A long curved beach with turquoise water, lush palm trees and green mountains in the distance.

Port Douglas, Australia

Cruises to Port Douglas, Australia

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Things to do in Port Douglas

If rainforests, reefs and raucous Aussie charm had a baby, it’d be Port Douglas. This former gold rush town (population boom, bust, repeat) is now the kind of place where you can spend your morning scaling treetops, your afternoon face-to-fin with a parrotfish and your evening sipping something tropical while staring at Four Mile Beach wondering what would happen if you just decided to stay forever...

Explore things to do in Port Douglas
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  • Close-up of ripe mangoes in shades of yellow, green and red.

    Sample local flavors with reef-fresh barramundi, mango anything and flat whites that’ll ruin you for chain coffee forever.

  • Rusted steam machinery and a tall metal headframe in a dry open field under a clear blue sky.

    Step into history by checking out remnants of the 1870s gold boom; this town used to have 27 hotels and probably just as many questionable saloons.

  • View over lush rainforest canopy toward a winding river and turquoise ocean in the distance.

    Take in wild scenery where the Daintree Rainforest crashes into the Coral Sea like two nature-themed gladiators fighting for the spotlight.

  • Close-up of hands using a woodburning tool to create Aboriginal-style designs on a wooden boomerang.

    Dive into local arts & culture by visiting indigenous‑owned galleries and markets, and learning about the region’s Aboriginal heritage.

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Shore excursions to explore in Port Douglas

Go reef-deep, sky-high or anywhere in between. These excursions are the ultimate choose-your-own-Aussie-adventure.

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  • Aerial view of the Great Barrier Reef’s shallow turquoise waters fading into deep blue.

    Best of Port Douglas: The Great Barrier Reef

    Board a catamaran that’s part tropical transporter, part marine biology classroom and full-blown sun deck situation. Cruise across open sea to the outer Great Barrier Reef, where three hours of snorkeling, fish-ogling and optional scuba/floating helmet madness await. Don’t want to get wet? There’s a semi-submersible coral safari that keeps you dry while your eyeballs do the swimming.

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  • View of a tropical beach backed by dense palm forest and distant mountains under a bright blue sky.

    Daintree Discovery Centre

    Hop a ferry, channel your inner Attenborough and step into the world’s oldest rainforest (the Daintree’s been around since before dinosaurs were cool). You’ll wander aerial walkways, climb a tower to canopy level and get a whole new appreciation for plants that predate your species. Pro tip: Don’t skip the insect repellent.

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  • A small sandy island with a lighthouse and dense greenery, surrounded by shallow turquoise reef and deeper blue ocean.

    Sail to Beautiful Low Isles

    ‘Wavedancer’ may sound like a My Little Poney, but it’s actually your ride to a coral cay that’s practically designed for daydreams. Snorkel alongside sea turtles, drift on a glass-bottom boat or just live your best lounging life under sun shades. Post-flood, the coral’s bouncing back, and the fish and turtles never left. Nature knows how to throw a comeback tour.

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  • Close-up of a silver barramundi fish swimming in clear blue water.

    Barramundi Farm Paddock to Plate

    If you’ve ever looked at a barramundi fish and thought, “I want to meet you, catch you, and then eat you,” this tour is your culinary spirit quest. Tour the farm, feed some future entrées and try your luck at catching one. Then chow down on a gourmet tasting platter that just might make you weep into your sashimi.

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  • Aerial view of a winding river cutting through dense, bright green rainforest.

    Northern Delights Tour

    Start with a rainforest-framed bus ride so scenic it feels like you’re in a tourism ad. Cruise the Daintree River, hunting for crocs and birdlife, then lunch under the trees with chirpy feathered freeloaders who are more interested in your meal than they should be. Wrap things up at Mossman Gorge with a swim in waters so clear you’ll think shoulder deep in liquid glass..

     

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  • Close-up of a crocodile resting on sandy ground, showing its textured scales and sharp teeth.

    Tropical Highlights & Crocodile Cruise

    Daintree, crocs, coastlines, boardwalks and beaches — it’s a greatest hits album of Port Douglas wrapped into one. You’ll roll north by coach, glide through mangroves on a croc-spotting cruise (don’t stick your hand out too far), eat like a local and then walk where the rainforest and reef literally high-five. It ends with a jungle hike straight out of a travel show.

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Discover all Port Douglas shore excursions

Explore itineraries with cruises to Port Douglas

This one’s an anchorage port, which means your day begins with a breezy ride via tender boat to shore — think of it as a mini excursion before the real fun begins. From there, it’s an easy launchpad to Four Mile Beach, café corners, reef tours and rainforest rendezvous. You’re smack in the middle of tropical North Queensland, and Princess makes sure you experience all the best parts. Whether you’re here on an  Australia or New Zealand cruise itinerary, Port Douglas is where things go from vacation to adventure real fast.

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10-Day Queensland with Great Barrier Reef

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14-Day Papua New Guinea

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Discover Port Douglas on your next cruise

Some places just have it. Port Douglas is one of those show-offy destinations that overachieves at being unforgettable. You’ve got crocodile-infested rivers (it’s a good thing), coral cities full of sea creatures and beaches so inviting even your sunscreen will want to stay. And when you visit with Princess, it’s all easy. Smooth transfers, curated tours and onboard comforts that make reentry to the ship feel like just another best day of your life.

Cruises to Port Douglas
Small white wooden chapel with stained-glass windows surrounded by palm trees and lush green plants.

 A sweet coastal chapel framed by swaying palms and bright tropical gardens.

A catamaran anchored over clear turquoise water with coral patches visible below and a small snorkel boat nearby.

Drift above the Great Barrier Reef as turquoise waters reveal a world below.

A smiling couple stands at the railing of a Princess® cruise ship, enjoying the open sea and blue sky.

A couple stands together on the wooden deck of a Princess® cruise ship, gazing out at the open sea beneath a bright blue sky dotted with clouds.

Front-facing view of a Princess® cruise ship sailing through calm ocean waters.

Cut through the world’s waterways and experience the planet’s most exciting coastlines from a sea-side perspective; our fleet is your luxury-and-entertainment-packed transport to adventure.

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Step aboard any Princess® ship and discover your new favorite way to travel. Each vessel is a floating playground of flavor, comfort and top-deck experiences. Enjoy freshly prepared local dishes, Broadway-caliber entertainment, oceanview fitness and wellness studios, family programming and beds so comfortable they’ve won awards. 


No two ships are identical, but they all share one mission: turn your vacation into a standing ovation.

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Cruises to Port Douglas FAQs

*The port location is subject to change. Please check itinerary details after you book for more information.

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    Airplane to Ship Transfer

    Let Princess pick you up from the airport and take you directly to your ship or hotel when you arrive, even if you didn't book your airfare through us. A uniformed Princess representative meets you at the airport after you've retrieved your luggage and transports you directly to your ship or hotel without you having to worry about the logistics of navigating a new city.

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    Cruise Plus Hotel Packages

    Extend your cruise vacation and simplify your travel plans with a hotel stay at the beginning or end of your cruise. With a Cruise Plus Hotel Package, a Princess representative meets you at the airport and pier, transporting you to and from your hotel. The package includes the cost of your hotel stay, transportation, luggage handling and the representative’s services.

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