My first cruise experience and the bar has been set very high sailing onboard Le Soléal with Ponant in the Kimberley. Every moment was exceptional – the warm welcome from the crew at check in, entering my beautiful cabin for the first time, the incredible nature I experienced and learnt about from the expedition team, the stunning sunsets, the meals and onboard entertainment.
The Kimberely is the true definition of pristine and unlike any other destination I have visited. We hardly saw any other people over the 11 days, and the environment remains untouched with no modern infrastructure. It was like stepping back in time – just us and nature: majestic rocks, massive creatures – crocodiles, dolphins, whales, dugongs and green turtles; and the vastness of the ocean. Seeing the Aboriginal rock art—believed to be over 17,000 years old—was a powerful moment. I felt the weight of time and connection to the history of the land.
I feel incredibly privileged to have experienced the Kimberley—a bucket list destination for so many. Exploring it by water truly is the best way to appreciate the region’s raw, breathtaking beauty. The memories of this journey will stay with me, and I’ll be on a high for a long time to come.
What were your Top 3 cruise highlights?
- The lectures with the expedition team – I learnt so much about The Kimberley, the wildlife and nature in general.
- The zodiac excursions and the landings. To maximise your Kimberley experience and to be able to see all the amazing scenery you really do need to get off the ship.
- Seeing massive crocodiles in their natural habitat. This was a first for me.
What were your onshore excursion highlights?
Seeing the Aboriginal rock art; Horizontal Falls at low and hide tide; Montgomery Reef and all the huge green turtles and watching a 5m crocodile come ashore at the Lacepede Islands.
How did you find the ship, Le Soleal, and your cabin?
Le Soleal was the perfect size (max 264 passengers) for an expedition cruise. Modern, luxurious and spacious with lots of outdoor and indoor areas to relax. Good variety of equipment in the gym. I liked that there were 2 options for dinning – buffet which was casual and the restaurant which was still relaxed but more formal.
My cabin had an excellent use of space. Separate toilet to bathroom is a plus especially for friends travelling together. Having a coffee machine and mini bar restocked daily was very convenient.
How did you find the food and dining experience?
I liked that there were 2 options for dinning – buffet which was casual and the restaurant which was still relaxed but more formal.
Food was exceptional. Good variety of fresh healthy choices and the meal choices were never the same. French cheese was a highlight for me! Lots of deserts on offer for those with a sweet tooth.
Who would you recommend this cruise to?
I would recommend this cruise to all my nature loving clients. The Kimberley region really needs to be seen from the water to fully experience it beautiful and its natural wonders. The expedition team were very knowledgeable, and the variety of shore excursions enabled guests to gain a good appreciation and understanding of the region. Great for single travellers as there is often no single supplement on Ponant and lots of effort was made for singles to meet and dine together if they wished. For those guests who preferred to stay onboard and not do excursions, there was entertainment and activities to keep them occupied. The dancers and singers were clearly a highlight for many guests with lots of people up dancing and enjoying themselves.
Anna is a Travel Manager based in Australia and cruised aboard Le Soleal
Images courtesy Anna Curran and Ponant Explorations (Nick Rains)
