Unless you’re a particular connoisseur of Australia’s fine jewellery scene, or a customer, you may not have heard of the Paspaley brand of pearls. Maybe you have.
What you may not know about them is that the company is a driving force behind Pearl Expeditions – arguably one of the most exciting and luxurious expedition cruise operations to hit the seas in recent times.
It’s no secret Australians love to travel, but the rise of expedition cruising lately has perhaps caught even the most ardent proponents of the style by surprise. Despite the lofty price tag, Aussies want to see the world, seek out authentic cultural experiences and do it in comfort.
Pearl Expeditions’ sole ship, the Paspaley Pearl, caters to just 30 passengers at a time and currently spends its time exploring the coasts, bays and inlets of Australia’s Kimberley region, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Raja Ampat.
Travellers can choose from a range of highly curated itineraries featuring visits to local villages and communities along with time on idyllic and often uninhabited islands.
Onboard, travellers will find nothing you might expect an exploration ship to be and everything you might expect a luxury yacht to have. Fifteen spacious and well-appointed staterooms, each with an especially large bathroom and on some, a comfortable balcony with room to sit and marvel at the world going past.
Guests move seamlessly between relaxed lounges, intimate dining areas and generous outdoor decks designed for long lunches, sunset cocktails and slow mornings anchored in pristine bays.
Paspaley Pearl has been meticulously designed with a range of features designed to make the experience feel like home, even down to 220-volt Australian standard power outlets, so your devices won’t need an adapter.
This is the Horizon deck. Take the stairs up one to the Ocean deck and you’ll find a collection of sun loungers and an eight-person jacuzzi.
At 53 metres, she carries herself with quiet confidence rather than ostentation, her sleek exterior hinting at serious capability while her interiors reveal a warm, understated refinement.
With such a small co-travelling contingent, there’s time and space to get to know your fellow explorers, best done relaxing in a communal 32-seat lounge at the aft of the ship. Beneath this is a quaint yet romantic restaurant serving a stately dinner each evening, in which the stories of your day are best shared and relived at tables of four and six.
Dining onboard Paspaley Pearl is a particular highlight. Under the guidance of head chef Alex, the rotating menu makes use of the best local produce available. Significant time has been invested by Alex to build relationships with local producers, all under no illusion of the quality he will and won’t serve to guests onboard.
Along with sumptuous meals served three times a day, you will also find a selection of Australian beers including Great Northern, Little Creatures and Coopers for that added connection to home.
Pearl Expeditions nearly didn’t even see the light of day. Initially a joint project between Paspaley and hugely popular French luxury expedition brand Ponant, the one-ship operation was torpedoed, metaphorically, under that corporate structure, before revived by cruise industry leader Sarina Bratton. Along with Paspaley, Bratton revived the concept independently and along with her team, welcomed the first guests onboard in August this year.
Paspaley Pearl strikes a rare balance – luxurious, unmistakably Australian, and always ready to roam.
Proudly Australian owned and operated