Australia’s pioneering small ship cruise company Coral Expeditions (fleet) welcomed their newest vessel with an official ceremony held in Cairns.
Sistership to the 2020-built Coral Adventurer, MS Coral Geographer boasts the same specialized design for rugged extended expeditions to remote regions.
The new class of expedition cruise ships is designed around the Xplorer fast aluminum tender boats, launched off the back of the vessel to facilitate rapid shore trips. Coral Geographer has expansive open decks, relaxing bars and lounge, a majority of balcony staterooms and suites, as well as a collection of Indigenous Australian art.
Having arrived in Australia in mid-March, the ship has undergone an extensive fit-out and provisioning for her maiden voyage from Cairns.
The Maiden Voyage is scheduled to depart from Cairns on March 31, 2021, and will take a small group of like-minded passengers to explore the eastern seaboard of Australia, in full compliance with COVID regulations. Passengers will be guided by Coral Expeditions’ expedition team.
The new ship was christened in a dockside ceremony on March 30, which was attended by passengers on the Maiden Voyage. In deference to Covid concerns, there was no public ceremony. Purchasing Manager Gary Wun-Hym, Coral Expeditions’ longest-serving employee, had the honour of christening the vessel with a bottle of champagne.
Following her maiden voyage, the vessel will join the fleet of Coral Expeditions exploring the Kimberley region in what will be the line’s 26th season. She will later sail a series of newly released cruises to the Abrolhos and West Coast and the islands of South Australia.