Yacht-like Coral Discoverer set a new benchmark standard of sophistication in expedition cruising when she was constructed by us in 2005. As we continued to expand our expedition itineraries, Coral Discoverer sailed on pioneering expeditions through Papua New Guinea, the islands of the South Pacific, Vanuatu, New Zealand, West Papua, and the Spice Islands. She led explorations into remote areas, focusing on destinations that were largely inaccessible to larger cruise ships.
Coral Discoverer is exceptionally nimble and maneuverable, with a shallow draught to get up close to destinations, ocean views from all public spaces, an expansive open-air sun deck, all outside-facing staterooms, and state-of-the-art tools for exploration including the Xplorer, zodiacs, a glass-bottom boat, and kayaks. A full refurbishment in 2018 saw the addition of private balconies, the much-loved Xplorer sundeck bar, and all new furnishings throughout the ship.
Comfortable, reliable, and intimately scaled, Coral Discoverer now conducts expeditions across Australia’s coast – Tasmania, Cape York and Arnhem Land and the Kimberley. Australian flagged and staffed by an Australian and New Zealand crew, your experience aboard Coral Discoverer will be memorable.
Coral Discoverer Information Sheet View Our Sailing Schedule
Stateroom Information | Life Onboard | Vessel Facilities | Onboard Policies
Located on the exclusive Bridge Deck close to the Lounge and Bridge, our six spacious Bridge Deck staterooms are 20sqm (215 square feet) in size and open out onto private balconies for expansive ocean views, along with a sofa, desk, telephone and your choice of Junior King or twin bedding.
Encircled by a full-ship promenade, our 19 spacious Promenade Deck (Category A) staterooms are 18sqm (195 square feet) in size and feature picture windows for expansive ocean views, along with a sofa, desk, telephone and your choice of Junior King or twin bedding.
Located in the bow of the ship and encircled by a full-ship promenade, our two Promenade Deck (Category B) staterooms are 15sqm (160 square feet) in size and feature picture windows for expansive ocean views, along with a desk, telephone and Junior King bedding. These rooms are allocated for Sole Use only.
Located close to the Dining Room, our six spacious Main Deck (Category A) staterooms are 18sqm (195 square feet) in size and feature large, twin porthole windows for expansive ocean views, along with a desk, sofa, telephone and your choice of Junior King or twin bedding.
Located close to the Dining Room, our three spacious Main Deck (Category B) staterooms are 18sqm (195 square feet) in size and feature twin portholes for expansive ocean views, along with a desk, sofa, telephone and your choice of Junior King or twin bedding.
The Coral Discoverer features all outside-facing guest cabins with ensuite bathrooms. Our active stabilisers dampen sea motion whilst travelling on your voyage. Coral Discoverer also features Wi-Fi in all areas (at cost) for guest comfort.
Meet like minded explorers during single seating dining, with communal table serves for breakfast and lunch, and multi-course table d’hote dinners. The showcase galley allows for viewing as our chefs create fresh small-batch cuisine featuring Australian and local produce. There are multiple indoor and outdoor bars, including our Explorer Bar on the sundeck for sunset drinks, and a wine cellar featuring boutique Australian wines.
With a maximum of 72 guests, our chefs have the creative freedom to prepare small batch meals from fresh seasonal produce. Our dining room offers open seat dining without the need to reserve a table. Meals are served in a combination of family table platters and table d’hote. Morning and afternoon teas are also provided, as is 24-hour access to tea and coffee.
Selected beers, wines and spirits are included with lunch and dinner service, as well as soft drinks and juices. Fresh drinking water is available onboard at water stations.
We offer two new Wine Selections that guests may purchase in addition to the included house selection. Learn More >
There are fully stocked bars onboard with an excellent selection of beers, wines, and spirits. Bar hours are 10:00am to midnight. The laws governing our liquor license prohibit alcohol being brought onboard by guests.
Announcements will be made via the public address system and can be heard throughout the ship. Attention to the announcements is important as they contain information regarding safety and activities on and off the ship and dining times.
A Daily Newsletter outlining excursion information, meal hours, and onboard activities for the following day will be delivered to your cabin each evening during turn down. The Expedition Leader will also go over the next day’s activities at pre-dinner drinks each evening.
A series of lectures will be presented during the cruise. These presentations are an integral part of your expedition and are designed to lend greater depth and understanding to your experience. The lecture series, films, and slide-shows will be presented in the bridge deck lounge.
There is a resource library onboard with an excellent selection of books covering natural history, geology, local cultures, and flora & fauna, as well as fictional novels and games to enjoy.
Our small gift shop onboard stocks items from our Cruise Collection, including shirts, hats & backpacks. Contact us if you would like to pre-order prior to your cruise.
Limited laundering services are available onboard. Laundry bags and forms are stored in your wardrobe for collection by Cruise Attendants. Charges for this service will be posted to your onboard account. As the service is for laundering only, ironing services are not provided. Mini ironing boards and irons are available from the Reception desk.
Basic toiletries including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, and hand soap will be provided in your cabin. Shaving kits and dental kits are available on request. Hairdryers and separate towels for swimming and bathroom use are provided.
The atmosphere onboard is casual and relaxed. There is no formal dress code, and ‘smart casual’ attire is suggested for dinner. A suggested packing list is included in your documents.
Coral Discoverer features one trademark Xplorer tender, which seat all passengers and facilitate comfortable shore excursions, two zodiacs for more intrepid exploration. The lecture lounge allows for daily expedition briefings and expert presentations, and the small onboard library features a range of books on destinations and wildlife. The shallow draft and advanced navigation and propulsion systems allowing access to locations closed to large cruise ships.
Guests can enjoy over 1000 square metres of open deck space, including a wrap-around promenade deck with panoramic views. Our crew invite you to join engine room tours, with a high level of crew interaction with guests.
There are no luggage restrictions on Coral Discoverer, and there is ample room to store luggage in your cabin under your bed or in the wardrobe. Please note any airline restrictions when packing if travelling by air to or from your cruise.
The vessel is air-conditioned throughout and passengers are able to modify room temperature in their cabin. Please note, for safety reasons the windows and portholes do not open.
Voltage onboard Coral Discoverer is 220/250v, 50Hz AC (standard Australian 3 pin plug). A slanted 2-pin adapter plug will work while onboard, however, with the 3rd pin missing, the item will not be grounded. For our international guests, a limited number of adapters are available onboard but we recommend you bring your own if required. Please check your equipment to be sure you bring what is necessary for your personal needs.
Bathrooms onboard Coral Discoverer are equipped with both 110V and 200/240V outlets for electric shavers only.
There is no elevator or passenger lift aboard Coral Discoverer. There are approximately 12-13 steps on each flight of stairs.
Xplorer – The ship’s lightweight Xplorer tender, a trademark feature of all Coral Expeditions vessels, extends the capabilities
of the ship by allowing deeper exploration on shore excursions. The ‘safari jeep’ of the sea, the Xplorer is fast, sturdy, comfortable and developed to allow easy disembarkation onto remote shores. Located on a hydraulic platform at the stern, passengers are able to walk straight onto the tender from the deck. Xplorer is equipped with shelter and toilet facilities.
We carry three inflatable landing craft (Zodiacs). Designed for expeditions, these large, heavy-duty inflatables are extremely safe and maneuverable. The flat bottom design permits these crafts to land directly onto beaches.
We carry a glass-bottom viewing vessel allowing an informative and out-of-water reef experience.
Both double and single kayaks are available for use at select points throughout your cruise.
*on selected cruises only
While travelling through remote areas, you may not have access to Internet/mobile reception through your own provider for
extended periods of time. Coral Discoverer is equipped with an onboard communication system, and prepaid satellite Internet cards are available to purchase to connect to the Internet through either a laptop computer or mobile device. Calling cards can also be purchased and used to make calls from your cabin.
| Internet | Price* |
|---|---|
| 500MB | $50 |
| 1GB | $80 |
| 2GB | $140 |
| 4GB | $200 |
*Prices listed in AUD.
In addition, to help you keep in touch with news from home, we subscribe to a daily news service, and copies of this publication are made available to guests each day.
Note: Internet access on the ship is contracted by Coral Expeditions to an external industry service provider and is a satellite connection. While every effort is made to ensure uninterrupted service, from time to time there may be disrupted service due to lack of satellite coverage or other technical issues that are beyond our control. Internet access is best in public areas but not guaranteed in staterooms due to the steel structure of the ship.
Flag: Australian
Year of Build: 2005
Refurbished: 2018
LOA: 63 metres
Beam: 13 metres
Draught: 3 metres
Gross Tonnage: 1779GT
Construction: NQEA Australia
Main Engines: Caterpillar 3512B
Cruising Speed: 10-12 knots
Maximum Passengers: 72
Maximum Crew: 24
We operate a “no key” policy for safety reasons onboard Coral Discoverer. If required, our Purser will care for any of your valuable items in the ship’s safe.
There is an open bridge policy onboard. Coral Discoverer features a navigator lounge to provide guests with a view of ship operations. All guests are welcome in the bridge at any time unless otherwise advised by one of the officers.
Our crew have no other agenda than your delight, and tipping is not commonly considered Australian custom. Therefore tipping is completely optional. Should you choose to recognise the service provided, please make any gratuities payable to the Purser (in cash only) for equal distribution to all crew.
Smoking is permitted only in the designated smoking area. There is a no smoking policy throughout the interior of the ship. There is a total smoking ban when travelling on tender vessels and refueling.
Upon embarkation, we automatically open your personal onboard account. For your security, we ask that you sign for your orders from our bar, shop, or make any other onboard purchases. At the end of the voyage your account may be settled in AU$ cash; by Visa, MasterCard or American Express (we regret no Travellers Cheques).
A cruise on Coral Discoverer is suitable for a range of fitness levels, however a reasonable level of mobility is required to
travel and enjoy all your cruise itinerary has to offer. All guests should be in good general health, able to walk reasonable
distances over sometimes uneven terrain, and stand during excursions. Hikes and walks do vary in intensity and where
possible, groups will be split to suit easy and moderate walkers.
Coral Discoverer has a lift/elevator on board, however all guests must be able to make their own way up and down stairs in case of an emergency. As our itineraries cover remote regions, they are not suitable for those with serious medical conditions. Any ongoing medical issues should be discussed with reservations staff at the time of booking.
We request all passengers to obtain travel insurance that covers remote area evacuation.
Special dietary needs can be catered for. Please advise our reservations staff of any special requirements in writing via the Personal Link. Please also advise of any special anniversaries or birthdays you may be celebrating whilst aboard.
Prevention is key – you should discuss appropriate measures with your doctor or pharmacist prior to travel. If you do become seasick, please advise the Purser so they can attend to your needs promptly and appropriately. A variety of seasickness preventions and treatments are available onboard.
All guests must comply with our SailSAFE requirements. View our SailSAFE plan here >
On a Coral Expeditions cruise, the safety of our guests is our top priority. Upon boarding, you will be briefed about our emergency procedures and given tips for how to move about the vessel in rough conditions. Throughout the cruise, safety announcements will be made via the public address system and can be heard throughout the ship. Always listen to the advice of your Captain, Purser, and Expedition team.
It is essential that you take certain safety precautions.
Here are some basic rules:
• Be extra careful when walking on wet decks and never run when onboard the ship
In rough weather, note especially:
• Do not stroll about the ship unnecessarily
• Hold on to handrails on stairways. Be very careful in the bathroom
• Doors should be latched open or kept closed during heavy seas. Use the handles and never hold a door by its frame as the ship’s movement may cause the door to close on your hand
• Secure items in your bathroom and on your bureau, or place in drawers and cupboards
• Use care when carrying anything, always ask for assistance when needed
In 2016, a significant upgrade and refresh of our facilities aboard Coral Discoverer has brought her amenities to an even higher level. The Sun Deck with circular Explorer Bar has evolved to become a new social space and the hub of on board community living. Guest accommodation also received a substantial upgrade with the addition of six Bridge Deck Balcony Staterooms providing coveted inside/outside living quarters. All other Stateroom grades also received a full upgrade with updated bathroom fixtures, soft furnishings and artwork providing an even more comfortable stay on board Coral Discoverer.
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