Charter Chatter

The season for Coral Princess’ most popular cruise – along the Kimberley coast between Broome and Darwin – kicks off in April, coinciding with the early stages of the dry season, when the many waterfalls that plummet into dramatic gorges or directly into the sea are at their most spectacular. Responding to popular demand, Coral Princess has added four departures to its 2010 complement, with a choice of vessels: the 48-passenger Coral Princess or the luxurious 72-passenger Oceanic Discoverer.

Captain Cook Cruises’ MV Reef Endeavour departed on her inaugural Fiji Cruise on 6 February with special guests Fiji’s Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama and his wife. The 73 metre ship, launched in 1994, is the largest vessel to have been built by the Fiji Government Shipyard. Since her launch she operated weekly cruises from Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef but has relocated back to Fiji to replace the 120-passenger vessel MV Reef Escape which sustained damage during Cyclone Mick in December 2009.

The addition of studio staterooms on Norwegian Cruise Line’s new Norwegian Epic, due to be launched in July, will set a new trend for single cruisers. The studios are priced specifically for the solo traveller – with no single supplement.

Kimberley Quest II, which spent Christmas in Sydney, is now heading up the east coast and is scheduled to visit the Gold Coast, Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, Hervey Bay, Gladstone, Mackay, Airlie Beach, and Cairns. When working, during the March to October Kimberley season, the 25 metre nine cabin vessel explores the reefs, gorges, and inlets of the remote Kimberley coastline between Broome and Mitchell Plateau or Wyndham.

The Dutch clipper ship Stad Amsterdam will visit Sydney on its international voyage retracing Charles Darwin’s famous journey in the Beagle. The 60 metre three mast clipper ship, which was built in 2000, is a reminder of the massive sail carrying clipper ships of the 19th century but is fitted with modern equipment and 14 luxury cabins. The ship will continue its voyage around the world stopping at Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth before crossing the Indian Ocean. www.stadamsterdam.com

Save up to 35 per cent on cabins when you travel on board Spirit of Tasmania on a night sailing before 30 April 2010. All 222 cabins on board have private bathroom facilities, adjustable air-conditioning, and there is a choice of inside or porthole view.

From now until the end of March Whitsunday charter companies are offering great specials on chartering skipper yourself yachts, sailing catamarans and motor cruisers. For example - if you charter for five nights you pay for four, if you charter for seven nights you pay for five and if you charter for ten nights you pay for seven.

The freighter and passenger ship Aranui 3 is sailing from Papeete to Marquesas Islands, departing 29 June 2010 for 13 nights via the Tuamotus islands. The ship will be in the right place at the right time to view the total eclipse in the Southern Pacific Ocean.

The South Australian tall ship will sail from Melbourne to Portland from 23 March to 26 March, and from Portland to Adelaide from 29 March to 2 April. Each leg costs $860 per person all-inclusive, or $1,500 for the eight day voyage including accommodation aboard while in Portland. www.satallships.com.au

Photograph: Coral Princess’ Oceanic Discoverer cruising the Kimberley coast