An Equatorial Adventure Across North Borneo - Coral Expeditions

Cruise Itinerary

Date	Port	Arrive	Depart
19 Dec 2025	Manila, Philippines	Embark
20 Dec 2025	Verde Island, Philippines	And Silonay Island, Philippines
21 Dec 2025	Marinduque Island, Philippines
22 Dec 2025	Culion Island, Philippines
23 Dec 2025	Purao Island, Philippines	And Johnson Island, Philippines
24 Dec 2025	Puerto Princesa, Philippines
25 Dec 2025	Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
26 Dec 2025	Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
27 Dec 2025	Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
28 Dec 2025	Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
29 Dec 2025	Miri, Malaysia
30 Dec 2025	At Sea
31 Dec 2025	Kuching, Malaysia
1 Jan 2026	Bako National Park, Sarawak
2 Jan 2026	Sarawak, Borneo	Kuching Wetlands, Santubong
3 Jan 2026	At Sea
4 Jan 2026	Singapore	Disembark

16 Night Cruise sailing from Manila to Singapore aboard Coral Geographer.

Join us on this 16-night voyage aboard Coral Geographer as we traverse the northern coastlines and equatorial waters of Borneo from Manila to Singapore. Our journey begins in Manila and takes us through the Philippines, Malaysia, the Sultanate of Brunei, Malaysian Borneo, and into Singapore, exploring rich traditional culture, ancient rainforests, and unparalleled marine biodiversity. We’ll dive and snorkel at Verde and Silonay Islands, immersing ourselves in the vibrant marine life at the heart of the Coral Triangle. On Marinduque Island, we’ll uncover unique traditions, and at Culion Island, we’ll visit the historical village and explore the UNESCO-inscribed leprosy archives. As we continue to Purao and Johnson Islands, you’ll enjoy rarely seen aquatic and geographical wonders before connecting with conservation efforts in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Our voyage leads us to Malaysian Borneo, where we’ll savour a signature dinner in Kota Kinabalu, sampling local cuisine in a traditional longhouse set amongst exotic jungle surroundings. Discover the vibrant ecosystems and wildlife of Pulau Tiga Sabah and experience the cultural heritage of Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, where we’ll visit Iban longhouses and observe the fusion of tradition and modernity. Exploring Miri, Sarawak, we’ll delve into the ancient mysteries of Niah Caves, home to some of Southeast Asia’s oldest human remains. Enjoy a day at sea before arriving in Kuching, where we’ll meet orangutans at the Semenggoh Wildlife and Conservation Centre, learning about their habitat challenges. In Bako National Park, an expert birding guide will help us explore diverse ecosystems, spotting proboscis monkeys and abundant bird species in the wild.

-Dive and snorkel at the geographical centre of the Coral Triangle amongst the most biodiverse marine habitats in the world
-Explore the historical village of Culion and the leprosy archives inscribed into the UNESCO Memory of the World Register
-Visit Iban longhouses deep in the jungles of Brunei and learn about past traditions in modernity
-Enjoy an exotic cultural feast event interacting with diverse ethnic groups at Mari Mari Cultural Village
-Explore one of the world’s most unique cave systems and archaeologies – Niah Caves
-Meet resident Orangutans and hear about the continuing plight of dislocation from natural environments at the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre
-Explore the seven complete ecosystems of Bako National Park and look out for the proboscis monkey and the 264 species of birds found in the area with a local expert birding guide

Your Guest Lecturers for this voyage are Adam Woolcott and Linda Hoffman

Note: This itinerary is an indication of the destinations we visit and activities on offer. Throughout the expedition we may make changes to the itinerary as necessary to maximise your expeditionary experience. Allowances may be made for seasonal variations, weather, tidal conditions, and any other event that may affect the operation of the vessel. Coral Expeditions suggests that you do not arrive on the day of embarkation or depart on the day of disembarkation due to any changes that may occur in scheduling.

Launched in March 2021, Coral Geographer is the newest addition to our fleet, purpose-designed to access remote wilderness shores around the world that are often inaccessible to large cruise vessels. Sister ship to Coral Adventurer (launched in 2019), she has over 1000 square metres of open deck space, multiple bars, majority balcony staterooms and suites, and public areas featuring a collection of Australian Indigenous art.

Coral Geographer is as comfortable as she is capable – her design draws on the latest technical advances as well as Coral Expeditions’ 37 years of experience building and operating expedition ships. The ship’s lightweight dual Xplorer tenders, a trademark feature of all our vessels, extend the capabilities of the ship by allowing deeper exploration on shore excursions. These ‘safari jeeps’ of the sea are fast, sturdy, and comfortable and developed to allow easy boarding from the ship and walk-off disembarkation onto remote shores.

Able to navigate into shallow bays, disembark onto remote islands, and visit small villages without overwhelming the environment or community, Coral Geographer explores the hidden nooks and crannies of Australia’s Kimberley Coast, Australia’s West and South coastlines and international voyages including to New Zealand, Sulawesi, Mauritius, and Zanzibar.

Coral Geographer carries a maximum of 120 guests, delivering Coral Expeditions’ renowned warm Australian hospitality, intimate onboard atmosphere, and world-class expedition experience.

Started in 1983, our company’s original vessel, Coral Princess, a converted World War II submarine chaser, pioneered and set the standard for small ship expedition cruising in northern Australia with 5-night cruises on the Great Barrier Reef.

Today, the Coral Expeditions’ fleet includes three purpose-built small ships that can be found anywhere from the tropical waters of Australia’s north to the rugged shores of Tasmania, from the coastal villages of Papua New Guinea and the Spice Islands, to sheltered sounds and glacial fiords of New Zealand.

While our range of cruise itineraries has expanded into new regions, we have maintained our home in Cairns and continue to be the only major operator of extended small ship cruises on the Great Barrier Reef.

There are many reasons why our guests return to Coral Expeditions for a truly authentic expedition.

A TRUE EXPEDITION ETHOS
At Coral Expeditions, we pride ourselves on getting our guests up close and personal with stunning landscapes, fascinating history and vibrant cultures. We have deep respect and a strong connection with the places we visit. We maintain flexibility in our planning to make impromptu stops if extraordinary opportunities in nature present. Our expeditions focus on truly experiencing the regions we visit.

OUR HOME TURF
When it comes to expedition cruising, there is no replicating experience. For 40 years, we have steadily accumulated a wealth of local knowledge and contacts in the coastal regions surrounding Australia. Our crew know the charts, the tides and the winds like no other to ensure you are in the right place at the right time. Whether you travel with us in the ancient Kimberley, Tasmania’s wilderness, the frontier lands of Papua New Guinea, or New Zealand’s majestic fiordlands, you will be assured a local perspective, with local guides, authentic interactions, and a true taste of local culture and cuisine.

OUR SMALL SHIPS
At the heart of the Coral Expeditions experience are our purpose-built small expedition ships and unique tenders. In an age of glitzy mega-vessels, our ships are truly intimate, carrying no more than 120 guests. This means that we can navigate into shallow bays, step ashore onto remote beaches and jetties, and visit small villages to make connections without overwhelming a community. We have designed the fleet to explore tropical waters with comfort and ease and to allow you to connect with the landscape we explore.

OUR CREW
Our crew live and breathe our destinations and the opportunity to show you a true expedition experience. We are the modern day seafaring pioneers of Australia, and we are proud to share our knowledge on coastal explorations with guests from around the globe. On our ships, we have no ‘back office’ roles. From our chefs to our engineers, our crew are here because they love to interact with people and show you their world. Join our engine room tours, view our chefs in our galley or chat with our officers on the bridge – they will be delighted to share company with you.

OUR RESPECT FOR COMMUNITIES
We have always made a determined effort to support the communities we visit. Our guests join in enthusiastically. We visit remote villages, participate in art and cultural traditions, and interact in local schools. We initiate and contribute to regional projects to support conservation, provide training and employment, and distribute economic benefit and relief supplies, all with guest support and involvement. It is an enriching and rewarding part of our expedition experience that leaves a lasting joy for us all.

THE FUTURE
As Coral Expeditions enters its fifth decade in existence, we remain true to our pioneering foundations. We have a new fleet of technologically advanced ships that provide many of the comforts of a large vessel, but without the crowds. We have embarked on a series of new adventures exploring the small islands of the world and broadening our footprint around our home shores of Australia. Yet, our purpose remains the same – taking small groups of like-minded explorers to beautiful parts of the world in our uniquely Australian style!