We actually missed our flight to Australia tonight and will now be flying out tomorrow. I decided to look into GBR tours and I am confused.

There seems to be so many tours going to different parts of the reef. Can anyone recommend a tour you enjoyed?

Also, on these tours, I know it takes about 2 hours to get to the reef.. but once you get there, are you just out in the middle of the ocean? or do you land by one of the many islands surrounding the reef? I get seasick when the boat is on the ocean, so I would like to stay on a boat that is docked by an island.

I had heard good things about the tour Ocean Spirit visiting Michaelmas Cay. Anyone else have any comments?

Lastly, any recommendations on rainforest tours? Any help would be appreciated.

Actually I forgot to mention that we are staying in Port Douglas, therefore I hear Poseidon and Quicksilver are good options. Any comments? Do these land on an island?

I suggest that you put in the name Pat Woolford in the search box and see what she has had to say on those things in the past.
She has a lovely B&B in Cairns and has lived in the area for a long time and therefore has a great wealth of knowledge about all tours, destinations and everything else.
If she recommends something then its ok. Get some Kwells anyway and take them one hour before going out on the reef.
Have a wonderful time. After the cyclone the place is looking great since there is no shortage of water and everything is green and lovely again,

I don't know how much you are looking to spend, but Quicksilver has a permanent snorkeling/diving structure on the reef. We flew out to the platform by helicopter (the view of the reef from the air are absolutely amazing) and then took the boat back. I also get motion sick (very very badly) and had no problems. There is no movement on their permanent platform. This structure has a dining room, bathrooms, all the facilities. The boat ride back did take about 1.5 hours if I remember right but I had no problems with motion sickness. You can also fly back from Quicksilver. We didn't because all the flights were full. The flight was definately a highlight of our trip and I highly recommend it if it fits into your budget.

We did the Quicksilver tour to their permanent platform out in the Reef. The ride out to the reef was quite rough, the cat was travelling very quickly and the water was a bit rough . . . needless to say, I spent most of the trip out the back of the cat with my 9 yr old DD who didn't fare so well . . . but the staff were magnificent, so helpful with DD (and all the others out the back that were ill), they took wonderful care, kept coming to check on her, give ice chips, cool cloths . . . . once at the platform, she was fine . . . it doesn't move, her and I went in semi-submersible sub .... the staff saw DD with her little white bag (which she wasn't putting down until we were back on land), they let her and I sit at the back of the sub so we were close to the door and fresh air . . . DD was fine on this . . . . . DH and DS went out on the boat to snorkel, arranged while I was out the back of the cat with DD, but didn't rent the blue suits (only $5 or so, but 12 yr old DS didn't want to look like a smurf) . . .this was a HUGE mistake . . . only in water for 10 minutes max, DS had a rash or bites from things in the water and they both had to sit in the boat for the rest of the time (1 hr or so) waiting for the others (good news was they were refunded their money, without even asking).

Trip back on Cat was good . . . smooth as ice ... DD slept most of the way back.
DD also has severe food allergy to egg . . . Quicksilver faxed the menu along with all ingredients to our hotel day before so I knew exactly what she could eat . . . makes for peace of mind.

enjoy!

Quicksilver has several boats leaving from Port Douglas - one is the above mentioned large catamaran which takes about 400 people to a moored metal pontoon out on Agincourt Reef, where it keeps its semi-submersible and glass bottom boats. Quicksilver's smaller Silversonic is fitted with special stabilisers which Quicksilver claim to provide the smoothest ride to reef, even at speeds of 32knots. Quicksilver's Wavedancer goes to Low Islands, not the outer reef but pleasant snorkelling from sandy beach.

Wavelength(snorkelling only) takes only 30 people, and often not nearly that many, a fine trip along with those of Calypso and Poseidon. Certified and introductory dives are available on all except Wavelength.

Ocean Spirit (out of Cairns) to Michaelmas Cay would be ideal for you swiggle, as its easy snorkelling from an outer reef sand cay, not from the side of a boat. Just like going into water from a beach, unfortunately it doesn't pick up in Port Douglas, just Cairns and Palm Cove.