Cruising the Kimberley is a one-in-a-lifetime experience that deserves a place on everyone’s bucket list. The majestic wilderness destination, located in Western Australia’s far north, is filled with dramatic gorges, remote islands and stunning rivers that are best explored by boat.

We were introduced to the region’s magic in May 2021 and our happy memories of the trip will linger with us for many years to come - we’re already dreaming about making a return visit.

The first thing to consider when organising a Kimberley cruise is to choose the boat that best suits your needs. We were fortunate to have Andrew Castles at Expedition Cruise Specialists to guide us. He discussed our expectations and fitness levels, then advised us to choose a smaller vessel – the Reef Prince.

The Reef Prince was given a multi-million dollar refurbishment in 2019 and offers great value in a relaxed, stylish setting. It features a spacious dining and living room, plus a selection of shaded outdoor spots to admire the spectacular views.

 

 

As the Reef Prince only takes 36 passengers – in 18 cabins, all with en suites - and is a compact 38- metre low-draught catamaran, it can visit destinations that are challenging or impossible for larger ships to navigate. It also offers more opportunities to disembark and explore on land.

However, a small ship may not be the ideal option for anyone who isn’t relatively fit and adventurous, as there is some climbing involved to visit the more interesting Indigenous art sites and waterholes. Fortunately, we were both eager and able to take part in all activities on offer.

The energetic crew played a major role in our enjoyment of the trip. They included a chef who’d worked at a hatted restaurant, a daredevil first mate, a laconic captain and one of the best Kimberley tour guides in the business. Everyone on staff was incredibly helpful and passionate about their work.

As for the cruise itself, it was magical, from waking up to the most incredible sunrises at sea to sipping sparkling wine under the stars at night.

It’s tough to choose, but here are our top six cruise highlights:

 

1. King George Falls

While many Kimberley cruise boats are too large to cross the sandbar at the mouth of the King George River, the Reef Prince can slip over and glide down to the famed King George Falls. The journey is every bit as spectacular as the destination, with dramatic ochre cliffs towering over the boat on each side. Our first glimpse of the double set of falls as they tumbled down the cliffside into the 60-metre-deep water below took our breath away. Other unforgettable moments came as we sat on the bow of a tender with the falls cascading onto our heads and our seafood lunch with a front row view of the falls.

 

 

2. King’s Cascade

Cruising along Prince Regent River to King’s Cascade was another amazing waterfall moment. We arrived in the late afternoon and climbed up the waterfall to swim in a waterhole at the top. It was breathtaking to watch the sunset on the rocks above the waterfall, gazing out over the stunning Prince Regent National Park as the sky streaked with pink and gold rays.

3. Montgomery Reef

Montgomery Reef has been described by David Attenborough as the eighth natural wonder of the world, due to the rapidly falling tide that creates a series of streams and mini-waterfalls off the reef. We explored the reef in tenders, as turtles popped their heads out of the water every few seconds and small sharks and manta rays darted around us. Afterwards, we motored to a sand “island” that had emerged near the reef during the low tide and wandered along its virgin shores.

4. Fishing

We hadn’t expected fishing to be a trip highlight, as we’d never tried it before, but it was a surprise winner for us, both as spectators and participants. The Reef Prince crew regularly took passengers on fishing trips and it was wonderful to eat our fresh catches at lunches and dinners. The boat also has two fishing chairs at the rear, where the passengers gathered on our last day at sea to shout encouragement and cheer as bonito tuna and golden trevally were reeled on board. Eating the tuna as sashimi an hour later was a delicious treat.

 

 

5. Dinner under the stars

The crew surprised passengers on the last night of our cruise by arranging tables on the prow of the boat for a dinner under the stars. We anchored at North Perron Island and long tables were draped in white tablecloths and decorated with shells and candles. We sipped pre-dinner cocktails and watched the glorious sunset before eating slow-cooked pork shoulder and asparagus pasta with lemon posset for dessert. As darkness fell, we gazed in awe at the Milky Way, which shone clear and bright above us.

6. Wildlife

A large part of the enjoyment of the cruise was spotting the native animals – wallabies hopping on rocky cliffs, sea eagles soaring majestically, tawny nurse sharks cruising behind the boat, flying fish scooting along the surface of the water and crocodiles sunbaking or emerging from the water. Our personal favourite moment was watching three brolgas majestically take flight from a sandy beach.

However, every day was different and included unforgettable moments, from exploring a crystal-scattered beach on a remote island to boating at high speed through Horizontal Falls to peering through the windows of a crashed World War II plane to sipping a beer while cooling off in a waterhole. 

 

 

 

 

We loved the opportunity to grow our photography skills aboard the Reef Prince and got some great tips from our cruise director, who offered lessons to interested passengers. Visiting numerous Indigenous sites also introduced us to the fascinating history of Aboriginal art and inspired us to buy several artworks to enjoy on our walls at home.

Our Kimberley cruise on the Reef Prince was one of the most relaxing holidays we’ve ever had. There is no mobile phone reception on the cruise and we chose not to pay for wifi. It was blissful to disconnect from the modern world for 10 days. We spent many peaceful hours sitting on deck, watching the amazing scenery slide past, nibbling on cheese and crackers when the Captain announced afternoon tea was served, reading books and chatting to our fellow passengers.

Months later we are still in contact with the new friends we made aboard the Reef Prince. We regularly reminisce about how lucky we were to share the holiday of a lifetime together.

 

Alana House & David Fuller write about their adventures at www.thethirstytravellers.com

 

 

Alana and David joined the Reef Prince's 10-night Kimberley cruise from Broome to Darwin in June 2021. To secure one of the last remaining cabins for 20223 - or book for 2024 - please call the expert team at Expedition Cruise Specialists today on 1800 90 20 80 or visit https://www.expeditioncruisespecialists.com/ships/reef-prince.

 

 

While there’s no doubt that Covid-19 has been incredibly trying for us all in the tourism industry, there has been a few silver linings. For Australia’s pioneering expedition cruise line Coral Expeditions, their fleet on three small ships usually spend half of the year plying the waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, from Mauritius to New Zealand and beyond. However, over the past 18-months international voyages of this type have been impossible, so instead they’ve used this ‘downtime’ to devise a series of exciting new itineraries to lesser-visited parts of Australia’s vast coastline.'

 

Wild Islands & Walks of South Australia

 

One of the resultant itineraries that has us really excited is a ten-night ‘Wild Islands & Walks of South Australia’ programme departing from Adelaide between November 2021 and January 2022, and again in November 2022.

This new expedition provides travellers the chance to explore and hike South Australia’s most picturesque and wild islands, where forested National Parks give way to sheer wave-carved cliffs and sweeping white-sand beaches. Accompanied by expert guides, expeditioners will study the flora, fauna, and history of these remote island habitats and coastal National Parks. For those keen on an active adventure, there will be ample opportunities to cool down with invigorating ocean swims, board the kayaks for a paddle n the turquoise waters, and encounter some of Australia’s very-best native wildlife – inquisitive seals, shorebirds, rock wallabies, and many more. 

Back on board Coral Adventurer, guests will enjoy the tastes of South Australia, prepared onboard by chefs making use of the very best local ingredients including fresh regional seafood and hand-selected local wines.

 

 

South Australia’s many islands and gulf waters are amongst the best-kept secrets of the Australian coastline.  With over 5,000 kilometres of deserted shoreline and more than 300 islands, there’s a huge diversity of natural wilderness to explore. Highlights include spectacular bays and beaches, remote islands, and stunning sea cliffs. Best of all, most of it is wild and untouched, nature at its finest. That means these voyages offer a real sense of adventure and seclusion, and a vast array of wildlife. Many of the islands are important sanctuaries for birds, kangaroos, and wallabies, and especially seals and sea lions.  

While in true expedition style the itinerary remains flexible to make best use of the conditions each day, guests will spend multiple days exploring Kangaroo Island, Flinders and Troubridge islands and the Eyre Peninsula. At Coffin Bay, there will also the opportunity to enjoy an unforgettable wild cuisine experience – hop into some waterproof waders and take a seat at the Saltwater Pavilion to shuck and taste your own delicious Coffin Bay Oysters. Some voyages will instead include a small boat cruise along the oyster beds to collect and enjoy them fresh from the sea.

 

 

 

 

Departure Dates & Information:

10 Nights | Departing & Arriving Adelaide | Onboard Coral Adventurer | See the full itinerary

Departures:  22 Nov 2021, 02 Dec 2021, 13 Dec 2021, 23 Dec 2021, 03 Jan 2022, 13 Jan 2022, 23 Jan 2022, 06 Nov 2022.

Prices (per person, twin share)

Bridge Deck Suite: $12,390

Explorer Deck Stateroom: $9,890

Promenade Deck Stateroom: $7,490

Coral Deck Stateroom: $6,390

Single traveller prices start from $9,585 in a Coral Deck Stateroom

 

To reserve your place on this exciting new expedition contact the expert team at Expedition Cruise Specialists today on 1800 90 20 80 or email [email protected].

 

 

 

Your expedition ship - Coral Adventurer

 

Launched in early 2019, the state-of-the-art Coral Adventurer is purpose-built for cruising in the waters of Australia and the South Pacific. Coral Adventurer will operate these new South Australian voyages with a controlled capacity of just 99 guests on each voyage. 

Guests will enjoy spacious a choice of five grades of stateroom (over half of which feature private balconies), comfortable lounge areas and a stylish dining room that accommodates all travellers in one sitting. There’s also a selection of bars and ample deck space for those keen to find a bit of solo time to read a book or take in the views.

Travellers will enjoy Coral Adventurer’s flexible range of excursion tenders. Two unique Xplorer tenders make getting around in comfort a breeze, while a fleet of zodiacs are also on hand for thrilling small group adventures. There’s also kayaks available for those who are keen to head off an explore under their own steam. And, right throughout the voyage, you’ll be accompanied by a knowledgeable expedition team, considered by many to be the ‘best in the business’.

 

A note regarding Coral Expeditions' Covid-19 and Border Policies

 

Coral Expeditions made a successful return to cruising in October 2020 and their SailSAFE medical protocols are approved by all authorities. As a result, they are confident that their sailing schedules will operate as planned. They acknowledge that there will be government border restrictions from time to time that may restrict guests from travel. Coral Expeditions will communicate directly with all booked guests and travel agents regarding affected cruise terms. If you do not believe you will be able to travel, you may contact Coral Expeditions at any time citing a relevant government announcement and request a deferral. Note that the expectation of future announcement is not sufficient to grant a deferral. 

If, at any time before a voyage departs, any state or federal government announces a) inter-state border closures; b) new quarantine requirements or c) ‘hotspot’ lockdowns that result in any of the following outcomes: 

1. We will inform you that Coral Expeditions is cancelling the voyage.
2. You inform us that you are unable to join the voyage.

Guests will receive a 100% future cruise credit to defer their cruise with Coral Expeditions. Guests will also be protected against any rate increases on like for like itineraries and will have no fees or charges applied. The cruise credit has no expiry date and can be used on any future voyage with Coral Expeditions.

 

 

 

In April this year (2021), Australia’s Coral Expeditions launched their newest expedition ship, the state-of-the-art Coral Geographer.

Built by renowned shipbuilder VARD and a sister-ship to 2019’s Coral Adventurer, the Geographer accommodates 120 guests in 60 spacious staterooms, more than half of which feature a private balcony. Standout features of the new ship include a spacious dining room that accommodates all guests in a single sitting, a comfortable lounge (which doubles as a lecture room) and multiple bars both inside and out. For guests interested in the inner workings of an expedition ship, the ship’s engineer offers tours of the engine room while the Captain is more than happy to have travellers drop by the bridge for a chat and the opportunity to review the ship’s charts and track her progress.

 

 

There’s five grades of accommodation to select from aboard Coral Geographer, each offering individually-controlled air-conditioning, a choice of Junior King or twin bedding, stylish furnishings and a comfortable en suite. Each stateroom also has original Australian artwork depicting the locations you can explore aboard Coral Geographer. On the Coral and Promenade Decks, staterooms measure 18 square metres, while Explorer Deck Balcony Staterooms up the ante to 21 square metres and the top-of-the-range Bridge Deck Suites measure up at a spacious 35 square metres.

 

 

When you cruise aboard Coral Geographer you’ll appreciate how her unique range of excursion craft allows access to even the most hard-to-reach locations. Like most expedition ships of her size, Coral Geographer carries a fleet of heavy-duty inflatable Zodiacs for short, adventurous excursions, such as a thrilling ride through Horizontal Falls on her Kimberley cruises. But it’s her twin Xplorer excursion tenders make landing ashore and longer excursions up tidal rivers a breeze. Boarding tenders is also easy, a hydraulic platform raises these excursion craft out of the water for extra stability and avoids the need to get your feet wet.

 

 

Coral Geographer has been built to full SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) specifications, meaning she is fully equipped to cruise the oceans of the world. For now though, with Covid-19 making international sea travel difficult, you can cruise aboard the Coral Geographer on Western Australia’s Kimberley Coast (prices starting from $8,350 per person), and a range of other exciting itineraries to lesser visited parts of the Australian Coast. And, from early 2023 we can expect to see Coral Geographer plying the waters of Asia and the Indian Ocean as well.

You can find out more about Coral Geographer by clicking here, and you can also take a quick tour of the ship by viewing the video below.

 

 

To secure your place cruising the Kimberley (or further afield) aboard Coral Geographer call the expert team at Expedition Cruise Specialists today on 1800 90 20 80.

 

With international travel still off limits for the foreseeable future for most Australians, we’re finding that more and more travellers are taking a closer look at their own backyard in 2020. And with strong interest, our best expedition and small ship cruise lines have been stepping up to the plate with some exciting new itineraries. 

Recently, we told you how small ship cruise operators on Western Australia’s Kimberley Coast have devised some innovative new itineraries for the second half of 2020, and now Australia’s pioneering expedition company Coral Expeditions has launched an ‘Outerknown Adventures on the Great Barrier Reef’ cruise from Cairns.

Aboard the yacht-like expedition vessel Coral Discoverer, which accommodates a maximum of just 72 guests in world-class comfort, there’s a series of nine departures on offer between 14 October and 9 December 2020.  These immersive 7-day adventures explore the remote and untouched Northern reef precinct and allow expeditioners to explore the hidden corners, uninhabited sand cays, small islands and pristine reef systems. 

 

 

This is a Great Barrier Reef itinerary like none other. Not only will there be ample time to explore the beautiful Ribbon Reefs and rarely-visited Osprey Reef through snorkelling, diving and glass bottom boat tours, there’s included excursions to experience the Daintree National Park and Daintree Rainforest. There’s also a visit to historic Cooktown, where there’s the opportunity to explore the fascinating James Cook Museum and time to experience some of the tropical north’s best island beaches at Lizard, Hope and Fitzroy islands.

Onboard Coral Discoverer, guests will be accompanied by an expert team of guides including a fully-qualified Marine Biologist. They will enjoy freshly prepared small-batch cuisine featuring the best local ingredients and relax and enjoy quality local beers and wines. With an intimate atmosphere and Coral Expeditions’ renowned warm Australian hospitality, you will quickly feel at home and make new connections with new friends.

 

7 Night Outerknown Adventures of the Great Barrier Reef

2020 Departure Dates:

October 14 – 21 2020

October 21 – 28 2020

October 28 – November 4 2020

November 4 – 11 2020

November 11 – 18 2020

November 18 – 25 2020

November 25 – December 2 2020

December 2 – 9 2020

December 9 – 16 2020

 

Click here to read the full Itinerary

Click here to see Coral Discoverer's Staterooms and Deck Plan

 

Cruise Prices

Prices are per person, twin share in Australian Dollars

Bridge Deck Balcony Stateroom - $6,990 per person

Promenade Deck Stateroom - $6,190 per person

Main Deck A Stateroom - $5,290 per person

Main Deck B - $4,750 per person

 

There are limited single staterooms (Promenade B) available for $7,113 per person.

If travelling as a family, a limited number of children are accommodated at 25% of the adult fare.

 

 

Bonus Offer:

Book your Coral Discoverer Great Barrier Reef Cruise today and receive the following booking bonuses:

• $500 Travel Credit per person
• 1 Night of pre-cruise accommodation in Cairns
• Flexible Deposit – book now with 30 days to pay

 

For bookings and more information on Coral Discoverer's new 'Outerknown Adventures on the Great Barrier Reef'  freecall our expert team today on 1800 90 20 80 or email us.

 

 

Coral Expedition’s SailSAFE Plan

Coral Expeditions has introduced a new SailSAFE Plan. ensuring they operate responsibly in the new environment that COVID-19 has created.  Created in partnership with Respond Global, a specialist medical advisory agency, these new health protocols are among the most thorough in the world. 

With a focus on prevention, to target a 100% COVID free environment aboard Coral Expeditions’ fleet of expedition ships, there is a three-tiered medical screening system in place before boarding. This prevention protocol is supported by onboard mitigation actions and a thorough and compassionate response plan. 

Click here to read the full details of Coral Expeditions’ SailSAFE plan

 

Note that the Bonus Offer is valid for new bookings only from 16 July 2020 until sold out or withdrawn. $500 Travel Credit and pre-cruise accommodation not offered on child fares. All imagery courtesy of Coral Expeditions.

 

Albatros Expeditions, Denmark’s leading adventure cruise operator, has taken the next step in their fleet revitalisation project with the announcement that Ocean Albatros will join their Antarctic program in December 2022.

With a long history in adventure travel (dating back to 1986), Copenhagen-based Albatros (the Danish spelling of Albatross) operates their expedition cruises to the polar regions with an unmistakable Scandinavian flair. The new 189-passenger Ocean Albatros will join already-announced sister ship Ocean Victory in Antarctica, which is due to commence operations in November 2021. Both new vessels feature the latest Ulstein X-Bow, a concept developed to provide high stability in rough weather and high seas, technology which has also been employed on the latest newbuilds from Lindblad Expeditions and Aurora Expeditions.

 

 

The sister-ships will feature just 93 comfortable cabins and staterooms, all with a view of the ocean, (and 90% with their own balcony), several restaurants, a wellness area, the signature Albatros Nordic Bar, an al fresco dining area and a high-tech lecture lounge. There’s also a swimming pool, jacuzzies and pool bar, and what would a Scandinavian ship be without a sauna! 

Albatros’ new breed of expedition ship is built to Polar code 6 and Ice class 1A, with environmentally-friendly features including low-energy technology, four diesel engines and two electro engines, all controlled electronically to optimise speed and minimise fuel consumption. Albatros is also implementing the Green Initiative Program, ensuring absolute comfort and sustainability.

Throughout the expedition, travellers will partake in a range of excursions, from stepping ashore on the ice to wildlife viewing from a fleet of 18 zodiacs. All activities will be led by an experienced expedition team.

 

 

The inaugural season for the first of the two new vessels, Ocean Victory, will commence with their signature ten-day voyages from Ushuaia to the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands in November 2021. Prices start at US$6,450 per person in a triple share cabin, or US$8,450 twin share. For the ultimate experience, you can reserve a spacious Premium Captain’s Suite from US$17,850 per person, twin share for the ten nights. For those with more time there’s also 19- and 22-day expeditions combining the Antarctic Peninsula with South Georgia and the Falkland Islands, and a series of expeditions discovering further afield in Patagonia and South America. 

For more information on how you can discover Antarctica aboard the new Ocean Victory or Ocean Albatros contact our expert team today on 1800 90 20 80. 

 

 

 

Ocean Victory Deckplan

 

Click here for Ocean Victory Cabin Descriptions