Top Shore Excursions for your Carnival Encounter 6 Night Willis Island, Cairns & Airlie Beach Cruise

Carnival Encounter is in Willis Island on Monday, September 6, 2027, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm. If the cruise line changes those hours, we’ll move your tour to a time that fits or refund it in full, except on bookings marked All Sales Final.

Carnival Encounter sails from Willis Island at 1:00 pm. Pick a tour that ends by 11:00 am: that gives you at least an hour before all-aboard, and Guaranteed Return to Ship has you covered. Each tour page shows how long the tour lasts.

You often pay less than for a similar tour through the ship, and you choose from every tour in port instead of the ship’s shortlist. You keep the same peace of mind: Guaranteed Return to Ship, free cancellation on most tours and help 24/7.

Yes. Groups can book online, up to each tour’s limit. For groups of 10 or more, call us and our group bookings team will help. Each tour page lists its age limits, child prices and accessibility details. If you need to check something specific, call us before you book.

Yes. Shore excursions earn rewards like every booking you make directly with Cool Shore Excursions, and you can spend them on your next trip. See how rewards work.

Book a tour that ends at least an hour before all-aboard. If a delay on that tour ever makes you miss your ship, Cool Shore Excursions pays to get you to the ship’s next port of call, including a hotel if you need one.

Pick a tour that ends at least an hour before all-aboard (all-aboard is usually 30 to 60 minutes before your ship sails). Your cruise page shows the hours your ship is in Willis Island, and each tour page shows how long the tour lasts. Booking two tours on the same day? Leave at least an hour between them. Book this way and our Guaranteed Return to Ship has you covered.

Change your tour yourself under Bookings in your account, or call us any time. We’ll move you to a time that fits your new hours, and if none does, you get a full refund, except on bookings marked All Sales Final.

If your cruise line cancels the stop in Willis Island, for weather or a change of itinerary, you get a full refund with no fees or, if you prefer, the same amount toward an excursion at another port of call. Bookings marked All Sales Final are not refunded.

Most tours start within walking distance of the cruise piers. The exact meeting point is in your booking confirmation.

Your cruise card and a photo ID: you need both to get back on board. Bring your booking confirmation (on your phone is fine), comfortable shoes, sunscreen, a hat and a little cash for tips.

Call us any time, day or night: our number is in your confirmation email. Your confirmation also has a local contact number for your tour. To check, change or cancel your booking yourself, go to Bookings in your account.

Most shore excursions can be canceled free up to 24 hours before they start (Willis Island time). A few tours have a different policy, and each tour page shows its own. Cancel under Bookings in your account, or call us. If your ship skips Willis Island, you get a full refund, except on bookings marked All Sales Final.

If your tour is canceled because of the weather, we’ll offer you another time that day that still fits your ship. If there isn’t one, you get a full refund or, if you prefer, the same amount toward an excursion at another port of call. Bookings marked All Sales Final are not refunded.

Yes, and it’s free. Change the date or time yourself under Bookings in your account up to 24 hours before the tour, subject to availability, or call us and we’ll do it for you.

Yes, Cool Shore Excursions is a legit business. We are a registered travel and excursion booking platform based in Florida, serving customers worldwide. We hold active licenses with the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services and maintain strong customer ratings across major review platforms.

On Trustpilot, we maintain a high rating, with users frequently praising our guides’ professionalism, the quality of our local tours, and our customer support. We are officially registered with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) as a professionally licensed travel agency with an A+ rating. In addition to stellar Trustpilot & BBB ratings, we feature tour reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and partner sites such as Viator and TripAdvisor