Portland Roads – Sailing the Whitsundays 2021
Be the captain of your own adventure on this incredible bareboat voyage through the majestic beauty of the Whitsundays. Back by popular demand, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to charter your own vessel – or upgrade to holiday like royalty, with a private skipper to guide you onboard the brand-new Whistunday Freedom catamaran.
With luxury catamarans for up to eight guests available (or six guests on skippered charters), split the cost of this unbelievable experience with family and friends. Glide through crystal-clear waters in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef, stroll barefoot across the velvety white sands of untouched islands and delve into the snorkelers’ paradise shimmering beneath the Whitsundays’ waves.
The Whitsundays are a treasure trove of 74 scattered emerald islands best enjoyed at your leisure. From snorkelling and swimming to sunbathing and savouring fresh seafood — this is your holiday, your way. Your sailing adventure takes off from the Coral Sea Marina in Airlie Beach. The marina is approximately a 30-minute drive from Whitsunday Coast (Proserpine) Airport. You can also fly directly into Hamilton Island: the marina is approximately a 45-minute ferry away. Transfers are not included in your package, please plan accordingly.
Need flights? Our dedicated flights concierge can assist with all your flight requirements. Contact sales@luxuryescapes.com.
The Catamaran Experience — Pick your vessel and a destination, and arrive in paradise
The Whitsundays are a treasure trove of 74 scattered emerald islands best enjoyed at your leisure. Picture yourself lazing on the silica-rich beachfront with azure waters lapping the shore, swimming, snorkelling and sunbathing as your heart desires. With this incredible package, you’re not restricted to choosing just one island — you can experience them all as your very own skipper.
With self-guided exploration, you can spend as long as you like on each island, sailing your private catamaran to the rock-walled mooring grounds of Caves Cove on Hook Island, watching the sunset over the horizon from the otherworldly Whitehaven Beach or just plunging into the bluer-than-blue waters — perfect for discovering the menagerie of rich marine life.
Regardless of which luxury sailing catamaran you choose, you’ll be treated to the VIP lifestyle, with a private dinghy for self-led discovery, shower on deck for that post-plunge cool off, swim ladder to descend into the alluringly turquoise waters, and kitchenette with gas stove and oven to prepare all meals.
Your Handpicked Inclusions — Early boarding, access to Ocean Club on the day of arrival and a full maritime briefing
Put down your anchor at Coral Sea Marina with early access to Ocean Club on the day of arrival (prior to embarkation). Exclusively for marina guests, Ocean Club offers a space to relax, including a sea-view deck with BBQ and complimentary coffee. Benefit from 5pm boarding on the day of arrival and an overnight stay onboard at the marina, so you can become acquainted with your new home-away-from-home. On the day of embarkation, learn the secrets of your majestic catamaran and how to skipper it like a true-blue sailor with a full maritime briefing.
The Luxurious Whitsunday Freedom upgrades:
If you won’t settle for anything less than the best, Whitsunday Freedom is for you. This brand-new, super-spacious cruising catamaran (for up to eight guests bareboat or six guests skippered) will make any voyage truly unforgettable. Not only will you feel like royalty on this sleek and modern Lagoon 450S sailing catamaran — complete with four private double cabins, each with ensuite, four lounging areas, two dining areas and a water maker — but you’ll also enjoy 240V power throughout, air-conditioned cabins and saloon, as well as free-flowing freshwater.
Skipper Upgrade: Enjoy the finer things in life aboard the Whitsunday Freedom with the added bonus of a knowledgeable skipper. Enjoy expert guidance through the Whitsundays, so the only thing you’ll have to do is soak up the beauty of the islands. Please Note: The Whitsunday Freedom Skipper Upgrade can accommodate six guests across three cabins, with a fourth cabin reserved for your skipper. Guests are required to bring and prepare their own meals using the galley kitchen and provide meals for the onboard skipper.
Ngaro Upgrade: When you upgrade to the Ngaro experience, you will enjoy a unique program three years in the making. Be led by a private Great Barrier Reef ‘Master Reef Guide’, Master 5 Skipper, coral restoration expert and rescue diver. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet a Ngaro First Nation Elder on one day of your voyage with a ‘Welcome to Country’ blessing, and visit cultural sites of significance, including Ngaro caves in Nara Inlet. You will also enjoy the unique opportunity to delve into the outer reef and dive over underwater art installations, including the Migration of the Mantra, Turtle Dreaming, Maori Wrasse and Mantaray. Please Note: The Whitsunday Ngaro Upgrade can accommodate six guests across three cabins, with a fourth cabin reserved for your skipper. Guests are required to bring and prepare their own meals using the galley kitchen and provide meals for the onboard skipper.
Local Tips — Want to know more about Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays?
Our insider travel guide includes handpicked places to eat and drink, the best activities in the area, and special experiences to make your trip memorable. If you need inspiration, your charter could look something like this:
Day 1: Welcome to your private sailing catamaran with early 5pm boarding, and enjoy Ocean Club access included in your package. Once onboard, stay overnight at the five Gold Anchor-accredited Coral Sea Marina.
Day 2: Get the full lowdown on navigation, mooring, anchoring, boat handling and more, so you’re ready to set sail. Our recommendation? Caves Cove with spectacular sunsets and wildlife spotting.
Day 3: You could plunge headfirst into the crystal-clear depths for a morning snorkelling session, followed by underwater art installations at Langford Reef and Blue Pearl Bay on Hayman Island.
Day 4: Make Dumbbell Island or the southern coral sand beach of Esk Island your location for lunch. Tide dependent, head to Tongue Bay on Whitsunday Island and pick up a mooring, before making a landing in your tender to tackle the extraordinary Hill Inlet lookouts.
Day 5: A spritely run through Solway Passage could see you greeted by the only island named by Captain Cook, Pentecost Island, as you make your way to Hamilton Island.
Day 6: Leave Hamilton Island and set course for the micro rainforest shoreline of Palm Bay, Long Island. Step ashore beyond the beach huts and sunset bars to the warm welcome of Palm Bay.
Day 7: Begin your morning with a walk on Long Island, keeping an eye out for tawny frogmouth owls, curlews, kookaburras and bush turkeys. Out at sea, you may spot turtles, dolphins and whales. Set sail to Goat Island or Sunlovers Beach on Daydream Island for a leisurely lunch aboard the catamaran. Return to Coral Sea Marina at 3pm for refuelling and debriefing. Disembark at 5pm.
Update [10 March 2022, 12pm AEST]: Please note fuel is not included. See below for details.
Valid for travel from 3 December 2021 until 31 March 2023 (bookings must be made before 31 January 2023).
Blackout Dates Apply. Dates are identified in the Booking Calendar.
Check Availability: To confirm your dates of stay at purchase, click on ‘Check Availability’ and select your preferred package. Use the calendar to browse and select available dates. Dates with a surcharge are identified.
Buy Now, Choose Dates Later: If you want to secure this offer and don’t know when you want to travel please select ‘Buy Now, Choose Dates Later’. This will secure your package and give you the flexibility to choose your travel dates — within the book by and validity period and subject to availability. To select dates post purchase, simply select ‘My Escapes’ under the ‘My Account’ tab and follow the prompts.
7-Day Change of Mind ‘No Questions Asked’ Refund Guarantee: Things don’t always work out. Our 7-day Change of Mind Guarantee is there to help. Bookings (except for Tour bookings and flights) may be cancelled with a full refund provided that cancellation occurs strictly within 7 days from the date of purchase and provided that the cancellation is made no less than 21 days prior to the check-in date.
Feel Like Changing Your Dates? No Worries… If you need to make a change to the date of your booking, please contact the Cudo Customer Service team. Any change to booking dates are subject to availability and at the discretion of Portland Roads.
Please Note:
- Pricing is per package.
- Skipper and Ngaro Upgrades: Guests who have purchased the Skipper and Ngaro upgrades will be accommodated in three of the four onboard cabins with the fourth reserved for the skipper. Guests are required to bring and prepare their own meals using the galley kitchen and provide meals for the onboard skipper.
- Self-Charter (Bareboat) Packages: Self-charter (bareboat) packages aboard ‘Whitsunday Freedom’ are not permitted to enter Hamilton Island Marina or Hayman Island Resort.
- The Portland Roads fleet of cruising catamarans are not fishing charters. Fishing is not permitted from these vessels in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
- Guests will be required to fill out a Hire Agreement and Crew Forms 45 days prior to arrival. Guests will also receive a copy of a hire agreement and pre charter notes 45 days prior to arrival.
- Infants are allowed onboard at Portland Roads’ discretion. Please contact Portland Roads in advance to confirm.
- Cooking facilities are included onboard. BYO food and drinks are recommended.
- Any unused portion of the package is non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for other services or cash.
- All skippered Whitsunday Freedom Upgrades can accommodate six guests across three cabins, with a fourth cabin reserved for your skipper.
- All packages do not include airport transfers, fuel, fees (marina, mooring berthing), food and provisions. All surcharges are payable directly to Portland Roads or local providers.
Cudo reserves the right to modify prices for marketing and commercial reasons. Please note that full terms and conditions apply. Refer to website’s terms and conditions.
