Kimberley Cruise – May 2008

My wife and I have just completed a most memorable and enjoyable trip on the Oceanic Discoverer.

We had looked forward to a trip of the Kimberley for more than a decade. As such we had many pre-conceived ideas of what we would see on this cruise.

Nothing had prepared us for this fantastic trip. Apart from the magnificent scenery, we were given a vast amount of information about all aspects of the Kimbereley from historical, environmental and cultural aspects in an adventure styled manner.

In the first instance all the crew were friendly and inviting, and nothing was too much trouble. The catering was superb and all meals were first class.

The guest lecturers were brilliant, supplying and extremely interesting comments during the day, and often with after-dinner slide shows and lecturers in the evening.

I have been to many organized events in my time, but I have never seen a more well organized event than this cruise. Jamie Anderson (Expedition Leader) is a credit to your company, he made the trip for us. His ability to ensure that we were able to access all the major viewing points through his knowledge of the tides was exceptional. The manner in which he was able to direct the whole operation and to supply such interesting commentary for each expedition was brilliant. Above all he showed great passion for the environment and culture of the area.

All-in-all an absolutely wonderful trip, and we hope to go again in a few years.

Congratulations
With thanks
Peter and Ann Carroll

Great Barrier Reef Cruise. Cairns to Townsville 8-11 March 2008

We would like to thank you so much for a spectacular three-night cruise through the Barrier Reef from Cairns to Townsville. Booked from the UK, on the basis of very little information and as part of an extensive tour of Australia, we didn't quite know what to expect. But the cruise exceeded our wildest dreams and became the most memorable highlight of our tour. From the time we boarded the cruise to the moment we reluctantly had to leave it, everything was done to ensure our comfort and satisfaction. The relatively small size of the ship allowed a degree of personal attention which places Coral Princess in a class of its own, while the closely-knit and dedicated crew worked tirelessly to attend to our every need. The quality of food, which always seemed to be in abundant supply, was exceptional, and it seemed quite miraculous how the chef, from such a small galley, managed to consistently produce such sumptuous and varied meals. The cabins were spacious, clean and tidy, with windows cleaned frequently during the day. The morning 'newsletters' and regular announcements kept us up-to-date with events as they were about to happen, and the glass-bottomed boats offered superb views of the reef and its wildlife. Despite rather

choppy seas there was plenty of opportunity for snorkelling and diving for those that wanted them. In fact, everything was perfect.

We would like to congratulate you on such a superbly organised cruise which should stand as the model for other operators to follow.
With best wishes for the continued success of your company
Ray and Pat, Caterham, Surrey, UK

Great Barrier Reef Cruise
We would like to thank Captain Gary and his amazing crew for a wonderful Great Barrier Reef experience. Hats off to each of the crew for all their hard work and dedication to making our time so incredibly special. We would like to thank Tiffany for her attention to every detail, Damien for his awesome cooking and coaching, Brendan for his very fine understanding and interpretation of marine life and especially Sam for taking such good care of us underwater and making us feel safe and comfortable. We cannot say enough about your cruise and your crew and wish you every success in the years ahead. You offer a very unique and delightful way of experiencing the Great Barrier Reef. We look forward to coming down under in the future and exploring more of your beautiful and awe inspiring country.
Yours truly,
The Balcom Family - Wolfville, CANADA

Great Barrier Reef Cruise
It has been a spectacular 3 days. I assure you we are slightly heavier coming off than we were coming on! We just completed the feedback/ survey and honestly, I hope it portrays how much my family and I have enjoyed the Coral Princess II, it's crew, the meals, the snorkelling, scuba diving. Everything was absolutely perfect, even the weather has been amazing. We especially enjoyed Pelorus Island, it has left us with the feeling we aren't done, we want more!
Thank you so much for this incredible experience.
Regards
Flemming and family (Canada)

Great Barrier Reef Cruise
I have just returned from a two week holiday in far north Queensland - one of these weeks (21 June to 28 June) was spent cruising between Townsville-Lizard Island-Cairns onboard Coral Princess II.
I thought I would write and let you know how great the trip was. This was my second cruise with Coral Princess (the first being the 'Across the Top' expedition voyage in Aug/Sept 2003) and I have to say this Great Barrier Reef cruise was equally wonderful. I had the best time! I travelled on my own but was welcomed by all on board and made many friends. The itinerary was perfect and the activities were excellent. I'm a snorkelling addict and managed to get my fill from the magnificent Ribbon reefs (3, 5 and 9), Thetford reef and my personal favourite - Lizard Island.
The food was out of this world. Every day, three times a day, we were fed the most amazing buffet that was impossible to say no to. I kept vowing that I wasn't going to eat so much but alas, it was not to be. Temptation got the better of me. Thankfully, the snorkelling managed to hold back the kilos so that I didn't have to be rolled off the boat when the cruise ended.
I would like to thank you for making me feel special as a return passenger and giving me the gift of Champagne in my room! I managed to have a glass or two at pre-dinner drinks the last three nights of the cruise. A fitting end to a perfect day!
I will definitely be travelling with Coral Princess again one day.
Many thanks
Judy O'Neill

Great Barrier Reef Cruise
My husband & I have recently returned from a wonderful holiday in Singapore, New Zealand and Australia. The final part of our holiday was spent aboard the Coral Princess. We planned to finish with this cruise to coincide with my 50th birthday. We thought this would be a particularly enjoyable way of celebrating. The cruise was everything that we had hoped for and much more.
The accommodation and facilities were very good, the food was superb and the atmosphere just great. We had a superb time and much of this was down to the dedication, helpfulness, experience and friendliness demonstrated by all your crew.
There was so much to do and to learn. One of the reasons we chose the Coral Princess was the fact that you have a marine biologist on board. Mark was a fountain of knowledge and he always put everything across in a fun manner. We enjoyed the island walks, the talks, the fish feeding, the glass bottom boat trips, the snorkelling tour etc, etc, etc. One of the benefits of your cruise, which caters for a smaller number of passengers, is the fact that we all had the opportunity to take part in each activity and felt that there was plenty of time for us to do so.
Many thanks,
Joani Adkins

Great Barrier Reef Cruise
My wife, Jacqueline, my children, Grace, Hud & Rossetti and I took the cruise from Townsville to Cairns on the above dates.
We cannot stress enough how much we enjoyed this cruise. We had never before considered cruising, but found it really well suited to a family with varied ages and interests. The nature of cruising, where there is a clear itinerary eliminated all the discussions and disagreements that arise when organising holidays. Coupling this with perfectly smooth organisation of literally every aspect of day to day holiday and recreation meant that we had a holiday that suited us all, and was universally enjoyed. We really noted that several families, ranging from couples with babies in arms, through groups with children of similar ages to ours, and encompassing grandparents were present, and all catered for and enjoying themselves. We also got the impression that everyone else who was on this cruise thoroughly enjoyed it, so would be surprised if you receive anything other than similar feedback from everyone present.
Our thanks and best wishes to everyone at Coral Princess cruises and I hope that at some stage you all experience a holiday as enjoyable as ours was - you all deserve it !
Peter, Jackie, Grace, Hud and Rosie Rogers