Coral Expeditions has introduced a suite of new international expedition voyages for the 2026–2027 season, deploying its fleet of Australian-flagged and crewed expedition vessels into deeper, more remote regions than previously undertaken. Coral Expeditions' field of operation includes New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Kimberley and Northern Australia, Tasmania and South Pacific. The 3-ship fleet includes Coral Discoverer, Coral Expeditions 1 and Coral Expeditions 2 (sister-ship by design, formerly "Coral Princess II").
These voyages are designed to closely engage passengers with the cultures, landscapes, and communities of Papua New Guinea, Melanesia, the Spice Islands, the South Pacific, and New Zealand.
At the center of this enhanced program is a significant increase in access to Papua New Guinea. Four new itineraries—namely Beyond Frontiers of Papua New Guinea (Rabaul to Port Moresby), Passage Through the Melanesian Arc (Port Moresby to Port Vila), Papua New Guinea Discoverer (Madang to Cairns), and Frontier Lands of Papua New Guinea (Cairns to Rabaul)—will operate throughout October and November 2026 and into autumn 2027.
Following these Papua New Guinea voyages, the fleet returns annually to New Zealand for December and January sailings. Routes will traverse the east coast of the South Island, penetrating into the Sounds, Fiordland, and reaching Stewart Island via voyages such as New Zealand Sounds and Stewart Island and South Island and Fiordlands of New Zealand.
The line’s international deployment also includes voyages across the Indonesian archipelago. These encompass 18-night expeditions, such as Raja Ampat and Spice Islands departing from Darwin and Sorong, and 14-night voyages titled Island Empires & Ancient Mariners departing between Darwin and Makassar. These journeys will expose guests to aquatic wildlife, traditional cultures, and geographical marvels across Flores, Komodo, Sulawesi, and the broader Spice Islands.
Coral Expeditions’ Chief Commercial Officer, Jeff Gillies, highlighted that the expanded 2026–2027 program strengthens the company’s enduring connections with remote communities while enhancing its capacity to deliver deeper, culturally rich exploratory experiences in areas close to Australia.