Short answer
Habibi and Summertime are both two-day, one-night Whitsundays sails on old-school ketches, and both cover Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet. Habibi gives everyone a private cabin (single, twin or double), a social 14 to 45 crowd and an 8:30am start with two to three reef snorkel stops. Summertime carries up to 17 guests aged 18+, adds a kayak for every guest and a freshwater jacuzzi, and includes a bath towel and marine park fees. Habibi starts from $449 and Summertime from $469.
Prices are per person in AUD, from our current listings (October 2026), and can change. Both leave Coral Sea Marina in Airlie Beach at 8:30am. Neither is a two-night trip: if you want two nights, see Atlantic Clipper vs PowerPlay.
Habibi vs Summertime at a glance
| Habibi | Summertime | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | 2 days, 1 night | 2 days, 1 night |
| Boat | 18-metre steel ketch, sailing the Whitsundays for 20+ years | Refurbished 70-year-old timber ketch |
| Group size | Small group (number not listed) | Up to 17 |
| Ages | Pitched at a social 14 to 45 crowd | 18+ |
| Sleeping | Private double, twin or single cabin | Shared or private cabin, air-conditioned |
| Extras | Sailing instruction, water volleyball at anchor, DJ when the evening calls for it | Kayaks for every guest, freshwater jacuzzi |
| Snorkelling | 2 to 3 reef stops, gear and guidance included | Fringing reef snorkelling, gear and wetsuits included |
| Departs | 8:30am | 8:30am, Thursdays and Saturdays |
| Back in Airlie | Afternoon | About 4pm |
| Park fees | Not listed | Included |
| From | $449 | $469 |
Price by cabin
| Cabin | Habibi | Summertime |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $449 | n/a |
| Share single | n/a | $469 |
| Share double | $929 | $469 |
| Triple share | n/a | $469 |
| Private double | $979 | $569 |
| Private twin | $979 | included in Private Double/Twin |
Right now, Habibi ($449) is cheaper than Summertime ($469). Check which cabin type you are comparing before you read much into that: Habibi’s lowest price is a single cabin, Summertime’s is a shared berth. The exact price shows on each tour page before you pay.
Sleeping: private cabins vs shared berths
This is the real difference. Habibi’s pitch is private cabins for everyone: a private double, twin or single, with no dorm-style bunk lottery. Summertime sells shared singles, a share double and a triple share at its lower price, and a private double or twin at the top. Summertime is fully air-conditioned below deck; Habibi’s listing does not mention air-conditioning, so check the tour page if that matters.
The vibe
Habibi is described as the overnighter that feels like a mate’s boat: water volleyball at anchor, a DJ when the evening calls for it, storytelling when it does not, and sailing instruction if you want to earn your passage. Summertime is “old boat, easy days, good company”: a cap of 17, kayaks so every anchorage becomes a playground, and a freshwater jacuzzi for a salt-free soak between swims. Both are far smaller than a party boat. If you want a deck full of 50 people instead, read Whitsundays sailing boats compared.
Day by day
Habibi, day 1: meet at Coral Sea Marina for the safety briefing and an 8:30am departure. Snorkel at least two coral bays, then about two hours at Whitehaven Beach including the short bushwalk to the Hill Inlet lookout. Anchor in a quiet cove for sunset, dinner cooked on board and a night in your cabin. Day 2: sunrise if you are an early riser, breakfast, more snorkel spots, platter lunch and afternoon tea, then back to Airlie Beach in the afternoon.
Summertime, day 1: depart Coral Sea Marina at 8:30am. Sail through the Whitsunday Islands, snorkel the fringing reefs, kayak, and head for Whitehaven Beach and the Hill Inlet lookout, then dinner and a soak in the jacuzzi. Day 2: breakfast, more snorkelling and kayaking, then the sail back, arriving about 4pm. The skipper adjusts the route to the weather.
What is included
- Habibi: private cabin, all meals (dinner cooked on board, platter lunches, breakfast with fresh fruit and cereals, snacks and afternoon tea), snorkelling equipment and crew guidance, sailing instruction opportunities, onboard entertainment. The listing does not itemise linen, towels or wetsuits.
- Summertime: linen and a bath towel, all meals including snacks, tea, coffee and tap water, kayaks, wetsuits and snorkelling gear, and Marine and National Park fees. Not included: alcohol (BYO), bottled water, soft drinks, beach towels.
Which should you pick?
- Want a private cabin, any age mix, and a social boatHabibi.
- Want kayaks, a jacuzzi and a smaller 18+ groupSummertime.
- Want linen, a bath towel and park fees spelled out as includedSummertime.
- Want sailing instructionHabibi.
Other 2D/1N options sit in the same price range: Waltzing Matilda (8 to 15 guests, three snorkels across two days) and Prima (6 to 12 guests, Starlink wifi, bath towels included). The full list sorted by price is on Whitsundays sailing trips by price, and day sail vs overnight covers whether to sleep on a boat at all.
FAQs
Is Habibi or Summertime cheaper?
Habibi starts from $449 for a single cabin and Summertime from $469 for a shared berth. Private cabins are $979 on Habibi and $569 on Summertime.
How many people are on Habibi and Summertime?
Summertime carries a maximum of 17 guests. Habibi’s listing says small group and does not give a number.
Do Habibi and Summertime go to Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet?
Yes. Both include Whitehaven Beach and the Hill Inlet lookout on day one.
Is Habibi a 2 night trip?
No. Habibi is 2 days and 1 night, with the night anchored in a quiet cove. Summertime is the same format.
Which days does Summertime leave?
The listing says Thursdays and Saturdays at 8:30am. Check the available dates on the Summertime tour page.
Can I book Habibi or Summertime through Wanderlust?
Yes. Pick your cabin and date on the Habibi or Summertime page and pay on our site, and we book it for you.
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