Page 24 - Tropic Magazine Issue 223

TROPIC • COVER STORY

Let’s rewind to 1985. Big cruise ship tours
are more popular than ever, thanks in
large part to the iconic TV series The Love
Boat. Just as that campy American sitcom
was airing its seventh season, Cairns In 2020, Coral Expeditions will also
local Captain Tony Briggs decided to take As we look back on 35 celebrate the 250th anniversary of Sir
a different tack. Instead of grand ocean years of expedition Philip Parker King’s landing at Careening
liners and thousands of passengers at Bay on his great northern exploration
a time, Captain Briggs launched Coral cruising, we’re proud through Australia’s Kimberley region.
Princess Cruises (CPC). The company’s
first vessel, Coral Princess, was a converted to admit that exploring It’s also commemorating the 75th
WWII submarine chaser, and from the Australia remains anniversary of the end of WWII with a
very beginning it set the standard for special voyage onboard Coral Discoverer.
small ship expedition cruising in northern integral to our DNA The Battles & Beaches expedition travels
Australia by offering overnight Great through the Solomon Islands to honour the
Barrier Reef cruises from Townsville. Mark Fifield legacy of Allied and Axis Forces.
Group General Manager The anniversary celebrations will
Fast forward to 2020, and Coral
Expeditions certainly shows no signs culminate in Coral Adventurer’s special
of slowing down as it prepares to add The vessel’s magnificence is perhaps only Circumnavigation of Australia – 35th
another vessel to its fleet as it continues outweighed by the voyages she’ll embark Anniversary Expedition. “While the
its record of consistent growth. Fresh off upon. Setting sail from Singapore in diversity of our expeditions has expanded
the successful launch of Coral Adventurer January 2021, Coral Geographer’s maiden into new regions, we have maintained our
last year, the company will unveil Coral voyage will explore remote areas of the home in Queensland and continue to be
Geographer in December 2020. “We’ve Indian ocean, visiting the Maldives and the only major operator of extended small
witnessed significant demand for our Seychelles via the islands of Malaysia and ship cruises on the Great Barrier Reef,” Mr
style of expedition-style cruising, and the Sri Lanka. Her second sold-out voyage Fifield said. “As we look back on 35 years of
business had the confidence to order a from the Seychelles to Madagascar expedition cruising, we’re proud to admit
fifth ship only weeks after launching Coral features visits to the Comoros, Madagascar that exploring Australia remains integral
Adventurer,” says Mark Fifield, Group and Reunion. Voyage number three travels to our DNA.” The once-in-a-lifetime
General Manager. “We’re confident in the from Mauritius to Zanzibar via Reunion cruise over 60 days visits thirty five places
vessel’s size, her design and capabilities. and Madagascar, exploring the Malagasy that have shaped Australia. Featuring
She represents the perfect balance between and Creole cultures at the edge of Africa, Australia’s maritime history, nature, art
being large enough for ocean voyaging yet before returning to Australia and visiting and culture, it’s a fitting celebration of 35
having a small and intimate ship feel to remote islands and outposts of Australia’s years as Australia’s pioneering cruise line.
maximise our guest experience. west coast.

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24 • Tropic • Issue 23