How to book
You can request a Mike Ball Dive Expeditions liveaboard trip online on this site, with support from our Japanese-speaking desk. This page explains each step, from finding a date to boarding day.
How booking works
-
Find a date
Open the dive cruise schedule (also via the 「空席を確認」 button in the header). You can switch between list and calendar view and filter by cruise or month.
Each departure shows its availability:
- 予約可 / Available: places are open
- 残席僅か / Limited: only a few places left
- 満席 / Full: no places right now. To join the waitlist, please contact us
Availability is updated daily from Mike Ball’s own data. It can change at any time, so our staff confirm the final availability after you send your request.
-
Check the departure page
Click a date to open that departure’s page. It shows the departure and return times, the diving experience required, prices and availability by cabin type, and the itinerary.
-
Press 「この日程で予約する」 (Book this date)
The booking form opens with the cruise and date already filled in. The form is in Japanese; here is what each field means (* = required):
- 名前* : full name in English, as in your passport
- メールアドレス* / 電話番号* : e-mail address / phone number
- 参加人数* : total number of guests, including you
- キャビンタイプ : cabin type (Premium / Standard / Club / Budget)
- 食事リクエスト* : meals (none / vegetarian / vegan)
- プライベートガイド* : private guide (not needed / first day / whole trip, optionally Japanese-speaking)
- 以前マイクボールに乗船… : have you sailed with Mike Ball before? (はい = yes / いいえ = no)
- 参加者情報 / 問い合わせ : other guests and any questions (English is fine)
Full details for each guest (date of birth, diving experience and so on) can be added later on your customer page.
-
You receive a confirmation e-mail
Straight after sending, we e-mail your booking number (for example MB-2611-0001) and a link to your customer page. If it does not arrive, please check your spam folder.
Your booking is not confirmed yet at this point.
-
We hold your place and you pay the deposit
Our staff check availability with Mike Ball and put your place on hold. We then e-mail you the deposit amount, due date and how to pay.
-
Booking confirmed, balance payment
Once we receive your deposit, we confirm your booking. Please pay the balance by the due date we give you.
-
Get ready and board
Fill in every guest’s details on your customer page. When everything is in place, your status changes to “Ready to board”. On departure day, check in at the Mike Ball office in Cairns (3 Abbott St) before boarding. Check-in times are on the departure page and in the e-mail we send before your trip.
Your customer page
After you book, your customer page lets you:
- see your booking status, price and payments
- add or edit guest details
- request changes (dates, number of guests and so on)
- send messages to our staff
How to open it: use the link in any e-mail from us; no password is needed. If you cannot find the link, enter your booking number and e-mail address on the customer page and we will e-mail you a new sign-in link (valid for 30 days). The page can be switched to English.
Booking status
- ReceivedWe have received your request
- Checking with Mike BallWe are checking availability
- On holdYour place is held. Please pay the deposit by the due date
- ConfirmedYour booking is confirmed
- Ready to boardAll details and payments are complete
- CompletedThank you for sailing with us
FAQ
Is my booking confirmed when I send the form?
No. It is confirmed once our staff have checked availability and your deposit has been paid.
The date I want is full. What can I do?
Please contact us to join the waitlist.
Can I change the date or number of guests later?
Send a change request from your customer page and we will check and get back to you. Some changes may not be possible because of fares or the cancellation policy.
Can I ask questions before booking?
Of course. Please use the contact form.
キャンセルポリシー
1.8% Bank charge for CC purchase transaction is deducted from the refund amount. /クレジットカード購入取引に対する1.8%の銀行手数料は、返金額から差し引かれます。
Cooling off period: Less than 24hrs after deposit, 0% forfeit of trip fee. /クーリングオフ期間：入金後24時間未満の場合、旅行費用の没収は0%。
More than 60 days prior to departure: Deposit refundable, less 1.8% credit card transaction fee. /出発60日前より前：クレジットカード取引手数料の1.8%を差し引いた金額が返金されます。
Between 60 – 30 days prior to departure: Deposit not refundable. Credit valid for 2 years. /出発60～30日前：デポジットは返金されませんが、クレジットは2年間有効です。
Within 30 days of departure: 100% forfeit. Credits only offered for cancellations directly resulting from a pandemic; relevant documentation required. /出発30日以内：100%の没収。ただし、パンデミックによるキャンセルの場合のみ、クレジットが提供されます。その際には関連書類の提出が必要です。
WEATHER AND MECHANICAL CANCELLATIONS OR EVACUATION OF GUEST /天候および船舶の故障またはゲストの緊急退避等によるキャンセル
Cancellations due to weather are refunded for value of days lost less associated costs of 15% of expedition fee. Cancellations due to vessel breakdowns are fully refunded. No compensation is offered to change flights or holiday plans. If the evacuation of a guest causes a change of route; reduced days or dives, a credit is provided to the value of days lost. /天候によるキャンセルは、失われた日数の価値に対してクルーズ費用の15%を差し引いた額が返金されます。船舶の故障によるキャンセルは全額返金されます。フライト変更や旅行計画の変更に対する補償はありません。ゲストの緊急退避によって航路の変更、日数やダイビングの減少が発生した場合、失われた日数に対してクレジットが提供されます。
