Pearl Expeditions – Paspaley Pearl

Cairns – Medang – 9 nights

October 2025

Reviewed by Clive Heath – Director, Cruise Express International 

At less than 1,000 tonnes this was the smallest ‘ship’ or motor yacht on which we had ever sailed. Prior trips on Seadream 1 (4,333 tonnes) in the Mediterranean Athens to Istanbul and Coral Adventurer, (5,599 Tonnes) Darwin to Broome being our previous small ship experiences.

Sailing out of Cairns we had a rather bumpy first two days crossing the Coral Sea before entering calmer waters and the myriad islands that comprise PNG. This gave us plenty of time to explore the ship and meet our fellow travellers. 

With a capacity of just 30 passengers and 20 crew (20 pax only on our cruise) in three cabin classes we soon met everyone.  One lovely lady guest grew up in PNG and chose this cruise to return and scatter her father’s ashes. Needless to say, she provided us with a real in-depth experience as well as much laughter and tears.

There was mixed knowledge amongst the group of what to expect from this particular expedition cruise visiting rarely seen islands and communities in PNG. My personal interest? The Coral Sea and local area land battles, especially Milne Bay, the first Australian victory over the Japanese in World War II. We snorkelled over a downed Zero fighter at Deboyne Lagoon, a highlight!

Though small, the luxuriously appointed Paspaley Pearl was refitted in 2024 and featured numerous comfortable spaces to escape to and enjoy the journey.

The top deck of three public decks featured a forward viewing area in front of the bridge which was a great place for bird or wildlife spotting with Locky one of our five expedition guides’ passion for ‘everything with feathers’ shining through! From day one, he scoured the horizon, drawing our attention to the numerous varieties of seabirds along the way. 

This was also a great viewing location when entering rivers or approaching islands, with comfortable seating. The top deck (called the Sun deck) featured a 10 person spa, outdoor shower, 6 comfortable sun lounges and other flexible seating options depending on weather conditions.

The main deck, Horizon deck, featured 6 good sized suites with small but adequate balconies, one of the only ships of this size to feature balconies plus the top accommodation, the Pearl Suite being directly below the bridge. 

The Ocean deck below featured another 8 double cabins with picture windows similar in size to those on the Horizon deck but without balconies. One of these cabins could be sold as solo occupancy without a single supplement. This deck also featured a comfortable lounge and four 8 seater ‘booths’ for inside dining when weather conditions demanded a more protected eating space.

At the stern was a platform ideal for swimming or launching the zodiacs. Briefings on wearing life jackets and ensuring we got on and off the zodiacs safely were comprehensive. Safety was a prime concern for the whole team. Also provided was a brand new snorkel, mask and flippers for each individual guest which we then stored in our cabins for the duration.  Instruction was available for those who were new to snorkelling. Scuba diving was not provided.

The Horizon deck also featured a large covered area with open sides featuring two long tables which was our principal ‘go to’ location for breakfast, lunch pre-tour briefings and nightly sunset drinks.

Each night Joel and his expedition team presented a recap of the day around 6pm, followed by a briefing about what to expect the following day, with hints on weather, sea conditions, wet or dry landings, and what greeting we could expect from the village community we were visiting. 

This was Paspaley Pearl‘s first visit to the area, so much forward planning was required to contact the local headman in each case and request permission to land on their territory. In all cases, Joel and his team landed first to find the key person and prepare them for our arrival. This advance planning enabled each village a chance to prepare their welcome which usually involved singing or a local dance, sometimes involving men, women and children, most times in full local costumes.  

Some local handicrafts were available for sale but this was not a feature of the trip. For each stop the Paspaley crew prepared a gift hamper as a thank you to the community for allowing us to visit their land. Guests also contributed with items such as school books, pencils and footballs. This was not mandatory for guests but we were provided with the options to consider in advance that would benefit the local community.

Each visit simply blew us away with the local friendliness, colour and general enthusiasm. The size of communities varied from 60 to 900 people.

Daily lectures on indigenous languages, birds, mangroves and the rich second World War history filled the sailing time between islands and villages. Christian and his F&B team of Sophie and Brooke looked after us over the 10 days onboard with memorable food options and a ‘nothing is too much trouble’ attitude. 

Chef Mateo Diaz produced a range of fish, meats and salads daily with his two assistants.

Expedition cruising may not suit everyone.

Entertainment is limited to shore visits and lectures. The food selection was superb in quality but limited to one or two main course options. Climbing in and out of zodiacs and the movement on such a small ship may not be in your comfort zone.

On the plus side, with such a small group, you can immerse yourself in the culture of each destination, you can ask questions and get detailed answers from an experienced team who understand and respect the local area, people and culture.

You get to talk with everyone onboard, passengers and staff, not just nod a greeting as occurs on larger ships. We have never taken as many photos and videos as we did on this trip. It is a trip we will never forget.

Future cruises?

In 2026 apart from her Kimberley sailings and Indonesia, Paspaley Pearl will be sailing to and from Medang in PNG, providing a richer cultural itinerary without the need for the Coral Sea crossing. This would be my pick if we ventured on an exhibition cruise again! Also if you have the budget, the ship can be chartered for a multi-generational family group.