Small ship expedition cruises provide the opportunity to explore remote regions and, through shore excursions and onboard experts, to have an immersive and educational experience. Following the reopening of Australia’s maritime borders, luxury French Cruise Line Ponant, with its “soft-expedition style” ships has returned to Australia’s Kimberley Region.
VIEW PONANT KIMBERLEY ITINERARIES
For the New Zealand market Ponant prices in Australian dollars.
Why Visit Australia’s Kimberley Region?
Like many soft-expedition cruise destinations that focus on wildlife and unique natural phenomena (such as Alaska), the Kimberley Region offers visitors different experiences depending on the time of year. Covering an area that is two thirds the size of France, the Kimberley Region it is most commonly explored by air or sea. The following clip with onboard expert Mick Fogg provides highlights of this remote and unspoiled region:
The Best Time of Year to Visit the Kimberley Region
The Kimberley cruise season runs from April to September, and like cruising in Alaska, different aspects of the region will be on show at different times of the season. Ponant offers itineraries throughout the season, with the itinerary featured in this article focussed on the start of the season (see more below).
During April and May, guests are more likely to see turtles, dugongs (a cousin of the manatee), dolphins, waterfalls and greener landscapes. Later in the season, crocodiles, humpback whales and migratory birds become more common and the light becomes crisp and clear for photography and the landscape becomes drier.
Why Choose Ponant?
In previous articles on expedition cruising we discussed the advantages of small ship, soft-expedition style cruising, and this is exactly why Ponant’s expedition fleet appeals for the Kimberley Region. Le Laparouse and Le Soleal and Le Ponant (pictured below) are scheduled to operate there in 2022 and 2023. Smaller ships have the ability to venture where larger ships cannot, and the use of zodiacs takes guests even further into this remote landscape.
VIEW LE PONANT KIMBERLEY ITINERARIES
Ponant’s expedition pedigree also means that the onboard experience for guests looking to learn more about the Kimberley Region, its history and wildlife will not be disappointed. Talks by onboard experts and a dedicated expedition crew all contribute to a culture of exploration.
Ponant Kimberley Itineraries
Ponant offers a range of itineraries between Broome and Darwin that take in the Kimberley region. Ports of call include:
- Broome
- Lacepede Islands
- Collier Bay
- Careening Bay
- Hunter River
- Swift Bay
- Vansittart Bay
- King George River
- Darwin
Fine Travel can provide you with full details of the itinerary, current discounts and bonus offers (see more below) and expected activities at each port of call and incorporate your connecting flights into a single itinerary.
VIEW PONANT KIMBERLEY ITINERARIES
Ponant’s Special Offers and New Client Bonuses
Ponant operates a unique discount system which provides guests with certainty that they are getting the best available price at the time. Discounts are tiered based on how many stateroom and suites have been sold. When an itinerary is released, the biggest discount is available (30%) which rewards those who commit early and pay a deposit. As more cabins sell, the available discount reduces in 5% increments until the final remaining cabins are available at full price.
For clients who have never cruised with Ponant, there is also an A$400pp new client discount.
Tina
Hi Richard. Could you please forward further details of this trip – Darwin to Broome. When would you require deposit and how much would that be and a little more of the itinerary and ship they would be using ( how many people it caters for – not keen on a big cruise)