Gbr on sun princess

We are doing the 30 day round AUS oct2017, our itinerary states 10am-7pm for Cairns. Is this enough time to book our own snorkeling excursion for the reef or should we stick with the ship tour?

We are doing the 30 day round AUS oct2017, our itinerary states 10am-7pm for Cairns. Is this enough time to book our own snorkeling excursion for the reef or should we stick with the ship tour?

Good question. You should search when the private tours leave the docks. I seem to remember it's around 9AM or so, returning about 5pm. If your ship docks at 10 it will take some amount of time to get off the ship and to the docks. My guess it will be tough to do a private tour, but maybe others with more experience will chime in.

Unfortunately, you will probably have to stick with the ship's excursion due to the times you are in port vs. the times of the private excursions. Full-day snorkel trips to the GBR generally depart Cairns from 8:30 am - 9:00 am and return from 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm.

And don't consider any half-day tours to Green Island. The coral there is in poor condition meaning less sea life. It would be a waste of time and money.

Why not try Skedaddle tours who offer a half day tour to Hastings reef in a speed boat, They leave late morning and return around 16:00, the focus is just on snorkeling.