Coral Geographer has returned to service after a five-year survey drydock and will sail new expeditions to Komodo, Raja Ampat and Australia's Kimberley region.
Summary: Coral Geographer completed a 19-day five-year survey drydock in Singapore and has returned to service with new expedition itineraries to Komodo, Raja Ampat, the Spice Islands and an extended Kimberley season for 2026.
The Coral Geographer has resumed operations following a scheduled five-year survey drydock in Singapore. The vessel underwent 19 days in a local shipyard for technical maintenance and cosmetic refreshes, including a full exterior repaint, before restarting voyages across the Asia–Pacific region.
Drydock work and ship background
Built at the VARD yard in Vung Tau, Vietnam, and delivered to Coral Expeditions in early 2021, the Coral Geographer completed the important five-year survey drydock to ensure safety and performance for continued expedition operations. The program combined technical repairs with aesthetic updates so the vessel is both operationally sound and visually refreshed for passengers.
New Indonesian itineraries: island culture and dive sites
One highlight of the ship’s return is an 18-day voyage titled The Island Trails & Traditions of Indonesia, which departs Singapore for Darwin and calls at remote Indonesian islands. The itinerary is designed to showcase cultural traditions and natural dive sites that larger cruise ships cannot access.
- Visits to lesser-traveled cultural stops such as Tana Beru and Tana Toraja to observe traditional customs
- Diving around Segun Island to explore healthy coral reefs and marine biodiversity
- A scheduled call at Komodo National Park to view Komodo dragons and the park’s natural scenery
Raja Ampat and Spice Islands expeditions
After the initial Indonesian sailings, the Coral Geographer will operate a series of 18-night expeditions to Raja Ampat and the historically rich Spice Islands. Raja Ampat, in Indonesia’s Papua province, is celebrated for its extraordinary reef biodiversity and is a major draw for divers and marine researchers.
- Raja Ampat: remote dive sites and pristine coral systems
- Spice Islands (Maluku Archipelago): cultural and historical exploration tied to the global spice trade
- Itineraries tailored for eco-tourism and small-group engagement
Extended Kimberley season in Australia
The Coral Geographer will return to Darwin in late March 2026 to commence an extended summer season in Western Australia’s Kimberley region. The Kimberley program emphasizes rugged coastal scenery, waterfalls and unique wildlife, with popular ten-night Kimberley cruises between Darwin and Broome.
- Kimberley highlights: King George Falls, Prince Regent River, Prince Frederick & Bigge Island
- Opportunities to learn about Indigenous cultures and fragile coastal ecosystems
- Smaller ship access to remote anchorages unavailable to larger cruise liners
Outlook for passengers and the expedition market
With its capacity limited to around 120 guests, the Coral Geographer continues to target travelers seeking intimate, educational and eco-focused voyages. The combination of recent maintenance work and new itineraries positions the ship to meet demand for remote-region exploration and sustainable travel experiences.
Why this matters: For travelers interested in expedition cruising, the Coral Geographer’s return means more opportunities to visit remote Indonesian islands and Australia’s Kimberley aboard a vessel optimized for small-group exploration. For the wider industry, the refit underscores ongoing investment in expedition capacity and sustainability in the Asia–Pacific cruise sector.
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