Coral Expeditions set for WA season

WESTERN Australia is set to sail again, with Coral Expeditions extending its successful small ship expedition restart to the state.

A new 45-voyage program will include itineraries exploring Western Australia’s coastline, as well as a number of the state’s rarely visited islands.

Coral will also sail its celebrated Kimberley voyage between Broome and Darwin, with Coral Adventurer currently en route from Adelaide to Fremantle, before she sets sail from the WA port on 10 Mar, calling on the Houtman Abrolhos, the Ningaloo Coast, Shark Bay (pictured), the Muiron & Montebello Islands and the Dampier Archipelago.

The brand-new Coral Geographer, to be delivered next month, will also depart on her sold-out maiden voyage on 31 Mar, for the Across the Top of Australia expedition, a 19-night voyage exploring remote regions of Western Australia, including Ashmore Reef, Scott Reef, Adele Island and the Lacepede Islands.

Coral has attained all required state and federal approvals, including the endorsement of its SailSAFE plan, with the cruise line having been continuously operating incident-free in the Great Barrier Reef and Tasmania since Oct (CW 28 Oct 2020).

The company has also just completed a successful inaugural voyage in South Australia last week (CW 10 Feb).

“Coral Expeditions will be one of the first to resume operations since last Apr,” enthused Cruise Broome Chairman Shayne Murray.

“The expedition cruise industry provides significant tourism dollars to local and indigenous tours and business throughout the Kimberley.

“Despite the seasons closure last year, local cruising contributed some $13 million dollars, and with their three-vessel fleet approved and operating this year, Coral Expeditions will be a very significant contributor once again,” Murray added.