Great Barrier Reef Cruise

Itinerary and Ports    Show / Hide Port Details

DAY	DATE	PORT OF CALL	ARRIVAL	DEPARTURE
1	Fri 20 Mar 2020	Sydney, Australia	Embark	6:45 PM
Cruise ships berthed at Sydney’s Overseas Passenger Terminal (OPT) access sweeping views of the harbour, Opera House, CBD, Circular Quay ferry terminal, and Sydney Harbour Bridge – all within a few minutes’ walk. The White Bay Cruise Terminal for mid-sized vessels that can pass under the Bridge docks two cruise ships. White Bay is 30 minutes’ drive by taxi or shuttle bus from the CBD and Central Station, or take a ferry from Circular Quay (am) or Darling Harbour (pm) on cruise days. Long term car parking is not too far away from each terminal. During the crowded summer season cruise ships occasionally tender passengers from Athol Buoy and Point Piper Buoy. QM2 has docked at Garden Island Naval Base. more info
2	Sat 21 Mar 2020	Newcastle, Australia	8:00 AM	5:00 PM
A top-ten city in Lonely Planet's 'Best in Travel 2011' guide, Newcastle, surrounded by eight beaches, is situated 162 km N of Sydney at the mouth of the Hunter River. Presently the largest coal exporting harbour in the world, it is also an elegant and attractive city, full of historic buildings and interesting walks. Make sure you take note of the Historic Markers in the CBD as they are integral to the many walks that take you to fascinating places. These include the oldest theatre district in Australia, the Former Police Station that has been beautifully restored, the Coal Mining Monument that was once hit by shells from a Japanese submarine, and the lighthouse on the artificial promontory. more info
3	Sun 22 Mar 2020	At Sea
4	Mon 23 Mar 2020	At Sea
5	Tue 24 Mar 2020	Cairns, Australia	8:00 AM	Overnight
Cairns, located on the warm waters of Trinity Bay, 400km south of the northernmost tip of Queensland, is the gateway to the Tropical North. The Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal (a $120M upgrade opens early 2020, for ships to 300m) is a few minutes’ walk from the heart of town. Nearby are the Great Barrier Reef (90 min. by boat) and the Daintree National Park. The city itself has several theme parks that offer an overview of its natural surroundings. These include: Rainforestation Nature Park, Tjaipukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, and the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. This is a gondola cableway over the rainforest canopy, between Cairns and Kuranda, offering unsurpassed views of ravines and waterfalls within the Barron Gorge National Park. more info
6	Wed 25 Mar 2020	Cairns, Australia	Overnight	4:00 PM
Cairns, located on the warm waters of Trinity Bay, 400km south of the northernmost tip of Queensland, is the gateway to the Tropical North. The Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal (a $120M upgrade opens early 2020, for ships to 300m) is a few minutes’ walk from the heart of town. Nearby are the Great Barrier Reef (90 min. by boat) and the Daintree National Park. The city itself has several theme parks that offer an overview of its natural surroundings. These include: Rainforestation Nature Park, Tjaipukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, and the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. This is a gondola cableway over the rainforest canopy, between Cairns and Kuranda, offering unsurpassed views of ravines and waterfalls within the Barron Gorge National Park. more info
7	Thu 26 Mar 2020	Airlie Beach, Australia	8:00 AM	5:00 PM
Airlie Beach is a coastal town in the Whitsunday Region of Queensland, Australia. It is a major hub for daytrips to the Whitsunday islands, on the world famous Great Barrier Reef. So visit the islands. Hayman and North Molle are visible from Airlie and if you make it down to Shute Harbour then Daydream, South Molle and Long Islands are just 15 minutes away by ferry. Airlie Beach township itself is a delightful tourist destination. As the sea is inhabited by marine stingers from November to May, the town has its own artificial lagoon, 200m by 50m, with a bridge and delightful surrounds. Life guards oversee the lagoon day and night. more info
8	Fri 27 Mar 2020	At Sea
9	Sat 28 Mar 2020	Brisbane, Australia	7:00 AM	4:00 PM
Approaching Brisbane River via beautiful Moreton Bay is a scenic delight. The most commonly used Portside Wharf Cruise Terminal is 14 km up-river and 6 km from the CBD, but only accessible to ships that clear the twin Gateway Bridges and less than 270m in length. Regular users of this terminal are P&O Australia and Princess vessels. They sail to the South Pacific, Great Barrier Reef, New Zealand, and PNG. Larger cruise ships berth at the commercial Port of Brisbane (Fisherman Island) at the river mouth, 25 km from the CBD. Smaller ships also berth here when Portside is fully booked. The new Brisbane International Cruise Terminal on the north side of the river mouth will open October 2020. It will berth the world's largest cruise ships. more info
10	Sun 29 Mar 2020	At Sea
11	Mon 30 Mar 2020	At Sea
12	Tue 31 Mar 2020	Bay of Islands, New Zealand	10:00 AM	8:00 PM
The Bay of Islands - the first permanent European settlement and sea port in New Zealand - is an area in the Northland region of the North Island of New Zealand. Located 60 km NW of Whangarei it is close to the northern tip of the country. The bay is the busiest, yet quietest place you'll ever come to. It lies in a subtropical wonderland with an average summer temperature of 24 deg., and has the bluest skies in the world. (That's official!) This beautiful collection of 144 islands provides plenty of natural and historical places of interest such as the stunning site at Paihia, where the Waitangi Treaty can be examined. Attractions include the historic Treaty House, a giant flagstaff, a unique fully carved Maori meeting house, and the world's largest single-hulled canoe. more info
13	Wed 1 Apr 2020	Auckland, New Zealand	6:30 AM	Disembark
Auckland is New Zealand’s larget city (the capital Wellington is slightly smaller), multicultural, with the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world. The ‘City of Sails’ is located on an isthmus at the northern end of North Island, with harbours facing west to the Tasman Sea and east to the Pacific Ocean. The city straddles a dormant volcanic field with 48 volcanic cones. The cruise terminal berths at the city centre, with transport services and hop-on hop-off bus service at hand. Walk to the city centre’s iconic Sky Tower (and jump off with a harness). Places to visit in the city include the inner city park known as the Domain, and the picturesque suburb of Ponsonby, with its colonial era homes. more info

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Be spoiled on the Celebrity Solstice enjoying 12 unforgettable nights on the Great Barrier Reef Cruise exploring Australia. Your ship sails from Sydney and visits 7 ports in 2 countries before finishing at Auckland. This 4 star cruise from Celebrity Cruises has 1 forward departures. You can join this cruise today for as little as $0 per person/day, twin share. Book today and save... Call now and talk to a cruise specialist!

Celebrity Solstice Overview

Celebrity Solstice shares its year between Australia/New Zealand and Alaska. Around October until March each year (2019/2020 and 2020/2021), based between Sydney and Auckland (and occasionally Melbourne), she cruises the South Pacific, Great Barrier Reef, Tasman Sea and New Zealand on cruises of around two weeks. Take a transpacific cruise via Hawaii in April/May or September each year. The full crossing takes 28/30 nights, and consider linking this with a 7-night cruise along the Inside Passage of British Columbia and Alaska. The transpacific journey Sydney – Honolulu – Vancouver over 27 nights takes you to four ports in Hawaii, and could be preceded/followed by a 7-night Alaskan glacier cruise. As for the Alaskan itineraries May to September, these are 7-night round tours from Seattle that visit the usual sites and glaciers. Celebrity Solstice is ranked by Berlitz Cruising and Cruise Ships (2018) the highest of large resort ships that regularly sail Australian waters.

Accommodation

Ninety percent of staterooms have an outside view, and of these 95% have a balcony – more than any other superliner in the world. Standard cabins have a sofa or convertible sofa bed, twin beds that convert to a double bed, plenty of storage space, personal safe, mini-bar/refrigerator, interactive TV, and good-size bathroom. The cabins are nicely decorated and appealing with warm wood-finish furniture. You’ll be provided with robe, tote bag, bath products, hairdryer and safe, and twice-daily room service. Some balcony staterooms are interconnecting. Suites have more space, butler service, better amenities and personal service. There are no single cabins, and 30 wheelchair-accessible cabins.

Food and Dining

The two-deck Grand Epernay, with its grand staircase and musicians’ gallery overlooking the sea through a huge glass wall, offers excellent meals and service at two dinner seatings. The décor adds to the fine dining experience. There are three alternative pay-extra dining venues. Murano (reservations-only, extra cost), serves classic French and Continental cuisine in absolute style – allow three hours. The Tuscan Grille, an Italian steakhouse, delivers the best of grills, seafood and pasta. Silk Harvest serves a mix of Asian dishes. AquaSpa guests dine at Blu with a Mediterranean menu. Japanese à la carte lunch and dinner are available at Sushi on Five. Room service is available 24 hours a day from a limited menu of sandwiches, pizzas, salads and desserts.

Entertainment

The main showlounge Solstice Theatre typically presents song and dance revues, along with singers, comedians and musical acts. Theme nights are held in the Sky Observation Lounge. The Entertainment Court, featuring street performers, is adjacent to the Quasar nightclub. During the day entertainment choices range from games, art auctions, bingo, wine samplings and dance lessons, to educational presentations. A unique top-deck “Hot Glass Show” demonstrates the creation of glass art by the Corning Museum of Glass. For a quiet time withdraw to the card room, or the spectacular 24-hour library, extending vertically for two decks. Play casino-style games on your Apple or Android smartphone while onboard.

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