Coral Princess Cruises releases "Spring Special" on Kimberley Expedition Cruises

Coral Princess Cruises, Australia's and the South Pacific's pioneer of small-ship expedition cruising, is offering Spring Specials on selected Kimberley expeditions during August and September 2013 aboard their state-of-art, 72 passenger small-ship Oceanic Discoverer. In great news for single travellers, Coral Princess has waived the single supplement across the eligible departures, a saving of up to $4,895 per person. When two passengers travel together in the same stateroom a 15% discount is offered, a saving of up to $3,087 per couple.

For even greater savings, the 15% Spring Special discount can be combined with Coral Princess's Xplorers Club past passenger discounts of up to 10%. The Kimberley wilderness of Western Australia is twice the size of the state of Victoria, with a population of just 30 000. There is no better way to discover the remarkable Kimberley than aboard a purpose built small-ship, and Coral Princess's 10-night voyages between Darwin and Broome explore some of the planet's oldest and most awe-inspiring landscapes.

The Kimberley's rivers carve their way through ancient, eroded mountains that were once the height of the Himalaya, dropping in champagne waterfalls such as the 80-metre King George Falls. Excursions ashore visit rock art galleries where Bradshaw (Gwion) paintings - the world's oldest known art - record a human history stretching back 50,000 years.

Exploring the Kimberley Coast in August and September affords guests the unique opportunity to experience the region's annual whale migration. The cruise also explores the 800-odd islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago, including an exhilarating Zodiac ride through the Horizontal Waterfalls, where the largest tides in the southern hemisphere force their way between rocky cliffs in a formidable display of the forces of nature.

Spring Special prices for the 10-night Kimberley expedition start at $7,471.50 per person, twin share (or $6,592.50 for past passengers) whilst single traveller fares start at $8,790. The Spring Special discounts are available on Oceanic Discoverer expeditions departing on 26 August, 6 September and 16 September 2013. The reduced prices include all meals, lectures and services of expedition staff and excursions. The discounts apply to all new bookings on eligible departures and are available until sold out. For further information and reservations contact Coral Princess Cruises on 1800 079 545 or visit www.coralprincess.com.au.

Journeys Magazine - Kimberley feature by Stephen Scourfield

APT Moves New Ship to Kimberley

Source: Cruise Weekly

APT has added the 57-suite luxury expedition ship MS Caledonian Sky to its Kimberley Wilderness Adventures 2013 program.

The company bought a stake in Noble Caledonia (owners of Caledonian Sky) earlier in the year (CW 14 June) and have since been incorporating Noble Caledonia vessels into its various land touring and cruising options.

As such, Caledonian Sky will now join Oceanic Discoverer, Coral Princess and Kimberley Quest II in the APT Kimberley fleet, and will offer 11, 15 and 28-day programs in September 2013.

See kimberleywilderness.com.au for details.

Kimberley coast 20% discount

Kimberley Quest, waiting for the tides at Horizontal Falls.

Oct-Nov 20% booking discount for 2013 Kimberley Coast cruising on the boutique Kimberley Quest

Pearl Sea Coastal Cruises has a 20 per cent discount for bookings made during October and November on four of its stunning Kimberley Coast cruises during the March-September season next year.

News from Broome and the Kimberley Coast

We don't know where the time goes, however everyone who has escaped with us to the Kimberley Coast this season has certainly made the most of it!

We've welcomed many groups of friends aboard this year for exclusive charters. It's always a particularly festive escape when friends book out the whole boat. With champagne and seafood barbeque picnics at hidden waterfalls, sunset drinks in fancy dress from red-rock peaks with spectacular views, cocktail parties on board, relaxing afternoons fishing, and bathing in the pristine waters of Silicone beach, our cruise photos in the gallery show some of the fun and festivities on board this year.

We introduced two new cruise itineraries to the schedule this year, including our 8 night Waterfall Safari directly after the end of the "Wet" Season, which was a sensational 9 days covering over 25 waterfalls between Broome and Wyndham. Next year's Waterfall Safari is already fully booked, however we have just released our 2014 cruise schedule and bookings are underway already for the following year!

The Great Escape Charter Company is one of the original Kimberley Charter boat operators, exploring the Kimberley coast and Rowley Shoals for over 10 years.

Coral Princess Cruises releases Kimberley '2013 Waterfall Season' Savings

Australia's pioneer of small-ship expedition cruising Coral Princess Cruises celebrates its 30th anniversary year in 2013 and is offering 'Waterfall Season" specials of between 15 and 25 per cent off normal prices on their 10-night Kimberley Coast expeditions. The savings are valid on five April 2013 departures aboard their state-of-the-art 72 passenger small ship Oceanic Discoverer or the fully-refurbished 35-metre catamaran Coral Princess.

The Kimberley wilderness of Western Australia is three times larger than England with a population of just 30 000. Coral Princess's voyages between Darwin and Broome cruise through some of the planet's oldest and most awe-inspiring scenery and landscapes. Exploring the Kimberley Coast in April, immediately following the 'wet season', affords guests the unique opportunity to experience the region's spectacular waterfalls in their full grandeur. From the towering 80-metre King George Falls, four-tiered Mitchell Falls and the iconic King Cascades to the amazing natural phenomenon of Horizontal Falls and lesser-known highlights such as swimming beneath beautiful Ruby Falls, Coral Princess's Kimberley itinerary includes all of the icons of this spectacular coast in unrivalled style and total comfort.

Waterfall Season prices for the 10-night Kimberley cruise aboard Oceanic Discoverer start at $6,592.50 per person for Coral Princess Cruises past guests (25% off) and $7,471.50 for first time travellers (15% off) in a Main Deck (Category B) Stateroom. Special prices aboard Coral Princess start at $5,392.50 for past guests and $6,111.50 for first time travellers in a Cabin category room. The reduced prices include all meals, lectures and services of the all-Australian expedition staff and excursions aboard a fleet of zodiacs and the unique 'Xplorer' excursion tender. The discounts apply to all new bookings on April 2013 departures and are available until 30 November 2012 or until sold out.

Coral Princess Cruises pioneered small-ship expedition cruising on the Kimberley Coast in 1996 and has 34 departures scheduled across the 2013 season, which runs between April and October. As a 100% Australian-owned, flagged and staffed operation, Coral Princess guests avoid the need to transit an international port as part of their Kimberley itinerary, a guideline applying to foreign-owned and flagged operators in the region. With a minimum of two landings most days Coral Princess guests will enjoy the opportunity to see more of the Kimberley and make the most of every minute of their expedition.

For further information and reservations contact Coral Princess Cruises on 1800 079 545 or visit www.coralprincess.com.au.

Orion Expedition Cruises releases 2013 season brochure

Orion Expedition Cruises has released its 2013 season brochure; 64 pages detailing 33 voyages with expeditions to 94 destinations onboard the highly acclaimed expedition ship that sets the standard for expedition cruising across the region, Orion.

Eight years of operational experience is reflected across the range of bespoke 5 to 20 night itineraries to carefully selected destinations - expeditions that include Borneo and Sulawesi, Australia's Kimberley coast, the Great Barrier Reef, the islands of Melanesia, New Zealand, the Forgotten Islands of Sunda, Antarctica and Papua New Guinea.

From Admiral Yamamoto's headquarters in Rabaul to historic explorer's huts in Antarctica, this expansive, full colour brochure, includes voyage summaries and typical cultural, historic and wildlife experiences encountered. Useful reference for potential expedition travellers seeking rewarding cultural interaction and intellectual stimulation unknown in mainstream cruising.

The relaxed luxury life onboard is exampled through Orion's range of accommodation options (including floor plans for Staterooms and Suites through to Owner's Suites) and facilities that include boutique, massage, spa, elevator and lounges – along with Serge Dansereau's award winning cuisine.

An electronic version of the Orion 2013 brochure can be downloaded from www.orionexpeditions.com/ebrochure or a printed version mailed directly simply by contacting Orion Expedition Cruises: 61-2 9033 8777 (Sydney callers) 1300 361 012 (regional and interstate), emailing info@orionexpeditions.com or through specialist expedition cruise travel agents.

Additional information:

Orion expedition voyage highlights for 2013

• 16 February New Zealand Golf – includes Marlborough Sounds, Napier and the exclusive golf courses of Cape Kidnappers, Kauri Cliffs and Royal Wellington
• 24 February: South Pacific Splendour – includes Bay of Islands and Norfolk Island
• 6 March: Melanesian Discovery – includes Utupua, Ngella and Marovo Lagoon
• 16 and 27 March: Papua New Guinea Cultural Highlights – includes Watam Village (Sepik River), Tufi and Kitava
• 7 April: West Papua and Maluku – Includes Wewak, Urbanasi Island, Mapia Atoll and Raja Ampat
• 18 April through to 5 September: Kimberley – includes Crocodile Creek, Hunter River, Raft Point, King George Falls and inclusive Bungle Bungle flight
• 15 September: Kimberley with Spice – includes Ashmore Reef, West Timor, Sumba, Komodo and Badas Sumbawa
• 29 September: Borneo Discovery – includes Camp Leakey, Borobudur and Sulawesi
• 25 October and 18 November: Camp Leakey – Faces in the Forest (Borneo) – includes Camp Leakey, Kuching, Natuna Islands and Bako National Park
• 3 & 21 January 2014: 18 night Mawson's Antarctica – includes sub Antarctic Islands
• 8 February 2014: 20 night Scott & Shackleton's Antarctica – includes sub Antarctic Islands
  

Generous advance purchase options are available for those who act swiftly with lowest price savings guarantees of up to 40% off published prices. Savings vary by itinerary. Additional incentives are offered for back to back voyages.

For reservations, or to obtain more information call Orion Expedition Cruises:

61-2 9033 8777 (Sydney callers) 1300 361 012 (regional and interstate) / 0800 444 462 (New Zealand) or see your travel agent. Email: info@orionexpeditions.com