Coral Expeditions’ new ship hits the water

Australia’s newest adventure ship, Coral Adventurer, has hit the water.

Coral Expeditions held a float-out ceremony for its new flagship vessel in Vietnam this week, heralding a new era for the Australian line. Sea trials have been scheduled to start in February before the ship’s official launch ceremony, to be held in Singapore on April 23. The 120-passenger Coral Adventurer is now on track to sail on her maiden 18-night voyage “In the trail of Tasman” which departs Singapore on April 23 for Darwin. The inaugural voyage is already sold out. The Coral Adventurer will visit various Indonesian islands and call at Palembang, Bawean Island, Pulau Buton, Saparua Island, Banda Neira and Pulau Hatta before arriving in Australian waters for the first time for an official welcome in Darwin on May 13. Coral Expeditions will mark its 35th anniversary celebrations as a pioneer of small ship expedition by cruising a one-time-only circumnavigation of Australia on board Coral Adventurer. Cabins on the 60-day voyage, which starts from $38,860 per person, twin share has been selling well. The ship is scheduled to depart from Darwin on November 7 and will visit 35 places of significant maritime and cultural heritage that have shaped Australia, many of which are difficult to reach by land. “Coral Adventurer has received a positive response from the market with extremely strong forward bookings and charter interest,” says Mark Fifield, group general manager of Coral Expeditions. “We have had an overwhelming response to the recently launched 60-day 35th anniversary Circumnavigation of Australia which is nearing capacity after only two weeks in the market and this instils great confidence amongst our team and stakeholders to action further fleet development into the future.” Coral Adventurer has been purpose-built for expedition cruising and will have special lightweight tenders for shore excursions. She is the fourth ship to join the line’s fleet of three including Coral Expeditions 1, Coral Expeditions ll and Coral Discoverer.