Before you even glimpse the ochre-red cliffs or feel the spray of King George Falls on your face, Ponant’s new all-inclusive bundle smooths out every travel wrinkle. Now, we set the scene for a seamless holiday where flights, luxury digs, and a 10-night voyage slot together like reef and tide.
Sail on Ponant’s 224-guest yacht purpose-built for remote waterways. All-suite comfort, Zodiacs for twice-daily landings and an expedition team of naturalists create an experience that’s more boutique lodge than big-ship jaunt.
Return economy air between your home city and Broome or Darwin (depending on direction) is bundled into the fare. That means one ticket covers check-in to disembark, with airport–hotel–port transfers smoothed out by Ponant staff, so you swap baggage carousels for a welcome flute of Champagne in minutes.
A pre-cruise night in a four-star hotel lets you shake off jet lag, explore Broome’s Cable Beach camels or Darwin’s sunset markets, and meet fellow travellers over canapés before boarding day.
Kimberley is twice the size of Victoria yet laced with only a handful of roads—so arriving by sea is like possessing a backstage pass to nature’s greatest amphitheatre.
Your first Zodiac run heads to the Lacepedes, a string of coral cays alive with breeding brown boobies, turtles and lesser frigatebirds. Guides cue binoculars as reef sharks fin in crystal shallows and sun-bleached whale bones hint at an era of pearling lore.
Sheer 80-metre sandstone walls funnel your tender toward dual cataracts that thunder long after the Wet. Adventurous souls can climb a rocky trail to the plateau for a swim in the billabong above the drop—a privilege shared by crocs and very few humans.
Vansittart and Swift Bays safeguard Gwion Gwion and Wandjina galleries dated at up to 17,000 years. Expedition leaders interpret ochre silhouettes while Traditional Owners (where permits allow) weave Dreaming narratives that tether past to present on the world’s oldest continent.
Downtime on Ponant feels more Côte d’Azur than Outback, yet never loses its Aussie sense of adventure.
Crew greet you with “bonjour” and a cold mango smoothie. Expect fine linens, Hermès amenities and bilingual service that’s formal when you want it, barefoot-casual when you don’t.
The ship’s dynamic positioning system protects fragile seabeds, while single-use plastics are banned fleet-wide. Solar panels assist hotel load, and chefs source line-caught NT barramundi at each Darwin reprovision.
Menus pivot daily from Loire Valley goat cheese soufflé to spice-rubbed kangaroo carpaccio. A sommelier-curated cellar of 250 labels includes Margaret River chardonnay and Bordeaux grands crus—perfect with sunset canapés on the Pool Deck.
Now that 2026 dates are live, early interest is already brisk among seasoned expeditioners and first-timers alike.
Sail Broome-to-Darwin or reverse on 13 & 27 May; 12, 22 & 29 June; 2, 9, 12, 19 & 22 July; 1, 11, 18 & 28 August; or 7 September 2026. Lead-in pricing starts from AUD $15,440 per person in a Deluxe Stateroom with balcony—exceptional value once you tally flights, hotel, transfers and daily excursions.
Cabin categories disappear in tiers—balcony staterooms first, then prestige suites. We recommend locking in with a low-deposit Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) agency such as S.W. Black Travel at least 12 months out to access launch perks and secure preferred deck position.
Light layers wick sweat by day; a fleece keeps you cosy on pre-dawn tender rides. Polarised sunnies, reef-safe sunscreen and a 20-litre dry bag are non-negotiable. June–August offer blue-sky days and cascading waterfalls; early May or late September deliver warmer seas and turtle hatchlings.
Curious whether this itinerary beats other expedition options? Pop over to our Cruise Finder—an interactive tool that filters sailings by date, ship, cabin type and bonus inclusions. Within seconds you’ll see Ponant alongside Australia’s other boutique lines, complete with live fares and promo alerts. Compare, shortlist, even share results with your travel mates via one click.
The Kimberley also pairs beautifully with rail or road adventures. Use Cruise Finder’s “add-on” tab to bundle The Ghan, Ningaloo Reef snorkel camps or a Margaret River wine loop into one seamless quote, all curated by our experienced advisors.
Ready to swap office fluorescent lights for ochre cliffs and waterfalls? Our team has kayaked Horizontal Falls, tasted saltbush-rubbed rib-eye on deck and helped hundreds of travellers choose the perfect Ponant Kimberley cruise.
Tap a consultant to customise flights from any Australian capital, arrange private guides in Broome or extend your holiday to Kakadu. Your adventure begins with a single click—let’s start planning.