APT Luxury Travel has locked in exclusive use of PONANT Explorations' expedition ship Le Jacques Cartier for every one of its Kimberley cruises in 2028. The 174-guest vessel will carry all APT passengers across the entire season, and some sailings can be paired with the company's 4WD overland Kimberley trips for a cruise-plus-inland combination.
It's a reunion of sorts. The two operators have worked together in the region before, and PONANT Explorations brings close to ten years of experience sailing the Kimberley's remote coastline. APT, meanwhile, has been running Kimberley touring and cruising for decades and keeps a dedicated team on the ground in Broome, the main gateway for these expeditions.
The ship itself is purpose-built for this kind of terrain. With a guest list capped at 174, it's small enough to reach anchorages and landing spots that bigger ships simply can't access — which matters in a region where the headline attractions are cascading gorges, waterfalls, ancient Indigenous rock art and wildlife found along a coast with almost no road access. Days on board revolve around Zodiac excursions, shore landings and cultural encounters, with the comfort and service levels both brands are known for.
There's a broader backdrop worth knowing. APT is marking its centenary and has ambitions of becoming a billion-dollar business, with plans to build its own ocean-going ship. The Kimberley remains one of the strongest-performing domestic expedition destinations for Australian travellers, and this charter is positioned as a way of evolving what the company offers there. APT's COO Mladen Vukic framed the deal as combining APT's destination expertise with an exceptional vessel, while PONANT Explorations' Asia Pacific CEO Deb Corbett pointed to rising demand for immersive expedition travel.
Why does this matter if you're planning a trip? A single ship covering a whole season means cabin inventory is limited. If a 2028 Kimberley cruise is on your wishlist, booking early gives you the best pick of departure dates and cabin categories. It also simplifies the decision: rather than comparing vessels, you're really choosing dates and whether to add the overland 4WD component — a nice option if you want to see both the coast and the inland gorges in one trip.
