7 days Round-trip from Brisbane, Australia
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24 October 7 days Round-trip from Brisbane, Australia
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21 November 7 days Round-trip from Brisbane, Australia
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12 December 7 days Round-trip from Brisbane, Australia
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6 February 7 days Round-trip from Brisbane, Australia
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27 February 7 days Round-trip from Brisbane, Australia
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19 March 7 days Round-trip from Brisbane, Australia
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9 April 7 days Round-trip from Brisbane, Australia
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4 June 7 days Round-trip from Brisbane, Australia
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2 July 7 days Round-trip from Brisbane, Australia
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Costa Cruises (39 Cruises)

Costa Deliziosa.

Costa Deliziosa

2826 Passengers
92 tons
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24 November 140 days Round-trip World Costa Deliziosa Civitavecchia Rome
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25 November 138 days Round-trip World Costa Deliziosa Savona
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26 November 136 days Round-trip World Costa Deliziosa Marseilles
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27 November 134 days Round-trip World Costa Deliziosa Barcelona
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Crystal Cruises (7 Cruises)

Cunard (27 Cruises)

Emerald Waterways (10 Cruises)

Explora Journeys (3 Cruises)

Holland America Line (11 Cruises)

MSC Cruises (4 Cruises)

Oceania Cruises (39 Cruises)

Ponant (5 Cruises)

Princess Cruises (83 Cruises)

Cruise PCL Princess Grand Ship

Grand Princess

2600 Passengers
107751 tons
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2 April 29 days Round-trip from Sydney, Australia
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2 April 28 days Round-trip Australia Grand Princess Sydney
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2 April 27 days One-way from Sydney to Brisbane
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6 April 25 days One-way from Melbourne to Sydney
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8 April 23 days One-way from Adelaide to Sydney
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13 April 18 days One-way from Fremantle to Sydney
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13 April 17 days One-way from Fremantle to Sydney
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30 April 17 days One-way from Sydney to Fremantle
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30 April 18 days One-way from Sydney to Fremantle
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17 May 18 days One-way from Fremantle to Sydney
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17 May 17 days One-way from Fremantle to Sydney
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17 May 16 days One-way from Fremantle to Brisbane
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17 May 15 days One-way from Fremantle to Brisbane
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1 June 15 days Round-trip from Brisbane, Australia
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3 June 15 days Round-trip from Sydney, Australia
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20 October 44 days Round-trip from Sydney, Australia
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20 October 29 days Round-trip Australia Grand Princess Sydney
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20 October 30 days Round-trip from Sydney, Australia
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20 October 43 days Round-trip Australia Grand Princess Sydney
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24 October 25 days One-way from Melbourne to Sydney
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24 October 26 days One-way from Melbourne to Sydney
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26 October 23 days One-way from Adelaide to Sydney
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26 October 24 days One-way from Adelaide to Sydney
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31 October 18 days One-way from Fremantle to Sydney
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31 October 19 days One-way from Fremantle to Sydney
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16 December 8 days Round-trip from Brisbane, Australia
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2 March 29 days Round-trip from Sydney, Australia
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2 March 28 days Round-trip Australia Grand Princess Sydney
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6 March 25 days One-way from Melbourne to Sydney
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6 March 24 days One-way from Melbourne to Sydney
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8 March 23 days One-way from Adelaide to Sydney
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8 March 22 days One-way from Adelaide to Sydney
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13 March 18 days One-way from Fremantle to Sydney
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13 March 17 days One-way from Fremantle to Sydney
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13 March 15 days One-way from Fremantle to Brisbane
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13 March 14 days One-way from Fremantle to Brisbane
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15 June 95 days Round-trip from Brisbane, Australia
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15 June 94 days Round-trip Around The Pacific Ocean Grand Princess Brisbane
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17 June 95 days Round-trip from Sydney, Australia
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17 June 94 days Round-trip Around The Pacific Ocean Grand Princess Sydney
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22 June 94 days Round-trip from Auckland, New Zealand
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22 June 93 days Round-trip Around The Pacific Ocean Grand Princess Auckland
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13 August 38 days One-way from Tokyo to Sydney
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Regent Seven Seas Cruises (50 Cruises)

Seabourn Cruise Line (12 Cruises)

Silversea Cruises (11 Cruises)

Viking Ocean Cruises (72 Cruises)

Viking Orion.

Viking Orion

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8 March 78 days One-way from Sydney to Vancouver
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8 March 17 days One-way from Sydney to Benoa
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8 March 27 days One-way from Sydney to Laem Chabang
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8 March 28 days One-way from Sydney to Laem Chabang
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8 March 16 days One-way from Sydney to Benoa
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8 March 77 days One-way from Sydney to Vancouver
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21 September 80 days One-way from Vancouver to Sydney
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21 September 79 days One-way from Vancouver to Sydney
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21 September 93 days One-way from Vancouver to Auckland
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21 September 92 days One-way from Vancouver to Auckland
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12 November 27 days One-way from Laem Chabang to Sydney
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12 November 28 days One-way from Laem Chabang to Sydney
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23 November 17 days One-way from Benoa to Sydney
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23 November 29 days One-way from Benoa to Auckland
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23 November 30 days One-way from Benoa to Auckland
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23 November 16 days One-way from Benoa to Sydney
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2 March 27 days One-way from Sydney to Laem Chabang
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2 March 28 days One-way from Sydney to Laem Chabang
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2 March 16 days One-way from Sydney to Benoa
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2 March 17 days One-way from Sydney to Benoa
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Viking Venus

Viking Venus

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7 September 80 days One-way from Vancouver to Sydney
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7 September 92 days One-way from Vancouver to Auckland
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7 September 93 days One-way from Vancouver to Auckland
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7 September 79 days One-way from Vancouver to Sydney
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29 October 28 days One-way from Laem Chabang to Sydney
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29 October 27 days One-way from Laem Chabang to Sydney
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9 November 30 days One-way from Benoa to Auckland
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9 November 16 days One-way from Benoa to Sydney
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9 November 17 days One-way from Benoa to Sydney
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9 November 29 days One-way from Benoa to Auckland
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Few places in the world let you touch two World Heritage natural treasures in a single day. Cairns, in tropical North Queensland, is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the rainforests of the Wet Tropics, two worlds just a few hours apart. Ships dock at the Trinity Wharf terminal, right in the centre of town: downtown, the Esplanade, and the excursion docks are all within walking distance of each other, which simplifies a stop where every minute counts.

The Esplanade, the City's Tropical Living Room

Cairns's waterfront is built around a long promenade lined with fig and palm trees, where pelicans and wading birds pick their way across the mudflats at low tide. At its centre, the Lagoon — a large public saltwater pool bordered by sand — offers safe swimming in the tropics, free and lifeguarded. Cafés, markets, and galleries round out the picture of a relaxed city, born of the gold rush and now the capital of nature-based tourism; the night market nearby opens its stalls from late afternoon.

The Great Barrier Reef, a Catamaran Ride Away

Seven minutes' walk from the cruise terminal, the Reef Fleet Terminal gathers departures for the reef. Catamarans head out to pontoons and outer reefs for full or half days of snorkelling, diving, or semi-submersible viewing. Beneath the surface unfolds the largest living organism on the planet: coral gardens, clownfish, turtles, and giant clams. Those who'd rather stay dry can fly over the coral gardens by seaplane or helicopter — the image of blue gradients seen from above stays with travellers long after.

Kuranda, the Forest Seen from Above

The stop's other major outing climbs to Kuranda, a village nestled in the rainforest above the city. Two modes of transport turn it into a spectacular loop: the Skyrail cableway, gliding 7.5 kilometres just above the canopy with stops at observation platforms, and the Kuranda Scenic Railway, which descends the Barron Gorge on century-old engineering works, through tunnels and past waterfalls. In the village, craft markets and wildlife sanctuaries pleasantly fill the hour between the two rides.

Planning Your Day

OptionTypical DurationBest For
Outer reef by catamaranfull dayswimmers and divers
Skyrail and Kuranda train loop5 to 6 hoursforest and scenery lovers
Esplanade, Lagoon, and botanic gardens2 to 4 hoursstrollers and families

The Cairns Botanic Gardens, a few minutes from downtown, deserve a mention: their greenhouses and pathways showcase the lush flora of the wet tropics, orchids and giant trees included, for a fraction of the effort of a far-flung excursion. Two useful notes: during the warm season, sea swimming takes place within areas protected by jellyfish nets — the Lagoon remains the simplest option then — and longer stops can aim for the Daintree Rainforest further north, one of the oldest rainforests on the planet.

Flavours of Tropical Queensland

Between outings, the restaurants at the marina serve grilled barramundi, tiger prawns, and tropical fruit — the local mango, in season, is worth the detour on its own. The cafés along the Esplanade pull a very respectable espresso, a legacy of the Italian migration that shaped North Queensland.

Casting Off Facing the Reef

As the ship departs, it passes dark green hills plunging into the Coral Sea. Somewhere offshore, the reef continues its slow construction, indifferent to human visits. Cairns leaves passengers with one conviction: here, nature isn't a backdrop — it's the very subject of the journey, and a single day barely gets through its first chapter.

Frequently Asked Questions

At Trinity Wharf terminal, right downtown. It's one of Australia's most convenient berths: the town, the Esplanade and the excursion jetties are all within walking distance of the gangway.
Yes. The Reef Fleet Terminal, where catamarans leave for the reef, is a seven-minute walk from the cruise terminal. Trips run full or half day, with snorkelling, diving or semi-submersible viewing.
Yes, three ways: the semi-submersible from the reef pontoons, a seaplane or helicopter flight, and the viewing platforms. The gradients of blue seen from the air are the image most passengers take home.
A large public saltwater swimming pool edged with sand, in the middle of the Esplanade. It's free and lifeguarded, which makes it the easiest swim of the call — especially since sea swimming in the warm season is limited to stinger-netted areas.
Two ways that form a loop: the Skyrail cableway, 7.5 kilometres skimming the rainforest canopy with stops at boardwalk lookouts, and the Kuranda Scenic Railway, which descends the Barron Gorge through tunnels and past waterfalls. Most excursions combine both.
One major outing, not two: either the reef or Kuranda. Each takes a half day. If time is short, the Esplanade, the Lagoon and the botanic gardens are all walkable and fill a morning pleasantly.
Take care: in the warm season, sea swimming is limited to stinger-netted areas. The Esplanade Lagoon remains the simplest and safest option during a port call.
Very much so. The Lagoon, the pelicans and wading birds along the Esplanade, and the Skyrail and Kuranda train all appeal to children without demanding long walks, and everything starts from a town centre you can reach on foot from the ship.
The dry season, May to October: more bearable heat, calmer seas and better underwater visibility. The wet season brings heavy heat, downpours and stingers in the sea.
Grilled barramundi, tiger prawns and tropical fruit at the marina restaurants — the local mango, in season, is worth the trip on its own. Esplanade cafés pull a very respectable espresso, a legacy of Italian migration to north Queensland.