Coral Expeditions Australia released a revised and expanded cruise schedule for 2021. A total of 40 Kimberley coastal voyages are planned on the company's 3 (Australian-flagged) ships - Coral Discoverer (2005-built) and the sisterships Coral Adventurer (2019) and Coral Geographer (2020). The sisterships have max passenger capacity 120, Discoverer's max capacity is 72 pax. Sailings will operate for only Australian passengers.
Starting in late-March 2021, the company's Kimberley season extends through October with 10-night sailings departing from homeports Broome WA and Darwin NT. In the Coral Expeditions' 25-year history, this is its largest season with 40 cruises along the Kimberley coast. The sailings will give passengers the chance to see Kimberley's waterfalls in full flow and, in September-October, to witness whale migration.
Coral Expeditions initiated a "SailSAFE" plan and health protocols, which is specially developed by Australian medical specialists in order to protect the health and safety of passengers. The "SailSAFE" plan was approved by all Australian State and Territory governments. According to the cruise line, its pre-screening protocols effectively created a “safe travel bubble” for crew and guests, "supported by onboard mitigation and authorized response procedures." The plan proved to be effective during the Great Barrier Reef departures.
All Kimberley expeditions feature the following highlights:
- riding the tidal rapids of Horizontal Falls aboard a Zodiac
- walking to view ancient rock art galleries
- seeing Montgomery Reef
- getting an eagle’s eye view on a scenic helicopter flight over Mitchell Falls
- viewing King George River’s cliffs and getting up close to the 262-foot-high King George Falls
- getting up-close with Lacapede Islands' marine life, wildlife, and birds.