Seastar Luxury Outer Great Barrier Reef Island and Reef Tour
Traveler rating
4.9/5
Based on 1,085 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Seastar Luxury Outer Great Barrier Reef Island and Reef Tour worth booking?
Seastar Luxury Outer Great Barrier Reef Island and Reef Tour is a 7.5-hour experience in Cairns & the Tropical North, Australia, from $200 per person. It scores 84 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Exceptional”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 1,085 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 84 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (1,085)
- Duration
- 7.5 hours
- From
- $200 per person
A maximum of 36 people. Guided Snorkel Tours. Glass Bottom Boat. Optical Masks Included. Free Facebook Photos (Posted daily).
What you get
About this experience
A maximum of 36 people. Guided Snorkel Tours. Glass Bottom Boat. Optical Masks Included. Free Facebook Photos (Posted daily).
What's included
Included
- Buoyancy vest and noodle
- Luxury Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruise
- Lunch
- Glass Bottom Boat Tour at Michaelmas Cay
- Island access to world famous Michaelmas Cay
- Morning & afternoon tea
- Wet-suit or stinger-suit (seasonal)
- Guided snorkel Tour at Michaelmas Cay and Hastings Reef
- Mask, Snorkel and Fins
Not included
- Return Bus transfer - Cairns City Area or Northern Beaches and Outer Cairns City Area
- Cold drinks and snacks
- Introductory Diving and Certified Diving available as optional Extra
What you'll see and do
Seastar Cruises Reef Day Trips
Check in at 7.30 am at Cairns Marlin Marina, E finger directly on board Seastar.
30 minutes here
Michaelmas Cay
Located 22 nautical miles (40 km) from Cairns, the same as the distance across the English Channel, and close to the outer reef systems, Michaelmas Cay is the largest of the uninhabited coral cays in the Cairns region; in fact it is huge in comparison. Seastar is the first vessel to arrive at Michaelmas Cay. Very few tour vessels are now permitted access to this sensitive island and now there are only two which travel daily that are permitted the right to use and access the Cay.
120 minutes here
Great Barrier Reef
Our second location where we stop is Hastings reef, part of the outer Great Barrier Reef. Hastings Reef is located 30 nautical miles out from Cairns and is a typical outer reef, on most days a line of breakers marks where the deep ocean swells break onto the reef wall. The reef itself is shallow on top, with steep sides reminiscent of cliffs falling away into the surrounding water.
120 minutes here
After visiting Michaelmas Cay and Hastings Reef and enjoying the food provided on board our air conditioned vessel, we will drop you back off at the Esplanade, hoping you had a fantastic experience with us!
30 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Cairns & the Tropical North
Departure Point: Check in 7.30 am E Finger Cairns Marlin Marina on board Seastar Return at approx 4 pm
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Departure Point: Check in 7.30 am E Finger Cairns Marlin Marina on board Seastar Return at approx 4 pm
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- zh-TW, en, zh-CN
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 10 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Seastar Cruises
Know before you go
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Introductory Divers note, Some medical conditions, medications and recent operations can and may prevent you from Scuba Diving. You may require a Dive Medical to Australian Medical Standard AS4005-1.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 1,084 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
3 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Good for families
3 mentionsReviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
Food and drink
2 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Traveler reviews
1,084 verified traveler reviews for Seastar Luxury Outer Great Barrier Reef Island and Reef Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Great Fish!
Great fish! Love tonsee so much life underwater
via Tripadvisor
Hands down the best...
Hands down the best experience. All the crew was nice and wanted to ensure we all had a good time. I had a fear of water and they all made sure I was ok. They offered RX goggles as well. 10/10 would recommend to anyone.
via Viator
Worst Tour Ever Sea Star
By far SeaStar Cruises was the worst tour/cruise I have ever experienced. They cater to certain groups and ignore others. Safety is a joke by letting kids run wild both on boat and in water. Do yourself a favor and book another Great Barrier Reef Cruise tour experience
Response from the operator: Dear Cecil, Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are genuinely sorry that your visit to the Great Barrier Reef with Seastar did not meet your expectations, particularly as this was a long-awaited bucket-list experience. Seastar welcomes guests of all ages, including families, couples and solo travellers. We understand that excited children can sometimes be a little exuberant, especially when experiencing the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. However, we also recognise that all passengers deserve to enjoy their day comfortably and without unnecessary disturbance. Safety is our highest priority, both onboard and in the water. Our experienced crew provide comprehensive safety briefings, supervise activities and remain attentive to passenger wellbeing throughout the day. Running onboard or behaving in a manner that could endanger others is certainly not encouraged or acceptable. We take your observations seriously. Regarding snorkelling, our reef locations offer extensive areas for guests to explore, allowing plenty of space for everyone to enjoy the marine life. Nevertheless, we appreciate that guests should remain considerate of others while swimming. We would also like to clarify that all guests are equally welcome to have their photographs taken, regardless of age or whether they are travelling alone. Our crew regularly photograph passengers enjoying their reef experience. However, photographs that are out of focus, poorly composed or otherwise unsuitable are not published on our Facebook page. Similarly, our equipment distribution and meal service are intended to accommodate all passengers fairly. Families and younger guests may occasionally require additional assistance, but this should never leave other passengers feeling overlooked or less valued. We are particularly disappointed that you felt travelling alone affected the attention you received. This is certainly not how we intend to operate. We value our solo travellers just as much as families and groups, and many thoroughly enjoy the friendly, small-group atmosphere aboard Seastar. While we cannot guarantee that every aspect of a shared tour will suit everyone's personal preferences, we genuinely strive to provide a safe, welcoming and memorable Great Barrier Reef experience for every guest. We regret that your experience fell short of your expectations and appreciate you taking the time to provide your feedback.
via Tripadvisor
Worst Cruise Ever
The Great Barrier Reef was one of my top bucket lists items for traveling and last week i finally made it and scheduled a tour with Sea Star Cruises worst mistake ever. When you first get on the boat the captain gives a safety meeting remember this. Then we start from the beginning I noticed the crew catered to the very young and families if you single forget it you are at best last class. Last to get wet suit, mask and fins, last to get food because they don’t tell to top deck the food is ready until all the young people on the lower floor are served. Once at the reef you are ignored from having pictures taken both on the boat and in the water but all the young kids and families have theirs taken, plus you have to deal with young kids swimming over you and kicking you in the water because the guides don’t care.Now for safety I know the captain preaches safety but when kids are running on the boat running into people, kids swinging on the stair railing so when you go up or down on the boat you have kids kicking you well this is not safety. I sorry I booked with Sea Star and I’m sorry Sea Star gave me the worst tour I have ever had especially for one on my dream trips. I would never recommend Sea Star Crusies.
Response from the operator: Dear Cecil, Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are genuinely sorry that your visit to the Great Barrier Reef with Seastar did not meet your expectations, particularly as this was a long-awaited bucket-list experience. Seastar welcomes guests of all ages, including families, couples and solo travellers. We understand that excited children can sometimes be a little exuberant, especially when experiencing the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. However, we also recognise that all passengers deserve to enjoy their day comfortably and without unnecessary disturbance. Safety is our highest priority, both onboard and in the water. Our experienced crew provide comprehensive safety briefings, supervise activities and remain attentive to passenger wellbeing throughout the day. Running onboard or behaving in a manner that could endanger others is certainly not encouraged or acceptable. We take your observations seriously. Regarding snorkelling, our reef locations offer extensive areas for guests to explore, allowing plenty of space for everyone to enjoy the marine life. Nevertheless, we appreciate that guests should remain considerate of others while swimming. We would also like to clarify that all guests are equally welcome to have their photographs taken, regardless of age or whether they are travelling alone. Our crew regularly photograph passengers enjoying their reef experience. However, photographs that are out of focus, poorly composed or otherwise unsuitable are not published on our Facebook page. Similarly, our equipment distribution and meal service are intended to accommodate all passengers fairly. Families and younger guests may occasionally require additional assistance, but this should never leave other passengers feeling overlooked or less valued. We are particularly disappointed that you felt travelling alone affected the attention you received. This is certainly not how we intend to operate. We value our solo travellers just as much as families and groups, and many thoroughly enjoy the friendly, small-group atmosphere aboard Seastar. While we cannot guarantee that every aspect of a shared tour will suit everyone's personal preferences, we genuinely strive to provide a safe, welcoming and memorable Great Barrier Reef experience for every guest. We regret that your experience fell short of your expectations and appreciate you taking the time to provide your feedback.
via Tripadvisor
Great experience...
Great experience especially scuba diving. Ride out was a bit unnecessarily bumpy but ride back was completely fine. The reef itself was awesome as well.
Response from the operator: Thank you for taking the time to write your review, it is very much appreciated. We're very happy to hear you enjoyed your day at the Great Barrier Reef at Michaelmas Cay and Hastings Reef with Seastar we cater for a small group of 36 passengers. We hope to have you back on board sometime in the future
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 7.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $200 to $280
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 380
- Verdict
- Exceptional
Why this scores 84
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Seastar Luxury Outer Great Barrier Reef Island and Reef Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Cairns & the Tropical North.
How much does Seastar Luxury Outer Great Barrier Reef Island and Reef Tour cost?
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Prices start at $200 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Cairns & the Tropical North usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Seastar Luxury Outer Great Barrier Reef Island and Reef Tour take?
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Plan for about 7.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Cairns & the Tropical North is not rushed.
Is Seastar Luxury Outer Great Barrier Reef Island and Reef Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 84 out of 100, which we label "Exceptional". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 1,085 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in Cairns & the Tropical North, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Seastar Luxury Outer Great Barrier Reef Island and Reef Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Seastar Luxury Outer Great Barrier Reef Island and Reef Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 7.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Seastar Luxury Outer Great Barrier Reef Island and Reef Tour?
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Around 380 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Cairns & the Tropical North can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Cairns & the Tropical North and add a light layer if any part of the 7.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Seastar Luxury Outer Great Barrier Reef Island and Reef Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Cairns & the Tropical North within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Cairns & the Tropical North?
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On Outty we rank every Cairns & the Tropical North experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Fun, Falls and Forest Day Trip from Cairns, Passions of Paradise Great Barrier Reef Cruise by Catamaran, Tully River Full-Day Rafting: Cairns, Mission Beach or Self-Drive. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Cairns & the Tropical North?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Cairns & the Tropical North?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Seastar Luxury Outer Great Barrier Reef Island and Reef Tour?
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Included: Buoyancy vest and noodle; Luxury Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruise; Lunch; Glass Bottom Boat Tour at Michaelmas Cay; and Island access to world famous Michaelmas Cay. Not included: Return Bus transfer - Cairns City Area or Northern Beaches and Outer Cairns City Area; Cold drinks and snacks; and Introductory Diving and Certified Diving available as optional Extra. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Seastar Luxury Outer Great Barrier Reef Island and Reef Tour?
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Departure Point: Check in 7.30 am E Finger Cairns Marlin Marina on board Seastar Return at approx 4 pm Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is Seastar Luxury Outer Great Barrier Reef Island and Reef Tour offered in?
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It is offered in Chinese and English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Seastar Luxury Outer Great Barrier Reef Island and Reef Tour?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
What happens to Seastar Luxury Outer Great Barrier Reef Island and Reef Tour if the weather is bad?
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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about Seastar Luxury Outer Great Barrier Reef Island and Reef Tour?
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Across 1,085 reviews averaging 4.9 out of 5, recurring themes include knowledge and storytelling, good for families, food and drink. Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
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