Coral Expeditions sees strong Kimberley demand, 2026 sales open soon

Commercial Chief Officer Jeff Gillies said the company celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and its 35th year cruising the Kimberley coast.

Gillies said Coral Expeditions commenced its 2024 Kimberley season early this year in March to capture the mighty waterfalls.

He said there is a total of 42 Kimberley voyages this year, operated by the company’s three ships — the 120-passenger Coral Geographer and Coral Adventurer and the 72-passenger Coral Discoverer.

Unprecedented competition

‘This season saw the arrival of five large foreign-flagged vessels trialling the destination, which effectively tripled the available inventory and increased the awareness of the Kimberley, whilst also adding unprecedented competition,’ he said.

However, Coral Expeditions ‘fared well,’ carrying more than 3,500 passengers, with over 2,500 who were new to expedition cruising, and achieving an overall satisfaction score of 99%.

Bounce in domestic demand

‘We are already seeing record booking levels for the Kimberley next year, with a significant bounce in domestic demand as Australians prefer travel close to home again,’ he said.

‘We are also recording a promising return of international travel from North America, the UK and Europe.

‘June, July and August sales have doubled on the prior year to set record levels of forward bookings.’

Coral Expeditions will operate 46 Kimberley sailings between March and October next year.

Gillies said the company will launch its full 2026 expedition schedule for the Kimberley on September 9, giving travelers the confidence to plan around its dates.