Expedition Cruise News & Views

 

It’s long been our Amazon Rainforest bucket list cruise, and now the Delfin I’s luxe status has been enhanced following a stunning refurb in early 2025.

Returning to service in Peru’s Pacaya Samiria National Reserve during April, the re-imagined Delfin I combines classical design with contemporary updates. Accommodating just eight expeditioners in four luxuriously-appointed, oversized suites, this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime Amazon experience. Each Master Suite features a private panoramic terrace - while the two Deluxe Suites add a private whirlpool for real ‘WOW factor’. There’s also floor-to-ceiling windows, inviting the sights and sounds of the Amazon rainforest directly into your suite, ensuring an immersive connection with nature. You will also enjoy newly remodelled bathrooms, while your suite will be serviced three times each day to ensure you feel totally pampered.

 

 

On Delfin 1’s top deck, travellers can relax in a newly-designed lounge area, which comes complete with comfy sofas and a big screen tv, while panoramic windows are likely to draw your eyes to the rainforest views outside. You can enjoy handcrafted cocktails at the bar and stargaze under one of the clearest skies in the world. These thoughtful enhancements reflect Delfin’s commitment to creating elevated, small-group experiences while harmonising with the natural environment. 

 

 

In the intimate dining room, you will embark on a culinary journey through Peru and the Amazon. In 2017, Delfin Amazon Cruises became the first cruise line in the world to be accepted into the prestigious Relais & Châteaux family. This recognition recognises not only Delfin’s culinary excellence but also a deep commitment to authenticity, sustainability, and unparalleled service. Delfin believes that every dish should tell a story, crafted by expert local chefs who work with seasonal produce to bring the region’s most extraordinary menus to life. 

 

 

The chefs work closely with local producers, ensuring that every ingredient is fresh, sustainable, and deeply tied to the region. This philosophy extends beyond the kitchen - Delfin maintains its own seasonal garden in Iquitos, an educational initiative that teaches local children about sustainable farming and nutrition.

 

 

There’s also been stylish updates to the ship’s exterior, including an air-conditioned observation deck and observatory balconies. The vessel’s new solar panels generate clean energy, further advancing Delfin’s pledge to sustainability and stewardship of the Amazon. 

 

 

Delfin 1 operates year-round three- and four-night cruises through the Upper Peruvian Amazon, where the Andes mountains yield to dense jungle. Spanning over 5 million acres, the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve is the largest protected flooded forest on Earth. During your cruise, you will be accompanied by naturalists and local guides as you visit untouched communities ashore or kayak through the rainforest. Comfortable skiffs get you up close and personal with wildlife including pink river dolphins, sloths and myriad birdlife. 

We’re often asked by our travellers about the best time of year to experience the Peruvian Amazon. Keep in mind that The Amazon is warm and humid year-round, with daily temperatures typically averaging between a minimum 21°C (70°F) and maximum 33°C (95°F).  However, the landscape transforms with the two distinct ‘water seasons’:

• High-water season (December to May) – 85% of the reserve is flooded, allowing deeper exploration by boat into hidden lagoons and forest canopies.
• Low-water season (June to November) – Water levels recede, revealing trails and riverbanks, ideal for walking excursions and wildlife sightings.

 

 

A Delfin 1 cruise through the Amazon Rainforest truly is an unforgettable adventure. Experiences like this don’t come cheap though, with the 3-night cruise starting at USD $5,000 per person and the 4-night cruise at USD $6,600 per person. It is important to keep in mind that you’re travelling in an intimate group of no more than four couples, enjoying luxurious surrounds, outstanding dining and incredible small group naturalist-led excursions. This is a travel experience that will live on in your memory forever.

If your budget simply cannot extend that far, the larger 44-passenger sister-ship Delfin III offers similar itineraries, priced at approximately 25% below Delfin 1 prices.

To find out more about Delfin’s 2025 & 2026 Amazon cruises, contact the team at Expedition Cruises Specialists today on 1800 90 20 80 or visit https://www.expeditioncruisespecialists.com/ships/delphini

 

 

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Expedition Cruise Specialists is offering $5,000 per couple in travel credits when you book your 2026 Coral Adventurer or Coral Geographer Kimberley cruise before 30 September 2025.

Coral Expeditions pioneered Kimberley Cruising back in 1996, and today they operate a fleet of three modern small ships, including the state-of-the-art new builds Coral Adventurer and Coral Geographer. These 120-traveller expedition ships have been purpose-built for cruising the Kimberley Coast, and the ten-night itinerary between Darwin and Broome incorporates all of the region’s key icons, along with a few secret spots as well.

 

 

 

 

One of the great advantages of discovering the Kimberley with Coral Expeditions is their unique range of excursion tenders. A fleet of inflatable zodiacs are on hand for short, adventurous outings, while longer excursions make use of Coral’s signature Xplorer excursion craft (individual eating, roof, toilet, PA system), allowing access to even the most hard-to-reach locations along the coast. These Xplorers come into their own when it's time to explore locations like the Prince Regent River and King Cascades. This iconic waterfall is located 27km up the Prince Regent, simply too far to travel in zodiacs with any comfort. It is for that reason that most other companies with similar sized vessels omit this site, which is a real pity. But with Coral Expeditions it is a breeze to get up to the falls in style and total comfort aboard Xplorer.

 

 

Coral Expeditions is renowned for having some of the best expedition teams and lecturers in the business. This is important when it comes to Kimberley cruising as you really do rely on that knowledge the expedition team is imparting to gain a full appreciation for the history, geology and landscapes of the region. When you’re not off exploring the sights, you’ll enjoy the professional, engaging service offered by the all-Australian crew.

On board your expedition ship you’ll enjoy ample space to relax and take in the spectacular Kimberley. The stylish, open-seat dining room accommodates all guests in one sitting, while there’s four grades of accommodation to choose from, each offering a comfortable retreat after a busy day of exploration. Generously sized, staterooms come equipped with a private en suite, your choice of twin or junior king beds and either portholes, window or a balcony. For the ultimate indulgence, a limited number of Bridge Deck Suites are also available.

 

 

 

 

Coral Adventurer and Coral Geographer operate in the Kimberley between March and September each year, and by booking early with Expedition Cruise Specialists you can receive $5,000 per couple in travel credits on 2026 cruises. 

Travel credits are available as follows:

 

Balcony Suites and Explorer Deck Balcony Stateroom

Receive $5,000 per couple in travel credits on all 2026 cruise dates when you book by 30 September 2025.

 

 

Coral & Promenade Deck Staterooms

Receive $5,000 per couple in travel credits on the following 2026 cruise dates when you book by 30 September 2025.

• 19 March - Darwin to Broome - Coral Geographer
• 13 May - Darwin to Broome - Coral Adventurer
• 14 May - Broome to Darwin - Coral Geographer
• 3 June - Darwin to Broome - Coral Adventurer
• 14 June - Darwin to Broome - Coral Geographer
• 25 July - Broome to Darwin - Coral Adventurer
• 5 August - Darwin to Broome - Coral Adventurer

 

 

Book your selected 2026 Coral Geographer or Coral Adventurer Kimberley cruise to receive your $5,000 per couple in travel credits. Travel credits can be used for pre- & post- cruise accommodation, flights, tours, train journeys and travel insurance. Speak to our expert team about designing your ideal Kimberley cruise package.

 

2026 Cruise Fares

 

All prices are per person, twin share in Australian Dollars:

 

Coral Deck Stateroom - $13,400 per person

Promenade Deck Stateroom - $16,300 per person

Explorer Deck Balcony Stateroom - $21,600 per person

Bridge Deck Balcony Stateroom (Coral Adventurer) - $23,600 per person

Bridge Deck Balcony Suite (Coral Geographer) - $28,900 per person

Bridge Deck Balcony Suite (Coral Adventurer) - $30,900 per person

 

The cruise price includes just about everything, here's a summary:

INCLUDED:

• Accommodation in selected Stateroom for ten nights
• All meals, morning and afternoon teas - see sample menu
• House beer, spirits and Australian table wine during lunch and dinner service - see sample beverage list
• 24-hour soft drinks, tea and barista-style coffee
• Captain’s welcome and farewell drinks
• Access to islands, marine and national parks
• Guided tours on Xplorer expedition vessels and zodiacs
• Touring as described in the itinerary
• Services of expedition staff and lecturers including briefings and knowledge-sharing sessions
• Port taxes and government charges imposed by government authorities
• Tipping not required on board
• Included standard-speed Wi-Fi (upgrades to higher speed internet are available on board at additional cost)
• Native Title fees applicable as at June 2025.

NOT INCLUDED:

• Pre and post flights, transfers and hotels
• Optional Mitchell Falls helicopter flight (payable on board)
• Kimberley Cruise Travel Insurance - highly recommended, including provisions for remote area evacuation.
• Items of a personal nature including but not limited to bar charges (outside of the included drinks package as highlighted), laundry charges and souvenir purchases.

 

 

Ready to book your 2026 Coral Expeditions Kimberley Cruise or want to find out more about the options? Contact the expert team at Expedition Cruise Specialists today on 1800 90 20 80 or fill in the form below and one of our team will call you back.

 

Terms & Conditions: This special offer is subject to availability on specified 2026 Kimberley Cruise dates aboard Coral Adventurer and Coral Geographer. Coral Discoverer in excluded. The travel credits must be used through Expedition Cruise Specialists. The offer is not combinable with any other special offer and is valid only for new bookings made between 08 June and 30 September 2025 unless sold out earlier. Enquire for single traveller pricing.

 

 

With the 2025 expedition season gearing up on Western Australia’s Kimberley Coast, one of our favourite small-ships, the 32-passenger Eco Abrolhos is debuting a new, refreshed look for her Lower Deck cabins.

Ideally suited to friends travelling together, those on a budget or even single travellers (due to the low single supplement), Lower Deck cabins offer a comfortable home-away-from-home as you experience the Kimberley Coast aboard a true small ship. The cabins feature upper and lower berths, a porthole, air-conditioning, and importantly, a private en suite. 

 

 

Normally priced at $13,115 per person twin share, we’ve got a handful of cabins available on selected 2025 dates on offer at $11,500 per person, twin share or $12,500 for single travellers.

If you’re after a bit more space, there’s still a handful of Queen Staterooms and the ever-popular King Bed Deluxe Staterooms available across the 2025 Eco Abrolhos Kimberley Season, with some keen pricing on offer, so give our team today a call to find out the best deals currently on offer. 

 

 

The Eco Abrolhos expedition itinerary takes all guests on a complete Kimberley journey – starting at Broome and finishing at Wyndham or vice versa. By visiting the key sites regularly, the Eco crew know the hotspots, where’s safe to swim, where the wildlife lives, the best fishing holes and where to find the largest variety of birdlife.

Their 13-night journeys are not just thrown together on the run. These expeditions are planned over 18 months in advance to correspond exactly with the best tides and moon phases for each voyage. The longer duration also enables Eco Abrolhos to set off on a spring tide (the largest tides) and finish 14 days later also on a spring tide. This planning is critical to provide the ship the greatest water depth (and assistance from the currents) to get into places like the Berkeley and King George rivers and provide guests the maximum “Wow factor” and water movement at iconic locations such as Horizontal Falls and Montgomery Reef, all of which are at the start or end of each expedition.

To find out more about Eco Abrolhos and her 2025 Kimberley Cruises, or to take advantage of these special prices, call the expert team at Expedition Cruise Specialists today on 1800 90 20 80. 

 

Discover the Eco Abrolhos

 

See the Kimberley Itinerary

 

2025 Eco Abrolhos Kimberley Cruise Schedule

 

Broome to Wyndham - 15 to 28 May 2025

 

Wyndham to Broome - 30 May to 12 June 2025

 

Broome to Wyndham - 14 to 27 June 2025

 

Wyndham to Broome - 29 June to 12 July 2025

 

Broome to Wyndham - 14 to 27 July 2025 

 

Wyndham to Broome - 29 July to 11 August 2025 

 

Broome to Wyndham - 13 to 26 August 2025 

 

Wyndham to Broome - 28 August to 10 September 2025

 

 

The Coral Discoverer offers one of the most unique expedition cruising experiences in Australian waters. Accommodating just 72 passengers, she offers a comfortable and intimate sailing experience to destinations including the Kimberley, the Great Barrier Reef and Tasmania.

Coral Discoverer is the smallest yacht in the Coral Expeditions fleet, allowing access to places that larger vessels can’t reach.

We were lucky enough to step aboard the ship in Pentaloon Bay, north of Sydney, on a glorious December morning, bound for her Tasmanian season.

Coral Expeditions offered a handy shuttle service from Sydney CBD to Palm Beach Wharf, with the crew waiting to welcome passengers onto a tender to the expedition yacht.

While there are only 36 outside-facing staterooms aboard the yacht, we were immediately impressed by its expansive public spaces, which included a spacious dining area, lounge, Bridge Deck bar and rooftop Explorer bar.

The array of indoor and outdoor seating meant there were always quiet spots for reading or viewing the spectacular scenery with a coffee or cocktail in hand.

We booked our cabin just a month before boarding, when it was almost at capacity, and received B12 as our stateroom. There were pluses and minuses to our location. While we were in the stable midship section and conveniently located to all sections of the yacht, it was also a little noisy at times being so close to the main staircase to the dining and lounge areas.

 

 

If you are a light sleeper, you might prefer to choose a cabin in the fore or aft of the vessel.

Our cabin was spacious, well-furnished and featured a large picture window, which suited us perfectly. If you prefer a balcony, there are six cabins featuring them on the Bridge Deck.

Our meals were served in the dining room, aside from a barbecue on the rooftop one night. Breakfast was served hot and cold buffet style, while lunch featured two menu options plus the alternative of making your own sandwich or salad. Dinner was a gourmet, three-course extravaganza each night.

 

 

Every dish featured high-quality ingredients and ranged from sirloin with paris butter to roast duck, beef rendang, prawn laksa, seared scallops with cauliflower puree, lamb roast with Yorkshire pudding and pan-seared fish with citrus hollandaise.

One of our favourite morsels was served during a wine tasting session one afternoon: bug and prawn salad with dill and finger lime. Delicious!

There were also an array of dietary alternatives on offer, such as gluten-free and vegetarian.

 

 

Selected wines, beers and spirits are complimentary during lunch and dinner service and feature an excellent Australian line-up.

The Coral Discoverer‘s entertainment program isn’t designed for those seeking live music or shows. Instead, it focuses on guest lectures, documentaries, visits to the bridge and the occasional trivia session.

There are also plenty of opportunities to mingle with fellow passengers while sipping cocktails of the day during various happy hours at the three bars on the yacht. We particularly enjoyed sitting at the rooftop bar sipping Cosmopolitans in the late afternoon sun as we gazed at the stunning Tasmanian wilderness.

The dress code on board is casual, with no formal evenings held during our cruise. However, we enjoyed a wonderful New Year’s Eve on the top deck, which was decorated with streamers and balloons and provided a fantastic front-row view of the fireworks.

My silver shawl and sparkly sandals stayed in my suitcase throughout the whole trip, even on New Year’s Eve, while my long-sleeved Shimano fishing shirt was on high rotation.

Shore excursions play a starring role in the Coral Discoverer’s program and being protected from the elements was prioritised over finery.

The vessel features a comfortable Xplorer tender located on a hydraulic platform at the stern, which allows passengers to walk straight on from the deck. During our cruise, the Xplorer was used for viewing wildlife up close on remote Deal Island and to transport us to locations such as Maria Island and Wineglass Bay and Bruny Island.

There were also opportunities on most days to go on nature walks or hikes with the expedition crew, spotting beautiful wildflowers and native animals such as wallabies and wombats.

 

 

There were many magical moments at sea too, such as watching pods of dolphins frolic alongside the ship, cruising past seals lounging on rock shelves and enjoying dazzling sunrises and sunsets.

One of the other highlights of the cruise was the Coral Discoverer’s fun and friendly crew. Coral Expeditions has been an Australian-owned and operated company for 40 years and is renowned for its knowledgeable Australian crew.  

Nothing was ever too much trouble for the crew members, who were hard-working and professional during every moment of our journey. Happy hugs were exchanged as we disembarked on our final morning, along with recommendations for where to find the best coffee in town.

 

You can follow more of Alana House & David Fuller's travel adventures at www.thethirstytravellers.com

 

Alana & David travelled on Coral Discoverer's 7-day A Yachtsman's Cruise from Sydney to Hobart.

 

 

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When I chatted with a colleague recently about my adventure on the all-new Swan Hellenic cruise line, he replied with an air of disdain. “Aren’t they just floating retirement homes?”

If we’d been having this discussion 20 years ago, then maybe. Swan Hellenic has been around as a brand for 70 years, beginning in the UK as a niche excursion travel company for history buffs. It was bought by P&O UK in the ‘80s and subsumed into the massive Carnival cruising conglomerate in the 2000s, but dissolved by the huge US cruise giant before the decade was out.

Ten years further along, revival attempts were mounted by All Leisure Holidays Group and G Adventures, but these also came to nought. 

 

 

In 2020, a new revival began, spearheaded by industry stalwart, Monaco-based Italian citizen Andrea Zito. Despite the unfortunate timing, three brand new Polar Class (PC) ships were ordered and ultimately delivered to the new-look cruise line, beginning in late 2021 with the 152-guest SH Minerva. SH Vega and SH Diana followed in 2022 and 2023.

So, to counter my colleague's objections, I was confidently able to enlighten him about the complete transformation of this brand from palliative to opulent.

 

The Ship: SH Diana

 

My debut experience with Swan Hellenic was aboard the newest of the triplets, SH Diana. This sparkling vessel expands the original ‘Project Vega’ 152-guest design to accommodate 192 lucky passengers. 

Her restrained colour schemes are natural and soothing with generous use of wood and fabrics. Tillberg Design of Sweden, who have more than 60 years of experience in this sector, can take much of the credit for the crisp and airy interiors designed to “reflect the ship’s natural surrounds.”

I was spoiled by my 25sqm Balcony stateroom. Every cabin, right down to the 20sqm Oceanview ones, has a bottle of Champagne in the bar fridge, pre-stocked with complimentary snacks, soft drinks and beer. While basic WiFi is free, it's limited to text unless you upgrade at extra cost. There's a personal safe and a pair of Nikon Prostaff 3S 10x42 binoculars too. Amenities include a smart HDTV with movies and tour and ship information, individually controlled air conditioning, an Illy Espresso coffee machine with pods, a kettle and Kusmi tea bags, towels for the cabin, pool, and gym, a bathrobe, bedroom slippers, and toiletries by Lajatica.

 

 

Dining is either in the lavish Swan Restaurant on Deck 4, outside in the sunny Pool Bar & Grill or in the casual Club Lounge on Deck 7 where you can enjoy lighter meals and snacks as well as 24-hour hot beverages and cookies. 

The Observation Lounge, also on Deck 7, is effectively the community hub of the vessel, where the bar and projector screen are located and where the daily briefings and lectures will take place. I particularly like the placement of retractable screens around the space so you don't have to scrum it up the front to see or hear the information. A new feature of this Vega-class vessel is the separate card room adjacent to the Observation Lounge.

 

 

If you want to spruce up for the Captain's Cocktails, there is a salon and spa up on Deck 8 where you can also find the two saunas. Something you don’t find on every expedition vessel is the passenger laundry which you can use instead of the extra-cost valet laundry. And, yes I did.

For those who’ve been aboard expedition vessels in the past, the Zodiac operations will be familiar. On Deck 3 is the ‘Base Camp’ where you will muster and be led onto your tender through a side door and single step. There is no rickety gangway or seaswept platform to worry about.  

 

The Itinerary: Paradise Isles of the Indian Ocean

 

My itinerary is the most unusual 10-night ‘Paradise Isles of the Indian Ocean’ which began in the Seychelles capital of Victoria and proceeded through various remote islands including the UNESCO-listed Aldabra, home to more than 150,000 giant tortoises. The last few days we spent exploring the ancient East African trading ports of Zanzibar, Lamu and Mombasa.

Apart from the included and optional shore excursions, there was more than plenty of beach time and water frolics with snorkelling and Stand-Up/Fall-Down paddle boards. We embarked on several Zodiac excursions, mainly to look at the many seabirds, but also managed to spot dolphins and sea turtles along the way. I’m told there are a few dugongs in the huge lagoon at Aldabra, but the elusive creatures haven’t been seen in months.

 

 

These tropical itineraries take place in between polar seasons when there are a few weeks available to reposition the ships from one end of the world to the other. This is where Swan Hellenic come to the fore with voyages that truly reflect their tagline “See what others don't”.

These ‘in-between’ itineraries are no afterthought either. Imagine in-depth explorations of the African coasts, both east and west as well as Central and South America. For committed country-counters, there is even a voyage to Tristan da Cunha. Yes, look that up.

So, in summary, not only are you enjoying a most comfortable ‘cruise’ experience with all the niceties of a boutique luxury vessel, but all the capabilities of a true expedition ship able to access the remote, seldom-visited locations that make any journey aboard Swan Hellenic a true exploration.

 

To book your Swan Hellenic small ship cruise contact the expert team at Expedition Cruise Specialists today via email or call 1800 80 20 90 within Australia.

 

Roderick Eime is Australia’s leading expedition cruising photojournalist and he travelled on this cruise courtesy of Swan Hellenic. You can follow his exploits at www.expeditioncruising.com

 

 

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