In an exclusive interview with Karryon Luxury, Sarina Bratton AM discusses her new partnership with Pearl Expeditions, whose jewel in its crown, Paspaley Pearl, sets sail in a matter of months.
It’s Good Friday, a sublimely sunny afternoon, and I’m partaking in a glass of Champagne with Sarina Bratton in the waterfront garden of her stunning Pittwater home.
Naturally, it’s not any run-of-the-mill fizz – this is by Lallier and is what guests of Paspaley Pearl will enjoy as their “pouring Champagne” – a deliciously drinkable drop from a century-old maison in France’s Aÿ region.
Bratton has been working flat out for months to bring the redesigned Paspaley Pearl back into service and is clearly thriving on the joys and challenges of once again being at the helm of an exciting new enterprise.
Pearl Expeditions’ 53.5-metre, three-deck vessel has been in Singapore having a $5 million (“plus-plus”) upgrade that brings her into a class of her own.
The elegantly appointed, ultra-spacious boutique expedition ship will provide its 30 guests with a range of cultural, culinary, wildlife, and adventure experiences in the Kimberley and Southeast Asia.
So, everyone is wondering, what makes Paspaley Pearl different, and how will she make a mark in what could be described as an overcrowded market?
Bratton says, “Somebody said to me recently, ‘Oh, there’s so much competition in the small-ship environment.’ And I said, ‘I agree. But you are talking about vessels with 200 guests.’
“This is nothing like that – we are only 30 guests. This is boutique. It’s a very different experience and therefore market. A different segment of the industry and one that I believe opens up a different demographic.
“This size of vessel appeals for full ship charters, for private events such as significant birthdays. What we envisage is a different distribution and client base, as well as a different way of operating.”
Bratton explains that everything she has been doing to build the team has been different, too.
“Thirty guests is very small. It’s more like a luxury lodge than a traditional expedition ship – an open, friendly, casual style of operation. While on a cruise ship, crew and staff have specific jobs, and the setup is very hierarchical. The setup on the Paspaley Pearl is more akin to that on a superyacht.
“Everyone will be empowered to multitask. I’m keen for the staff to be engaged with the guests as much as possible – it’s all about flexibility, spontaneity and shared adventures.
“If a guest wants to go fishing, someone will take them fishing. And if that guest would like a fillet of the fish he or she has caught for dinner, it will be prepared for them.”
A long-standing partnership
The collaboration between Bratton and the Paspaley family dates back over 20 years.
Bratton and Nick Paspaley met in the early 2000s and discussed launching a high-quality expedition cruise experience in the Kimberley region.
Nick said, “You go niche, I’ll back you.” Three years later, together with travel veteran and Hobart yachtsman Bob Steel, they had formed the company and were ready to invest in a ship.
“It took me some time to find the right ship,” says Bratton. “We then launched Orion Expedition Cruises in 2004 and commenced operations in 2005. We exited the joint venture when we sold the business to Lindblad Expeditions in 2013.”
Fast-forward to 2023, and Nick Paspaley rang Bratton “out of the blue”.
“He said, ‘Sarina, I’ve unexpectedly bought this little ship. You are the first person I thought of. What should we do?”
Bratton says it is refreshing to work with a “family dynasty who are deeply proud of their heritage. I respect and love the involvement of the next generation. Their influence will likely change the demographic of our business over time, and I see that as healthy”.
Working with the Paspaley Group provides many logistical advantages for operating the new expedition motor yacht. The business is centralised in Darwin (only an hour’s flight from East Timor’s capital Dili, another home base for Pearl Expeditions), so services such as storage, engineering and supplies of produce are well established.
“For example, if we need a technical spare part when sailing in the Kimberley, our owner has an ability to deliver that part in a short period of time. No vessel I know, boutique, small or large, has this sort of logistical support in the remote Kimberley.”
Bratton also explains, “We have deliberately planned for all turnaround ports to be those with commercial air available. Chartering aircraft is a financial cost to the business and a restriction on our guests’ travel flexibility.”
Dream team
Many in the travel trade will recognise the names of former Orion and Ponant staff who have jumped aboard Pearl Expeditions.
Craig Farrell, Managing Director of Melbourne-based La Collection, who worked with Bratton for seven years at Ponant, will represent the line and be the go-to contact for travel advisors. Expedition Concierges Nicci Foulsham and Joanna Schuetz will back up Farrell.
“Chris Perkins is heading strategic marketing from the UK; Sam Barabad is Paspaley Pearl’s Chief Steward; Jorge Villamarin is Logistics and Operations; Michael Corbett is our media and public relations representative; and super chef Serge Dansereau is overseeing all the culinary and hotel startup plans.”
As the sun sets over Pittwater, Bratton reminisces about some of the many memorable places she has visited during her extraordinary career – places that Paspaley Pearl guests will be able to experience themselves very soon.
“Papua New Guinea’s Watam village is up there as a favourite,” she says. “Apart from missionaries, we were the first Westerners to go ashore when we first visited with Orion. We worked with the local elders to identify their main community needs. In this case, malaria was the key issue, so we supplied mosquito nets to all the villagers’ homes when we next returned.”
“The connections and relationships we developed through those Orion years have been enduring. Ships haven’t been able to visit this location since Orion’s departure due to their size.
In 2023, I visited a different village near Watam. The Watam village elders spent hours in open boats to come and meet again. Oscar, one of the elders, asked me to please come back to Watam. I promised him I would. And indeed we will, with our little Paspaley Pearl.”
I visited Sangliot Dol on Yamdena Island during an Orion cruise with Bratton in 2010 and am intrigued to see the “guardian” statues that village elders presented to Bratton standing to attention outside her front door. The village in Indonesia’s remote Maluku province will almost certainly be on Paspaley Pearl’s East Indonesian itineraries.
Borneo is another destination close to her heart, and three trips are planned there for the first quarter of 2026. However, the Kimberley is Bratton’s true spiritual home – the original source of inspiration for her passion for luxury expedition cruising – and she can’t wait to get back there when Paspaley Pearl sets sail in late July.
All new spaces
Bratton has worked with superyacht designer Sam Sorgiiovanni to reconfigure key spaces and streamline the galley-to-restaurant flow by installing a sleek dumb waiter system (“a costly but essential exercise”).
She says it’s unusual for a 30-guest vessel to have an indoor restaurant for 32 guests, an outdoor restaurant for 32 guests, three lounges, and three bars, one of which is conveniently located near the jacuzzi on the Sun Deck.
There are seven balcony suites on the Horizon Deck, plus an aft al fresco dining, lounge, and bar area equipped with sliding glass doors and screens, allowing it to be used in all weather conditions.
The main dining room, bar, and lounge area are on the Ocean Deck, as well as eight staterooms and the Marina platform for embarking on expedition tenders, plus watersports such as diving, swimming, snorkelling, and kayaking.
Two expedition tenders are being built in Cairns to specific designs that include a bow that opens up to form a ramp for dry beach landings, a fishing platform, canopies, and seating for eight guests, plus a driver and a guide. There are also two Zodiacs onboard.
Paspaley Pearl sets sail in late July 2025.
