Cairns Luxury Catamaran Harbor and Dinner Cruise
4.5
Cairns Luxury Catamaran Harbor and Dinner Cruise
By Spirit of Cairns
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About
Sail along the Cairns waterfront and out through the mangrove forests of the Trinity Inlet on this evening catamaran cruise. This tour offers all the ingredients for an unforgettable evening, with spectacular sunset views and a delicious dinner of local produce.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 4-99, max of 75 per group
Duration: 3h
Start time: Check availability
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Live guide: English
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Audio guide: English
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Written guide: English
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Highlights
- Watch the sunset over Cairns on an evening cruise
- 360-degree views from the open-air top deck
- Sip on a glass of sparkling wine, beer, or a soft drink
- Feast on a delicious dinner made with local produce
- A 2.5 hour calm water evening cruise
- Spacious air-conditioned vessel
- Complimentary glass of sparkling wine, beer or soft drink on arrival
- Delicious hot and cold buffet featuring fresh seafood and local produce
What's not included- Alcoholic beverages (available to purchase from a fully licensed bar)
- Set sail along Trinity Inlet aboard a luxurious catamaran and experience Cairns from the water. From the open-air top deck, enjoy a 360-degree view of Cairns Harbour and the waterfront precinct. Then, admire the natural scenery as you glide through the mangrove forests and tranquil waterways of the inlet. Move to the dining hall and continue admiring the scenery through the panoramic windows as your freshly made dinner is served. Dinner includes hot and cold dishes, vegetarian options, and fresh seafood, accompanied by a glass of sparkling wine or beer. After watching the sunset over Cairns as you sail back to shore.
- Start:
- Cairns Marlin Marina, 1 Spence St, Cairns City QLD 4870, AustraliaPlease present yourself for boarding on 'A Finger' at Cairns Marlin Marina by 6.00 PM. Departure at 6.30PM sharp and return approximately at 9.00PM
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 37778P1- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Most travelers can participate
- We recommend tropical cocktail attire, with suitable shoes for boating
- Please advise dietary requirements at a minimum of 24 hours before departure
- Please note there are no high chairs or changing facilities on board
- Strollers must be collapsible due to the presence of steps during boarding and when accessing restroom facilities
- Infants (aged 0-3) are permitted on board free of charge, if you wish your infant to have a meal you will need to book a child fare
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 75 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 37778P1
From
$88.01
per adult
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- 355anikab0 contributionsAir condition not working properly and cruise only limited to Sugar Terminal and back to A finger.We booked this Christmas Day Lunch cruise, because we didn’t want to cook that day and be in the air condition while experiencing something. Service was ok, air condition wasn’t working properly and everyone in this little room was sweating during the 2.5 hours on the water. Outside was also warm or hot breeze as expected. The cruise went only as far as the sugar terminal and back to A Finger. We were hoping it would go further into the inlet but we didn’t even get close to it. Food was fine and we still enjoyed getting out. But it wasn’t value for money.Written December 24, 2023
- copernicus19090 contributionsNot a cruise… a crawl.If we had known we would be travelling at about 5km per hour up and down the same 500m of Cairns Harbour we would not have booked this ‘cruise’. Food was ok (hot food was lukewarm), The staff were lovely although the captain was grumpy. They need a concierge on the pier before boarding to clarify instructions. Seating is allocated which also would have been helpful to know.Written December 2, 2023
- Cruiser420099427970 contributionsA beautiful sunset cruiseWhat a wonderful sunset cruise . Fantastic attentive staff , sumptuous buffet dinner . Well appointed boat .Great sunset photo opportunities . Very chilled vibe .Great value for money .Written November 15, 2023
- L2182XIcatherinem0 contributions60th BirthdayFamily and friends did the dinner cruise on Saturday 11/11. Excellent service from the minute we arrived on the boat,with a complimentary glass of wine or beer. I was able to drop off the birthday cake as well as items to be placed on the table. The loverly lady who was organising everything just said leave it to me, we will organise everything. Staff were amazing and well organised and happy all the time,which made our dinner cruise memorable. Thank you, spirit of cairns, we will be back!Written November 12, 2023
- Madabesa0 contributionsSunset DinnerNice evening with beautiful views of the foreshore with attentive staff. Buffet had a great selection with delicious dishes and dessert Highly recommendWritten August 30, 2023
- 886dimplem0 contributionsMemorable and great experienceWe celebrated an important event onboard and the experience was wonderful. The manager Chris and his team gave us the best ever service. He went out of his way make the occasion memorable.Written March 20, 2023
- tonylT2825MR0 contributionsTony, Joanne, Steve and MirianThe food was excellent. Shannon gave us a great variety which was beautifully prepared and presented. Chris the barman mixed a perfect cocktail and the on board staff made the whole trip a pleasure. We'll definitely be doing this again.Written March 2, 2023
- TherdoshB0 contributionsBeautiful Dinner Cruise on a beautiful afternoon!It was such a beautiful and relaxing experience. The weather was lovely, the city view was also amazing with the pretty sunset. The food was also amazing and the crew members were so polite and welcoming. If you're looking for a dinner cruise with a outstanding view, I suggest you book with Spirit of Cairns!Written March 2, 2023
- Susan F0 contributionsExcellent cruiseIt was very well organised. The staff specially Juanita and Chris were incredible. It was my hubby’s birthday and they decorated our table and sang for him. The buffet was lovely too. Will definitely go back againWritten November 8, 2022
- mirijam20150 contributionsNot recommendedIts not a sunset Tour! It should start earlier like 5 p.m.!! It's a night cruise, you see nothing of the landscape! They even do circles in front of Harbour. We met at 6 p.m. Left Cairns Harbour at 06.40.. Food OK (nothing special). Buffet style inside the huge Cat. Don't recommend the tour. MelWritten October 23, 2022
- Got2try0 contributionsGot2TryOMG - simply outstanding. I've taken my partner on heaps of dinner cruises, Hawaii, Vietnam, Sydney and Perth. This cruise was just as good if not better. Staff couldn't do enough for us, taking pictures, to asking where we were from. Staff mingled with ALL passengers and extremely friendly....100 out of 100. Jason the Captain of the night, you really did have a wonderful team. Food - look to be honest I hate, dread BUFFET. But to my astonishment, the food was simply lovely. Salads were fresh, hot food was hot - plenty of selection. Seafood there was someone there to serve you, so everyone got a good feed. Cheese selection, fresh fruit and of course DESSERTS, OMG great selection. Once you were feed, and the others were feed, you could go back and help yourself. The night we were on, it was Chinese New Year last night, so we could see the fireworks, very pretty. The facilities were emasculate and clean (toilets). I so much enjoyed myself and would thoroughly recommend this cruise to anyone - A Must if in Cairns.Written February 18, 2022
- RobynP5360 contributionsOutstanding and well worth the moneyWe did the Cairns Harbour lunch cruise. From the time we stepped onto the catamaran the service and all staff were excellent.A great way to spend a relaxing Sunday afternoon and would recommend this cruise to everyone. The food was excellent.Written October 10, 2021
- Lsrgirl0 contributionsExcellent evening in CairnsAwesome experience with wonderful staff. The food and drink service could not fault and we thoroughly enjoyed this evening on the water, a great mix of ages on the night we went. The staff are a great asset to this business.Written May 19, 2021
- issyk520190 contributionsSpirit of Cairns😬Not impressed at all. The food was awful. There was no live music as was advertised. The boat left the Marina then just sat in the water for a while before returning to the Marina. I have mobility issues and was assured that it would not be a problem! It was! I would be hesitant to recommend this trip to anyone.Written May 1, 2021
- Tina W0 contributionsOverpriced serviceI booked for my family of 4 for sunset cruise on the 20/4/2021. The service was extremely slow. We had our appetizer at 645pm, waited until 745pm for main course, and dessert presented at 8.30pm. While we are waiting for our main, we were starving. There are no refreshments or bread. We paid $75 per person,The food was ordinary food. It’s definitely overpriced. I wouldn’t do it again. Not recommend!Written April 7, 2021
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
214 reviews
Excellent
151
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33
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17
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6
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7
gwegwy
Mt Eliza, Australia576 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
The sun was setting while we queued to get on the boat so our only photo of the sunset was from the dock. It was cool and windy on deck but we braved it while we finished off our bubbly. Most of the passengers just headed inside with their drink. The tables are close together and those with their backs to the windows have to look across to the other side of the boat to see anything outside. Consequently, you don't see much at all and, even if you are facing the window, you are largely looking through your own reflection at whatever is outside. Going out of the harbour, on our side of the boat, there was only the blackness of the mangroves, the rainforest and the mountains. Once out of the harbour, the boat basically drives around in circles so that you at least get to see the city lights.
The staff (who were friendly and attentive) call you up in groups for the buffet dinner. As buffets go, it was alright. However, every one of the 16 restaurant meals we had during our 2-week stay was better (except for Palm Cove Life Saving Club) and every one was cheaper (except Reef House at Palm Cove but we did lash out $145 for a bottle of our favourite chardonnay there). When you add on $40 for a bottle of wine on board the catamaran, a total of $278 is a lot for an ordinary meal with little view, particularly when you have so many good restaurants at the marina.
The staff (who were friendly and attentive) call you up in groups for the buffet dinner. As buffets go, it was alright. However, every one of the 16 restaurant meals we had during our 2-week stay was better (except for Palm Cove Life Saving Club) and every one was cheaper (except Reef House at Palm Cove but we did lash out $145 for a bottle of our favourite chardonnay there). When you add on $40 for a bottle of wine on board the catamaran, a total of $278 is a lot for an ordinary meal with little view, particularly when you have so many good restaurants at the marina.
Written August 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for sharing your detailed experience with us. We're sorry to hear that certain aspects of the cruise fell short of your expectations. Your insights are valuable as we continually refine our offerings.
We apologize for any disappointment caused and for not meeting your expectations. Your feedback is important to us, and we will use it to enhance our offerings and provide an even better experience in the future.
Written August 8, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
rianda26
Malua Bay, Australia76 contributions
Jun 2021
We felt for the price it was not much more than a sail, and a meal, and nothing to see as too dark except city lights, and being inside is just like a normal restaurant with no real atmosphere , the cost of wine was a lot considering you had only four red wines to choose from, and we sent back the $35 bottle as was undrinkable for me and then only choice $45 bottle of another brand. Drink Waitress had a lot of issues with drink orders and table numbers. Food was plentiful and buffet but not serve yourself with COVID. Clean and staff pleasant, tables for two, too close for my liking.
Written June 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Rianda26
Thank you for taking the time to give us valuable feedback about your experience. Spirit of Cairns is renowned for it’s delicious buffet dinner and calm water sail down Trinity Inlet – the backbone of our tour! Our Summer months are certainly the best option when it comes to viewing the sunset and surrounds, before we sail down the inlet, but we do love the view of the city lights during Winter months too! We will ensure that our waitresses are given more training on the drinks menu but are surprised to hear that you didn’t enjoy our house red wine, as it has been enjoyed by many customers in the past. Our staff would have happily advised of a better option from the seven other varieties we sell onboard, which may have been better suited to your taste. As with many businesses we have had to make many adjustments to our operations during COVID (which is ever changing), including how our buffet has operated. Thank you again for your feedback, we will pass this on to our restaurant manager.
Written June 27, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rik H
Cairns77 contributions
Quite disappointing
Delighted to see the cruise back again after the craziness of the virus
We have been on this cruise at least 6 times in the past,and enjoyed it immensely but it is evident the last two years Have taken its toll ,with cost cutting very evident.
The service was excellent but alas the food selections where less than before and the sea food was very limited running out early in the night .
The waiter serving the sea food ( albeit wearing a mask ) was coughing a lot and thanks very much mate ,my wife and I now have your germs with us being sick for over a week.
Thankfully it was not the dreaded Covid,but very much could have been.
If this is now the norm ,we suggest you review your food options and stand down staff that show any signs of illness no matter how minor
Delighted to see the cruise back again after the craziness of the virus
We have been on this cruise at least 6 times in the past,and enjoyed it immensely but it is evident the last two years Have taken its toll ,with cost cutting very evident.
The service was excellent but alas the food selections where less than before and the sea food was very limited running out early in the night .
The waiter serving the sea food ( albeit wearing a mask ) was coughing a lot and thanks very much mate ,my wife and I now have your germs with us being sick for over a week.
Thankfully it was not the dreaded Covid,but very much could have been.
If this is now the norm ,we suggest you review your food options and stand down staff that show any signs of illness no matter how minor
Written May 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Phill D
Hastings, Australia236 contributions
Jul 2022
Really enjoyable dinner cruise
You are greeted with a glass of champagne or stubbie of beer upon arrival.
The staff were excellent, as was the captain.
The catamaran sailed calmly up and down Cairns taking in the night lights of the City.
The food was fabulous including oysters and prawns, plenty of salads and a great variety of desserts.
There was a bar and plenty of staff walking around to assist with drinks orders (at an extra cost).
At $105 pp this is a definite must do while in Cairns
You are greeted with a glass of champagne or stubbie of beer upon arrival.
The staff were excellent, as was the captain.
The catamaran sailed calmly up and down Cairns taking in the night lights of the City.
The food was fabulous including oysters and prawns, plenty of salads and a great variety of desserts.
There was a bar and plenty of staff walking around to assist with drinks orders (at an extra cost).
At $105 pp this is a definite must do while in Cairns
Written August 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fendaz
74 contributions
Dec 2020
We went on the dinner cruise on a rainy night so we didn't get the sunset but that didn't diminish the experience too much. The food was nice and very filling. I was so full at the end of the meal. The staff were very efficient and very friendly. They were good about coming around and asking if we needed anything else. On a better night you can go up outside and watch the lights of the city go by (we just watched through the windows mostly due to the rain). Maybe some live entertainment might've been nice. Overall a good dining experience.
Written December 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you your review and feedback we love to receive such reviews about our hard working team and the food we serve.
We will be sure to pass on your feedback and hope to see you again very soon to experience our new Summer menu.
Written January 4, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
kez205
brisbane36 contributions
Feb 2020
Went on the dinner cruise as part of a package deal. Was a pleasant evening, staff were very helpful, efficient and attentive and the boat was roomy and comfortable. The food was very nice, interesting choices and plenty of it. The only thing that spoiled it for us was the music - while its nice to have a live entertainer ( chap singing and playing guitar, cant remember his name) the music was too loud for dinner music. Sure, crank it up after dinner for dancing, but during dinner would have preferred quieter and softer background music so you didn't have to shout to have a conversation. It was inappropriate in the confined space of the dining room. We sat out on the deck for the rest of the trip to get away from it.
Written February 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jebskulker
Sydney, NSW2,043 contributions
May 2021
It's a pleasant 5 to 10 minute walk from the main terminal out to the boat, although the Fitzroy Island ferry arrives at the same time so there were 100+ people walking towards us heading back to shore, so give yourself a bit of extra time to get there.
Staff were glad to meet us & offered us a seat for a pre-dinner drink which was lovely, so we had a couple of glasses of wine on the deck before heading inside as there was no rain or wind. In fact, the whole service from staff was very welcoming.
We had prawns & oysters as entrees which we shared amongst us, all fresh & tasty. For the main I had the mackerel which I found was ok but a bit bland, but I'm told the lamb was exceptional. In hindsight I would've gone for that. I don't know what could've made the mackerel better but it was very plain.
We all had different desserts, my pannacotta was amazing & my favourite of the 3 courses, and there were no complaints over the mudcake & carrot cake either.
If you're hoping to see some views then you might want to choose a month where the sun sets later in the day as there were no outside views once the sun went down.
Otherwise it was a comforting relaxing journey and something different to do around town if you're looking for a unique experience.
Staff were glad to meet us & offered us a seat for a pre-dinner drink which was lovely, so we had a couple of glasses of wine on the deck before heading inside as there was no rain or wind. In fact, the whole service from staff was very welcoming.
We had prawns & oysters as entrees which we shared amongst us, all fresh & tasty. For the main I had the mackerel which I found was ok but a bit bland, but I'm told the lamb was exceptional. In hindsight I would've gone for that. I don't know what could've made the mackerel better but it was very plain.
We all had different desserts, my pannacotta was amazing & my favourite of the 3 courses, and there were no complaints over the mudcake & carrot cake either.
If you're hoping to see some views then you might want to choose a month where the sun sets later in the day as there were no outside views once the sun went down.
Otherwise it was a comforting relaxing journey and something different to do around town if you're looking for a unique experience.
Written May 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi jebskulker,
Thank you for your detailed review of your time out with us on our Catamaran Harbour and Dinner Cruise. It is great to hear that the service our staff provided was welcoming. We will definitely pass on your feedback to the chef regarding your main and we are pleased to hear that your dessert was amazing!
Written July 8, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Annette I
Bendigo, Australia155 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
We did this tour 7 years ago on the Spirit of Cairns so I was looking forward to doing this again. Weather was not the best and very windy with rain threatening. There was a delay on the boarding time of about 10 minutes and with the weather was not ideal. Once aboard we received our complimentary drink and were seated. The food choices were not as great as last time, and as someone who does not eat seafood, there was only a couple of menu items left by the time we could go to the buffet. The dessert menu was very good though and plenty of different choices. As we were only a table of 2 we found getting table service to order a drink impossible. I had to go chase down another girl after waiting an hour with an empty glass and no water available as other tables had. Other than that, we did enjoy the cruise and the views of Cairns lit up at night but disappointed unable to go outside due to the weather.
Written August 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
marguerete r
Kitwe, Zambia69 contributions
Dec 2022
This was a great end to our time in Cairns. The lovely Spirit set sail for sunset with drinks and food that you can not get enough of overall a lovely experience and would recommend. The food had fresh seafood to meat, chicken and salads a vide spread for every person needs the desserts and cheese platter was just as good. Good value for money.
Written January 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the awesome review about your time with us onboard Spirit of Cairns.
We love to read your recommendations to us and fellow travellers and hope to welcome you onboard again soon!
Written January 13, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Fionaa N
Sydney, Australia16 contributions
The staff was very friendly and helpful they gave my kids colour pencils and was very polite, the view was amazing and we received drinks on arrival. However the food was below standard and was a massive letdown for us. We got the prawns and oysters and they were definitely not fresh at all, for the mains we got the lamb and fish. The fish was way over cooked which made it really dry and the lamb was very average. From the entree’s to the main there was a very long wait, your looking at 1 - 1.5hour time gap. The food portion was small we left the boat still feeling a bit hungry. Considering the price it would of been way much more worth it if it was buffet like usual or a 4-5 course meal just too fill in those time gaps. Not sure if it was just the night we went but everyone was over 40-50s.
Written April 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi fi0naan
Thank you for taking the time to give us some valuable feedback, it's always greatly appreciated! Due to COVID, we are currently unable to serve our delicious buffet, as you've had the pleasure of previously trying, as a repeat customer. As we now serve a sumptuous three-course set menu and offer table service, this does take extra time to plate up all the meals, most especially when we have a full boat (as we that evening of your cruise) and I believe, your table was the last to be served on this occasion. We are surprised to hear that the prawns and oysters weren't fresh, as they were delivered the day of your dinner cruise, but I have passed this feedback onto our restaurant manager. We welcome all customers of all ages onboard our dinner cruise and love that it appeals to a broad range of guests. Kindly contact me on dianet@entradatravelgroup.com, to further discuss your experience onboard.
Written April 19, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hello, I am staying at a BNB 8.2 km away. Can I still get picked up? Or, if not, can I get a parking pass?
Written October 18, 2019
Hello
The map of Cairns shows you where you can park for free but the taxies are good and plenty of them.
Written October 20, 2019
Hi I booked last as a gift for my friends , I've yet to receive an email. I'm hoping I can email them something so they can aboard on thurdsay night . I can't see a contact number to enquire . Any help would be great. Thanks Kelly
Written July 30, 2019
Hi Kelly
We did ours through the Information Centre. It seems they have centralised bookings.
Best wishes
Written July 31, 2019
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