Cruising with ‘the Captain’

If you haven’t set foot on a cruise ship and just want to put your toe in the water to test the experience, then Captain Cook Cruises may be a good option.

The company, which started 35 years ago, has cruise options on the Great Barrier Reef, Fiji, Murray River and Sydney Harbour.

And if you can plan 60 days ahead, there are limited cabins at 20 per cent off the cost.

One of the best ways to see the Great Barrier Reef is on a three-, four- or seven-night cruise aboard Captain Cook Cruises’ MV Reef Endeavour.

MV Reef Endeavour is a 168-passenger vessel that was purpose built for cruising the Great Barrier Reef.

Departing from Cairns, the Reef Endeavour cruises to exotic island hideaways, tranquil coral cays and secluded beaches and is also available for charter.

There are two cruise options.

First is a three-night southbound cruise, a weekend cruise departing Cairns 2pm Friday afternoons for Fitzroy Island, Hedley Reef, the Hinchinbrook Channel and the rainforests of Dunk Island returning to Cairns at 8am on Monday morning. Prices, which include all meals, start from $1,170 per person twin share.

The second option is a four-night northbound cruise, which departs 2pm Monday afternoons for Fitzroy Island before sailing on to the historic town of Cooktown, the uninhabited coral cay of Two Isles, Lizard Island and Ribbon Reef No.5, one of the marine park’s most spectacular and remote destinations lying on the edge of the continental shelf.  

MV Reef Endeavour returns to Cairns at 8am on Friday morning. Prices start from $1,560 per person twin share.  And you can combine the two cruises for a seven-night ultimate cruise with prices starting from $2,457 per person twin share.

The ship has a swimming pool, two spas, sports deck, gymnasium, sauna, glass bottom boat, lounges, cocktail bar, library and a gift shop.  There is also a marine naturalist and diving instructor on board. All of the 75 air-conditioned staterooms and cabins are situated on the outside of the ship and all rooms contain private ensuites.

If you just want to spend a couple of days seeing Sydney Harbour, Captain Cook’s Explorer is the only accommodated cruise vessel on Sydney Harbour, with twin share accommodation for 120 passengers on its weekend escape cruise. This cruise departs Friday evenings returning Sunday afternoon. Prices start from $420 per person twin share, which includes all meals.

The vessel sails every Friday evening and visits the most beautiful areas accessible by water, like Watson’s Bay, the Rocks, Bradley’s Head, Botanical Gardens, Lane Cove and Parramatta Rivers – over 250 kilometres of foreshore and beaches on one trip.

The ship has 60 cabins with a choice of twin or double berths all with harbour views and ensuite facilities. 

Dining is a feature with full breakfasts, al fresco luncheons showcasing fresh local seafood and the elegant captain’s dinner with live music and dancing and the city skyline as the backdrop.

In Fiji, Captain Cook Cruises’ MV Reef Escape will take you to deserted picture postcard locations where you will not find any picture postcards on sale.

One special cruise is the northern Fiji dateline discovery cruise, which has four departures each year and was developed after searching for secluded and exclusive locations – some never visited by commercial vessels before.

The cruise goes beyond the Yasawa Islands to Levuka on the island of Ovalau.

This quiet historic town with its stately backdrop of 19th century colonial architecture and waterfront promenades is a time capsule of colonial rule.

You can swim in the Bouma Waterfall lagoon on Taveuni Island and stand on the 180th Meridian – the arbitrary dateline between today and tomorrow.

The cruise also takes you to Savusavu’s extinct volcanic crater, hot springs and thriving markets.

One of the most endearing features of this cruise is the wonderful welcome from Fijian village locals living on islands rarely visited by tourists. 

This cruise won the Fijian award for ‘best overnight cruising’ for 2005 at the 2005 Annual Tourism Awards for Excellence. 

The northern Fijian islands dateline cruise has three more 2006 departures: June 6 2006, August 8 2006 and October 3 2006 with prices starting from $1,759 per person twin share. The price includes all facilities, meals and nightly entertainment.

Captain Cook Cruises also operates three, four and seven-night itineraries cruising the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands, departing from Denarau Marina.

MV Reef Escape’s small size means it can negotiate remote islands, reefs and shallow bays where bigger ships cannot venture.  However, the innovative design of the vessel provides many big ship extra comforts including a pool, extensive outer decks, floor to ceiling windows in all Staterooms and much more.

For those who prefer guaranteed glassy water, then a three, four or seven night cruise on paddlewheeler PS Murray Princess on the Murray River is the way to go.

The 120-passenger PS Murray Princess sails from Mannum, in South Australia.

The three-day cruise starts mid-afternoon on Friday and features the Murray River wetlands with tours ashore to discover the local fauna and flora. The cruise travels 207 kilometres upriver. Cost is $724 per person twin share and a four day-cruise costs $942 per person twin share. Details travel agents or contact Captain Cook Cruises on (02) 9206 1144. Website: www.captaincook.com.au.