CORAL EXPEDITIONS

Small ship expedition cruises to Australia and beyond - the Kimberley, Tasmania, Western Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Japan & the Philippines

SMALL SHIP EXPEDITION CRUISING TO AUSTRALIA & BEYOND

Intimate, Immersive and Adventurous

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.

Start here: Plan Your Coral Expeditions Cruise

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.

👉 Check Coral Expeditions availability
👉 Compare ships and itineraries
👉 Request full cruise details
👉 Speak to a BlueSun expedition specialist - call 1300 799 758 or email us now

Why Coral Expeditions is Different

And Why That Matters

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

Coral-Expeditions-Excursion-Vessels-Block-Ships-Zodiac

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Kimberley Cruises with Coral Expeditions

The Route That Changes Your Benchmark for “Remote”

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

This isn’t sightseeing. It’s proximity.

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.

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Coral Expeditions Fleet

Small Ships That Know Their Place (Hint: It’s Not the Spotlight)

Coral Adventurer

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, open bridge deck, gym, and expert programming.

Best for: Kimberley, extended expeditions
Personality: capable, practical, quietly confident

View Coral Adventurer itineraries

Coral Discoverer

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

Explore Coral Discoverer cruises

Coral Geographer

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

View Coral Geographer voyages

Compare Coral Expeditions Ships

Ship	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

Expedition Destinations Beyond the Kimberley

Because once you start travelling like this, it’s hard to go back.

Papua New Guinea & Solomon Islands

Remote, complex, culturally layered. Crossing into the Asia‑Pacific, itineraries highlight village life, coral reefs, and UNESCO sites.

Explore PNG expedition cruises

Indonesia, Raja Ampat & The Spice Islands

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

Great Barrier Reef (Remote Sections)

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

Australia's West Coast & South Coast, Tasmania & New Zealand

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

Australia's North - Cape York & Arnheim Land

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

What a Day Actually Looks Like

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

Coral Expeditions vs Other Cruise Lines

Not All “Expedition” Ships Are Created Equal

Let’s remove the brochure language and get to the bits that really matter when booking a Coral Expeditiopns cruise:

vs Large Cruise Ships

3,000 guests vs ~100
Ports vs remote landings
Entertainment vs exploration

vs Ultra-Luxury Expedition Lines

Less marble, more access
Less theatre, more terrain
Similar destinations, different priorities

vs Budget Operators

Stronger expedition teams
Better vessel capability
More consistent delivery

Coral sits in a very specific space: serious expedition cruising without unnecessary luxury theatre.

Why Book Coral Expeditions with BlueSun Cruises

We are the experts that know, we don't just read fliers!

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.

Final Step: Check Availability & Start Planning

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.)

COMPARE CORAL EXPEDITION CRUISE SHIPS, PRICES & DATES

Click on images below to learn more

CORAL EXPEDITIONS CRUISE SHIPS

CORAL ADVENTURER

CORAL DISCOVERER

CORAL GEOGRAPHER

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