Top Deck Club Liveaboard – Great Barrier Reef floating hotel

This Top Deck Club liveaboard provides an unforgettable overnight experience on the Great Barrier Reef.

This tour is the ultimate way to celebrate a special occasion.

Top Deck Club

Your VIP journey starts as soon as you board the transfer vessel. You will meet your assigned valet/personal guide for your stay.

When boarding the transfer vessel, guests are greeted by the friendly crew and invited to share delicious local fruit platters and breakfast.

Then sit back and relax on our 90-minute boat transfer to the Outer Barrier Reef.

Then our crew will welcome you onboard Reef Encounter for your stay on the Great Barrier Reef.

Top Deck Club Accommodation

The staterooms with ensuite are spacious and air-conditioned, with ample space for clothes and luggage.

The staterooms also offer special touches such as crisp bed linen and down pillows: soft fluffy robes, bath sheets, and Australian beauty products.

The magic begins each day when the Great Barrier Reef awakens. Start your day with an early morning dive or a revitalizing swim.

Then relax on a deck chair or in the air-conditioned saloon.

Enjoy majestic sunsets that fill the sky with a stunning golden glaze.

Next, a romantic evening under the stars in paradise awaits, and the thrill of night diving for scuba divers.

Delicious meals

Onboard our chef prepares delicious meals.   Allowing our chef to provide culinary delights with local Australian ingredients. Breakfast and lunch are served in a buffet format (or ask for breakfast in bed, a Top Deck Club exclusive!). Dinner is plated.

A licensed bar onboard includes a fine selection of Australian wines and beers.

This vessel is a 35-metre catamaran designed for the utmost stability and comfort at sea.  Reef Encounter features spacious decks and roomy dining and recreation areas.

Transfers to Reef Encounter are available by a 90-minute boat ride on Reef Experience from Cairns or a stunning helicopter trip over the Great Barrier Reef.

All Top Deck Club liveaboard guests enjoy a late checkout before returning to Cairns.

Free luggage storage is available at our office in Cairns City.

Under the Water

Under the water, where the real magic is, the Great Barrier Reef will take your breath away with more colours than you knew existed.   Brightly coloured fish dart amongst the coral gardens and green sea turtles cruise along the Great Barrier Reef.   Your Top Deck Club guide knows our Reef locations well and will be able to point out amazing things.

Further down the coral Reef walls, keep your eye out for Reef sharks and rays.

Every water session is different and spectacular. There is so much to see and explore.

Please click here to read our reviews.

Facilities Onboard our Top Deck Club liveaboard

  • 35-metre catamaran hotel designed for the utmost stability and comfort at sea
  • Large dining saloon
  • TV and lounge area
  • Hot tub at the bow of the vessel.
  • Spacious sundeck with sun loungers
  • Fully licensed bar and barista coffee
  • Large, easy-access dive and snorkel platforms
  • Helicopter pad on the roof for low-flying scenic helicopter tours over the coral Reef.
  • Spacious staterooms
  • Towels and toiletries provided (soap, shampoo and conditioner)
  • Staterooms have Australian power outlets.
  • Double and twin-single staterooms.

Great Barrier Reef Itinerary

Please note, this itinerary is based on a 3-day /2-night stay with Reef Encounter

First Day

Arrive

Snorkelling:

Unlimited in water sessions


Diving (Max possible):
Up to 2 Day Dives + 1 Night

7:30am
Board the transfer vessel 'Reef Experience' at Cairns Marlin Marina for breakfast, check-in and your journey to Reef Encounter

9:30am
Arrive onboard Reef Encounter for your 'Welcome & Safety Talk' before being shown to your room to settle in and relax

10:30am
 Water Session: Time to snorkel for all guests before lunch

12:00
Lunch is served in the dining saloon

13.00
Water Briefings: Certified Diver Briefings / Try Scuba Diving Briefings / Snorkel Adventure Briefings

13.30
 Water Session: Scuba dive or snorkel time

15:00

Reef Encounter moves to another spectacular outer barrier reef location

15:30
 Water Session: Scuba dive or snorkel time. Glass bottom boat tour available upon request

Summer


18:00
Dinner is served in the dining saloon

18:45
Night Dive Briefings

19:00
 Night dive commences for all those scuba diving

Winter


17:30
Night Dive Briefings

18:00
 Night dive commences for all those scuba diving

19:15
Dinner is served in the dining saloon

20:00
Dessert is served in the dining saloon

Full Day

On the Reef

Snorkelling:

Unlimited in water sessions


Diving (Max possible):
Up to 3 Day Dives + 1 Night

6:00am
Wake-up call for the early morning dive and snorkel session

6:30am
 Water Session: Sunrise scuba dive or snorkel time. Glass bottom boat tour available upon request

7:30am
Breakfast is served in the dining saloon

8:00am

Reef Encounter moves to another spectacular outer barrier reef location

8:30am
 Water Session: Scuba Dive or Snorkel Time

10:30am
Water Session: Scuba Dive or Snorkel Time

12:00
Lunch is served in the dining saloon

13:30
 Water Session: Scuba Dive or Snorkel Time

15:00

Reef Encounter moves to another spectacular outer barrier reef location

15:30
 Water Session: Scuba dive or snorkel time. Glass bottom boat tour available upon request

Summer


18:00
Dinner is served in the dining saloon

18:45
Night Dive Briefings

19:00
 Night dive commences for all those scuba diving

Winter


17:30
Night Dive Briefings

18:00
 Night dive commences for all those scuba diving

19:15
Dinner is served in the dining saloon

20:00
Dessert is served in the dining saloon

Last Day

Return

Snorkelling:

Unlimited in water sessions


Diving (Max possible):
Up to 3 Day Dives

6:00am
Wake-up call for the early morning dive and snorkel session

6:30am
Water Session: Sunrise scuba dive or snorkel time. Glass bottom boat tour available upon request

7:30am
Breakfast is served in the dining saloon

8:00am

Room Checkout

Reef Encounter moves to another spectacular outer barrier reef location

8:30am
Water Session: Scuba Dive or Snorkel Time

10:30am
Water Session: Scuba Dive or Snorkel Time

12:00
Lunch is served in the dining saloon

13:30
 Water Session: Snorkel only session available to passengers before departure

14:45
Departing passengers board the transfer vessel 'Reef Experience' for the journey back to Cairns. Complimentary wine, cheese and biscuits served on the return journey

15:00 

Reef Encounter moves to another spectacular outer barrier reef location

16:30
Approximate arrival time to the Cairns Marlin Marina

*Please note, this itinerary does not apply to 'Great Barrier Reef Deal' bookings.

*Stateroom Check-In time is 10.00am with Check-Out time 8.00am on the morning of departure (access to a shared transfer/baggage room with bathroom is available along with all other boat facilities)

*Top Deck Club Check-in time is 10.00am with Check-Out time 2.00pm on the day of departure>

*This itinerary may vary due to weather conditions or other circumstances.

Next, see our Top Deck Club liveaboard packages and the best of North Queensland.

Highlights

  • Discover the World’s largest living structure
  • Wake Up on the Great Barrier Reef
  • Interact with thousands of brightly coloured fish and coral
  • Delicious meals
  • VIP service


Included

Top Deck Club Liveaboard Packages Include

  • Top Deck Club accommodation including ensuite (guaranteed cabin located on Top Deck – please note we only have 2 x cabins with a double bed with front windows, and these will be allocated on a first-in-best-dressed basis)
  • Delicious chef-prepared meals
  • Personal valet
  • Private guided in-water tours (please note diving is an upgrade, but your guide will already be included)
  • Dinner under the stars
  • Breakfast in bed
  • Sunset cocktails
  • Late checkout
  • Evening turndown service
  • Snorkel equipment
  • Scuba diving equipment (if scuba diving)
  • Sleep on the Great Barrier Reef with Reef Encounter
  • A variety of spectacular outer Great Barrier Reef locations during your stay
  • Glass bottom boat tour (weather-permitting)
  • Marine Biology presentation
  • A free luggage storage facility in Cairns City
  • Daily transfers via Reef Experience to Reef Encounter


Optional Extras

  • Introductory dive
  • Certified dive
  • Scuba lessons
  • Professional photographs
  • Barista coffee
  • Drinks and snacks
  • Merchandise
  • Helicopter transfers
  • City/Beaches bus return transfers


What to bring

  • Reef Encounter is a barefoot product
  • Hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Light jacket
  • Camera
  • Socks
  • Casual resort wear
  • Scuba divers need to bring their certification card and logbook


How to get there

How to get to Reef Encounter?

Two Choices to get to Reef Encounter:

The first option is our transfer vessel Reef Experience, which departs Cairns daily at 8 am.

Reef Experience departs from the Cairns Marina, Marlin Jetty, Finger A.

Guests check in directly onboard the vessel.

The second option is via a spectacular scenic helicopter flight over the Great Barrier and landing directly onboard Reef Encounter’s exclusive helipad.


Important Information

Important information for scuba divers

This information is for all guests participating in scuba diving.

Australia has the strictest scuba diving rules globally and the safest diving record. Please make sure you understand the scuba diving laws in Queensland, Australia.

We are regulated by the Queensland Government Code of Practice and comply with all rules, including the requirements for a dive medical, where applicable, as required by law.

We recommend that all passengers complete our dive medical questionnaire. Some medical conditions, age, and medications may prevent you from scuba diving.

Our mission is always to provide our passengers with the very best Great Barrier Reef tour.

We are delighted to help you with any questions you may have. Please contact our office on +61 7 4037 2700 or email our helpful team today.

Alternatively, you may like to consult your Doctor for a Queensland Dive Medical using the Australian QLD Standard Form AS.4005.1 

Flying after Scuba Diving

You should not fly or go to altitude for at least 18 hours after a scuba dive for a single no decompression scuba dive.

You should not fly for 24 hours after your last dive for multiple dives.

If Skydiving or Hot Air Ballooning, you must wait 24 hours after your dive. We recommend waiting a minimum of 24 hours whenever possible.


100 Abbott StreetCairnsQueensland, 4870https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Hotel_Review-g255069-d1193995-Reviews-Reef_Encounter-Cairns_Cairns_Region_Queensland.html

Amenities

Check-In: 10:00 am

Check-Out: 2:00 pm

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Location

Top Deck Club Liveaboard Accommodations

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