Producer of fine pearls Paspaley has announced a new cruise venture, Pearl Expeditions, a partnership with cruise industry trailblazer Sarina Bratton AM to launch the much-anticipated yacht, Paspaley Pearl.
The Paspaley family, who were co-founders of Orion Expedition Cruises with Bratton, will launch the state-of-the-art 30-guest yacht under the new venture in July 2025.
Group Executive Director, James Paspaley, says Pearl Expeditions is a natural evolution of its groundbreaking vision.
“It draws on the deep regional knowledge of the group, combined with the talents of former Orion team members who first set the standard for boutique expedition travel.
“Beyond our rich pearling heritage in the Kimberley, we also have extensive experience in luxury hospitality through the award-winning Wall Street Hotel in New York and are preparing to relaunch the Pinctada Hotel in Broome, Western Australia.”
He says as the last Australian pearling company with origins in the historic natural pearl industry, the brand’s name is intrinsically tied to the Kimberley and the remote waters of Northern Australia.
“Over nearly a century, we have developed proprietary nautical charts and regional expertise critical for navigating the Kimberley Coast – where tidal shifts can reach an extraordinary 14 metres.”
Paspaley Pearl, originally in partnership with Ponant, will set sail under the new venture to the Kimberley in late July.
Guests will experience iconic sites such as King George Falls, Montgomery Reef, and Hunter River – while also venturing to lesser-known treasures like Hidden Island, Hell’s Gate, and one of Paspaley’s operational pearl farms.
Future voyages will include Papua New Guinea, Raja Ampat, East Indonesia, and Borneo – regions where Bratton and her Orion team “established enduring cultural connections with local communities and village elders”.
In Southeast Asia and Oceania, guests will explore the Sepik River, the Trobriand Islands, dive alongside whale sharks in Raja Ampat, follow the spice trails of the Moluccas, and see orangutans in Borneo.
Bratton, who was Managing Director and first female founder of Orion says guests will journey with a team of 21 attentive crew, including four highly experienced expedition guides, “who bring not only innate professionalism and local knowledge, but also share a passion for these remarkable places”.
“Imbued with the relaxed Australian hospitality that will define us, Pearl Expeditions represents a new spirit of exploration, where immersive adventure and elegance converge.
“We invite you to expect expeditions that offer more. More time to immerse yourself in each discovery, more depth of understanding, more flexibility, more meaningful interactions with both place and people, more connection with your expedition team.”
