Great Escape Frequently Asked Questions

You can make your reservation by calling or emailing our reservation team in Broome. We will hold a tentative reservation for you for 7 days pending receipt of a 20% non-refundable deposit and completed reservation form.

The payment of deposit secures your place and the signed reservation form is an acknowledgement that you have read understood and agree to the booking conditions available with The Great Escape Charter Company. We will confirm your reservation to you in writing on receipt of your deposit payment.

Give us a call.

• Transfers between your accommodation and Broome/ Kununurra airport to the vessel and in reverse.
• All light aircraft / helicopter transfers on fly / cruise or cruise / fly itineraries.
• All travel onboard MV Great Escape.
• All meals – breakfasts, lunches and dinners, morning & afternoon tea.
• All non-alcoholic beverages – tea, coffee, juices, soda water, tonic water and soft drink.
• Accommodation onboard.
• All sightseeing activities.
• Linen, towels, hairdryers, shampoo, conditioner, sunscreen, insect repellent.
• All services of our professional crew.
• Premium fishing gear is included on all cruises.
• Tanks, air refills and weight belts are provided on all dive cruises to the Rowley Shoals.    

Optional Extras:

• Satellite WiFi
• Helicopter Scenic Flights
• Alcohol

Please note alcohol is BYO – we have a simple ordering process in place to assist you with purchasing all alcohol via the local bottle shop 6-8 weeks prior to your embarkation.

• Native Title Access Fees as determined by traditional owners of exclusive native title areas along the Kimberley coast (park fees). 
• Alcohol is not included – we have an easy ordering system in place for you to purchase alcohol via the local bottle shop 6-8 weeks prior to cruise departure. 
• Items of a personal nature such as telephone calls, internet, alcohol, travel insurance, airfares to and from home.
• Helicopter scenic flights – no need to pre-book, can be arranged once onboard and payable via credit card at end of the cruise.
• Diving and snorkelling equipment are not provided however we can arrange for these to be hired if required (applicable to Rowley Shoals cruises only).

Due to how far in advance you book and the adventurous nature of the cruises offered by The Great Escape Charter Company, we strongly recommend you take out cancellation insurance and comprehensive travel insurance that covers you for medical evacuation via private helicopter.

Please bring sufficient supplies of any prescription medicine you are taking. We have essential medication and carry emergency oxygen and a defibrillator. All crew are trained in senior first aid.

Yes, if your Kimberley cruise itinerary involves a transfer via light aircraft and helicopter there is a strict 10kg luggage allowance per passenger. Please note we provide a complimentary laundry service aboard the vessel. 

If you are embarking upon an extended holiday and have luggage in addition to your 10kg cruise baggage the Guest Relations Coordinator will happily arrange storage for the duration of your cruise.

Kimberley cruise itineraries with 10kg per passenger luggage restriction:

• 6/7 night Kings of the Kimberley Northern Gorges
• 7 night Southern Kimberley Experience 
• 4 night Kimberley Fishing Extravaganza 

If your Kimberley cruise itinerary is port to port from Broome to Wyndham (or in reverse) luggage restrictions do not apply.

We recommend that you pack simply, lightly and into one soft luggage bag and ask that you clearly label all luggage in advance of your cruise. For further information please refer to the packing hints provided by the Guest Relations Coordinator. 

We have an onboard chef whose culinary skills are consistently praised by all. We offer modern Australian cuisine which features a lot of fresh, local produce including freshly caught seafood.

Special dietary needs are easily accommodated when stated on the Passenger Details form pre-cruise.

Our Chef is always happy to arrange a special cake or meal for a celebration if required. 

MV Great Escape is not a licensed vessel, all alcohol is BYO. You are welcome to organise your own alcohol which must be delivered to the Great Escape office 6 weeks prior to your departure.  Alternatively, we have a local Broome bottle shop who you can liaise with and pre-order your alcohol.

Good health and a fair range of mobility are required to fully enjoy your wilderness adventure cruise and the onshore adventures. Cruises are designed so that you can do as much or as little as you choose. Our crew are always there to lend a supportive hand for those needing assistance. You will be boarding and disembarking via tenders, bushwalking, swimming and climbing. Please notify us if you have any injuries or disabilities prior to departure. 

On our Kimberley cruises we spend as much time as possible cruising in the river estuaries or protected areas along the coast, however from time to time we do experience some choppy weather.

On our Rowley Shoals Underwater Adventures the journey there and the journey home is in 300kms of open sea, this can be quite choppy at times however as soon as you arrive you will be in the protected waters of the coral atolls. 

If you suffer from sea sickness or are unsure on how reliable your sea legs are, we recommend taking a preventative measure for at least the first few days until you feel comfortable.

Guests must bring their own sea sickness medication onboard. 

The dress standard onboard is informal and we suggest barefoot when onboard the vessel. We encourage a casual, relaxed atmosphere. Sporty, lightweight, cotton clothing is a good basis for your cruise wardrobe. There is an iron provided on board if you wish to use it.

In tropical conditions, shorts and lightweight shirts are most comfortable and loose long-sleeved shirts and long pants in a natural, lightweight fabric, such as cotton, offer protection against the sun. At times the weather can be humid so clothing in a ‘breathable’ fabric is recommended. Fishing shirts are also a great option as they are light and have UV protection as well. The average daily temperature is 28ºC – 33ºC.

In July & August, the minimum temperatures can fall to between 12ºC – 15ºC so you may want to consider a light jumper or jacket for an early morning excursion and your helicopter transfer if you feel it is necessary.

As you will be moving from tenders via water to land, we highly recommend a reef shoe you are able to get wet with good grip for walking on rocks such as “Keen” footwear  https://keenfootwear.com.au/  this type of footwear is more practical than hiking boots or sneakers.

We ask that our guests be barefoot when onboard the vessel. 

Yes, we have compiled a HOT LIST with suggestions on where to stay, eat, shop and what to see and do in both Broome and Kununurra.

Kununurra Accommodation & Restaurants

Broome Accommodation & Restaurants

You are travelling all the way to the Kimberley for an adventure of a lifetime, we highly recommend arriving at least a day or more pre-cruise and staying a day or more post cruise to really experience all the region has to offer.

We highly recommend you arrive a minimum of 1-2 days prior to your cruise departure date and likewise upon disembarkation.  We highly suggest you do not book flights for the same day as your cruise departs or returns.