Coral Expeditions: Our Cruise Line Guide

The back story

Since: 1983, as Coral Princess Cruises, North Queensland (coralexpeditions.com, Oct 2026) · Fleet: Coral Geographer (120 guests, 2021), Coral Adventurer (120, 2019), Coral Discoverer (72) (coralexpeditions.com, Oct 2026) · Shore access: Purpose-built Xplorer tenders (coralexpeditions.com) · Drinks: Selected wines, beers and house spirits with lunch and dinner on many voyages; check each voyage (coralexpeditions.com) · Sails to: The Kimberley, Great Barrier Reef, Cape York and Arnhem Land, Papua New Guinea, the Solomons and Vanuatu, Raja Ampat and the Spice Islands, Borneo, New Zealand

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   The back story

   Coral Expeditions: the back story

   Coral Expeditions·In depth

   How a small North Queensland reef operator became Australia’s pioneer of small-ship expedition cruising, from the Great Barrier Reef to the Kimberley and the Spice Islands.

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The fleet

Who it suits. On a budget: A Great Barrier Reef voyage from Cairns, the line’s home waters, with expedition-team shore excursions, tenders and kayaks included. Mid-range: Ten nights in the Kimberley between Broome and Darwin on Coral Geographer or Coral Adventurer. Luxury: A Bridge Deck suite on Coral Geographer for the 18-night Raja Ampat and Spice Islands voyage from Darwin.

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   120 guests

   Coral Geographer

   Coral Expeditions·Expedition ship · VARD·€€€

   The newest ship, launched in 2021: a 120-guest sister to Coral Adventurer with additional Bridge Deck suites and a galley window into the kitchen.

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   120 guests

   Coral Adventurer

   Coral Expeditions·Expedition ship · VARD·€€€

   A tropical expedition ship launched in April 2019, purpose-designed to reach remote wilderness shores.

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3. C

   72 guests

   Coral Discoverer

   Coral Expeditions·Expedition yacht·€€€

   A 72-guest expedition yacht built for remote Australian coastlines, refurbished in 2025 with balconies.

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The suites

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   Coral Geographer only

   Bridge Deck suites (Coral Geographer)

   Coral Expeditions·Suites · Bridge Deck·€€€€

   The suites that set Coral Geographer apart from her sister: additional accommodation on the Bridge Deck.

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Dining on board

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   Plated and sharing platters

   Cuisine and wine (Coral Expeditions)

   Coral Expeditions·Dining · every ship·€€€

   A daily changing choice of plated dishes and small sharing platters, built on regional produce with a distinctly Australian accent.

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Life on board

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   Purpose-built tenders

   Xplorer tenders and the open bridge

   Coral Expeditions·Life on board

   Purpose-built Xplorer tenders take guests ashore, and the bridge is open to guests.

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Where it sails

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   10 nights

   The Kimberley

   Coral Expeditions·Western Australia · Broome to Darwin

   The line’s signature: ten-night voyages along the Kimberley coast between Broome and Darwin, with Coral Geographer departures from November 2026 to November 2027.

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2. R

   18 nights

   Raja Ampat and the Spice Islands

   Coral Expeditions·Indonesia · Darwin to Sorong

   An 18-night voyage between Darwin and Sorong on Coral Geographer, with departures in December 2026–January 2027 and August–September 2027.

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   Home waters

   The Great Barrier Reef and Cape York

   Coral Expeditions·Queensland · from Cairns

   Great Barrier Reef expedition voyages from Cairns, and the 11-night Cape York and Arnhem Land voyage from Cairns to Darwin on Coral Discoverer.

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4. P

   16 nights

   Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific

   Coral Expeditions·Melanesia · from Cairns

   The Louisiades, Solomons and Vanuatu: a 16-night voyage from Cairns to Port Vila, among the line’s South Pacific expeditions.

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What’s included and how to book

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   Varies by voyage

   What the Coral Expeditions fare includes

   Coral Expeditions·Inclusions

   All meals, shore excursions with the expedition team, tenders, Zodiacs and kayaks; selected drinks with lunch and dinner on many voyages; and on some, snorkelling equipment and park and port fees.

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