Coral Discoverer is an expedition cruise ship operating in Australia and Oceania. She has previously been called Oceanic Princess and Oceanic Discoverer and was renamed Coral Discoverer in June 2015. The ship was launched in 2005 by NQEA Shipbuilders in Cairns, Australia.[1]

Oceanic Discoverer sailing near the island of Ouvéa. November 2006. Photo by: Roderick Eime
Coral Discoverer sailing near the island of Ouvéa November 2006.
History
Name
  • Coral Discoverer (2015–)
  • Oceanic Discoverer (2006–2015)
  • Oceanic Princess (2005–2006)
OwnerCoral Expeditions
OperatorCoral Expeditions
Port of registryAustralia
RouteAustralia, South Pacific and South-east Asia
Ordered2003
BuilderNQEA
Cost$35 Million (AUD)
Laid down20 June 2003
Launched9 January 2005
Completed27 April 2005
Maiden voyage2005
In service2005–
HomeportCairns, Tropical North Queensland
StatusActive
General characteristics
Class and typeCruise ship
Tonnage1,838 GT
Length63 m (206 ft 8 in)
Beam13 m (42 ft 8 in)
Draught3 m (9 ft 10 in)
Decks4
Speed14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Capacity72 passengers
CrewUp to 25

Operations edit

The 72 passenger Coral Discoverer is homeported in Cairns, Tropical North Queensland and is one of three vessels in the Coral Expeditions fleet, operating alongside Coral Expeditions I and Coral Expeditions II.

Coral Discoverer has four passenger decks, containing 36 passenger cabins, an open seat dining room and an al fresco dining deck, lounge and lecture lounge, two cocktail bars and a sun deck. She is equipped with a range of excursion tenders including inflatable zodiacs, glass bottom boat, kayaks and the 'Xplorer' excursion tender.

The ship operates itineraries that include Australia's 'Top End' and Kimberley, Tasmania, Papua New Guinea, Melanesia, New Zealand, Indonesia and West Papua.

She starred in a 3 hour long SBS Slow TV Broadcast The Kimberley Cruise: Australia's Last Great Wilderness that aired on 13 January 2019.

References edit

  1. ^ "Coral Discoverer (9292747)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 21 November 2019.