Tour package was canceled "due to weather" and substituted a single day to just the reef/pontoon with a small credit. Just not the same thing. There was no semi-submersible sub, and there was little to see or do. Skip this tour, especially if they cancel the Fitzroy Island component - not worth the extreme cost for a couple hours on the pontoon.
J
judyn899
September 9, 2026
We will never get the opportunity to do this again
We booked the Moore Reef tour we explicitly told staff we were unable to snorkel. We only wanted to see the reef via the semi-submersible and glass-bottom boats. We were told we had to buy a full-day tour to Moore Reef to do this as the boats only sailed from the reef. The actual experience looked nothing like the brochures or photos shown to us on the computer screen.
The semi-submersible was a total waste of time. We went on it twice and saw absolutely nothing except the fish at the end they feed right next to the pontoon. No reef at all. There were no staff in this part of the boat to monitor what we might or might not see
By the time we queued up and ate our lunch, there was only enough time to go on the glass-bottom boat once. The glass-bottom boat ride lasted approximately 20 minutes.
I emailed the company about seeing nothing on the semi-submersible. They blamed "nature and changing conditions," which is a poor excuse given the reef was perfectly visible from the glass-bottom boat at the same time. When I replied to point this out, they completely ignored me. They have our money now, so they clearly don't care.
We had one chance to see the Great Barrier Reef and this was it! We are so so disappointed.
Do not buy a full-day tour if you just want to see the reef without swimming. It is a very expensive for a lunch you have to queue for and just 20 minutes of reef viewing.
Sunlover should offer a reduced price for non-swimmers, using different coloured wristbands to distinguish guests. It would be incredibly easy to implement, rather than charging full price for amenities we cannot use.
The staff were lovely but had no answers for us when we said we were disappointed.
C
Cathie_P
September 4, 2026
Excellent and totally awesome.
This cruise was just perfect for our family, two of us were swimmers and two weren’t and it catered for everyone. Reef pontoon with the glass bottom boat tour, and the submarine for non swimmers was brilliant. We had an added bonus of seeing turtles too. Lunch at Fitzroy island was so good with an amazing view, and then the island experience was also beautiful.
We had people suggest this outer reef tour would be awful in bad weather , however the morning reef session blowing 15-20 knots was still good swimming.
The Sunlovers boat crew were all very friendly, very attentive and thoughtful, helping all passengers the entire day.
Epic day , totally worth it , even if weather isn’t perfect. Cheers
Z
Z5449SMheidia
August 24, 2026
The owners should be ashamed
The staff were friendly enthusiastic and knew their jobs. Jimmy who was in charge of the glass bottom boat was a informative and personable
The conditions of the catamaran and pontoon were run down, dirty, stank inside and in dire need of some TLC.
The semi submersible boat was also filthy and smelly inside and the viewing windows were so dirty that the reef viewing was severely compromised.
Lunch was substandard. Haven’t had such small washed out prawns anywhere else in NQ. The buffet was supposed to be open for a couple of hours but one half of it was closed after an hour creating long waits. They had totally closed the buffet long before it should have been.
The hygiene was of the full body Lycra suits was shameful, let’s face it no one was going to shuck out of one of those things for a pee when snorkelling. There was a large bucket of water for everyone to rinse the suits then they were just hung up for the next person to use.
How do you fancy using a snorkel what hasn’t been properly disinfected? No Thanks
事業者からの返答
Thank you for your detailed feedback, Heidi. We’re pleased you found our crew friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgeable, and we’ll make sure Jimmy receives your kind comments about his glass bottom boat tour.
We are, however, concerned by your comments regarding presentation and cleanliness across the vessel, pontoon and semi-submersible. These areas are subject to regular cleaning and maintenance, and the standard you describe is not what we expect guests to encounter. Your comments regarding the semi-submersible viewing windows have also been raised for review, as clear visibility is obviously fundamental to that activity.
We’re also sorry the buffet did not meet expectations. The Moore Reef lunch service has recently undergone a substantial menu update, so feedback about food quality, queueing and the buffet closing earlier than expected is particularly important for us to investigate with the catering and operations teams.
We would also like to clarify the hygiene process around snorkelling equipment. Reusable masks, snorkels and other equipment are cleaned and sanitised between guests. The rinse station visible to passengers is not an indication that equipment is simply rinsed and immediately handed to the next guest without further hygiene procedures. Lycra suits are also processed between uses rather than being considered ready for reuse simply because they have been placed through a communal rinse.
We take hygiene, maintenance and presentation seriously, particularly on a Great Barrier Reef tour where guests are spending a full day using shared facilities and equipment. Thank you for recognising the quality of our crew while also giving us very specific areas to follow up internally.
D
dave1961lc
August 1, 2026
Disappointed ?? Rough weather ? Should have sailed?
We took our time to choose and had high hopes that we had picked the right trip for us. To be fair the weather conditions contributed greatly to our experience.We paid ,337 dollars each so not a cheap option. On check in we we were informed due to high winds the "semi sub" would not be available as a I am not a strong swimmer this was something I was looking forward to . We asked if there was a part refund for this , there was not ,however at the same time we were told of a fuel surcharge of 10 dollars each !! We were informed this is a separate rate. On boarding I mentioned the lack of semi sub and was told the glass bottom boat (included) is equally as good. The crew were helpful and informative There was weather warnings of high winds and choppy seas, this was so, fellows passengers were unwell some vomitting. Given the conditions mooring the catamaran to pontoon was tricky. Those wishing to snorkel in the reef did so. We were then informed the high winds would prevent us from boarding the glass bottom boat. Another disappointment !! even a staff member commented they had not experienced it quite so rough. After our time at the reef we headed for Fitzroy. A adequate lunch was provided. We get a glass bottom boat trip at Fitzroy, however I felt this was a poor substitute for the one I hoped for at the barrier. A smoother cruise back to Cairns was welcome .
I am aware that in the booking conditions it states cancellation due to weather does not always occur. Given two of the included activities were cancelled at the Reef maybe this should have happened this time ??
As I wrote before I cannot fault the crew. We left disappointed and 694 dollars worse off not value for money.
事業者からの返答
Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed feedback. We’re sorry the weather had such a significant impact on the day you had hoped for, particularly as the semi-submersible and Moore Reef glass bottom boat were activities you were looking forward to.
We do want to clarify an important point for future guests. A reef departure can be assessed as safe for the vessel to operate while conditions are still unsuitable for smaller craft such as the semi-submersible or glass bottom boat. Those activities have different operating limits and are cancelled when wind, swell or sea conditions make them unsafe. Rough conditions or passengers experiencing seasickness do not in themselves mean the vessel is operating unsafely.
That was the situation on your day. The vessel was able to travel safely to Moore Reef and Fitzroy Island, while some smaller-vessel activities could not operate. Snorkelling remained available for guests who wished to participate, and the Fitzroy Island glass bottom boat provided an alternative opportunity to view the reef without entering the water.
We completely understand that, as a less confident swimmer, losing two of the dry reef-viewing activities had a much greater impact on your experience than it may have for other guests. Unfortunately, these inclusions are weather-dependent and do not have an individual refundable value when conditions prevent them from operating.
The additional charge advised at check-in is a separate levy and not related to whether individual reef activities operate on the day.
We’re pleased you found our crew helpful and informative throughout what was clearly a challenging day on the water. We genuinely regret that the conditions meant your experience did not deliver the value you had hoped for, and we appreciate you acknowledging the role the weather played.
O
Olivia_P
July 30, 2026
I genuinely had the BEST...
I genuinely had the BEST time! The whole experience was flawless from start to finish. The staff were fun and attentive; there were so many activities on offer (and plenty of time to do them too!) and it was such a fun way to experience the GBR and Fitzroy Island. Thank you so much to the crew for such a fun and memorable day!
事業者からの返答
Thank you so much! We’re thrilled you had such a brilliant day exploring both Moore Reef and Fitzroy Island.
It’s great to hear the timing, activities and crew all came together so well, and that you had plenty of time to enjoy everything rather than feeling rushed. Thank you for choosing Sunlover Reef Cruises and for sharing such a lovely review — we’ll be sure to pass your kind words on to the crew. 🧡
M
Mikhail_K
July 26, 2026
Tour is ok, helicopter experience is average
We’ve booked this tour with one way helicopter flight.
The experience, aside from the helicopter travel was nice. Staff members were helpful and informative, timings were good, equipment at the reef was ok as well
As an experienced traveller I can say that the helicopter experience was worst I have tried. And I have flown on similar tours in many places from South America to New Zealand.
Firstly, the logistics. If I am paying triple the price of the ticket why do I need to go to one part of town to get the ticket and then go to another part of town (airport) to start my journey? Ticket itself was not checked anywhere by the way. Couldn’t the tour management provide tickets for people who are paying so much in the airport, so that travellers will not spend so much time going from one place to another?
Secondly, timing. We were asked to collect tickets at the pier on the city centre at 8:15. Drive from the city centre to the airport is 15 mins. The flight itself was about 15 mins. And we were at the pontoon only at 10:15. So we spent 1,5 hours waiting for the flight.
Thirdly, the helicopter. We were in the one with 2 persons, including pilot in front, while 3 were at the back. The fact that not everybody got a window seat was concerning (everywhere I travelled each participant got a seat next to a window, everyone are paying for the views at the first place!). As you can understand I was sitting in the middle at the back and I was not able not only to leave my legs straight, but to slide down the seat so my head can be held straight. The comfort was compared to the long haul flight on the last row of Ryanair.
Lastly I assume that arriving by helicopter means that we should arrive earlier than everyone. But we were the last ones, so we barely had time to do snorkelling.
Overall - experience is good, but fly helicopter with another company and at another day.
事業者からの返答
Thank you for the detailed feedback. We’re pleased to hear the reef experience itself, crew, timing and equipment were all positive, but we’re sorry the helicopter component did not meet your expectations.
The one-way helicopter transfer operates from the Cairns heliport, while Sunlover check-in is completed at the Reef Fleet Terminal. These are separate operating locations because the flight is conducted by our aviation partner under aviation requirements, while your Sunlover tour documentation and reef activities are managed through our Cairns terminal. We appreciate that this can feel less seamless than expected and your comments about the process are useful.
Helicopter seating is also allocated according to aircraft weight and balance requirements, which means a window seat cannot always be guaranteed for every passenger. We understand that this is particularly disappointing when the aerial views are a major reason for booking the flight.
Your feedback regarding the waiting time, comfort of the aircraft and overall value of the helicopter upgrade will be passed directly to our aviation partner for review.
We’re glad the remainder of your Moore Reef and Fitzroy Island experience was enjoyable and that our crew looked after you well. Thank you for taking the time to give such specific feedback — it helps us identify where the experience between operators could be made much smoother for future guests.
C
corme2
July 25, 2026
Fabulous trip to the reef and Fitzroy island
It was everything we hoped it would be and more.
The snorkeling at the reef was amazing, glass bottom boat too.
Well organised with wetsuits, masks, flippers. Nice area to relax in afterwards. Not overcrowded.
Helpful crew. Refreshments available.
Fitzroy island was beautiful. Time to explore, snorkel and sunbathe. Trip included excellent buffet lunch.
Back at 4.30pm, everything on time.
事業者からの返答
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We’re thrilled the Moore Reef and Fitzroy Island tour delivered everything you were hoping for — and a little more.
It’s great to hear you enjoyed the snorkelling, glass bottom boat, relaxed time on the pontoon and the chance to explore Fitzroy Island afterwards. This tour is all about giving guests two very different Great Barrier Reef experiences in one day, so we’re glad the balance worked so well for you.
Thank you also for recognising our crew and the organisation throughout the day. We really appreciate you choosing Sunlover Reef Cruises and hope to welcome you back again.
C
cavidant2022
July 25, 2026
Not the best experience
Getting to Moore Reef was very turbulent. I have been on boats and ships before and never got sea sick except today getting to Moore reef it was so bad many people were sick the crew could not keep up distributing sick bags. I strongly suggest if you are going to tske this cruise especially in July. DO NOT HAVE BREAKFAST. Take some sea sickness medication an hour before boarding. Even if you think you don't get sea sick trust me the chances are very high that you will. On the whole the crew was doing everything to help but could not do very much apart from handing out sick bags. Fitzroy Island wasn't much and the resort was not that good. We were not staying at the resort on Fitzroy Island but they didnt even allow us to have water. They ssid guests only. Disappointing. The buffet lunch they provided was not the best either not that you would want to eat after being sick travelling their . The crew were doing a great job. I wich you could provide some Aboriginal Cultural information after all we are visiting sacred territory where First Bation people live for thousands of years.
事業者からの返答
Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed feedback. We’re sorry the crossing to Moore Reef was so uncomfortable, although we appreciate your recognition of how hard our crew worked to support guests throughout the journey.
Sea conditions can vary considerably from day to day, including during July, and individual tolerance to vessel movement differs enormously. Even experienced boat travellers can occasionally be affected. We would, however, be cautious about recommending that guests skip breakfast entirely. For those prone to motion sickness, a light meal and suitable seasickness medication taken before departure is generally a better approach. Medication is also available for purchase through Sunlover, although it is most effective when taken before the vessel is underway.
We’re sorry Fitzroy Island did not meet your expectations. Fitzroy Island Resort is a separate business from Sunlover Reef Cruises, so its policies regarding facilities and access for non-resort guests are outside our control. We will nevertheless pass your comments on, as we understand how frustrating that interaction must have felt.
We also appreciate your comments about lunch and your suggestion regarding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural interpretation. The Great Barrier Reef and surrounding islands have deep cultural significance to Traditional Owners, and we agree that helping visitors better understand those connections adds important context to a day in this World Heritage Area. We’ll share your feedback with our team.
Thank you again for travelling with us and, particularly, for recognising the care and effort of our crew during a challenging crossing.
L
Line_R
July 20, 2026
Very good day out
Great day on reef and wonderful Fitzroy
Nudie beach was beautiful
We should have rented snorkeling gear
事業者からの返答
Thank you, Line. We’re so glad you had a great day exploring both Moore Reef and Fitzroy Island.
Nudey Beach is such a beautiful spot, and we’re pleased it was a highlight. Snorkelling equipment is included at Moore Reef, while guests wanting to snorkel independently at Fitzroy Island can hire gear there or bring their own.
Thanks for travelling with Sunlover Reef Cruises.
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