Pearl Expeditions
Paspaley Pearl
Only 30 guests. One remarkable vessel. Paspaley Pearl is a boutique expedition vessel designed to access destinations that larger ships cannot.
THE SHIP & HERITAGE
Born for pearling, built for the Kimberley
The Paspaley Pearl carries the family name behind some of Australia's finest South Sea pearls, and that exact standard runs through every rivet. Two Azipod thrusters and dynamic positioning let her hold her position without ever dropping anchor, so the reefs and seabeds she visits stay untouched. At under 50 metres, she glides through waters that bigger ships can’t reach: remote bays, mangrove channels, and beaches with no names on a chart. Fifteen staterooms and suites keep things intimate: fine linen, Aesop toiletries, private balconies on select suites, and a jacuzzi that fills up most evenings around sunset. Meals split naturally between the 32-seat Ocean Restaurant indoors and the open-air Horizon on deck, so dinner depends on the weather, not the menu. Dual Starlink keeps her connected without breaking the sense of being properly away. She's a small ship, built by people who've spent generations reading remote water, and it shows in how easily she gets you there.
Upper Deck Sanctuary
The upper deck sanctuary features sun loungers and panoramic viewing experiences.
Upper Deck Sanctuary
The upper deck sanctuary features sun loungers and panoramic viewing experiences.
SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY
Advanced technology meets environmental stewardship
Under 50 metres, two Azipod thrusters and dynamic positioning mean she never needs to drop anchor. Paspaley Pearl reaches waters other ships can't, without damaging it. Catalytic converters cut NOx emissions by 90%, heat recovery turns waste heat into hot water, and onboard wastewater treatment keeps what she touches clean. The small details do the rest: dual Starlink, smarter waste compactors, even a dumbwaiter nothing here is for show.
INTIMATE LUXURY
Staterooms & Suites
Fifteen rooms in five configurations. Ocean Staterooms with queen, twin or double beds, six Horizon Suites and the single Pearl Suite, the last two with private balconies. Every room shares the same finish: rattan, linen and copper, proper storage, and Aesop in the bathroom. Nothing oversized, yet nothing spared.
Ocean Twin Stateroom
Ocean Staterooms
Horizon Suite
Pearl Suite
LIFE AT SEA
A Day on Board
A day on board is never just a day in the Kimberley. It's about rhythm when expedition cruising, where early wildlife encounters, expert-guided excursions and quiet moments on deck come together to reveal one of Australia's last true wildernesses. While every voyage unfolds differently, knowing what to expect helps you travel with confidence and get more from every moment. Here's what a typical day might look like aboard Pearl.
Coffee and breakfast at the Horizon while the plan for the day comes together, then tenders away
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Understanding The Paspaley Pearl Experience
Paspaley Pearl is operated by Pearl Expeditions, part of the Paspaley Group, the family company that has worked the Kimberley coast as pearlers for more than 80 years. Pearl Expeditions is led by executive chair Sarina Bratton AM, who founded Orion Expedition Cruises with the Paspaley family. The ship is not part of the Ponant fleet. A partnership announced in 2023 did not proceed.
Paspaley Pearl carries a maximum of 30 guests in 15 staterooms and suites, with a crew of 21. Her four expedition craft seat eight guests each, which gives 32 seats for 30 guests.
In parts of the Kimberley the tide rises and falls by more than 10 metres, and many inlets and river mouths are narrow, shallow or both. At under 50 metres, Paspaley Pearl can work into anchorages that larger expedition ships pass by. She holds position with thrusters and dynamic positioning instead of an anchor, which keeps chain off reef and seabed.
Yes, through two Starlink systems, and it is included. Coverage depends on where the ship is. Much of this coast has no mobile signal at all, so treat the connection as useful, not constant.
Through the dry season, broadly from April to October. The main voyage is ten nights between Broome and Wyndham, the port nearest Kununurra, and it runs in both directions. King George Falls, Montgomery Reef and a working Paspaley pearl farm are on the programme, subject as always to tide and weather. A seven-night voyage leaves from Broome and returns there, and a longer journey adds two nights at El Questro Homestead before boarding.
Paspaley Pearl's two main Kimberley voyages are Timeless Kimberley and Cultured Kimberley. Timeless Kimberley is ten nights between Broome and Wyndham, the boarding port reached by transfer from Kununurra, and runs in both directions. Cultured Kimberley is seven nights from Broome and returns to Broome. Paspaley's Ultimate Kimberley Experience adds two nights at El Questro Homestead before the ten-night voyage and a night in Broome after it.