Page 24 - Tropic Magazine Issue 22

TROPIC • TOURISM

Curated

experiences

CRUISING IN STYLE
Tropic takes a peek behind the “How do you leave guests feeling?
scenes at Coral Expeditions What have they learnt? What
to find out what makes their connections have they made? These
are all questions we ask ourselves
cruises so special. because we know it determines
what they take away from one of
From the outside looking in,
expedition cruising is all about exotic our expeditions and helps shape the
locations and VIP service aboard stories they will tell for life,”
luxurious ships. Mr Gillies told Tropic.
We picture stunning destinations, “Experience is at the heart of the
spacious cabins on beautiful vessels, Coral Expeditions culture, and
personalised treatment from we look at that from two distinct
exceptional staff and, ultimately, perspectives to deliver an exceptional
memorable experiences. But dig guest experience – local and
deeper, and you discover those technical knowledge and
lifelong memories made during product development.”
voyages are in fact the culmination
of decades of experience, detailed
planning and extensive local
knowledge and partnerships. Talk to We follow nature’s cues
the team at Coral Expeditions and you
quickly get an understanding of just and our own expertise to
how much detail, thought and passion ensure guests get the
goes into crafting the ultimate
experience for their guests. So much very best
of this carefully curated experience
happens behind the scenes, as Coral Jeff Gillies, In terms of local and technical
Expeditions commercial director Jeff Coral Expeditions knowledge, factors such as tides,
Gillies explains. moons, seasonal weather, natural
events and local traditions all come
into play. Decades of operation have
also helped Coral Expedition forge
meaningful partnerships with the
communities they travel to.
“Our job if we do it well is to customise
the order of where and when we go to
places,” Mr Gillies said. “To be flexible
and to adjust. We aim to get people
into the right place at exactly the right
time so that they can see the wonder of
nature unfold. We follow nature’s cues
and our own expertise to ensure guests
get the very best.”
Coral Expedition’s second perspective
on the guest experience – product
development – can sometimes be
a slightly more intangible, abstract
concept than navigating environmental

24 • Tropic • Issue 22