Coral Adventurer
Coral Adventurer current position
The current location of Coral Adventurer is in West Australia (coordinates -14.53500 S / 125.42500 E) cruising en route to SWIFT BAY. The AIS position was last reported 50 minutes ago.
Current PositionSpecifications of Coral Adventurer
Year of build | 2019 / Age: 6 |
Flag state | Australia |
Builder | VARD Vietnam Shipyard (Vung Tau, Vietnam) |
Building cost | USD 75 million (EUR 67 million) |
Speed | 14 kn / 26 km/h / 16 mph |
Length (LOA) | 94 m / 308 ft |
Beam (width) | 17 m / 56 ft |
Gross Tonnage | 5536 gt |
Passengers | 120 |
Crew | 48 |
Decks | 7 |
Cabins | 60 |
Decks with cabins | 4 |
Last Refurbishment | 2024 |
Sister-ships | Coral Geographer |
Christened by | Quek Peck Lim |
Owner | Kallang Capital Holdings (Singapore) via Coral Princess Cruises (Australia) |
Operator | Coral Expeditions Australia |
Coral Adventurer Review
Review of 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.
Coral Adventurer ship related cruise news
- Cruise Industry
Coral Adventurer ship's 60-night Australia Circumnavigation Cruise (Oct-Nov 2025)
Coral Expeditions/fleet is preparing for its second full circumnavigation of Australia aboard the Coral Adventurer, set to depart from Cairns on...
May 20, 2025 - Cruise Industry
VIDEO: Coral Adventurer sets sail with innovative graphene-based coatings
Graphite Innovations & Technologies Inc/GIT Coatings (graphene-based coatings manufacturer) has partnered with Coral Expeditions Australia/fleet...
July 23, 2024 - Cruise Industry
Coral Expeditions Australia launches new cruises to Indonesia (Raja Ampat & Maluku/Spice Islands...
Coral Expeditions Australia (fleet) launches four new for the brand 18-night voyages to Indonesia's Raja Ampat and Maluku (Spice Islands) in...
April 9, 2023 - Cruise Industry
Coral Expeditions launches a new voyage visiting Macquarie Island at latitude 55 degrees
Coral Expeditions announced a new voyage that will call on Macquarie Island (Tasmania Australia). The island sits halfway between Tasmania and...
December 13, 2022 - Cruise Industry
Coral Expeditions adds 11 new voyages in Kimberley (Western Australia) for 2024 on Coral Geographer...
Coral Expeditions announced the release of an additional 11 expedition cruises onboard the Coral Geographer ship between May-August 2024 in the...
December 12, 2022 - Cruise Industry
Coral Expeditions launches 2 new North Australian expeditions in 2022
Australia’s small ship cruise line Coral Expeditions (fleet) announced 2 special "Across the Top of Australia" itineraries for early-2022. The...
July 9, 2021 - Cruise Industry
Coral Expeditions' newest ship Coral Geographer welcomed in Cairns, Australia
Australia’s pioneering small ship cruise company Coral Expeditions (fleet) welcomed their newest vessel with an official ceremony held in...
April 1, 2021 - Cruise Industry
Coral Expeditions' Coral Geographer cruise ship delivered by VARD
Following the delivery of Coral Adventurer (sistership) in 2019, Coral Expeditions Australia (fleet) ordered a second newbuild from VARD Vietnam...
March 13, 2021 - Cruise Industry
Coral Expeditions restart cruises in Western Australia
The Australia-based small ship cruise company Coral Expeditions (fleet) confirmed voyages would restart in Western Australia this month, as the...
February 27, 2021 - Cruise Industry
Australian-flagged cruise line Coral Expeditions announces new 2021 itineraries
The only large Australia-flagged and Australian-crewed company Coral Expeditions announced new 2021 itineraries and a new investor. NRMA Insurance...
February 7, 2021 - show more news
Other Coral Expeditions Australia cruise ships
Coral Adventurer Wiki
On December 8, 2018, the vessel was launched (floated out from drydock) at VARD's Vung Tau Shipyard in Vietnam. It took two days to relocate the ship from the shipbuilding yard to the floating dock for outfitting, which included machinery installation, stonework, wood paneling, and the completion of public areas and staterooms.
Sea trials were conducted between February and March 2019. The ship was scheduled for delivery on April 1, 2019. The official launch and christening ceremony took place on April 24 in Singapore. The inaugural cruise, an 18-day itinerary themed "In the Trail of Tasman," sailed from Singapore to Darwin, Australia from April 24 to May 12. The vessel’s godmother is Quek Peck Lim, one of the co-founders of Prime Partners Group, a private equity investment firm focused on Asia-based food and distribution businesses.
During the drydock in April 2024, Coral Expeditions Australia contracted GIT Coatings (Graphite Innovations & Technologies Inc) to treat the ship's underwater areas, including the hull and propellers. GIT Coatings, based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, specializes in manufacturing graphene-based coatings. Coral Adventurer’s hull was treated with GIT’s XGIT-FUEL, a hard foul-release coating, while the propellers received XGIT-PROP, a more durable coating. These graphene-based coatings provide an ultra-low friction surface using patented XGIT technology to deter biofouling. The coatings offer extended lifespan, reducing maintenance intervals and enhancing performance. They are also environmentally sustainable, as they do not release harmful toxins like copper or silicone oils into the water.
Australia Circumnavigation Cruise 2025
The following table shows the 60-night "Australia’s Coastal Legend" itinerary with all scheduled ports of call and visited destinations.
The full Australia Circumnavigation voyage, roundtrip from Cairns, includes 48 days of shore excursions.
Day | Date (2025) | Port of Call |
---|---|---|
1 | October 17 | Cairns |
2 | October 18 | Lizard Island |
3 | October 19 | Stanley Island (Yindayin) & Davie Reef |
4 | October 20 | Restoration Island |
5 | October 21 | Thursday Island (Waiben) |
6 | October 22 | Badu Island |
9 | October 25 | Yirrkala Art Centre (Gove Peninsula) & Bremer Island (Dhambaliya) |
13 | October 29 | Darwin |
14 | October 30 | Bathurst Island |
16-17 | November 1-2 (overnight) | Prince Frederick Harbour & Hunter River |
18 | November 3 | Ashmore Reef |
19 | November 4 | Montgomery Reef (Yowjab) |
20 | November 5 | Talbot Bay, Horizontal Waterfalls (Garaanngaddim) |
21-22 | November 6-7 (overnight) | Lacepede Islands |
23 | November 8 | Rowley Shoals |
24 | November 9 | Exmouth & Ningaloo Reef |
25-26 | November 10-11 (overnight) | Batemans Bay |
27 | November 12 | Denham |
28 | November 13 | Abrolhos Islands |
29 | November 14 | Busselton - Leeuwin Estate Winery Of Margaret River |
30 | November 15 | Augusta |
31 | November 16 | Abrolhos Islands |
32 | November 17 | Fremantle-Perth |
33 | November 18 | Cape Le Grand National Park - Lucky Bay |
34 | November 19 | Bunda Cliff West & Bunda Cliff East |
35 | November 20 | Albany |
36 | November 21 | Woody Island, Recherche Archipelago |
37 | November 22 | Coffin Bay |
38 | November 23 | Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island |
39 | November 24 | Bunda Cliff West & Bunda Cliff East |
40 | November 25 | Flinders Island |
41 | November 26 | Apollo Bay & 12 Apostles |
42 | November 27 | Phillip Island (Millowl) |
43 | November 28 | Adelaide |
44 | November 29 | Port Davey |
46 | December 1 | Phillip Island (Millowl) |
47 | December 2 | Launceston |
49 | December 4 | Trial Bay |
50 | December 5 | Sydney |
55 | December 10 | K'gari (Fraser Island) |
56 | December 11 | Tangalooma |
57 | December 12 | Scawfell Island |
58 | December 13 | Funnel Bay / Whitsundays |
59 | December 14 | K'gari (Fraser Island) |
61 | December 16 | Scawfell Island |
58 | December 13 | Funnel Bay / Whitsundays |
59 | December 14 | Townsville |
61 | December 16 | Cairns |
The voyage encompasses a range of experiences, including cultural festivals, culinary events, and visits to remote communities. Notable highlights are a cultural festival on Thursday Island (Torres Strait), a 4-course winemaker's lunch (at Leeuwin Estate in Margaret River region) and a charter flight to Longreach (Queensland) for an outback experience at Rosebank Station.
Throughout the voyage, guests will have opportunities to engage with Indigenous communities, explore natural landmarks, and participate in activities such as snorkeling (Lizard Island), observing marine life (Ashmore Reef) and visiting historical sites along the southern coast.