Seastar Cruises premium luxury cruise combines the outer Great Barrier Reef with a pristine coral cay island. In only 1 hours the fast-air-conditioned catamaran, Seastar, can take you from Cairns to magnificent Michaelmas Cay, a seabird and turtle sanctuary, while also being the largest of the local uninhabited coral cays.
After a spectacular snorkel/dive and an all-inclusive buffet lunch onboard we make our way to Hastings reef, arriving in only 20 minutes, 30 nautical miles out from Cairns. Here there is more remarkable guided snorkel tours and outstanding diving. On our return cruise we pass Oyster reef, Upolu cay and Green Island, arriving at Cairns at approximately 4:15pm.
After a spectacular snorkel/dive and an all-inclusive buffet lunch onboard we make our way to Hastings reef, arriving in only 20 minutes, 30 nautical miles out from Cairns. Here there is more remarkable guided snorkel tours and outstanding diving. On our return cruise we pass Oyster reef, Upolu cay and Green Island, arriving at Cairns at approximately 4:15pm.
Services
Seastar Cruises includes a guided snorkel tour at both destinations of Michaelmas Cay and Hastings Reef lead by our expert guides who know all the interesting sites at each location. Our boat is fast and stable and arrives at the outer reef earlier than most others giving you maximum time to snorkel or dive.
We include a guided snorkel tour at both destinations of Michaelmas Cay and Hastings Reef. Our expert guides who know all the interesting sites at each location will lead the way. We have the latest masks, snorkels and fins from high-quality brands so that you can enjoy snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef without distraction.
Scuba diving is very different to snorkelling, you can stay underwater for approximately 30 minutes and you are able observe the fascinating reef creatures in relaxed detail. Diving at the Great Barrier Reef - you can't get any closer. But most notably the reef fish will react to you more curiously as you are now below them because they feel less threatened.
With so much to experience some may wish to take life even easier and to cater for the lazy snorkeller, stay safe, comfortable and dry in the Glass Bottom Boat. As you cruise over the reef, your skipper will be able to explain more about what you see below, the very unique eco system and the fish you will encounter.
Explore the best of the Great Barrier Reef on board Seastar. The full day tour combines the pristine Michaelmas Cay with the very popular Hastings outer reef. Seastar provides a FREE service regarding photos of the day. We supply underwater cameras on board for our crew to take random photos throughout the day which are then loaded on to our Facebook page.
Reviews (24)
PaniaGC
Aug 24, 2021
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Stacey Chamberlain
Apr 28, 2021
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We had an amazing day out on the reef with Seastar. All staff were super friendly and helpful. Michaelmas Cay and Hastings reef were both beautiful and provided different types of reef viewing. We saw so many fish and a sea turtle at both locations!
It was nicer being on a smaller boat with less other people so we weren’t fighting to get the best views. All equipment was included and good quality. And lunch was delicious!
Highly recommend
It was nicer being on a smaller boat with less other people so we weren’t fighting to get the best views. All equipment was included and good quality. And lunch was delicious!
Highly recommend
Kayne
Jan 25, 2021
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Absolutely loved this trip. The staff were great, helpful and accommodating. They looked after my teenage daughter very well for her first dive experience.
The boat was fast, clean and food was great.
The reef locations are very good for the first time visitor. You will impressed by the corals and fish.
Highly recommended.
The boat was fast, clean and food was great.
The reef locations are very good for the first time visitor. You will impressed by the corals and fish.
Highly recommended.
Aaneta Mavani
Sep 29, 2020
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Great Cruise. Experienced,professional and passionate tour guides.
Very understanding of newbies to the snorkeling experience and kind. Great instructions and very helpful and skilled around the reef. Great experience. Thanks. Great food and absolutely amazing insight into the reef area.Very informative and people who cared about the environment. Highly recommended.😊
Very understanding of newbies to the snorkeling experience and kind. Great instructions and very helpful and skilled around the reef. Great experience. Thanks. Great food and absolutely amazing insight into the reef area.Very informative and people who cared about the environment. Highly recommended.😊
Cree Putney
Dec 19, 2019
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Chelsea L.
Dec 15, 2019
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The crew on the Seastar is next level. We went a few weeks ago, and could not have imagined a better day on the reef. I was lucky enough to go on two dives with Will, my instructor and personal tour guide for the day. As these introductory dives were my first, Will took exceptional care to ensure I was prepared and ready to take my first breaths under water, and it was an incredible experience that is hard for me to describe even now. Will, you are incredible. Thanks for sharing this day with me.
One of the best things about Seastar is their commitment to keeping the boutique-cruise experience
One of the best things about Seastar is their commitment to keeping the boutique-cruise experience
Soulution
Oct 14, 2019
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This is simply flabbergasting and a mega nice experience. Very professional and absolutely positive crew, leaving a fabulous grin on all of the tour participants during and after this adventure. The welcome on board and execution of the tour is unbeatable. Small group sizes makes this a special event on top. Diving is carried out safe and secure with the necessary care, both Introductory dive and certified dive can be booked. The snorkelling provides deep insights into the marine live, which is explained very well with in-depth knowledge of the great barrier reef marine ecosystems and as well deepened
Cynthia Galante
Oct 03, 2019
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A wonderful crew, varied, fun activities, delicious food and snacks, and a limited number of passengers made this whole day out on the outer reef a really amazing experience. To top it all off, we couldn't have asked for more perfect weather, and wow!! We just saw a hump back whale!!! That was super cool!! I can't recommend this company enough. Just book it. They are truly worth every penny.
L.
Sep 06, 2019
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Definitely, recommend Seastar for your reef tour. The staff are amiable, helpful and knowledgeable.
They were even able to provide gluten-free food 👌🏻
I definitely suggest going for a dive as the scuba instructor Will was very knowledgeable and friendly and professional. All the other team members went out of their way to make sure you had an enjoyable day. Five stars all the way ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
They were even able to provide gluten-free food 👌🏻
I definitely suggest going for a dive as the scuba instructor Will was very knowledgeable and friendly and professional. All the other team members went out of their way to make sure you had an enjoyable day. Five stars all the way ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Stephanie D.
Jun 07, 2019
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They called after I booked to gouge me for pickup from my hotel. Buyer beware that it is extra to be picked up from your hotel even though it is not charged as such when you are booking. $18 for hotel pickup per person, even if you are at the same hotel, plus $15 fee for getting you to the reef. Since you already booked the cruise you have to pay it unless you want to forgo the hundreds you already spent reserving the cruise. If you're paying hundreds for the cruise then why are they so sneaky about this extra $30 per person? Not a good start for me.
Tammy E.
Apr 08, 2019
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Great cruise operator and wonderful staff onboard! We were shocked to find that only 11 people were signed up for the day we went out to Michaelmas Cay and Hastings Reef! They said we had some of the best weather as a couple of weeks prior they went out after the cyclone made the ocean conditions pretty insane. I am prone to seasickness and didn't feel I'll once on this boat.
It was cool to see the indigenous birds at Michaelmas Cay, though I would have preferred to swim in to the beach from the boat and back out. We had some beginners on our boat and they really slowed things down
It was cool to see the indigenous birds at Michaelmas Cay, though I would have preferred to swim in to the beach from the boat and back out. We had some beginners on our boat and they really slowed things down
Allie H.
Feb 19, 2019
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Look no further for your cruise on the reef! This one is THE BEST. We did our research and found that this had the most 5 star reviews on TripAdvisor for good reason! The crew was very informative, the cruise goes out with a smaller group than other tours, the lunch was great, and Seastar provides Stinger Suits for no extra charge, which no other cruise offered. Trust me, you will need those as the stingers hurt! The crew also takes very high quality photos of the trip and all the sea life you encounter, which they post to their Facebook page at no extra cost! Truly such a special memory to have
Jamie Winder
Nov 12, 2018
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The best day out on the reef by far. My partner and i personally have done 3 reef trips at Cairns to date and this one has been the best. The boat is by no means huge but is still quite large and spacious. They only take upto 36 people which is quite small compared to a lot of other tours. On our particular day we only had 17 on board. We still had at least 4 crew just for the snorkelers so we were in groups of 4 or 5. We went to 2 locations Michealmas cay and Hastings reef. We saw and swam with 3 turtles at Michealmas and Hastings reef was simply stunning lots of coral, fish and the reef was impresive
Ashley McCaskill
Oct 04, 2018
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Anu J.
Feb 06, 2017
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My husband and I booked our cruise ticket three days before our trip and I am glad we got the seats. The staff was very friendly, they made sure our trip is the most enjoyable experience. Boat was very neat and clean, food was amazing and in ample amount. My husband took the prescription which helped himwith his return journey. I did introductory snuba, snorkeling and bottom glass boat tour. Alex (one of the staff members) made my day with her amazing hospitality. She briefed us for snuba dive and she took me through the coral reefs holding my hand and showed me the beauty of the sea around. I
Tara R.
Nov 30, 2016
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Mareike D.
Nov 13, 2016
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Mira S.
Oct 18, 2016
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This a review of the Skedaddle boat tour, run by the Seastar people. They started using the Skedaddle about a year ago. It seems very new, and it did move quite fast, although it's just a fast big boat, nothing like the jetboating experience in New Zealand. The boat left a few minutes after the time we were told because everyone had to et kitted out with equipment. The staff were very friendly. At Hastings reef they towed people around if necessary, and gave everyone a descriptive tour, pointing out anemone fish and giant clams and such, and imparting general reef knowledge. The skedaddle
Lola T.
Mar 19, 2016
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Nikki L.
Feb 03, 2016
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4.5 Stars
Fantastic experience on a boat with about 30+ other people.
First they take everyone to the shore of Michelmas Cay to begin snorkelling or diving and to see some coral and fishes.
Then they provide a small lunch on board and the boat heads to open (deeper) waters.
Another round of snorkelling
Fantastic experience on a boat with about 30+ other people.
First they take everyone to the shore of Michelmas Cay to begin snorkelling or diving and to see some coral and fishes.
Then they provide a small lunch on board and the boat heads to open (deeper) waters.
Another round of snorkelling
Vettguy T.
Feb 07, 2015
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Kian M.
Nov 12, 2013
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This tour was amazing. I am recent college graduate who did some traveling in Australia and while I was in Cairns I wanted to see the great barrier reef. This tour blew my expectations! The crew was super nice and funny, the tour itself was very small with a total of about 20 to 25 people, and the served us great food!! If you are doing this tour and have never scuba dived before, 100% do the intro dive. They taught me everything I needed to know in a brief amount of time and I did two dives with just me, another guy and the instructor and we went way deeper than I thought we would. I highly recommend
Sylas W.
Sep 23, 2013
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Deana M.
Aug 15, 2013
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