- CRUISE TYPE
- ALL-INCLUSIVE CRUISES
- CROATIA CRUISE DEALS
- FAMILY CRUISES
- GAY & LESBIAN CRUISES
- GREEK ISLANDS CRUISES
- HONEYMOON CRUISES
- LAST MINUTE CRUISES
- RAIL & CRUISE PACKAGES
- RIVER CRUISES
- ROMANTIC CRUISES
- SHORT CRUISES (AUSTRALIA)
- SOLO CRUISES
- THEME CRUISES
- WEDDING CRUISES
- WEEKEND CRUISES
- View All Cruise DealsLIST
- CRUISE DESTINATIONS
- CHOOSE DESTINATION
- ANTARCTICA & ARCTIC
- ASIA
- AUSTRALIA
- BALTIC SEA & SCANDINAVIA
- CARIBBEAN & CENTRAL AMERICA
- ANTIGUA CRUISE
- ARUBA CRUISE
- BAHAMAS CRUISE
- BARBADOS CRUISE
- BELIZE CRUISE
- BERMUDA CRUISE
- BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS CRUISE
- CAYMAN ISLANDS CRUISE
- COSTA RICA CRUISE
- CUBA CRUISE
- CURACAO CRUISE
- DOMINICAN REPUBLIC CRUISE
- JAMAICA CRUISE
- MEXICO CRUISE
- PANAMA CRUISE
- PUERTO RICO CRUISE
- TRINIDAD & TOBAGO CRUISE
- US VIRGIN ISLANDS CRUISE
- EUROPEAN RIVER CRUISES
- EUROPE – ATLANTIC ISLANDS
- EUROPE – BRITISH ISLES & WESTERN
- GALAPAGOS CRUISES
- KIMBERLEY CRUISES
- MEDITERRANEAN
- MIDDLE EAST
- SOUTH AMERICA
- SOUTH PACIFIC & NEW ZEALAND
- TRANSATLANTIC
- USA & CANADA CRUISES
- WORLD CRUISES
- View All DestinationsLIST
- CHOOSE DESTINATION
- CRUISE LINES
- OCEAN CRUISE LINES
- RIVER CRUISE LINES
- AMAWATERWAYS
- AMERICAN CRUISE LINES
- AMERICAN QUEEN VOYAGES
- AQUA EXPEDITIONS
- A-ROSA
- ASSAM BENGAL NAVIGATION
- AU CO
- AVALON WATERWAYS
- BHAYA CRUISES
- CROISIEUROPE
- EMERALD CRUISES
- EUROPEAN WATERWAYS
- HERITAGE LINE
- MAHABAAHU CRUISES
- OBEROI CRUISES
- PANDAW CRUISES
- PAUKAN CRUISES
- RIVIERA TRAVEL
- SCENIC
- TRAVELMARVEL
- UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE CRUISE COLLECTION
- VIKING CRUISES
- EXPEDITION CRUISE LINES/SPECIALITY
- ADVENTURE CANADA
- ALBATROS EXPEDITIONS
- ALASKAN DREAM CRUISES
- AMERICAN CRUISE LINES
- ANTARCTICA 21
- ANTARCTICA BOAT CRUISES
- APT TOURS
- AQUA EXPEDITIONS
- AU CO
- AURORA EXPEDITIONS
- BHAYA CRUISES
- BLUE LAGOON
- CAPTAIN COOK CRUISES FIJI
- CORAL EXPEDITIONS
- DIVERSITY CHARTERS
- G ADVENTURES
- GALAPAGOS BOAT CRUISES
- HAPAG-LLOYD
- HERITAGE EXPEDITIONS
- HERITAGE LINE
- HURTIGRUTEN EXPEDITIONS
- KIMBERLEY BOAT CRUISES
- NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPEDITIONS
- OCEANWIDE EXPEDITIONS
- PEARL EXPEDITIONS
- POLAR LATITUDE
- QUARK EXPEDITIONS
- QUASAR EXPEDITIONS
- SWAN HELLENIC
- UN-CRUISE ADVENTURES
- View All Specialty CruisesLIST
- TALL SHIP CRUISE LINES
- View All Cruise LinesLIST
- CRUISE DEALS
- CONTACT US
There are cruise ships… and then there are vessels that quietly slip into adventurous places that most big ships can’t, shouldn’t, or simply don’t bother trying to reach.
Coral Expeditions sits firmly in the second category.
No neon slides. No floating shopping malls. No “activities schedule” that reads like a corporate away day.
Just small ships, serious itineraries, and the kind of travel that makes you briefly question why you ever thought a pool deck and a buffet were enough. These cruises and devoid of the fluff that the bigger ships foist upon other parts of the seas. These are true immersive journeys that focus on what you see and do, as well as yourselves.
Expedition cruising isn’t plug-and-play.
It’s part destination, part timing, part ship—and getting one of those wrong changes the entire experience.
Speak with a BlueSun cruise specialist - Call 1300 799 758 or send us an email enquiry.
Coral Expeditions isn’t trying to compete with mainstream cruise lines.
It’s doing something far more useful: actually getting you into the destination.
Coral Expeditions has been in the business since 1984. It's made its mark with expedition-first cruising built around:
- Small ships designed for access—not entertainment
- Purpose-built expedition tenders (Zodiacs + Xplorer boats)
- Australian-led expedition teams who know the terrain
- Itineraries shaped by tides, weather, and opportunity—not port bookings
If most cruises are about what’s on the ship, Coral is about what happens when you leave it.
-
Intimate Expedition Experience
With just 72–120 passengers on each ship, guests enjoy a relaxed atmosphere, open deck spaces, and easy access to crew-led activities. -
Specialist Equipment & Expertise
Variety of tenders: Xplorers (60–65 seats), Zodiacs, glass‑bottom boats, and kayaks. Ships are outfitted for scientific research and feature onboard lectures. Each voyage includes expert-led programs featuring expedition leaders, naturalists, marine biologists, and scuba instructors, as well as small-group outings using signature Xplorer tenders and Zodiacs for shore, snorkel, and kayak adventures. -
Authentic, Immerse Cuisine & Culture
Meals are prepared with local produce, often freshly sourced at destination ports. Voyages emphasize regional authenticity—from Indigenous art on board to cultural exchange on shore. -
Safety, Ethics & Sustainability
Australian standards of crew certification, vessel safety, and environmental responsibility underpin operations. Coral Expeditions also practices citizen-science initiatives on the Great Barrier Reef
Let’s not overcomplicate this—the Kimberley is the reason most people end up here.
And Coral Expeditions has been operating these waters longer than most competitors have been writing about them.
Expect:
- Horizontal Falls explored by Zodiac (not observed from a distance)
- Montgomery Reef rising out of the ocean like a geological ambush
- King George Falls dropping with very little interest in subtlety
- Ancient rock art sites older than most civilisations
- Coastlines that feel deliberately inaccessible
View Kimberley cruise itineraries
See current Kimberley availability
Learm more about Horizontal Falls Seaplane tours.
View video: Horizontal Falls
BlueSun Travel is the number one Kimberley cruise specialist in Australia, so if you want the latest and most up to date informtion on booking any Kimberley cruise, click on the link here to view all Kimberley Boat Cruises.
The flagship. Built for remote Australian coastlines and serious expedition work. The second ship in the fleet. (120 guests). Launched in 2019. Features two Xplorers with onboard facilities, an open bridge deck, a gym, and expert programming.
- Best for: Kimberley, extended expeditions
- Personality: capable, practical, quietly confident
The classic Coral experience. Smaller, more intimate, highly flexible. (72 guests) – Operates in Kimberley, PNG, Oceania, Tasmania, NZ, and Indonesia. Equipped with Xplorers, Zodiacs, kayaks, glass‑bottom boat.
- Best for: Coastal Australia, PNG, Tasmania, lighter expedition routes
- Personality: traditional, balanced, quietly effective
The newer generation. Same expedition DNA, slightly more refinement. (120 guests) – Launched in 2021. Sister ship to Adventurer with private balconies, horizon tubs in suites, and extensive open deck spaces.
- Best for: multi-region exploration with added comfort
- Personality: modern, composed, well-balanced
| SHIP IMAGE | SHIP NAME | BEST FOR | STYLE | GUEST EXPERIENCE | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Coral Adventurer | Kimberley & remote Australia | Expedition-first | Maximum access | ||
|
Coral Discoverer | Classic expedition cruising | Intimate | Flexible & relaxed | ||
|
Coral Geographer | Multi-region voyages | Modern expedition | Comfort + capability | ||
SIMPLE VERSION:
👉 Adventurer = reach further
👉 Discoverer = classic feel
👉 Geographer = newest balance, more balcony cabins
Remote, complex, culturally layered. Crossing into the Asia‑Pacific, itineraries highlight village life, coral reefs, and UNESCO sites.
Explore PNG expedition cruises
Cruise Komodo, Sulawesi, Borneo, Raja Ampat & Spice Islands. Marine biodiversity that feels excessive in the best possible way. Pristine reefs (home to 600+ coral species and 1,700+ reef fish), active volcanoes, and spice-trade heritage are central to these remote journeys.
View Raja Ampat & the Spice Islands cruises
Not the postcard version. The real one. Explore shallow reefs and remote islands inaccessible to larger ships; voyages typically range between Darwin and Cairns
Discover Great Barrier Reef expeditions
Explore Australia's ancient northern wilderness with three decades of expertise. Discover 65,000-year-old Indigenous cultures, sacred rock art, and remote coastlines from Cape York Arnhem Land to Torres Strait to Tiwi Islands.
Discover Cape York & Arnheim Land cruises
Cool-climate expedition cruising with fewer crowds and sharper coastlines. Expeditions showcase unique marine habitats, scenic fjords, and wildlife-rich shores.
Explore Australia's West Coast cruises
View our: Australia's South Coast cruises
Click here: New Zealand expedition cruises
Explore our Tasmania expedition cruises
This isn’t a cruise where you check the daily schedule to see what time trivia starts.
A typical day looks more like:
- Wake up somewhere you didn’t expect to be
- Coffee overlooking a coastline you can’t quite place
- Expedition briefing that actually matters
- Zodiac landing into somewhere not built for tourists
- Return to ship mildly sunburnt and reassessing your life choices
- Repeat
| COMPARISON AREA | CORAL EXPEDITIONS | LARGE CRUISE SHIPS | ULTRA-LUXURY EXPEDITION LINES | BUDGET OPERATORS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guest Experience | Small-ship expedition cruising focused on access, immersion, and authenticity | Mass-market cruising with entertainment and large-scale amenities | Luxury expedition travel with premium service and styling | Basic expedition travel with simplified operations |
| Passenger Numbers | ~100 guests | 3,000+ guests | 100–250 guests | Varies |
| Destination Access | Remote coastlines, secluded bays, culturally rich regions | Mainstream cruise ports and tourist hubs | Remote expedition destinations with luxury access | Limited or variable access |
| Onboard Style | Expedition-first, relaxed, practical comfort | Entertainment-driven resort experience | Refined luxury and premium hospitality | Functional and budget-focused |
| Core Focus | Exploration without unnecessary luxury theatre | Entertainment and onboard experience | Luxury expedition experience | Price-driven travel |
| Positioning Summary | Serious expedition cruising without unnecessary luxury theatre | Floating entertainment resorts | Same destinations, different priorities | Lower cost, lower consistency |
SUMMARY:
- Small-ship expedition cruising focused on authentic exploration rather than mass tourism
- Typically carries around ~100 guests, creating a more intimate and uncrowded experience
- Accesses remote coastlines, secluded bays, and hard-to-reach destinations that large cruise ships cannot reach
- Prioritises real shore landings and immersive excursions over onboard entertainment
- Guided by experienced expedition teams and local experts who bring destinations to life
- Onboard experience is relaxed, practical, and purpose-driven, not centred on theatre or spectacle
- Strong focus on learning, discovery, and connection to nature and culture
- Delivers a consistent, capability-driven expedition product rather than luxury performance or budget shortcuts
- Best described as: serious expedition cruising without unnecessary luxury theatre
Not all cruises are built the same — and that’s exactly where Coral Expeditions stands apart: a purpose-built expedition experience for travellers who value genuine exploration, remote access, and expert-led journeys over oversized ships or unnecessary luxury theatre.
Because expedition cruising has more variables than most people expect.
We help you:
- Match the right ship to the right itinerary
- Understand Kimberley seasonality (this matters more than you think)
- Compare Coral vs other expedition operators honestly
- Secure departures before they disappear
- Have access to exclusive deals and bonuses that no one else has
- Open 7-days a week!
And most importantly: after 30 years in the industry, we won't let you book the wrong cruise experience.
If you’ve made it this far, you’re not casually browsing.
You’re deciding.
Let us:
Check Coral Expeditions availability Click on this link to compare Kimberley cruise departure dates Provide detailed itineraries Speak with a BlueSun cruise specialist - Call 1300 799 758 or send us an email enquiry.
(The good cabins don’t sit around waiting, so plan ahead, to get ahead.)
For more information on our Coral Expeditions Cruises or and other cruise packages,
Call 1300 799 758 now.
Available to chat - 7 days a week!