Expedition cruise vessels in the Kimberley seem to be getting bigger each year.
The Seabourn Pursuit takes 264 passengers
Ponant’s Le Soleal is the same.
Both ships offer great comfort, lots of amenities and (usually) balcony cabins.
They are genuine Kimberley expedition vessels that have great appeal.
But for a Kimberley cruise I feel that these passenger numbers are a bit on the high side.
“Take the road less travelled”
Well, in this case the river less travelled
This is a big reason.
Smaller expedition vessels have a huge advantage over the larger vessels. Quite frankly the smaller vessels (with shallow drafts) can get much closer to the Kimberley highlights than the larger vessels. .
This gives passengers access to areas that larger cruise ships can’t reach, allowing for a more intimate and authentic experience of the Kimberley’s natural beauty. And it means you have much more time ashore to explore the Kimberley – take longer walks, find refreshing (and safe) swimming locations and so on.
Sure all the big vessels have zodiacs but the trip is longer in a zodiac when your vessel has to moor a long way out. Consequently you get less time at the location.
(And there is a limit to how far you can go on zodiacs open to the elements to be frank. That Kimberley sun can burn you quickly).
You shouldn’t just see the Kimberley; you need to experience it!
The smaller vessels get really, really close to the action
Fancy throwing a line out on the adventure? Maybe catch something for the chef to cook up for dinner?
The smaller vessels tend to be WA registered and therefore have a WA fishing license. This is just too difficult to obtain for those ships where the Kimberley is just one destination amongst many.
If you would like fishing opportunities on your Kimberley cruise you will need to be on a smaller, Australian vessel – not one of the big international ships.
Smaller vessels have fishing licenses so you can catch your dinner…..
….but don’t worry, the onboard chef will cook it for you.
Smaller vessels tend to be more relaxed and informal….
With fewer people on board, the staff can offer more personalised service and passengers are more likely to have closer interactions with guides and fellow travellers. This creates a more relaxed and engaging environment for exploring. At night, no need to dress up for dinner, just enjoy a beer or glass of wine with your fellow travellers (including the expedition crew) before another day of adventure.
…with lots of time for reflection
People assume that the “luxury’ expedition ships cost more than the smaller, Australian vessels. It is actually the other way around. Larger passenger numbers enable a vessel to spread the expedition cost across all customers. Having an international (cheaper) crew helps tremendously. But there is a reason why those smaller vessels remain so popular despite the (late) arrival into the Kimberley by the big boys.
Includes the top nine questions travellers ask and our honest answers to them, plus a pre-trip checklist.
It’s the perfect starting point for initial research.
Kimberley cruises are not one size fits all — there are many different ships each offering their own special elements.
We would love to help you. You’re invited to book a FREE 30-Minute Kimberley Cruise Planning Session to have all you questions answered, without the “hard sell” everyone hates.
With almost twenty years of experience in booking Kimberley cruises we have great relationships with many of the most popular cruise vessels. Why does that matter to you?
It means we have been able to negotiate some great free inclusions with several of the best cruise vessels including free flights, free tours, and free accommodation in Darwin or Broome.
I’m an expert in small ship cruising in the Kimberley and have completed four cruises on different vessels along this spectacular coastline. Cruises in the Kimberley are not one size fits all. There are different ships and itineraries, each offering their own special elements.
If you would like to have a chat with me about Kimberley cruising at a time that suits you book in a call.
