Coral Discoverer

Former names: Oceanic Discoverer, Oceanic Princess

Coral Discoverer current position

Coral Discoverer current location is at East Australia (coordinates -16.94014 S / 145.77873 E) cruising en route to DARWIN. The AIS position was reported 2 minutes ago.

Current Position

Specifications of Coral Discoverer

Year of build2005  /  Age: 19
Flag state Australia
BuilderNQEA Pty Ltd (Cairns, Australia)
Speed12 kn / 22 km/h / 14 mph
Length (LOA)63 m / 207 ft
Beam (width)13 m / 43 ft
Gross Tonnage1838 gt
Passengers72
Crew25
Passengers-to-space ratio26
Decks4
Cabins36
Decks with cabins3
Last Refurbishment2016
Former namesOceanic Discoverer, Oceanic Princess
OwnerKallang Capital Holdings (Singapore) via Coral Princess Cruises (Australia)
OperatorCoral Expeditions Australia

Coral Discoverer Review

Review of Coral Discoverer

The 2005-built MV Coral Discoverer cruise ship is a unique (superyacht-like) expedition vessel operating on Oceania and Australia roundtrip itineraries leaving from Cairns (Queensland Australia). Coral Discoverer cruise itineraries include Australia's "Top End", Kimberley, also New Zealand, Melanesia (Oceania), Papua New Guinea, Indonesia.

Previously known as "Oceanic Discoverer" (until June 2015,), this 72-passenger ship is fully registered under SOLAS Convention (international maritime treaty for safety at sea). Launched in 2005, the vessel was the first Australian owned, flagged and staffed cruise passenger ship to attain certificate for full SOLAS compliance.

The vessel (IMO number 9292747) is currently Australia-flagged (MMSI 503492000).

MV Coral Discoverer cruise ship

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

Coral Expeditions itineraries feature sailing around deserted islands and pristine reefs beyond the reach of day trippers and larger ships. The company's Great Barrier Reef (Coral Sea) cruise itineraries depart from the Queensland ports Darwin to Cairns, each offering a snapshot of the diverse ecosystem of the marine park.

The travel company Coral Expeditions (fka Coral Princess Cruises/fleet) 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 the company's base in Cairns. 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 3-ship fleet comprises Coral Discoverer, and the pair of motor catamarans (sister-ships by design) Coral Expeditions 1 (fka "Coral Princess I") and Coral Expeditions 2 (fka "Coral Princess II").

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

Decks and Cabins

The Coral Discoverer ship has 4 passenger decks with a total of 36 staterooms. All passenger staterooms were also refurbished and received a substantial upgrade. Six Bridge Deck balcony cabins were added. Each of the other cabins also received a complete renovation, including soft furnishings, new artworks, updated bathroom fixtures.

Coral Discoverer offers 5 different cabin grades. Passengers accommodations range from Main Deck to Bridge Deck (each with french windows that open on a step-out private veranda). All staterooms are modernly furnished and feature individually controlled air-conditioning, original artworks, en-suite bathroom, iPod docking station, Australian brand toiletries, ample storage space, two twin beds (or a junior king bed). Cabin sizes vary between 15 m2 (161 ft2) and 20 m2 (215 ft2). Lower deck rooms are with porthole windows.

Shipboard facilities

Onboard facilities include an open-seating dining room, al fresco dining deck, 2 cocktail bars, sun deck, lecture lounge, panoramic lounge. The vessel has its own tender boats, glass bottom tour boat, inflatable zodiacs (used for landings), sea kayaks and the "Xplorer" (shore excursion tender).

Following the full refurbishment in 2016, the ship's Sun Deck was transformed into a social gathering space and onboard community hub. It was converted into undercover deck area with round-shaped "Explorer Bar" and open-air sun deck with loungers and an outdoor exercise area with fitness equipment.

Itineraries

On October 14, 2020, Coral Expeditions with Coral Discoverer restarted cruise operations after suspending all voyages since March due to the global Coronavirus crisis. The ship departed from homeport Cairns QLD carrying only Australian residents. The roundtrip 7-day Queensland cruise itinerary visited Cooktown, Lizard IslandGreat Barrier Reef (Osprey Reef, Ribbon Reef, Mackay Reef), Daintree River (near Cape Tribulation), Fitzroy Island and Sudbury Cay (private island behind Fitzroy).

In late-November 2020, Coral Expeditions officially received approval for its Tasmania 2021 summer itinerary program. The schedule included 8 voyages (on the ship Coral Discoverer) between January 1 and March 18 (2021). The mini-season started with the annual "Yachtsman’s Cruise" (aka "Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race 2020"/Sydney NSW to Hobart Tasmania) on December 26, 2020. For January 1 was scheduled the 16-night "Tasmanian Circumnavigation" itinerary. Followed 6x 10-days "Coastal Wilds of Tasmania and Coastal Treks" itineraries roundtrip from homeport Hobart.

Coral Discoverer's 2023-2024 schedule included new itineraries visiting Tiwi Islands (Northern Territory AU). The 10-night "Art & Culture of the Kimberley and Tiwi Islands" voyages are from Broome to Darwin (Aug 28, 2023, and Aug 26, 2024) and from Darwin to Broome (Sept 8, 2023, and Sept 6, 2024). They both feature coastal navigation in Timor Sea (Joseph Bonaparte Gulf and visiting Melville Island's Munupi Arts & Crafts Centre) as well as land tours to Oomari/King George River's Falls, Kimberley's Horries/Garaanngaddim/Horizontal Falls and Montgomery Reef.

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In 2018, Coral Expeditions had scheduled a 7-night “Coastal Treks of Tasmania” themed cruise itinerary (departure January 15) along Tasmania Island’s coastline. During the voyage, special guests of the ship were Alison and Angus Moore, Their onboard lectures were themed on Tasmania's flora and fauna.

Also in 2018, a 16-night itinerary was themed on World War 2 (1939-1945). Departing December 3 (2018) from Cairns (Queensland Australia), the South Pacific Islands cruise visited New Caledonia, Solomon Islands (Guadalcanal), PNG, Vanuatu (Tanna Island). The onboard program was led by a skilled expedition team, with guest lecturer Peter Martin (maritime historian and mariner).

In June 2021, with Coral Discoverer Coral Expeditions launches the revised cruise program (Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest) featuring longer itineraries and more immersive travel experiences. The new 7-night voyages (themed "Outerknown Adventures on the Great Barrier Reef") visit lesser-known and seldom visited outer reefs (like Osprey Reef) and isles (like Hope Island) in the Reef's northern region, plus the Daintree Rainforest (on mainland Queensland).