Following the successful #ArrivalRevival of its highly anticipated Kimberley expedition season in April this year, PONANT has announced the arrival of small expedition ship Le Soléal into Darwin, Northern Territory.
Le Soléal will be PONANT’s second small expedition ship to be positioned in the Asia Pacific region this year, joining Le Lapérouse, the first international expedition ship to return to Australian waters last month, for this year’s Kimberley season.
Sarina Bratton AM Chairman for PONANT Asia Pacific has welcomed the arrival of Le Soléal.
“With the successful resumption of expedition sailing, the demand for the Kimberley is stronger than ever and we welcome Le Soléal to join Le Lapérouse for the season,” she said.
Le Soléal will commence her inaugural 2022 Kimberley expedition out of Darwin and down to Broome on Saturday 28 May and will operate multiple departures of the popular 10-night ‘Australia’s Iconic Kimberley’ luxury expedition itinerary until September 2022.
Following her Kimberley program, Le Soléal will feature expeditions in New Zealand, including the Sub-Antarctic islands and Australia’s Macquarie Island, the Ross Sea, Melanesia, New Zealand, and Japan’s subtropical islands in early 2023.
The cruise line also recently announced a partnership with the Paspaley Group and planned arrival to Australian waters of its iconic three-masted sailing yacht Le Ponant for the 2023 Kimberley season.
Led by PONANT’s expedition and destination experts, guests will be able to experience a breathtaking sailing environment as well as shore landings on its state-of-the-art Zodiac boats.
To add to the experience and celebrate the partnership with the Paspaley Group, an exclusive and private scenic flight onboard one of Paspaley’s vintage Grumman Mallard flying boats will take guests from or to their embarkation point, as well as private access to Paspaley’s pearl operations in Kuri Bay.
Travel advisors who book a PONANT or Paul Gauguin cruise with Creative Cruising by 31 May 2022 will earn themselves a bottle of French Champagne.
For more information visit www.ponant.com