Kimberley Cruises for Singles
Some good news for solo Kimberley cruise travellersIt can be…
But overall ‘luxury’ it was not. Definitely not.
Simon Flower
When Everything Is Called Luxury, Does the Word Mean Anything Anymore?
I saw a Facebook advert recently promoting an expedition vessel that I know quite well. The word 'luxury' was prominent in the advert. Now I have had the pleasure of cruising onboard this ship and I found it to be a very comfortable experience; nice en-suite cabins and plenty of on-board facilities including a few that can perhaps be regarded as luxury - a pool for example and a small spa.
The strange thing is that they didn’t need to try and sell themselves and their trips as luxury. The voyage that I took with them was one of the best expedition cruises that I have experienced. The ship had an innovative itinerary – in fact some of its trips are genuinely unique. It had frequent and immersive off ship excursions. The cabins were comfortable, the food was plentiful and tasty. The expert guides were personable and knowledgeable and the rest of the crew were unfailingly cheerful.
It was a wonderful trip but it was not luxury; at least not in the sense that most of us would view luxury
There are so many reasons to book this company so why try and claim it to be luxury?
I’d say it’s because almost everyone seems to claim to be luxury nowadays.
I am not going to name this company especially as I strongly suspect that this was their marketing team (probably an external agency) that chose to lead with the word ‘luxury’. They are by no means the only guilty party. To say that the term “luxury” is severely overused in travel marketing is an enormous understatement!
Countless travel company websites mislabel even the most ordinary offerings as “luxury” or “luxurious,” often padding them with five-star or award-winning claims. This barrage of hype is often misleading and of course the truth remains: you get what you pay for.
At Expedition Partners we try to avoid using the term ‘luxury’ unless it is undeniable. We believe our clients will ultimately be disappointed if we rely on such inflated marketing; and we definitely don’t want disappointed customers.
It is true that some expedition travel (both cruise and rail) does offer genuine luxury. That means very spacious cabins, balconies, 24 hour personalised service, a selection of fine dining opportunities with fine wines and spirits and so on. But not all the trips that we feature are luxury and it’s pointless claiming that they are.
Expedition travel is about immersing yourself in the world’s most extraordinary destinations, often those that most people never visit; the Kimberley, Antarctica, the Arctic, Africa; ‘the road less travelled’ so to speak.
Expedition travel is authentic adventure, flexible itineraries that allow for active exploration, such as Zodiac cruising, guided walks, and cultural encounters. They are journeys led by expert guides and naturalists, enjoyed in the company of like-minded fellow travellers, often aboard smaller, boutique vessels or heritage trains that take you off the beaten path.
Myself and the team at Expedition Partners like luxury as much as the next person; and we find that some of our clients are keen for luxury as well. But whether it’s luxury or simply comfortable, all our itineraries offer personal, real experiences—not mass-produced holidays—blending adventure, comfort, and a touch of discovery each day.
What is luxury? On the left a scene of cruise hell – but I imagine the cabins are not too bad. You may have noticed lots of people!
On the right our client Ranae and her husband in the Kimberley. In the background; their ship – takes 38 passengers. The cabins are comfortable but not fancy.
The big cruise is cheap. The small expedition ship will cost more. For us luxury can just mean space and solitude.
Maybe that’s a better definition of luxury means anyway?
“Real luxury isn’t what the travel industry has force fed us. Real luxury is personal — and it is actually, truly special. It’s understanding space, time and freedom.”
Daniel Scheffler, Wanderlust magazine.
If it is a luxury expedition trip that you are after then we can help you find the right one for you. And because we do not overuse the word ‘luxury’ you’ll know that when we do label it as such – well then it’s the real thing.
And if it’s not luxury you are after – just a real, expedition experience in comfort and safety – then we can help you with that as well. We just won’t claim that it’s all luxury!
About Simon Flower
Originally from the United Kingdom, Simon has worked in the travel industry for over thirty-five years. He is passionate about genuine expedition style travel and has travelled to both the Arctic and Antarctic on expedition vessels.
Expedition Partners (formerly Flower Travel) specialise in expedition style travel by small ship cruise and private rail journeys.
PH: 1300 654 861
Monday-Friday 9.30am – 5.30pm
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What to do next
If you’d like more information, either researching on your own or by talking to a person who has been to the Kimberley and can give you first hand advice, here are four options:
Download your FREE copy of "Ultimate Guide to Kimberley Cruising”
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.
Talk to the team
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.
Research the latest specials that include free flights and free accommodation
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.
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