Seatrade Cruise News is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

Ponant partners with Paspaley Pearls for 2023 Kimberley cruises

Cruise_le_ponant_kim.jpg
Le Ponant will make its maiden voyage to Australia next year to operate a 2023 Kimberley season with two other Ponant ships
Le Ponant passengers will benefit from an exclusive partnership between Ponant and one of the few companies that still dives for wild pearl oysters, Paspaley Pearls, when the ship begins sailing in the Kimberley next year.

The three-masted sailing yacht will venture to Australia for the first time next April.

Three ships Down Under

In 2023, the 32-passenger Le Ponant will join the line’s small expedition ships Le Lapérouse and Le Soléal which are currently sailing between Broome and Darwin during what is Ponant’s first Kimberley season in two years.

New itineraries for the seven- and 14-night cruises – running until October – together with land arrangements including accommodation in Broome, will be available for booking later this month.

Scenic flights in amphibious aircraft 

Family-owned Paspaley Pearls has a network of pearl farms stretching more than 2,500km across Northwest Australia. Le Ponant passengers will be given private access to the 80-year-old business' pearl operations in Kuri Bay and will have the opportunity to take scenic flights with its fleet of vintage Grumman Mallard Flying Boats.

Paspaley boutique

Ponant’s chairman for the Asia Pacific region, Sarina Bratton, previously launched a Paspaley boutique onboard Orion during her time as MD of Orion Expedition Cruises.