Liveaboard Cairns Top Deck Club, Great Barrier Reef floating hotel
Stay aboard Cairns’s premier liveaboard, Cairns Top Deck Club. Reef Encounter. Enjoy the luxury VIP package with our ‘Top Deck Club’.
Starting your trip on liveaboard Cairn, first meet your Top Deck Club valet, who is there to ensure everything you need is at your fingertips. Once onboard Reef Encounter, your valet will show you to your room and ensure we know about any dietary requirements you may have.
Surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef’s crystal clear waters, this is one of Australia’s most celebrated holiday escapes. See the Great Barrier Reef at its very best—day and night!
Everyone has different Reef Encounter requirements; several packages suit all our aquatic guests. Starting with snorkelling and scuba diving from beginner to advanced.
Liveaboard Cairns Top Deck Club Great Barrier Reef Accommodation
- Stay in the best Top Deck Club cabins on the boat and relax with extra extras, such as late checkout times and spacious ensuite cabins with ocean views.
- All rooms have Australian power outlets.
- Reef Encounter, our boutique floating hotel Staterooms, has an ensuite toilet and shower.
- Top Deck Club guests enjoy an evening turn-down service for their stateroom.
- Double bed or twin single bed staterooms are available.
Why choose a Top Deck Club liveaboard Cairns experience?
The Top Deck Club tour is tailored to your needs. Everybody’s Top Deck experience will be personalised.
Among other things, Top Deck Club includes a crew member just for you! A private in-water guide for personal scuba dive tours or snorkelling tours. Late checkout times, deluxe 3-course evening meals under the stars, and breakfast in bed.
And so much more!
- Top Deck Club Dining
- A deluxe three-course evening meal, freshly prepared by the onboard chef for each night of your stay. You may dine privately under the stars or join the rest of the guests in the spacious dining saloon.
Breakfast is served in your stateroom.
Enjoy an Australian continental or cooked breakfast served just as you like, or join the rest of the guests for a buffet-style breakfast in the dining saloon.
- Complimentary sparkling wine and fruit platter upon arrival* (If you’re getting in the water, your complimentary sparkling wine will be served with your evening meal instead)
- Complimentary sunset cocktail
- Top Deck Club guests can enjoy local press coffee, tea, and juices.
An onboard chef prepares breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert all fresh every day. Fruit is available throughout the day. All dietary requirements will be catered for; please advise us of these when booking.
A barbeque buffet breakfast is served on the outbound voyage.
When returning to Cairns, enjoy a complimentary wine, cheese, and fruit platter.
Free luggage storage is available.
- A fully air-conditioned 35-metre catamaran hotel designed for the utmost stability and comfort at sea
- Large dining saloon
- TV and lounge area
- Outdoor, freshwater hot-tub
- Spacious sundeck with sun loungers
- Fully licenced bar
- Large, easy-access dive and snorkel platforms
- Helicopter pad on the roof for low-flying scenic helicopter tours over the coral reef as your transfer to/from Reef Encounter (optional extra)
- Spacious, air-conditioned staterooms with spectacular ocean views
- Towels and toiletries (soap, shampoo, and conditioner) are provided.
- All staterooms have Australian power outlets.
- Reef Encounter is one of the few liveaboard cabins with ensuite facilities. All staterooms have ensuite toilets and showers.
- Double-bed or twin-single-bed staterooms are available.
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Great Barrier Reef Itinerary
Please note, this itinerary is based on a 3-day /2-night stay with Reef Encounter
First Day
Arrive
Unlimited in water sessions
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
Unlimited in water sessions
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
Unlimited in water sessions
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.
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.
Hannah G
5The crew are amazing, so friendly and helpful. Loved the fact that they sat with us on different tables at meal times so you could chat. Fantastic food and plenty of it - Best falafel I've ever eaten! Beds and rooms were clean and comfortable. Jenny was the best guide! Having a photographer was brilliant and the photos are fab!!! Definitely a great addition to the overall experience. Could not recommend Reef Encounter enough! :)
Herb H
5The crew were outstanding!! Martin & Aisah were amazing. They made it possible to go diving despite having 2 young kids with me. My kids loved them--they made our trip special.
Jackie H
5Above excellent!! Best service in the world! Nelson, our attendant, went above and beyond to fulfill our every need. Oliver "Ollie" also went above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed our experience. Michelle was a great snorkel guide. Jade provided extra special touches! Nelson was amazing in certifying our daughter to scuba dive. LOVED IT!! THANK YOU!!!!