Top Deck Club Accommodation – Great Barrier Reef liveaboard
This Top Deck Club accommodation is situated on the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Cairns.
Top Deck Club accommodation offers delicious chef-prepared meals, snorkelling, scuba diving for introductory and certified divers.
Also onboard is a hot tub, helicopter pad and large sundeck.
Reef Encounter is Australia’s only floating luxury boutique hotel that offers guests the best of the Great Barrier Reef.
This Top Deck Club experience is the ultimate way to celebrate a special occasion.
Top Deck Club liveaboard is designed to meet the expectations of the most discerning of guests.
Upon arrival, guests are greeted by the friendly crew and invited to share delicious local fruit platters.
The modern staterooms have a private ensuite that is spacious and air-conditioned with ample space for clothes and luggage.
Great Barrier Reef accommodation
The staterooms also offer luxurious touches such as crisp Australian bed linen, silk doona, cotton sheets and feather down pillow. Soft fluffy robes, bath sheets and Australian beauty products are all replenished daily.
The magic begins each day when the reef awakens. Perhaps an early morning dive or a revitalising swim.
When the day draws to a close, majestic sunsets fill the sky with a stunning golden glaze allowing a breathtaking backdrop for the end of the day. Next, a romantic evening under the stars in paradise awaits.
Delicious Meals
All gourmet meals are freshly prepared on board. Allowing our chef to provide exciting and unique culinary delights with local Australian and exotic ingredients.
Reef Encounter has a licensed bar that includes a fine selection of Australian wines and beers.
Reef Encounter offers all the luxury facilities of a reef resort while floating on the pristine waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Making it one of the most unique holiday escapes in Australia.
This vessel is a 35-metre luxury catamaran designed for the utmost stability and comfort at sea.
Reef Encounter features spacious decks as well as roomy dining and recreation areas.
Transfers to Reef Encounter are available by a 90-minute boat ride from Cairns or a stunning helicopter trip over the Great Barrier Reef.
All Top Deck Club guests enjoy a late checkout.
Free luggage storage is available at our office in Cairns City.
Facilities Onboard
- A fully air-conditioned 35-metre catamaran hotel
- Large dining saloon
- TV and lounge area
- Barista Coffee
- Outdoor, freshwater hot-tub
- Spacious sundeck with sun loungers
- Fully licenced bar
- Large, easy access dive and snorkel platforms
- Helicopter pad
- Spacious staterooms with spectacular ocean views
- Bath towels and swim towels
- Toiletries including soap, shampoo and conditioner
- Australian power outlets are in all staterooms.
- Double and twin staterooms
Great Barrier Reef Itinerary
Please note, this itinerary is based on a 3-day /2-night stay with Reef Encounter
First Day
Arrive
Unlimited in water sessions
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
Unlimited in water sessions
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
Unlimited in water sessions
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.Choose our Top Deck Club Packages
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.
Jacinta
5Absolutely awesome trip. The crew was amazing in every way. Accommodation was great food was delish and our instructor was fantastic. Jayde was the best! Keep doing what your doing, we will be back.
Shiva
5All the crew were amazing, extremely helpful and very friendly. Snorkeling was the one on my bucket list. Amy was fantastic. She is so friendly and keep us exploring the reef multiple times.