Coral Adventurer

The 2019-built MS Coral Adventurer cruise ship is the fourth fleetmate and the newest expedition vessel of the Australian cruise company Coral Expeditions. The vessel was constructed at VARD’s Vung Tau Shipyard in Vietnam and delivered in April 2019. In May 2019, the company exercised its option to build a second ship of the same design — the sistership Coral Geographer (2021).

The vessel (IMO number 9838644) is currently Australia-flagged (MMSI 503000129).

History - construction and ownership

Coral Expeditions (formerly Coral Princess Cruises/fleet) was founded in 1984 by Captain Tony Briggs. His first vessel was a converted ex-World War II Fairmile-class submarine chaser, adapted to carry up to 24 passengers on overnight trips to the Great Barrier Reef from the company’s base in Cairns, Queensland.

On December 15, 2014, Tony Briggs, founder and Managing Director of Coral Princess Cruises Pty Ltd, announced that Singapore-based Kallang Capital Holdings (part of PrimePartners Group Pte Ltd) had acquired a majority stake in the company.

All Coral Expeditions vessels are Australia-flagged, Australia-based, and crewed entirely by Australians. The company operates in regions including New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Kimberley and Northern Australia, Tasmania, and the South Pacific Islands. The fleet also includes Coral Discoverer and two catamarans (sisterships by design), Coral Expeditions 1 (formerly "Coral Princess I") and Coral Expeditions 2 (formerly "Coral Princess II").

MS Coral Adventurer was designed for ocean cruising to remote and shallow tropical destinations. The ship meets the highest maritime standards for redundancy, build quality, environmental compliance, and safety.

One of the ship’s key features is its shallow draft (4.5 m / 15 ft), paired with a unique tendering system that enables passenger embarkation/disembarkation within 20 minutes. Using hydraulic lifts, the ship’s tenders — known as "Xplorers" (aluminum boats with 65-passenger capacity) — are raised from the water, allowing efficient operations without the need for gangways, ramps, or stairs.

The ship is also equipped with scientific research facilities and active stabilizers that reduce roll in various sea conditions.

Decks and Cabins

Coral Adventurer staterooms (60 total) are all outside-facing, with over 50% featuring private step-out balconies. Each cabin has an en-suite bathroom (toilet, shower, mirrored single-sink vanity) and ample storage space. Cabin sizes range from 17 m² (183 ft²) on Promenade Deck 4 (with a large window) to 56 m² (600 ft²) for the Balcony Suites. Balcony cabins measure 22 m² (230 ft²), while Promenade and Coral Deck cabins are 17 m² and feature 1 window or 2 portholes, respectively.

The ship has 7 decks, 5 of which are passenger-accessible and 4 with cabins.

Suites include outward-facing bathrooms with Horizon tubs. Both Balcony Suites (named after Cairns QLD and Darwin NT) offer a separate lounge (with an L-shaped sofa and armchair with footstool), sleeping area (2 king-size beds), coffee machine, minibar (replenished daily), and a larger balcony (8 m² / 85 ft²).

All standard cabin balconies are 4 m² (40 ft²) and furnished with 2 armchairs and a coffee table. Bridge Deck Suite balconies also feature an outdoor daybed and a two-seater lounge chair. Cabin amenities include a king-size bed (convertible to two twins), bedside cabinets with reading lamps, wardrobe, mirrored vanity (desk with armchair), electronic safe, handmade artwork, and no HDTVs.

MS Coral Adventurer includes 2 Bridge Deck Balcony Suites, 2 Bridge Deck Balcony cabins, 28 Explorer Deck Balcony cabins, 16 Promenade Deck staterooms (with windows), and 12 Coral Deck staterooms (with portholes).

The Captain’s and Expedition Team’s cabins are located forward on Deck 6, adjacent to the Wheelhouse. Crew accommodations are available for up to 48 staff members.

The ship has 7 decks, 5 of which are accessible to passengers, and 4 feature cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The full-capacity, single-seating Dining Room Restaurant features a communal "wine table" topped with Australian stone. Guests enjoy buffet-style breakfast and lunch, and multi-course table d’hôte dinners. Meals are prepared using Australian produce and locally sourced ingredients, depending on the itinerary. Dietary needs are accommodated with two weeks' notice. The wine list showcases a variety of Australian wines. Spirits from Australia and New Zealand are served, including barrels of slowly aging Tasmanian single-malt whiskey.

The Galley (kitchen) is located next to the restaurant and includes a small viewing window.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The ship features interiors inspired by Queensland and offers over 1000 m² of open-deck space, including a wraparound Promenade Deck. Two Xplorer tenders are located aft and seat all passengers (60 seats each), facilitating efficient tendering to shore. Additionally, six large Zodiacs are used for landings and close-to-shore excursions.

Onboard amenities include a reference library and a multimedia lecture lounge used for daily briefings and presentations by Coral Expeditions experts. The ship maintains an "open bridge" policy, allowing passengers to visit the Wheelhouse on Deck 6 and interact with officers. The Navigator Lounge is part of the Navigation Bridge. Indoor and outdoor bars offer a variety of wines, beers, and other beverages. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available in all cabins and public areas.

Located midship on the top Vista Deck, the spacious Xplorer Bar is an outdoor lounge with a large canopy and panoramic views.

The ship offers 5 passenger-accessible decks (out of 7 total / 4 with cabins) and 1000+ m² (~10,800 ft²) of open-deck space, including the wraparound Promenade Deck (Deck 4). Complimentary Engine Room tours are available. The Gym (Deck 5 midship) features panoramic windows and modern fitness equipment. A midship-portside elevator connects all decks.