Coral Expeditions: the back story

About Coral Expeditions: the back story

By the ULTIMATE the world’s cruise lines Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Coral Expeditions began in 1983 as Coral Princess Cruises, a small North Queensland company exploring the Great Barrier Reef. It went on to pioneer small-ship expedition cruising to the Kimberley and Papua New Guinea, and today sails three Australian-flagged ships.

From the reef

Coral Expeditions started in 1983 as Coral Princess Cruises, a small company in North Queensland that took guests out to the Great Barrier Reef. From there it went further than most: it pioneered small-ship expedition cruising along the Kimberley coast of Western Australia and to Papua New Guinea, and its Great Barrier Reef voyages still leave from Cairns.

Three ships, built for remote coasts

The fleet is small and purpose-built. Coral Adventurer, launched in April 2019 by the shipbuilder VARD, carries 120 guests in 60 staterooms and was designed to reach remote wilderness shores; her sister Coral Geographer followed in 2021, adding Bridge Deck suites. Coral Discoverer, the most yacht-like of the three, carries 72 guests in 36 staterooms and was refurbished in 2025 with balconies; her shallow draught lets her get close in to shore.

Shore excursions with the expedition team, the tenders, Zodiacs and kayaks are part of the fare on its voyages.

Ashore by Xplorer

Instead of relying only on Zodiacs, the line uses its own purpose-built Xplorer tenders to carry guests ashore, and keeps an open-bridge policy on board. Shore excursions with the expedition team, the tenders, Zodiacs and kayaks are part of the fare on its voyages.

An Australian table

Food is plated and shared in turn, with a daily changing choice of plated dishes and small sharing platters, built on regional produce and a distinctly Australian accent. On Coral Geographer a galley window lets you watch the kitchen at work.

Our advice: sail with Coral Expeditions where it made its name. Ten nights in the Kimberley between Broome and Darwin is the classic; for something further, the 18-night Raja Ampat and Spice Islands voyage on Coral Geographer joins Australia to the reefs of eastern Indonesia.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Coral Expeditions: the back story before you go.