Paspaley launches expedition line with its 30-guest Paspaley Pearl yacht

• Paspaley Pearl, the superyacht bought by the famous pearling family, is launching as a luxury expedition ship.
• She will sail the Kimberley and later venture into Asia.
• Industry legend Sarina Bratton is in partnership with Paspalay in the venture.
  

Paspaley, Australia’s biggest producer of fine pearls, is set to relaunch its bid to create a luxury cruise product using its yacht, Passpaley Pearl.

Maintaining it was launching a “uniquely Australian-owned, immersive expedition cruise venture”, the line announced it was in partnership with Sarina Bratton AM, a former chair of Ponant Explorations Group.

Bratton and the Paspaley family represent a formidable force. Bratton is a huge player in Australian cruises and led the acclaimed Orion Expedition Cruises – the pioneer of luxury expedition cruising in Australasia.

According to the company, the partnership “draws on the deep regional knowledge of the Paspaley Group, combined with the talents of former Orion team members who first set the standard for boutique expedition travel”.

The Paspaley family has extensive experience in luxury hospitality through its award-winning Wall Street Hotel in New York and is preparing to relaunch the Pinctada Hotel in Broome, Western Australia.

Paspaley’s name is intrinsically tied to the Kimberley and the remote waters of Northern Australia. Paspaley has developed nautical charts and regional expertise critical for navigating the Kimberley Coast.

Last year, an attempt to create a partnership with Ponant failed when Kimberley cruise itineraries onboard what was then called Paspaley Pearl by Ponant were cancelled.

The ship is a purpose-built, boutique expedition motor yacht carrying 30 guests. The vessel went into dry dock in Singapore in preparation for the launch and was converted into an ultra-luxurious expedition ship.

She was previously Island Escape, operated by New Zealand’s collapsed Island Escape Cruise.

According to the company, the vessel will sail its first expeditions in late July 2025, exploring the Kimberley coastline. Later itineraries will include Papua New Guinea, Raja Ampat, East Indonesia, and Borneo.

The company maintains Bratton’s team from Orion team “established enduring cultural connections with local communities and village elders”.

In Kimberley, the ship will showcase King George Falls, Montgomery Reef, and Hunter River, as well as lesser-known locations like Hidden Island, Hell’s Gate, and even a rare visit to one of Paspaley’s operational pearl farms.

The ship will also sail in Southeast Asia and Oceania, exploring the Sepik River, the Trobriand Islands, Raja Ampat, and the spice trails of the Moluccas.

James Paspaley, Executive Director of Paspaley Group, said: “As an Australian company that has its roots in the remote waters of the Kimberley, we are excited to leverage the resources and skills of several of our businesses to create the Paspaley Pearl experience.”

Bratton said: “Guests will journey with a team of 21 attentive crew, including four highly experienced expedition guides, who bring not only innate professionalism and local knowledge but also share a passion for these remarkable places. Imbued with the relaxed Australian hospitality that will define us, Pearl Expeditions represents a new spirit of exploration, where immersive adventure and elegance converge.”

More details will be made available shortly.