Cruising the Kimberley coast on Le Laperouse, Darwin to Broome

That makes zero sense on the champagne. CH is much pricer and a million times better than Veuve. Based on that alone, not sure why anyone would pay more for the booze.

As for the other wines they look pretty pedestrian. Not heard of any of them. The important bit is....what do YOU think of them? ;)
I'm not a champagne guy, so it's pearls before swine WRT. But I'm totally underwhelmed by the wines. I had a word to the somellier last night who promised that there would be different ones as we progress.
 
Sponsored Post

Struggling to use your Frequent Flyer Points?

Frequent Flyer Concierge takes the hard work out of finding award availability and redeeming your frequent flyer or credit card points for flights.

Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, the Frequent Flyer Concierge team at Frequent Flyer Concierge will help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

We set sail at 4:30 precisely (I learned that this mob keep very much to schedule) and a nice sunset:

View attachment 287092

Because of the very high (and low) tides in the Kimberley, timing is critical to every ship. The difference with international ships is that they have to keep to their published itinerary, but Coral Expeditions can alter course on the fly if something interesting pops up.

It is very interesting to read of your experience. I was booked on Ponant last year, but the season was cancelled. I was extremely happy with Coral, although no single supplements with them, just almost double.

Food of course is personal, but the current chef can make a great difference on any ship. I have seen meals improve significantly when chefs changed on a B2B.
 
The included wine selection on Coral Expeditions is very ordinary, but it is possible to buy better wines from a reasonable selection at reasonable price. We tended to drink the included wines at lunch and pre-dinner, but buy something better with dinner. It was buy-as-you-go, rather than a credit.

Just surmising, I can't imagine too many cruise ships having high-level (ie. expensive) wines on their inclusive selection owing to non-drinkers feeling as though they are paying high voyage prices to subsidise drinkers. I'd guess that the operators are treading a careful line in trying to give an impression in their promotional material of 'sophistication' and having good included booze while being sensitive to non-imbibers muttering.

I constantly return to my motto: 'Always be prepared to be disappointed.'

When I went to Antarctica with OneOcean Expeditions and to the Arctic with Heritage Expeditions, both very much more spartan expedition vessels, it was all buy your own.

When I went on the Kimberley coast trip, it was on a 12-pax 26m unlicensed vessel operating out of Broome and we took our own.*

*Edit: If I had known in advance just how sensational the food was going to be, I would have taken some really good wines. In the crew of five was an exceptional chef. We foraged from the sea quite a lot (fresh-collected oysters, fish (plenty of barras), mud crabs. Only took what we needed; plenty of catch-and-release) but also had steaks, roast pork and so on. We had 10 pax, of a possible 12.
 
Last edited:
So disappointing that your friends missed the cruise.

The evening meal photos and menus are a bit underwhelming. I might have to set my expectations lower before next year.
There was cheese listed on the Australian menu - were you not able to order it? Likewise were you not able to order a sticky, even if it is not listed on the menu?
 
I'm very interested in what if any refund Ponant offer your friends and/or what their TI paid out. This is one of the scenarios I am concerned about for our 2023 Mauritius and Seychelles cruises. Ponant's policy is very silent on this scenario (as far as I can see).
 
First full day saw us cruising a long leg to the mouth of King Georges River.

IMG_5279.JPG

But first, lunch. Could either be taken in the a la carte restaurant or as a buffet on the open pool deck. The latter much better. A salad/cold fish followed by selection if cooked dishes - salmo/steak etc.

IMG_5282.JPG

IMG_5285.JPG

IMG_5287.JPG

The the zodiacs were brought out for the first time. A veritable fleet of 11: The rear dock swings down.


IMG_5286.JPG

And off in the first group:

IMG_5290.JPG

IMG_5294.JPG

IMG_5296.JPG
 
The Frequent Flyer Concierge team takes the hard work out of finding reward seat availability. Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, they'll help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

eyesumtimes froknostikayt…that perfectly pleasant places that would ordinarily be just ok..suddenly seem
"exciting" viewed from an inflatable that will shortly return me to a nice lunch, a few drinkies and an afternoon nap to
prepare me for …..dinner…...and some more drinkies….🥳
 
We zodiaced up the King Georges River, with the main attraction being km and km of rocks, Excellent! The gorge got narrower and steeper as we progressed. I ws fortunate to be on the first one, so had a great uninterrupted view of what was ahead. Some of the other zodiacs made beelines for birds :rolleyes: . We saw a splash of a dugong (supposedly ... :) )

IMG_5302.JPG

IMG_5307.JPG

IMG_5312.JPG

IMG_5314.JPG

As we rounded a little cove, there was the 'bar zodiac'. :D Champagne all round after a torrid 90 mins of cruising.

IMG_5323.JPG

Behind this chap is one of the two falls at the end of the gorge ... in dry season.

IMG_5326.JPG


IMG_5321.JPG

Much better to be able to see the rocks without the bloody water covering it up. ;)

IMG_5331.JPG

The other falls very close by - with water!!

IMG_5333.JPG

Then we fanged it back

IMG_5340.JPG
 
A few more pics. If this was the mining industry, they'd be fined for working under unsafe ground conditions ... (not kidding!)

IMG_5355.JPG

1660004233788.png

IMG_5343.JPG

IMG_5348.JPG

The captain out having a bit of fun (seemingly, without a life-jacket??) :oops: :eek:

IMG_5363.JPG

And return to ship on sunset. A good day.

IMG_5385.JPG

IMG_5387.JPG
 
Back
Top