Spoilsport

Mike Ball is synonymous with lavish Australia diving safaris, seen by many as the most luxurious operator in the region and one of the few with minke whale watching permits. Indeed Spoilsport has earned more awards than any other liveaboard operating on the Great Barrier Reef and currently boasts 11 prestigious 'Rodale Readers Choice' awards including 'Best Liveaboard'.

There are several accommodation categories available on Spoilsport, depending on your requirements and wallet size, most of which have en-suite bathrooms.

A spacious 3-deck layout offers you a roomy dive deck with individual storage spaces for each diver. In-situ nitrox fills are available to help you maximise your unlimited dives aboard Spoilsport - most guests do 4 day dives and 1 night dive each day on these Great Barrier Reef liveaboard trips.

For the photographers amongst you, it's reassuring to note that Mike Ball himself is an avid underwater photographer, so you can rest assured that the setup for photographers is second to none. The dive deck has 3 dedicated camera tables as well as rinse tanks for your valuable equipment. On most trips, an informal photo competition is held, so you can enter your best shot of the trip and see how it fairs against your fellow divers.

Spoilsport operates an "open dive deck" policy, which allows guests to plan and dive independently with their buddies. This means that if you want 2 hours in the water getting that "cover shot" of a particularly elusive fish then there is no problem in doing so. However, if you like having the dive sites' best marine life pointed out to you, the experienced Spoilsport crew leads scheduled dives twice daily. Additional guided dives can be arranged with the Spoilsport staff on an ad-hoc basis.

When not enjoying the delights of world famous dive sites or sampling the delicious meals prepared by the chef, you can top up your tan on the ample sundeck or simply relax in the comfortable lounge, perhaps taking in a movie or 2.

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Notes: Child policy:: We do welcome families with children 8 years or older. Parents or guardians traveling with children are responsible for child minding, and children less than 12 years of age cannot be left alone.

Minke Whale Expeditions: Some trips in June and July include efforts to dive and/or snorkel with minke whales. Prices remain the same but expect fewer overall dives on these trips. Check out this excellent video of a Minke Whale trip .

Dive experience: Osprey Reef trips are best for advanced divers due to wall dives that are sometimes exposed to strong currents. All other destinations are suitable for open water divers. Divers who have completed less than 15 dives, or less than 5 dives in the past 12 months, and divers over 65 years old, who have completed less than 50 dives, are required to complete a complimentary onboard orientation dive.
If you have not dived in the last 5 years we recommend you complete a Refresher Course to maximize your comfort, enjoyment, and the number of dives that may be undertaken with us. ProDive Cairns can complete a private 2 hour PADI Refresher Course (US$ 99) before your expedition. This will need to be booked in advance.
If you have not dived in the last 10 years you will need to be either re-certified, or complete a Refresher Course and show proof of 2 subsequent logged ocean dives to dive with Spoilsport. If this requirement cannot be met prior to travel Spoilsport provide 1 Discover Scuba Dive per day with a depth limit of 12 metres. Additional Discover Scuba Dives will be dependent upon staff availability and will be charged at US$ 31 per dive. Exemptions for both of the above exist for divers with more than 200 dives, or for Divemaster certified or higher.
All guests must submit a medical questionnaire to dive in Queensland and seek medical clearance where necessary.

Cruise price per person includes: Low-level scenic flight to or from Lizard Island (for 3 and 4 night trips), cabin accommodation with air-conditioning, breakfast, lunch, dinner (4/5/7 night departures do not include an evening meal on the first night), snacks, drinking water, hot drinks, transfer to Cairns Airport or inner city hotel after your expedition, dives (as detailed in the trips above), in-water observation divers, tanks, weights and weight belts, SMB, Nautilus Lifeline GPS, all taxes.

Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Dive equipment (incl. dive computer and torch: US$ 27 per day), dive insurance, GBRMPA Environmental Tax (US$ 4) per day, max 3 days). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash or credit card).

Optional extras: Transfers to expedition office to check-in, soft drinks (soft drinks with evening meals are complimentary), alcoholic drinks (wine with evening meal is complimentary), nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers (US$ 16 per day), 15 litre tanks (US$ 16 per day), underwater camera, trip video. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.

How to get there: Spoilsport departs from either Trinity Wharf in Cairns or Lizard Island, depending on the itinerary. 3 night trips begin with a flight to Lizard Island and end on the boat in Cairns. 4 night trips begin on the boat in Cairns and end with a flight back from Lizard island. 5 and 7 Night trips begin and end on the boat in Cairns.
For Cairns departures, check in at the Mike Ball office at 3 Abbott Street between 8:30 and 16:00 hrs on the day of departure. For Lizard Island departures, check in at 6:30-07:00 hrs at the Mike Ball office for transfer to the airport for the charter flight to Lizard Island. The recommended hotel is the Pullman International, as it is next to the office for check-in.
For more information on getting to Cairns, including airlines, see our How to get there section.
The last dive of the trip will be at around 15:00 hrs on the second last day of the trip. Cruises ending in Cairns disembark at 08:00 hrs. Cruises ending at Lizard Island include a flight back to Cairns, landing at 11:45 hrs. Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving.

Non-diver rate: 10% off the published price, non-diving child (8-15 years) 25% off the published price.

Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - single travellers may choose to share a cabin (no guarantee of same gender sharing) or pay a supplement of 80% of the published price.

Dive clubs and group discounts: Pay for 10 guests and 1 extra person can join the cruise in a budget cabin free of charge (11+ guests).

Whole boat charter rate (per night): Price is based on 26 fully paid berths and 2 free of charge budget berths for the group leaders.

Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs (4 Days / 3 Nights - 12 Dives)

Trip highlights: turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs (including Snake Pit, Lighthouse Bommie, Pixie Pinnacle, Goggle Gardens, Flare Point, Trolly Shoal and Steve's Bommie)

Day 1
Meet at the Mike Ball office early morning for your first chance to be introduced to the other guests and dive masters that will share this Great Barrier Reef safari with you. After a briefing and some paperwork, you are on the way to the Cairns General Aviation Airport where you check in and board the plane at 08:00 hrs. Enjoy the scenery as you fly over Endeavour Reef and the Ribbon Reefs. Your final destination is Lizard Island where the crew and Spoilsport await for your arrival. A light refreshment and soft drinks are available upon boarding. Help yourself while the tour director introduces the cruise and crew and explains in detail about the boat, its safety rules and the itinerary of your safari. The 1st dive of the trip is a check dive, at 12:30 hrs. Usually it is a shallower dive that allows the guides on board to check your underwater skills. Then the 2nd dive of the first day on board will be at around 16:30 hrs.

Day 2-3
The diving day starts early with a continental breakfast at 06:30 hrs followed by a dive briefing. Then jump in the water at 07:30 hrs for the 1st dive of the day. Enjoy the different marine life that awaits for you underwater including bumphead parrotfish, giant potato cods, sweetlips and also white tip reef sharks on some dives. You will have time to discuss your underwater encounters with your dive buddies while having the second breakfast of the day: bacon, eggs, baked beans and toast, all served with hot coffee and tea. 10:30 hrs and you will enjoy the view of healthy soft corals surrounded by glassfish as you make the 2nd dive.
A short surface interval is then followed by the 3rd dive which delays lunch a little: it is served at 14:00 hrs and it varies daily, from Mexican burritos and tacos to fresh vegetables with rice and fish. Relax in the lounge or on the sundeck, before getting ready for the 4th dive of the day in the middle of the afternoon. Did you miss some of the action? Don't worry as you still have the 5th dive (night dive) to get the best out of your diving safari! Then off to sleep to refresh for the day ahead.

Day 4
Awake back in Cairns and enjoy a final continental breakfast. Then it is time for group photos and final goodbyes. Disembark from Spoilsport and transfer back to your Cairns city hotel or airport

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Bougainville & Osprey Reef (5 Days / 4 Nights - 14 Dives)

Trip highlights: shark action, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Bougainville (including Crystal Plateau, Dungeons & Dragons, MV Antonio Tarabocchia), Osprey Reef (including False Entrance and Amphitheatre).

Day 1
Meet at the Mike Ball office late afternoon for your first chance to be introduced to the rest of the passengers and fill in some paperwork then members of the dive crew will escort to the harbor where you can finally start to know the liveaboard Spoilsport. A light refreshment and soft drinks are available on board: help yourself while the tour director introduces the cruise crew and explains the boat in details, safety rules and itinerary of your safari. Meanwhile Spoilsport starts its engine and get ready for an overnight trip to Cod Hole.

Days 2-4
The diving day starts early with a continental breakfast at 06:30 hrs followed by a dive briefing. Then a jump in the water at 07:30 hrs for the 1st dive of the day. You will surely well surprised by the amount of different marine life that awaits for you underwater, from bumphead parrotfish, giant potato cods, sweetlips and also white tip reef sharks on some dives. You will have time to discuss your underwater encounters with your dive buddies while having the second breakfast of the day: bacon, eggs, baked beans and toasts, all served with hot coffee and tea. 10:30 hrs and you are enjoying the view of healthy soft corals surrounded by glassfish as you are making the 2nd dive.
A short surface interval is then followed by the 3rd dive which delays lunch a little: it is served at 14:00 hrs and it varies daily, from Mexican burritos and tacos to fresh vegetables with rice and fish. Relax in the lounge or on the sundeck, before getting ready for the 4th dive of the day in the middle of the afternoon. Did you miss some of the action? Don't worry as you still have the 5th dive (night dive) to get the best out of your diving safari! Before a new day of diving begins again.

Day 5
A final light breakfast is served, then after the ritual goodbyes there is a transfer to the airport on Lizard Island for a stunning 250 km low-level Great Barrier Reef flight back to Cairns and transfer back to your city hotel or airport.

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Coral Sea Exploration (8 Days / 7 Nights - 26 Dives)

Trip highlights: shark action, dolphins, whales, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Coral Sea wall dives, shark action; Continental Shelf; Holmes Reef, Bougainville (including Crystal Plateau, Dungeons & Dragons, MV Antonio Tarabocchia), Osprey Reef (including False Entrance and Amphitheatre). Ribbon Reefs: Cod Hole, Dynamite Pass, Lighthouse Bommie, Pixie Wall, Pixie Pinnacle, Coral Kingdom, Flare Point, Blue Lagoon, Gotham City, Vertical Gardens, Steve’s Bommie; minke whales and Lizard Island

Day 1
Meet at the Mike Ball office late afternoon for your first chance to be introduced to the other passengers and fill in some paperwork then members of the dive crew will escort to the harbour where you can finally start to know the liveaboard Spoilsport. A light refreshment and soft drinks are available on board: help yourself while the tour director introduces the cruise crew and explains the boat in details, safety rules and itinerary of your safari. Meanwhile Spoilsport starts its engine and get ready for an overnight trip to the Coral Sea.

Days 2-7
The safari is an exploratory diving adventure of the Coral Sea. You will visit the continental shelf 100 miles north of Cairns and dive on the edge of the shelf, exposed to currents. There will be plummeting Coral Sea wall dives in gin clear water, and exciting shark action. The route will also pass Ribbon Reefs to enjoy its great fish and coral diversity. At Cod Hole you will dive with huge potato cod, and Steve’s Bommie is always a highlight with an incredible array of weird and wonderful creatures. There will also be dedicated time to find and swim with minke whales (June and July). And you can enjoy an hour or two exploring beautiful Lizard Island, with its white sand beaches and a short hike to Chinaman’s Ridge.
The diving day starts early with a continental breakfast at 6:30 am followed by a dive briefing. Then a jump in the water at 7:30 am for the 1st dive of the day. Then you will have time to discuss your underwater encounters with your dive buddies while having the second breakfast of the day: bacon, eggs, baked beans and toasts, all served with hot coffee and tea.10:30 am is time for the 2nd dive of the day. A short surface interval is then followed by the 3rd dive which delays lunch a little: it is served at 2 pm and it varies daily, from Mexican burritos and tacos to fresh vegetables with rice and fish. Relax in the lounge or on the sundeck, before getting ready for the 4th dive of the day in the middle of the afternoon. Did you miss some of the action? Don't worry as you still have the 5th dive (night dive) to get the best out of your diving safari! Before a new day of diving begins again..

Day 8
Awake back in Cairns and enjoy a final continental breakfast. Then it is time for group photos and final goodbyes. Disembark from Spoilsport and transfer back to your Cairns city hotel or airport.

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Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs & Minke Whales (8 Days / 7 Nights - 22 Dives)

Trip highlights: whales, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics, onboard experts on minke whales

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs (including Pixie Pinnacle, Steve's Bommie and Temple of Doom) and Osprey Reef. This trip features snorkelling opportunities with Minke whales.

Day 1
Meet at the Mike Ball office late afternoon for your first chance to be introduced to the other passengers and fill in some paperwork then members of the dive crew will escort to the harbor where you can finally start to know the liveaboard Spoilsport. A light refreshment and soft drinks are available on board: help yourself while the tour director introduces the cruise crew and explains the boat in details, safety rules and itinerary of your safari. Meanwhile Spoilsport starts its engine and get ready for an overnight trip to Cod Hole.

Days 2-7
The diving day starts early with a continental breakfast at 06:30 hrs followed by a dive briefing. Then a jump in the water at 07:30 hrs for the 1st dive of the day. You will surely well surprised by the amount of different marine life that awaits for you underwater, from bumphead parrotfish, giant potato cods, sweetlips and also white tip reef sharks on some dives. You will have time to discuss your underwater encounters with your dive buddies while having the second breakfast of the day: bacon, eggs, baked beans and toasts, all served with hot coffe and tea. 10:30 hrs and you are enjoying the view of healthy soft corals surrounded by glassfish as you are making the 2nd dive.
A short surface interval is then followed by the 3rd dive which delays lunch a little: it is served at 14:00 hrs and it varies daily, from Mexican burritos and tacos to fresh vegetables with rice and fish. Relax in the lounge or on the sundeck, before getting ready for the 4th dive of the day in the middle of the afternoon. Did you miss some of the action? Don't worry as you still have the 5th dive (night dive) to get the best out of your diving safari! Before a new day of diving begins again.. On some days you will also have the chance to snorkel or dive with Dwarf minkes whales: they can grow up to 8 metres in length and they like to gracefully glide past while watching you. A once in a life experience!

Day 8
Awake back in Cairns and enjoy a final continental breakfast. Then it is time for group photos and final goodbyes. Disembark from Spoilsport and transfer back to your city hotel or airport.

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Cod Hole, Bougainville, Ribbon & Osprey Reefs (6 Days / 5 Nights - 18 Dives)

Trip highlights: shark action, dolphins, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Bougainville: Crystal Plateau, Dungeons & Dragons; Osprey Reef: Admiralty Anchor, North Horn, False Entrance; Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs (including Pixie Pinnacle, Coral Kingdom, Steve’s Bommie

Day 1
Check-in at the Mike Ball office, then at Hemingway’s Brewery, Cairns Wharf at 4:30 pm meet your fellow passengers that will share this Great Barrier Reef safari with you. Boarding is at 5:30 pm and you can enjoy a glass of champagne and light snacks while the tour director introduces the crew and gives a full briefing about the boat, its safety rules and the itinerary of your safari. Now it’s time to organise rental equipment and put your dive gear together on the dive deck as the catamaran departs from Cairns.

Days 2-5
Highlights include the azure and fathomless water of the Coral Sea, playground for sharks and big fish action in exceptional visibility. Huge soft coral trees and sea fans will impress. You will also meet the giant potato cod at Cod Hole, and be amazed by the rich biodiversity of fish species and coral that make the Ribbon Reefs so incredible.
The diving day starts early with a continental breakfast at 6:30 am followed by a dive briefing. Then jump in the water at 7:30 am for the 1st dive of the day. Enjoy the different marine life that awaits for you underwater including bumphead parrotfish, sweetlips and whitetip reef sharks on some dives. You will have time to discuss your underwater encounters with your dive buddies while having the second breakfast of the day: bacon, eggs, baked beans and toast, all served with hot coffee and tea. 10:30 hrs and you will enjoy the view of healthy soft corals surrounded by glassfish as you make the 2nd dive.
A short surface interval is then followed by the 3rd dive which delays lunch a little: it is served at 2 pm and it varies daily, from Mexican burritos and tacos to fresh vegetables with rice and fish. Relax in the lounge or on the sundeck, before getting ready for the 4th dive of the day, before afternoon tea. Did you miss some of the action? Don't worry as you still have the 5th dive (night dive) to get the best out of your diving safari! Finally it-s time for dinner at 8 pm, then off to sleep to refresh for the next day ahead.
On the penultimate day of the tour, the diving finishes at 5 pm. Then the crew pours the champagne, lays out the nibbles, and you get ready for an Aussie BBQ party night. Don’t forget to wear your loudest tropical shirt or dress and sing along to music played by the talented crew band!

Day 6
Awake back in Cairns and enjoy a final continental breakfast. Then it is time for group photos and final goodbyes. Disembark from Spoilsport and transfer back to your Cairns city hotel or airport.

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Coral Sea Turtle Spectacular (8 Days / 7 Nights - 27 Dives)

Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, shark action, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Raine Island, Pandora Wreck, Great Detached Reef, RMS Quetta, Small Detached Reefs, Tijou and Cat Reefs, Cod Hole, and Stanley Island

Day 1
Meet at the Mike Ball office at North Horn Island at 4 pm for your first chance to be introduced to the other guests and dive masters that will share this Great Barrier Reef safari with you. A light refreshment and soft drinks are available upon boarding. Help yourself while the tour director introduces the cruise and crew and explains in detail about the boat, its safety rules and the itinerary of your safari.

Day 2-7
This safari is a rare opportunity to visit the remote and pristine reefs of the far northern Great Barrier Reef. Dive with hundreds of turtles at Raine Island and descend on the historic Pandora Wreck of ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ fame. These reefs are very rarely visited so this is truly a diving adventure.
See hundreds of turtles at the world’s biggest green turtle nesting site, Raine Island. Tiger sharks are attracted to the nesting turtles. The Pandora is an historic wreck sunk in 1791 with 35 crew and mutineers from HMS Bounty. Tijou and Cat Reefs provide wall diving with fans, soft corals and pelagics. The Detached Reefs have vertical walls adorned with soft corals and fans, patrolled by reef sharks and potato cod. At Cod Hole you will dive with huge potato cod, and Steve’s Bommie is always a highlight with an incredible array of weird and wonderful creatures. And you can enjoy an hour or two viewing the incredible indigenous rock art at Stanley Island.
The diving day starts early with a continental breakfast at 6:30 am followed by a dive briefing. Then a jump in the water at 7:30 am for the 1st dive of the day. Then you will have time to discuss your underwater encounters with your dive buddies while having the second breakfast of the day: bacon, eggs, baked beans and toasts, all served with hot coffee and tea.10:30 am is time for the 2nd dive of the day. A short surface interval is then followed by the 3rd dive which delays lunch a little: it is served at 2 pm and it varies daily, from Mexican burritos and tacos to fresh vegetables with rice and fish. Relax in the lounge or on the sundeck, before getting ready for the 4th dive of the day in the middle of the afternoon. Did you miss some of the action? Don't worry as you still have the 5th dive (night dive) to get the best out of your diving safari! Before a new day of diving begins again..

Day 8
Awake back in Cairns and enjoy a final continental breakfast. Then it is time for group photos and final goodbyes. Disembark from Spoilsport and transfer back to your city hotel or airport.

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Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs & Minke Whales (4 Days / 3 Nights - 10 Dives)

Trip highlights: whales, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics, onboard experts on minke whales

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs (Snake Pit, Lighthouse Bommie, Pixie Pinnacle, Goggle Gardens, Flare Point, Trolly Shoal and Steve's Bommie). This trip features snorkelling opportunities with Minke whales

Day 1
Meet at the Mike Ball office early morning for your first chance to be introduced to the other guests and dive masters that will share this Great Barrier Reef safari with you. After a briefing and some paperwork, you are on the way to the Cairns General Aviation Airport where you check in and board the plane at 08:00 hrs. Enjoy the scenery as you fly over Endeavour Reef and the Ribbon Reefs. Your final destination is Lizard Island where the crew and Spoilsport await for your arrival. A light refreshment and soft drinks are available upon boarding. Help yourself while the tour director introduces the cruise and crew and explains in detail about the boat, its safety rules and the itinerary of your safari. The 1st dive of the trip is a check dive, at 12:30 hrs. Usually it is a shallower dive that allows the guides on board to check your underwater skills. Then the 2nd dive of the first day on board will be at around 16:30 hrs.

Day 2-3
The diving day starts early with a continental breakfast at 06:30 hrs followed by a dive briefing. Then jump in the water at 07:30 hrs for the 1st dive of the day. Enjoy the different marine life that awaits for you underwater including bumphead parrotfish, giant potato cods, sweetlips and also white tip reef sharks on some dives. You will have time to discuss your underwater encounters with your dive buddies while having the second breakfast of the day: bacon, eggs, baked beans and toast, all served with hot coffee and tea. 10:30 hrs and you will enjoy the view of healthy soft corals surrounded by glassfish as you make the 2nd dive.
A short surface interval is then followed by the 3rd dive which delays lunch a little: it is served at 14:00 hrs and it varies daily, from Mexican burritos and tacos to fresh vegetables with rice and fish. Relax in the lounge or on the sundeck, before getting ready for the 4th dive of the day in the middle of the afternoon. Did you miss some of the action? Don't worry as you still have the 5th dive (night dive) to get the best out of your diving safari! Then off to sleep to refresh for the day ahead. You will also have the chance to snorkel or dive with Dwarf minkes whales: they can grow up to 8 metres in length and they like to gracefully glide past while watching you. A once in a life experience!

Day 4
Awake back in Cairns and enjoy a final continental breakfast. Then it is time for group photos and final goodbyes. Disembark from Spoilsport and transfer back to your Cairns city hotel or airport

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Cod Hole, Bougainville, Ribbon & Osprey Reefs (8 Days / 7 Nights - 26 Dives)

Trip highlights: shark action, dolphins, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Bougainville (including Crystal Plateau, Dungeons & Dragons, MV Antonio Tarabocchia), Ribbon Reefs, Code Hole, Osprey Reef (including False Entrance and Amphitheatre)

Day 1
Meet at the Mike Ball office in the last afternoon for your first chance to meet the rest of the passengers and fill in some paperwork, then members of the dive crew will escort to the harbor where you can finally start to know the liveaboard Spoilsport. A light refreshment and soft drinks are available on board: help yourself while the tour director introduces the cruise crew and explains the boat in details, safety rules and itinerary of your safari. Meanwhile Spoilsport starts its engine and get ready for an overnight trip to Cod Hole.

Days 2-7
The diving day starts early with a continental breakfast at 06:30 hrs followed by a dive briefing. Then a jump in the water at 07:30 hrs for the 1st dive of the day. You will surely well surprised by the amount of different marine life that awaits for you underwater, from bumphead parrotfish, giant potato cods, sweetlips and also white tip reef sharks on some dives. You will have time to discuss your underwater encounters with your dive buddies while having the second breakfast of the day: bacon, eggs, baked beans and toasts, all served with hot coffee and tea. 10:30 hrs and you are enjoying the view of healthy soft corals surrounded by glassfish as you are making the 2nd dive.
A short surface interval is then followed by the 3rd dive which delays lunch a little: it is served at 14:00 hrs and it varies daily, from Mexican burritos and tacos to fresh vegetables with rice and fish. Relax in the lounge or on the sundeck, before getting ready for the 4th dive of the day in the middle of the afternoon. Did you miss some of the action? Don't worry as you still have the 5th dive (night dive) to get the best out of your diving safari! Before a new day of diving begins again..

Day 8
Awake back in Cairns and enjoy a continental breakfast. Then it is time for group photos and final goodbyes. Disembark from Spoilsport and transfer back to your city hotel or airport.

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Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs & Minke Whales (5 Days / 4 Nights - 12 Dives)

Trip highlights: whales, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics, onboard experts on minke whales

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs (Snake Pit, Lighthouse Bommie, Pixie Pinnacle, Goggle Gardens, Flare Point, Trolly Shoal and Steve's Bommie). This trip features snorkelling opportunities with Minke whales

Day 1
Meet at the Mike Ball office late afternoon for your first chance to be introduced to the other guests and dive masters that will share this Great Barrier Reef safari with you. After a briefing and some paperwork, you are on the way to the Trinity Wharf where you check in and board Spoilsport at 18:00 hrs. A light refreshment and soft drinks are available upon boarding. Help yourself while the tour director introduces the cruise and crew and explains in detail about the boat, its safety rules and the itinerary of your safari. The 1st dive of the trip is a check dive. Usually it is a shallower dive that allows the guides on board to check your underwater skills.

Days 2-4
The diving day starts early with a continental breakfast at 06:30 hrs followed by a dive briefing. Then jump in the water at 07:30 hrs for the 1st dive of the day. Enjoy the different marine life that awaits for you underwater including bumphead parrotfish, giant potato cods, sweetlips and also white tip reef sharks on some dives. You will have time to discuss your underwater encounters with your dive buddies while having the second breakfast of the day: bacon, eggs, baked beans and toast, all served with hot coffee and tea. 10:30 hrs and you will enjoy the view of healthy soft corals surrounded by glassfish as you make the 2nd dive.
A short surface interval is then followed by the 3rd dive which delays lunch a little: it is served at 14:00 hrs and it varies daily, from Mexican burritos and tacos to fresh vegetables with rice and fish. Relax in the lounge or on the sundeck, before getting ready for the 4th dive of the day in the middle of the afternoon. Did you miss some of the action? Don't worry as you still have the 5th dive (night dive) to get the best out of your diving safari! Then off to sleep to refresh for the day ahead. You will also have the chance to snorkel or dive with Dwarf minkes whales: they can grow up to 8 metres in length and they like to gracefully glide past while watching you. A once in a life experience!

Day 5
A final light breakfast is served, then after the ritual goodbyes there is a transfer to the airport on Lizard Island for a stunning 250 km low-level Great Barrier Reef flight back to Cairns and transfer back to your city hotel or airport.

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Far North Coral Sea Exploration (8 Days / 7 Nights - 26 Dives)

Trip highlights: shark action, dolphins, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Coral Sea wall dives, shark action; Continental Shelf; Ribbon Reefs: Cod Hole, Dynamite Pass, Lighthouse Bommie, Pixie Wall, Pixie Pinnacle, Coral Kingdom, Flare Point, Blue Lagoon, Gotham City, Vertical Gardens, Steve’s Bommie; minke whales and Lizard Island

Day 1
Meet at the Mike Ball office in the late afternoon for your first chance to meet the rest of the passengers and fill in some paperwork, then members of the dive crew will escort to the harbour where you can finally start to know the liveaboard Spoilsport. A light refreshment and soft drinks are available on board: help yourself while the tour director introduces the cruise crew and explains the boat in details, safety rules and itinerary of your safari. Meanwhile Spoilsport starts its engine and get ready for an overnight trip to the Coral Sea.

Days 2-7
This safari is an exploratory diving adventure of the Far North Coral Sea. You will visit the continental shelf 100 miles north of Cairns and dive on the edge of the shelf, exposed to currents, where mantas rays, mobula and eagle rays cruise by. At the Far Northern Reefs, upwelling currents attract schooling pelagics such as trevally, barracuda, mackerel, patrolling tuna and sharks. At Bougainville there is spectacular big fish action at Crystal Plateau, explore the Dungeons & Dragons labyrinth of caves and caverns, and dive the scattered remains of the Antonio Tarabocchia wreck.
There will be exciting shark action at Osprey Reef, including a shark feed and private photo shoot with 100s of sharks. The route will also pass Ribbon Reefs to enjoy its great fish, giant clams and coral diversity. At Cod Hole you will dive with huge potato cod, and Steve’s Bommie is always a highlight with an incredible array of weird and wonderful creatures. And you can enjoy an hour or two viewing the incredible indigenous rock art at Stanley Island.
The diving day starts early with a continental breakfast at 6:30 am followed by a dive briefing. Then a jump in the water at 7:30 am for the 1st dive of the day. Then you will have time to discuss your underwater encounters with your dive buddies while having the second breakfast of the day: bacon, eggs, baked beans and toasts, all served with hot coffee and tea.10:30 am is time for the 2nd dive of the day. A short surface interval is then followed by the 3rd dive which delays lunch a little: it is served at 2 pm and it varies daily, from Mexican burritos and tacos to fresh vegetables with rice and fish. Relax in the lounge or on the sundeck, before getting ready for the 4th dive of the day in the middle of the afternoon. Did you miss some of the action? Don't worry as you still have the 5th dive (night dive) to get the best out of your diving safari! Before a new day of diving begins again..

Day 8
Awake back in Cairns and enjoy a final continental breakfast. Then it is time for group photos and final goodbyes. Disembark from Spoilsport and transfer back to your city hotel or airport.

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Coral Sea Turtle Spectacular (8 Days / 7 Nights - 27 Dives)

Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, shark action, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Raine Island, Pandora Wreck, Great Detached Reef, RMS Quetta, Small Detached Reefs, Tijou and Cat Reefs, Cod Hole, and Stanley Island

Day 1
Meet at the Mike Ball office at around 4 pm. Meet the rest of the passengers and fill in some paperwork then members of the dive crew will escort to the harbour where you can finally start to know the liveaboard Spoilsport. A light refreshment and soft drinks are available on board: help yourself while the tour director introduces the cruise crew and explains the boat in details, safety rules and itinerary of your safari. Meanwhile Spoilsport starts its engine and get ready for an overnight trip to the Coral Sea.

Days 2-7
This safari is a rare opportunity to visit the remote and pristine reefs of the far northern Great Barrier Reef. Dive with hundreds of turtles at Raine Island and descend on the historic Pandora Wreck of ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ fame. These reefs are very rarely visited so this is truly a diving adventure.
See hundreds of turtles at the world’s biggest green turtle nesting site, Raine Island. Tiger sharks are attracted to the nesting turtles. The Pandora is an historic wreck sunk in 1791 with 35 crew and mutineers from HMS Bounty. Tijou and Cat Reefs provide wall diving with fans, soft corals and pelagics. The Detached Reefs have vertical walls adorned with soft corals and fans, patrolled by reef sharks and potato cod. At Cod Hole you will dive with huge potato cod, and Steve’s Bommie is always a highlight with an incredible array of weird and wonderful creatures. And you can enjoy an hour or two viewing the incredible indigenous rock art at Stanley Island.
The diving day starts early with a continental breakfast at 6:30 am followed by a dive briefing. Then a jump in the water at 7:30 am for the 1st dive of the day. Then you will have time to discuss your underwater encounters with your dive buddies while having the second breakfast of the day: bacon, eggs, baked beans and toasts, all served with hot coffee and tea.10:30 am is time for the 2nd dive of the day. A short surface interval is then followed by the 3rd dive which delays lunch a little: it is served at 2 pm and it varies daily, from Mexican burritos and tacos to fresh vegetables with rice and fish. Relax in the lounge or on the sundeck, before getting ready for the 4th dive of the day in the middle of the afternoon. Did you miss some of the action? Don't worry as you still have the 5th dive (night dive) to get the best out of your diving safari! Before a new day of diving begins again..

Day 8
Enjoy a continental breakfast at Horn Island. Then it is time for group photos and final goodbyes, before a transfer to your local hotel or airport.

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Coral Sea and Yongala (8 Days / 7 Nights - 29 Dives)

Trip highlights: shark action, dolphins, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Wheeler Reef, SS Yongala, SS Gothenburg, Old Reef, Flinders Reef: Cod Wall, Geronimo’s, Watanabe, Rock Arch, Fan Fair, Trigger Happy; Coral Sea or Holmes Reef: Nonki Bommie, Amazing, Abyss, Cathedral. This is a special exploration trip. Advanced Diver certification or a minimum 15 ocean dives, 5 in the last 12 months, is required.

Day 1
Check-in at Breakwater Marina, Townsville at 5:30 pm, then depart at 6 pm for Wheeler Reef. The tour director will introduce the crew and give a full briefing about the boat, its safety rules and the itinerary of your safari. Now it’s time to organise rental equipment and put your dive gear together on the dive deck, before a good night's rest in readiness to start diving tomorrow.

Days 2-7
This is a rare opportunity to explore the offshore Coral Sea reefs and Australia’s largest and most famous shipwreck, the SS Yongala. This expedition will have a full day of diving on the SS Yongala, which is arguably one of the best shipwrecks in the world. It is renowned for its diversity and abundance of marine life. Giant Queensland groupers, sea snakes, shovel-nosed rays and huge schools of fish live there. Making your way north to Cairns, the next few days will be spent in the Coral Sea, east of Cairns. These reefs are seldom visited by any boats and many of the hundreds of reefs in the region are yet to be fully explored. While offering incredible diving, these expeditions are of an exploratory nature and are suitable only for experienced divers.
The diving day starts early with a continental breakfast at 6:30 am followed by a dive briefing. Then jump in the water at 7:30 am for the 1st dive of the day. You will have time to discuss your underwater encounters with your dive buddies while having the second breakfast of the day: bacon, eggs, baked beans and toast, all served with hot coffee and tea. Then it’s time to enjoy the 2nd dive.
A short surface interval is then followed by the 3rd dive which delays lunch a little: it is served at 2 pm and it varies daily, from Mexican burritos and tacos to fresh vegetables with rice and fish. Relax in the lounge or on the sundeck, before getting ready for the 4th dive of the day, before afternoon tea. Did you miss some of the action? Don't worry as you still have the 5th dive (night dive) to get the best out of your diving safari! Finally it’s time for dinner at 8 pm, then off to sleep to refresh for the next day ahead.
On the penultimate day of the tour, the diving finishes at 5 pm. Then the crew pours the champagne, lays out the nibbles, and you get ready for an Aussie BBQ party night. Don’t forget to wear your loudest tropical shirt or dress and sing along to music played by the talented crew band!

Day 8
Awake back in Cairns and enjoy a final continental breakfast. Then it is time for group photos and final goodbyes. Disembark from Spoilsport and transfer back to your city hotel or airport.
Note: sometimes this cruise ends in Townsville so check exact port details above.

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Ashmore Reef Exploration (8 Days / 7 Nights - 29 Dives)

Trip highlights: shark action, dolphins, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Great Detached Reef, Raine Island, Pandora Wreck, Cocoon, Ashmore Reef , Quetta Wreck, Cape York Tip

Day 1
Meet at the Mike Ball office at North Horn Island at 4 pm for your first chance to be introduced to the other guests and dive masters that will share this Great Barrier Reef cruise with you. A light refreshment and soft drinks are available upon boarding. Help yourself while the tour director introduces the cruise and crew and explains in detail about the boat, its safety rules and the itinerary of your safari.

Days 2-7
This safari is a rare opportunity to visit the remote and pristine reefs of Ashmore Reef. Dive with hundreds of turtles at Raine Island & descend on the historic wrecks of the Quetta, and the Pandora Wreck of ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ fame. Be part of a genuine voyage of discovery, and help unlock the secrets of this final frontier.
Plunge into the unknown at Ashmore Reef, a mysterious, isolated, and rarely visited coral system. Between 40,000-100,000 green turtles visit Raine Island each year to lay their eggs in the warm sands. The island is not accessible to the public, but the reefs surrounding it are excellent for diving. The coral here is some of the most pristine seen anywhere.
Great Detached Reef is 46 km of fringing reef that offer some great sites to choose from. See fields of hard coral down to 30m at Turmoil, plus beautiful soft corals, fans and whips at Twin Peaks, Oh My Bommie, Cracker and Big Woody. This reef is home to masses of marine life, both large and small.
The diving day starts early with a continental breakfast at 6:30 am followed by a dive briefing. Then a jump in the water at 7:30 am for the 1st dive of the day. Then you will have time to discuss your underwater encounters with your dive buddies while having the second breakfast of the day: bacon, eggs, baked beans and toasts, all served with hot coffee and tea.10:30 am is time for the 2nd dive of the day. A short surface interval is then followed by the 3rd dive which delays lunch a little: it is served at 2 pm and it varies daily, from Mexican burritos and tacos to fresh vegetables with rice and fish. Relax in the lounge or on the sundeck, before getting ready for the 4th dive of the day in the middle of the afternoon. Did you miss some of the action? Don't worry as you still have the 5th dive (night dive) to get the best out of your diving safari! Before a new day of diving begins again..

Day 8
Awake back at Horn Island and enjoy a final continental breakfast. Then it is time for group photos and final goodbyes. Disembark from Spoilsport and transfer back to your hotel or airport.

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Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs (6 Days / 5 Nights - 17 Dives)

Trip highlights: turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Ribbon Reefs: Cod Hole, Snake Pit, Dynamite Pass, Lighthouse Bommie, Gotham City, Pixie Wall, Pixie Pinnacle, Goggle Gardens, Coral Kingdom, Flare Point, Cracker Jack, Summer Bay, Trolly Shoal, Blue Lagoon and Steve's Bommie; Continental Shelf, Lizard Island

Day 1
Check-in at the Mike Ball office then, at Hemingway’s Brewery, Trinity Wharf during the afternoon, meet your fellow passengers that will share this Great Barrier Reef safari with you. After boarding, you can enjoy a glass of champagne and light snacks while the tour director introduces the crew and gives a full briefing about the boat, its safety rules and the itinerary of your safari. Now it’s time to organise rental equipment and put your dive gear together on the dive deck as the catamaran departs from Cairns.

Day 2-5
The Ribbon Reefs is where the world-class diving is on the Great Barrier Reef. They are characterised by colourful reefs with sandy channels. They are home to wobbegongs, thriving populations of reef fish, minke whales in season (June and July), and are relatively shallow sites less than 100 km from the mainland. You will also meet the giant potato cod at the world famous Cod Hole.
At Lizard Island you can choose to dive, snorkel, kayak, or set foot on these beautiful and rarely visited remote islands. Kayak to deserted beaches or snorkel above the shallow coral gardens. Step back in time at the ruins of Mrs Watson's Cottage; stroll along the Pandanis palms boardwalk up to Chinaman’s Ridge for magnificent views of the island and reefs below.
The diving day starts early with a continental breakfast at 6:30 am followed by a dive briefing. Then jump in the water at 7:30 am for the 1st dive of the day. Enjoy the different marine life that awaits for you underwater including bumphead parrotfish, sweetlips and whitetip reef sharks on some dives. You will have time to discuss your underwater encounters with your dive buddies while having the second breakfast of the day: bacon, eggs, baked beans and toast, all served with hot coffee and tea. 10:30 hrs and you will enjoy the view of healthy soft corals surrounded by glassfish as you make the 2nd dive. A short surface interval is then followed by the 3rd dive which delays lunch a little: it is served at 2 pm and it varies daily, from Mexican burritos and tacos to fresh vegetables with rice and fish. Relax in the lounge or on the sundeck, before getting ready for the 4th dive of the day, before afternoon tea. Did you miss some of the action? Don't worry as you still have the 5th dive (night dive) to get the best out of your diving safari! Finally it's time for dinner at 8 pm, then off to sleep to refresh for the next day ahead.
During the evening of the penultimate day of the tour, the crew pours the champagne, lays out the nibbles, and you get ready for an Aussie BBQ party night. Don’t forget to wear your loudest tropical shirt or dress and sing along to music played by the talented crew band!

Day 6
Awake back in Cairns and enjoy a continental breakfast. Then it is time for group photos and final goodbyes. Disembark from Spoilsport and transfer back to your Cairns city hotel or airport.

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[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].

Spoilsport can accommodate up to 28 divers in 14 air-conditioned cabins across 4 categories. All located on the middle deck, the cabin categories comprise 4 Premium cabins, 4 Standard cabins, 4 Club cabins and 2 Budget cabins.

The 4 Premium cabins are fitted with a double bed or queen sized bed. The Standard cabins all feature twin single beds, whilst the Budget and Club cabins provide twin bunk beds.

The Premium and Standard cabins feature large windows that allow natural light in. Club and Budget cabins, located in the centre of the vessel, feature cabin lights and reading lamps.

All cabin categories have private en-suite facilities, except for the Budget cabins, which have shared bathroom facilities.

All the cabins have: No. of bathrooms / showers - 13 / 13 - hot water

The crew comprises: Enriched air nitrox - 3 Camera tables - Separate rinse tank for cameras - Video/photo editing facilities - Air-conditioned lounge with bar, TV, DVD and music centre - Movie library - Open-air dining area - Computer & CD burner - Satellite phone and fax - Books, magazines, games, fish ID books - Sun deck with sun chairs and shaded areas - Water dispenser

Spoilsport's culinary reputation precedes it with devine international and Australian dishes. Complimentary wine and soft drinks are served with evening meals.

• All meals are served in the air-conditioned dining room, however, the open-air rear sundeck can also facilitate meals if you choose.
• Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.
• Vegetarians are catered for with delights such as oven roasted eggplant, zucchini, pumpkin and capsicum served with warm couscous and wild rice on a well thought-out menu.
• Complimentary 24-hour coffee, tea, soft drinks and water.
• A well-stocked bar for a daily diving analysis with favourite tipple in hand.
• Guests are always welcomed aboard Spoilsport with fruit juice and light refreshments, but the first full meal onboard will be breakfast or lunch, depending on cruise departure time.
• Fixed menu.

Customer reviews:

"Excellent service by the team on board. Good dive guides and great food." - Steve Wilson, USA, 30 May 2024 ...

"Highly professional, attended to personal requests without hesitation and a very enjoyable diving experience" - Chris Earley, USA, 20 May 2021 ...

"Those staff on Spoilsport are wonderful. The equipment like tender, emergency supply tank were always standby when we went diving, It is necessity backups for divers. " - Chen An Tseng, Taiwan, 4 January 2018 ...

"Spoilsport was excellent. Facilities on the boat were just about perfect and the service provided was definitely 5 star.. from the excellent food, to general cleanliness and little extras like warm dry towels after every dive. The diving itself was superb and I particularly liked the way it was organised, with thorough briefings and maps available for each site and the option to dive with a guide or as a buddy team.
This approach gives flexibility for more experienced divers to really enjoy the diving with enough information to find the "good stuff" and navigate sites but the freedom to really enjoy the dive. The shark feed dive was spectacular and the condition of the sites in general was pretty good - we got lucky and saw a Hammerhead on our penultimate dive which was a first for me...I'm already recommending this trip to others!" - Susan Wilson, UAE, 16 August 2015 ...

"The Mike Ball group was professional and safety conscious first and foremost. They made the trip comfortable, fun, relaxed, attending to our every need. The dives were set up well from the equipment (would have like full wetsuit but shorties were ok), to the procedure for entering and exiting. The boat was full with 29 divers but spacious enough to spread out. The food was quite plentiful and tasty for hungry divers. We did the 3 night trip and 12 dives and felt we saw the best coral and fish possible. Next time we may include the Osprey Reef on the longer trip." - Cindy Armbruster, USA, 13 November 2013 ...

"We had an awesome dive adventure on the Spoilsport. The dives on the Great Barrier Reef were incredible and the liveaboard crew staff exceeded our expectations....the meals, service, etc. was flawless. The trip was an A+!!!" - Ellen & Tom Atchison, USA, 1 July 2012 ...

"The live aboard boat was just great. The cabins were roomy and there was lots of room to spread out. Food was very good.
Diving was really good. Visibility was generally about 50-60 feet at most sites. The marine life was amazing. Saw sharks, moray eels, stone fish, nudibranches, clown fish, potato cod (huge!), lion fish, lots of little fish, etc. Met a number of interesting people on the boat. The staff were great, very accommodating and really friendly.
This was a fabulous experience that I would recommend to anybody. Really good value for the money and superior service. You get to know the crew personally. They all pitch in to help and make the live aboard experience wonderful." - Paul Pilutti, Canada, 13 February 2012 ...

"Fantastic set-up. Knowledgeable instructors, great crew, tons of fun, great dive sites. Food was stunningly good." - Graham Carssow, USA, 21 December 2011 ...

"Staff was very helpful, ship was very clean, everyone was very friendly and enthusiastic. We had a wonderful time on the cruise, thanks!" - Yi-Hsin Lin, USA, 6 September 2010 ...