• Experience an extraordinary journey during an expedition cruise discovering sumptuous scenery, unsuspected wildlife and fascinating history
• Shark Bay, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its incredible biodiversity and the rare species it shelters
• The exploration of many uniquely beautiful parks: Jurien Bay Marine Park, Abrolhos Marine Park, the Montebello Islands marine park, and the Murujuga National Park on the Burrup Peninsula
• Outings and shore visits in zodiac inflatables with a team of experienced naturalist guides
• On the western coast, the only major breeding area for Australian sea lions in the Jurien Bay Marine Park
• Colourful coral reef, turquoise waters and large seabird breeding colonies in the Abrolhos Islands
• Discovering the history of the Batavia mutiny and following in the footsteps of the first European explorers in the region
• The visit of the place with the highest concentration of rock engravings of any known site in the world, on the Burrup Peninsula
• Possibility of swimming and snorkelling throughout your cruise

Ponant All-inclusive:

• Full meal plan
• The Open Bay: beginning with boarding, and during the duration of the cruise, a wide selection of drinks (mineral water, soft drinks, wine, beer, champagne, spirits, coffee, tea) is served on request and at any time of the day
• Free WiFi internet access
• Activities offered during expedition cruises
• Transfer to the ship on embarkation day

Departures: Multiple departure dates available in 2025 & 2026

*Advertised price is based on Broome to Fremantle cruise departing 29 July 2026 and correct as at 22 April 2025. Other travel dates, or reverse itinerary is available.

Prices are subject to availability and change. Please enquire with your local RAC travel consultant for availability and current pricing.

Day 1: Broome 

Located in the northwest of the Kimberley region and in the far north of Western Australia, the town of Broome is reputed for its history and its glorious pearling era. The fascinating Chinatown district, which is the historic city centre, and the famous Japanese Cemetery, dates back to 1896, and has a past marked by the immigration of numerous Chinese and Japanese workers, attracted by the prosperous pearl industry at the end of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century. Broome is also famous for the “Staircase to the Moon”, an optical illusion created by the Moon reflecting on the sand banks at low tide, like a staircase climbing up towards the sky, a unique spectacle provided by nature…

Day 2: At sea

During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

Day 3: Burrup Peninsula

Murujuga National Park and the islands of the Dampier Archipelago showcase what is thought to be the highest concentration of rock engravings of any known site in the world. Aboriginal people have been living there for more than 50,000 years and the petroglyphs (rock engravings) have been estimated to be as old as 40,000 years. The petroglyphs are diverse, depicting a record of what was meaningful to the Aboriginal people of the Pilbara and beyond. The sacred rock art’s traditional custodians are the Ngarluma-Yindjibarndi, the Yaburara-Mardudhunera and the Woon-goo-tt-oo and you will have the opportunity to visit Deep Gorge with a traditional custodian guide and marvel at the petroglyphs up close.

Day 4: Montebello Islands 

Located off the Pilbara Coast 120km west of Dampier, the Montebello Islands Marine Park covers more than 58,000 hectares of ocean and over 250 low-lying limestone islands and islets. The flat limestone islands range in size from Hermite, the largest, at about 1,000 ha, to several small islets and rocks of less than one hectare. They are the remnants of an old coastal landform and have been separated from the mainland for more than 8,000 years. They were named by the French navigator Nicolas Baudin in 1801 after the battle of Montebello. The area is rich in natural marine diversity and human history. They achieved international notoriety in 1952 when the British, in an operation code named Hurricane, detonated an atomic weapon in a bay off Trimouille island. Two further atomic tests were carried out in May and June of 1956 on Alpha and Trimouille Islands. You will have the opportunity to explore the marine park with our fleet of Zodiacs®.

Day 5 - 6: Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area

The Ningaloo Coast Marine Park is a place of spectacular contrast between lush and colourful scenery beneath the surface of the Indian Ocean and the rugged, arid landscape of Cape Range National Park. Here is also one of few places on Earth where you can see the biggest fish in the ocean - the whale shark. Depending on the season, you will have the opportunity to encounter these amazing giants of the sea. We will also have the opportunity to swim and snorkel on the largest fringing coral reef in Australia and the only large reef in the world found so close to a continental land mass, making it an easy snorkel from shore.

Day 7: Cape Peron

Cape Peron, named in honour of the French explorer François Péron, is a wild and isolated spot in the middle of Australia's Shark Bay, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean contrast with endless white sandy beaches and ochre cliffs tinged with the red sand of the surrounding deserts. You can set out to discover the astonishingly rich underwater wildlife, including stromatolites: the oldest known life forms on the planet. You will be amazed by the unspoilt beauty of this nature.

Day 8: Shark Bay World Heritage Area

With its white, sandy beaches, turquoise waters, rust-red sand dunes and abundant wildlife, Shark Bay became Western Australia’s first Wold Heritage listed area in 1991. The colourful and diverse landscapes, rare fauna and flora and world class examples of Earth’s ecological processes are what qualify Shark Bay for World Heritage listing – making it a truly remarkable place. You will have the opportunity to sail past the location of the first recorded European landing on Australia’s west coast at Cape Inscription where in 1616 Dirk Hartog left evidence of his landing in the form of a pewter plate inscribed with details of his journey.

Day 9: Abrolhos Islands Marine Park 

The Abrolhos Islands Maine Park consists of three main clusters of islands that stretch from north to south across 100 kilometres of ocean, and includes the Wallabi Group, Easter Group and Pelsaert Group. Established as a marine park in 1983, the waters of the Abrolhos are famous for colourful coral, crystal clear waters and large breeding colonies of seabirds. Here, the southward flowing Leeuwin current has created a meeting place for tropical and temperate sea life. In July 2019 the Islands were declared a national park for their ecological and historical significance. You will have the opportunity to explore East Wallabi Island and its fringing reefs.

Day 10: Jurien Bay Marine Park

Jurien Bay Marine Park located 150 kilometres north of Perth, was named by Captain Nicolas Baudin aboard the Géographe in honour of the French naval administrator Charles Marie Vicomte Jurien. The marine park surrounds dozens of ecologically important islands that contain rare and endangered animals found nowhere else in the world. The marine park and its immediate surrounds is the only major breeding area for Australian sea lions along the western coast of Australia. It is also a primary breeding ground for seabirds and is populated with a mix of temperate and tropical plants and animals, courtesy of the Leeuwin Current.

Day 11: Fremantle 

The vibrant city of Fremantle blends the old with the new, creating an enriching cultural experience. Maritime, convict and colonial history can be explored in one of the best-preserved examples of a 19th century port streetscape on Earth, while buzzing markets, lively bars and casual street cafés give you a taste of 21st century life with the locals. If you're hitting the heritage trail, be sure to include a visit to the Western Australian Maritime Museum, World Heritage listed Fremantle Prison and Western Australia's oldest public building, the Roundhouse.

*All prices & availability are correct as of 22 April 2025 and are strictly subject to change without notice. Price is based on double occupancy and incudes all advertised discounts. The Ponant Bonus of up to 25% off the cruise price is subject to availability and can change without prior notice. Other departures are available and may attract a seasonal surcharge. Free solo supplement is available for a limited time only. The supplement for single usage of a double cabin is waived, according to availability and stateroom categories.

Please enquire with your local RAC travel consultant for full terms & conditions, current pricing and availability.

General RAC Travel terms and conditions apply.