Coral Adventurer

The 2019-built MS Coral Adventurer cruise ship is the 4th fleetmate and the newest expedition vessel of the Australian cruise company Coral Expeditions. The boat was built in Vietnam (VARD shipyard in Vaung Tau) and delivered in April 2019. In May 2019, the company decided to use its option for building a second (same-designed) vessel - the sistership Coral Geographer (2021).

History - construction and ownership

The travel company Coral Expeditions (formerly Coral Princess Cruises) was established in 1984 by Captain Tony Briggs. His first ship was an ex-World War II Fairmile-class submarine chaser. The vessel was converted to carry up to 24 passengers on short overnight trips to the Great Barrier Reef from company's base in Cairns Queensland.

All Coral Expeditions ships are Australia-flagged, Australia-based, and employ all-Australian crew. Coral Expeditions' regions of operation include New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Kimberley and Northern Australia, Tasmania and South Pacific Islands. The fleet also includes Coral Discoverer, and the two motorized catamarans (sister-ships by design) Coral Expeditions 1 (fka "Coral Princess I") and Coral Expeditions 2 (fka "Coral Princess II").

The ship Coral Adventurer was designed for ocean cruising to more isolated and shallower tropical destinations. The boat conforms to the highest maritime standards for operational redundancy, build quality, environmental compliance and safety.

One of the unique features on this shallow-drafted ship (4,5 m / 15 ft) is its tendering system, allowing passenger tendering (embarkation or disembarkation) within just 20 min. Through hydraulic lifts, tenders (aka "Xplorer" / 65-passenger aluminium boats) are lifted out of the water, making boarding/deboarding operations more efficient, without the need of gangways, ramps or stairs.

The ship also has dedicated to scientific research facilities and equipment. It has active stabilizers reducing roll in different sea conditions.

Cruise itinerary program

MS Coral Adventurer itinerary program is based on Asia-Pacific cruises to Kimberley region, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and South Pacific Islands.

Coral Expeditions itineraries feature cruises around deserted islands and pristine reefs in destinations not popular for day trippers and large liners. Company's Great Barrier Reef (Coral Sea) itineraries depart from the Queensland ports Darwin to Cairns.

Ship's "Inaugural Cruise" was scheduled for April 22, 2019. The 18-day repositioning itinerary (from Singapore to Darwin) was followed by 11-day roundtrip from Darwin to Cairns, then 26-day Cairns to Darwin (with optional disembarkation in Wewak, Papua New Guinea). The ship also offered 18-day Australia to Asia cruise itinerary (from Darwin to Singapore), visiting in Indonesia Kepulauan Seribu (Thousand Islands), Karimunjawa Islands and Pulau Moyo Islands.

Ship's itinerary program for 2020 includes Spice Islands, Komodo and Krakatau (Indonesia), Pulau Alor. Two transition cruises leave from Darwin (17-day to Singapore, January 15) and the reverse from Singapore (18-day to Darwin, departure February 2).

Marking Coral Expeditions company's 35th anniversary in 2020, Coral Adventure offers World Cruise departing November 7 (2020). The 60-day itinerary is roundtrip from Darwin and visits 35 destinations (many of which hard to reach by land) with several overnights (including in Perth-Fremantle, Adelaide, Sydney, Cairns, also Hobart Tasmania).

• From the docked in Cairns ship on Christmas Day, passengers disembark and fly by private chartered jet to Uluru for an under the stars dinner.
• At Cape Leeuwin, passengers disembark for a private dinner at Leeuwin Estate vineyards.
• In Sydney NSW, an afternoon harbour cruise is included via private sailing ship charter - on James Craig (3-masted barque).
• Onboard enrichment program will be lead by Australian Geographic staff (guest lecturers and experts).
• The anniversary voyage was open for booking on November 6, 2018. Prices started from USD 38,860 pp (double occupancy).

In the Coral Expeditions 2021 program were added new Coral Adventurer itineraries visiting the East Indies (Southeast Asia). New destinations included Indonesia's Misool Island (Raja Ampat), Alor Island (Lesser Sunda Islands), Buton Island (Sulawesi), Lamalera (Lembata Island, East Nusa Tenggara), Kelimutu volcano (Flores Island, Indonesia), Banda Neira (Banda Islands), Lembeh Island (North Sulawesi), Bunaken Island (Bunaken National Marine Park). Itinerary options included:

• 10-day "Island Realms of the East Indies" (Darwin NT Australia to Benoa Bali, from USD 8200 pp)
• 10-day "Ancient Kingdoms of the East Indies" (Benoa Bali to Singapore, from USD 8200 pp)
• 12-day "Raja Ampat and Spice Islands" (from USD 9900 pp)
• 14-day "Into the Wilds of Borneo" (from USD 10600 pp)
• 14-day "In the Wake of the Makassans" (from USD 12000 pp)
• 20-day "Circumnavigation of Sulawesi" (from USD 17000 pp)

Following the Coronavirus-related pause in operations, Coral Expeditions restarted cruises with Coral Adventurer on March 10, 2021. The Fremantle to Broome itinerary visited Western Australia's Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Ningaloo and Shark Bay (World Heritage Areas), Muiron Islands, Montebello Islands, Dampier Islands (Pilbara).

Decks and Cabins

Coral Adventurer staterooms (60 total) are all outside and over 50% are with private step-out balconies. Each of the passenger cabins is fitted with en-suite bathroom (WC-toilet, shower, mirrored single-sink vanity, ample storage space). Staterooms as sizes range from 17 m2 (183 ft2 / on Promenade Deck 4, with a large window) to Balcony Suites of 56 m2 (600 ft2). Balcony cabins are sized 22 m2 (230 ft2). Promenade Deck cabins (with 1x window) and Coral Deck cabins (each with 2x Porthole windows) are same-sized (17 m2).

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

Suites are with outside-facing bathrooms and Horizon tubs. Both Balcony Suites (named after the Australian port cities Cairns QLD and Darwin NT) are with separate lounge area (modern L-shaped sofa, armchair with footstool), sleeping area (2x King-size beds), coffee machine, minibar (complimentary replenished daily), larger private step-out balcony (sized 8 m2 / 85 ft2).

All standard cabin balconies are sized 4 m2 (40 ft2) and fitted with 2x armchairs and 1x coffee table. Bridge Deck suite balconies additionally have an outdoor daybed plus a 2-seater lounge chair. Standard cabin amenities include King-size bed (convertible to two twin beds), bedside cabinets (1-drawer, with reading lamps), wardrobe, mirrored vanity (writing desk with armchair), electronic safe box (in the closet), handmade artworks on the walls, no HDTVs.

MS Coral Adventurer has a total of 2x Bridge Deck Balcony Suites, 2x Bridge Deck Balcony cabins, 28x Explorer Deck Balcony cabins, 16x Promenade Deck staterooms (window) and 12x Coral Deck staterooms (porthole windows).

Captain’s cabin and Expedition Team's cabin are located forward on Deck 6 and adjacent to the Wheelhouse/Navigation Bridge. Crew cabins provide accommodation for up to 48 people (staff and crew).

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

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The full-capacity (single-seating) dining room restaurant is furnished with communal "wine table" topped with Australian stone. The restaurant serves buffet breakfast and lunch, along with multi-course table d’hote dinners. Meals are prepared with Australian produce and many locally-sourced (itinerary-based) ingredients. Dietary requirements or restrictions are catered to with 2 weeks notice. The wine list is an abbreviated selection which reflects the variety of Australian wine. Australian and New Zealand spirits are also offered, including barrels of slowly ageing Tasmanian single-malt whiskey.

The Galley (ship's kitchen) is adjacent to the restaurant and features a small viewing window.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The cruise ship features Australian (Queensland) themed interior and more than 1000 m2 of open deck space with a wraparound promenade deck. A couple of trademarked "Xplorer" tenders are located in the back of the vessel and seat all passengers (tendering capacity 60 seats each) to facilitate comfortable transportation between the ship and land. Six Zodiacs (large-capacity motorized heavy-duty inflatable boats) are used for landings and close to shore excursions.

An onboard reference library and a lecture lounge with multimedia capabilities are used for daily port talks, tour briefings and media presentations led by Coral Expeditions experts. The Adventurer cruise ship has the traditional for smaller vessels "open bridge" policy allowing its passengers to visit the Wheelhouse (on Deck 6) and communicate with the officers on duty. The Observation Lounge (Navigator Lounge) is part of the Navigation Bridge. Indoor and outdoor bars serve wines, beers, drinks. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available in all cabins and public areas.

Midship on top-deck (Vista Deck) is located the spacious Xplorer Bar - an outdoor bar lounge (large canopy-covered deck space) that provides the best panoramic views on the boat.

The Coral Adventurer ship has 5 passenger-accessible decks (out of 7 total / 4 with cabins) and 1000+ m2 (~10,800 ft2) of open-deck space, which includes the wraparound Promenade Deck (deck 4). Tours of the Engine Room are also offered and complimentary. The ship has a small Gym (deck 5 midship) fitted with panoramic windows and modern fitness equipment. One lift (midship-portside located passenger elevator) connects all decks.