Cairns Marlin Marina: boarding guide

Where the boat leaves from

The marina is at 1 Spence Street, and Ports North describes it as a floating marina in the heart of Cairns city. It has 261 berths and is described as home to Australia's largest tourism and game fishing fleets, so the pontoons are busy with other boats. Your boat is at the finger marked A, which is the meeting point on the ticket and on the operator's own page. Berths can also take super yachts up to 140 metres, which gives you a sense of the scale of the place: the dinner catamaran is one of many vessels working from these pontoons.

Reaching the marina

A hotel transfer is not part of the ticket, so getting to the marina is yours to arrange. Ports North describes a short walk from the marina to the swimming lagoon, hotels, shopping, dining and the casino, so many visitors staying in the city centre can walk. The marina page adds that the airport is close, which makes the first evening after a flight an easy one to fit in. Use a map on your phone for your own route, and set off early enough that the departure does not become a rush. If you are staying further out, ask your accommodation about the best way to reach 1 Spence Street, and agree your return before you leave, since the cruise finishes back at the marina.

Check-in and the prompt departure

The booking page lists a boarding time and a departure time, and the operator's own pages list similar but not identical ones. The time on your own confirmation is the one to follow. The boat departs promptly, and the booking page says to be on board before it does, so treat the check-in time as the time to arrive, not the time to leave your hotel. The itinerary begins with welcome refreshments at the marina, which is another reason to be early: the first drink is part of the evening, not something to rush past.

What to wear

The operator suggests tropical cocktail attire, with a light jacket for the winter months. Footwear is mandatory, and the terms say you will not be allowed to board unless you are wearing shoes or sandals. Suitable shoes for boating are recommended, and the operator's FAQ suggests flat rubber-soled shoes for moving around the boat. The booking page lists comfortable shoes, a jacket and weather-appropriate clothing among the things to bring. High heels and slippery soles are the obvious risks on a pontoon and a moving deck, so keep those for the Esplanade afterwards.

Inside and outside

The vessel is described as air-conditioned with large outdoor decks, and the operator separately mentions an air-conditioned dining room. That is why a jacket appears on the packing list even in a tropical city: the room can feel cool after the heat outside, and the decks catch the evening breeze once the boat is moving. Dress for both, with a layer you can take off or put on, and expect the open decks to be where most people go once the boat has left the pontoon and the city lights come up. The booking page also asks you to bring a card, and lists cash too, so a small bag that sits on your lap at the table is easier than a large one.

What the inlet shoreline is made of

Trinity Inlet is lined with mangroves and mudflats, and the city centre stands on its western bank where the inlet meets the Coral Sea. Wikipedia notes that the city's centre foreshore is on a mud flat. The mangrove forests are protected as part of a Queensland Fish Habitat Area, so the dark edge along the water is a protected nursery area for fish and prawns, not an empty bank. In the Queensland Government's words it is an important nursery area for several species of fish and penaeid prawns. The operator describes the route as running through Trinity Inlet and along the waterfront from the Cruise Liner Terminal to the Esplanade, which puts both the lit city and the dark shoreline in view.

Read next: Trinity Inlet: port, mangroves, Gimuy

Weather and the seasons

Wikipedia describes a wet season with heavy monsoonal downpours from November to May and a relatively dry season from June to October, though light showers occur then too. The operator's terms reserve the right to cancel a cruise for mechanical breakdown, safety reasons or weather conditions, so keep your confirmation handy on the day. The dining room is indoors, so rain changes where you stand more than whether you eat. The guide to the two seasons explains how each month changes the evening.

Read next: Wet or dry season: when to sail

The bar, cash and cards

Only the welcome glass of sparkling wine, beer or soft drink is included. Further drinks and cocktails are bought from the licensed bar, and the operator says to bring cash, EFTPOS or a credit card for those purchases. The terms also say you must not bring your own alcohol or illegal substances on board, and that the operator can refuse entry or ask you to leave because of intoxication or offensive behaviour. One guest on the booking page found the drinks expensive, so decide before you board how many you want.

Who this isn't for

The catamaran is not wheelchair accessible: boarding and the toilets involve several stairs, and the doorways are narrow. The ticket lists mobility impairments and wheelchair users as unsuitable, and mobility scooters are listed among the things not allowed. Infants aged 0 to 3 are permitted free, but there are no high chairs or changing facilities. Children must be supervised at all times and cannot use the outer decks alone. Guests who want a long, quiet, seated dinner without live music or a moving boat will find other restaurants in the city a better fit.

Pairing the cruise with the Esplanade

The cruise ends where it began, at the marina, and the route runs as far as the Esplanade. On land, the Cairns Esplanade includes a swimming lagoon with adjoining barbecue areas. The Esplanade Lagoon opened in March 2003 and covers 4,800 square metres, and Wikipedia calls it a very popular local attraction. Walking the foreshore before or after the cruise gives you the same stretch of water from the other side, with the lit foreshore in front of you instead of behind the rail.

If your plans change

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure and payment can wait until later, and the operator's own policy uses the same 24-hour window. A lighter alternative from the same marina is a 90-minute sunset inlet cruise with a drink and a light snack, but without dinner. For any question on the day, use the contact details in your booking confirmation, and keep the booking reference where you can find it without data, since the marina is a place where a phone signal can fade.

Read next: Cairns dinner cruise: what to expect and booking