Top Deck Club liveaboard: Great Barrier Reef accommodation

Stay aboard Cairns’s premier Great Barrier Reef liveaboard, Reef Encounter. Enjoy the luxury VIP package with our ‘Top Deck Club’.

First, meet your Top Deck Club valet, who is there to ensure everything you need is at your fingertips.

Then, once onboard Reef Encounter, your valet will show you to your room and make sure everything is to your liking.  Next, we need to 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 reef at its very best—day and night!

We know that everyone has different Reef Encounter requirements; several packages suit all our aquatic guests. We are starting with snorkelling and scuba diving, from beginner to advanced.

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 check-out times and spacious ensuite staterooms, all with views of the Great Barrier Reef.
  • All rooms have Australian power outlets.
  • Reef Encounter, our boutique floating hotel, has staterooms, an ensuite toilet, and a 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 experience?

The Top Deck Club tour is tailored to meet your expectations. 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.

Staying on the Great Barrier Reef with unlimited water sessions to explore this fantastic underwater masterpiece is undoubtedly one of the best experiences in the world.

Top Deck Club Dining

 Top Deck Club

A deluxe three-course evening meal, freshly prepared by the onboard chef.  You may dine privately under the stars or join the rest of the guests in the spacious dining saloon.

Start your day with breakfast in bed.

  • Enjoy a delicious cooked breakfast served just as you like, or join the rest of the guests for a buffet-style hot breakfast in the dining saloon.
  • Sparkling wine and fruit platter upon arrival.
  • 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.
  • Please advise of any dietary requirements when booking.
  • A barbeque buffet breakfast on the outbound voyage.
  • On your return voyage back to Cairns, enjoy a complimentary glass of wine and a cheese and fruit platter.
  • Free luggage storage is available at their offices in Cairns City.

Facilities Onboard

Reef Encounter

  • A fully air-conditioned 35-metre catamaran designed for the utmost stability and comfort at sea
  • Large dining saloon
  • Barista Coffee
  • 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 cabins with spectacular ocean views
  • Towels and toiletries provided (soap, shampoo)
  • All staterooms have Australian power outlets.
  • Reef Encounter staterooms with ensuite bathrooms.
  • Double bed and twin-single-bed 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.

 

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 (SSI Dive Professional)
  • 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
  • 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.

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.

Check-In: 10:00 am

Check-Out: 2:00 pm

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Top Deck Club Liveaboard Accommodations

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