Almost every reef trip out of Cairns goes to the same general stretch of water. There is a good reason for that: the day boats run to a timetable, and a timetable only reaches so far before it has to turn around.
Which is why a permit is the interesting thing about Allure, a 47 foot Riviera working out of Marlin Marina, rather than the boat itself.
The permit is the story
Allure’s operators state the vessel holds a Great Barrier Reef long distance roving permit, and describe it as one of only eight in existence. Combined with long range fuel tanks, they say that lets them reach effectively anywhere on the reef.
Their published area of operation is worth reading slowly if you know the coast: Cairns, Port Douglas, the Ribbon Reefs, Lizard Island, Cooktown to the north and Hinchinbrook to the south, with other areas by request. The Ribbon Reefs and Lizard Island are the part that matters. Those are names that normally appear in liveaboard brochures, not day trip ones.
We have taken the permit detail from the operator’s own website rather than a press release, and we would still suggest confirming it directly when you enquire. It is the whole basis of the offer, so it is a fair thing to ask about.
How many people it actually takes
This is the detail most write-ups get slightly wrong, and it changes what the boat is for. From the operator’s own specifications:
- Day snorkelling: up to 8 passengers
- Day scuba diving: up to 4 passengers
- Overnight, either activity: 4 passengers
So the eight seat figure is a snorkelling day trip number. If your group of six all want to dive, that does not work on one trip. Worth sorting before anyone gets excited.
Sleeping arrangements are two cabins: a VIP master stateroom with a double bed and private en suite, and a second stateroom with two single beds and a separate bathroom. Air conditioned saloon and cabins, fully equipped galley, desalinator, washing machine, and a dinghy with a 15hp outboard. Cruising speed is listed at 22 knots.
All crew are described as qualified dive masters or instructors, catering to first time introductory divers through to experienced certified divers.
Who charters a boat like this
Being blunt, this is not a substitute for a day trip and it is not priced like one. No fare is published, which in charter terms usually means the number depends on where you want to go and for how long.
It makes sense for a family or friend group travelling together who would rather not share a boat with sixty strangers, for divers who want sites the day fleet cannot reach, for anglers, and for anyone who has already done the standard outer reef day and wants something different. It makes no sense for a couple on a budget, and there is no shame in that. The day boats are good.
One thing to check before you book
You will see Allure described elsewhere as being operated by a long established Cairns reef company. We could not verify that connection: the vessel’s own website trades as Cairns Boat Charter, carries no mention of that company anywhere, and lists a different phone number. It may well be a commercial arrangement that simply is not advertised, but we are not going to state it as fact when the operator does not.
None of that reflects on the boat. It is just worth knowing who you are actually contracting with, which is a sensible thing to establish with any charter.
The practical detail
Allure berths at F Finger, Marlin Marina in Cairns, the same marina precinct the day boats leave from. Enquiries go through cairnsboatcharters.com.
If a private charter is more boat than you need, our guide to choosing a Great Barrier Reef trip from Cairns covers the realistic options, and we have looked separately at whether a half day reef trip is worth it at the other end of the scale. For where the reef sits relative to everything else you might do, start with the islands and reef hub.
Source: Cairns Boat Charter vessel specifications, accessed 09/09/2026.
