Coral Princess Cruises and Captain Cook Cruises Join Forces on the Great Barrier Reef

Leading Australian small-ship cruise lines Coral Princess Cruises and Captain Cook Cruises have announced plans to join forces to further the growth of their Great Barrier Reef cruise divisions. The partnership will ensure the ongoing growth of both companies and provide unique opportunities to improve business efficiencies.

The new partnership, a result of long-term discussions between Coral Princess Cruises Managing Director Tony Briggs and Captain Cook Cruises Executive Chairman Captain Trevor Haworth AM combines over 40 years experience operating multi-night cruises on Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef.

Both companies are excited by the new opportunities this partnership will provide. Both Australian family-owned companies, they share common philosophies and existing cruise itineraries.

The opportunity to consolidate both companies’ Great Barrier Reef cruise operations has progressed joint plans for the design of a new, state-of-the-art, purpose-built small-ship to operate their schedule of three, four and seven-night Great Barrier Reef cruises.

Whilst planning for the new luxury vessel continues, both companies will operate schedules utilising Coral Princess’s fleet of small-ships. Captain Cook’s Reef Endeavour is to be sold following its final Great Barrier Reef cruise on February 22, 2008.

Coral Princess Cruises and Captain Cook Cruises look forward to further developing this exciting partnership into the future.

Coral Princess Cruises also operates expedition and adventure cruises to the Kimberley, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Melanesia and New Zealand.

Captain Cook Cruises Fiji and Murray three, four and seven-night itineraries and two-night Sydney Harbour itinerary will remain un-affected and continue as scheduled.

For further information and bookings, visit www.coralprincess.com.au or www.captaincook.com.au