Ten days in the Kimberley on Seabourn Pursuit — the line's 2023-built, purpose-made expedition vessel — is the kind of trip Australian luxury travellers keep asking about, so it's useful to hear how it pans out in practice. Travel advisors Robyn and Murray Sinfield recently sailed the route from Broome for Karryon, and their verdict is broadly glowing: at full capacity the ship carries just 132 ocean-facing suites, all with private verandas, and never feels crowded.
The relationship with country is a genuine point of difference. Seabourn Pursuit's godparents are the Wunambal Gaambera people, traditional owners of sea and freshwater country including Vansittart Bay, the Hunter River and the Mitchell Plateau — a symbolic stewardship partnership rather than a token gesture.
Life on board skews relaxed rather than showy. Dining spans the Colonnade buffet, the main Restaurant, casual sushi in the Club and 24/7 room service — welcome after hot hours in the sun. There's a Seabourn Square with barista and books, an infinity pool aft on Deck 5, a bow observation lounge, a spa and fitness area on Deck 7, and an open bridge on Deck 9 where you can ask about the waters you're anchored in. Daily briefings happen in the Discovery Centre, with Starlink keeping guests connected throughout. Entertainment is low-key — a four-person team running trivia and occasional live sets — which suits an expedition itinerary that starts early.
The Kimberley itself delivers the goods. Highlights included Hidden Island in Yampi Sound with its sandstone formations and enormous tides (up to 11 metres of fall), the twin King George Falls — Australia's highest twin waterfalls — Indigenous rock art, fireside cultural chats, and a visit to Paspaley's only land-based pearl farm. Optional extras include helicopter flights to Talbot Bay's Horizontal Falls and Mitchell Falls, plus kayaking and snorkelling. Wildlife spotters can expect crocodiles, ospreys, brahminy kites, short-eared rock wallabies and even tawny nurse sharks circling in the ship's lights at night.
A couple of honest caveats are worth knowing before you book. This isn't a walking holiday: aside from a couple of wet landings, most of each day is spent in Zodiacs, of which the ship carries 24 staffed by a 23-person expedition team. And two logistical traps caught guests out — pack proper footwear and serious sun protection (there are no shops along the coast), and get to guest services early if you want the helicopters or full-day excursions like Kakadu in a Day, since nothing can be prebooked.
Who's it for? Anyone wanting a fully inclusive, small-ship way into one of Australia's most remote and storied regions, without camping or coaches — comfortable enough for cruise regulars, adventurous enough to feel like an expedition. The red dirt and sandstone, the reviewers say, stay with you long after you disembark. Full details via Home Travel Company and Seabourn.
