Luxury travel advisors Robyn and Murray Sinfield were recently on board Seabourn Pursuit on a trip to the Kimberley. Read their impressions in this exclusive review for Karryon.
Seabourn Pursuit was launched in 2023 and is a purpose-built ultra-luxury adventure ship with just 132 ocean-facing suites with private verandas.
Our voyage is at maximum capacity, but the ship has a serene feeling, and we never once felt like we were overcrowded.
We could not think of any more fitting cruise to venture into the Kimberley than Seabourn Pursuit, whose Godparents are the Wunambal Gaambera people, who are traditional owners including of sea country Ngula Jar Island (Vansittart Bay) and Yirinni (Hunter River) and freshwater country Ngauwudu (Mitchell Plateau).
This partnership is a symbolic gesture of stewardship and responsibility towards the environment and sustainable tourism in one of our most iconic destinations globally.
Our suite
Embarkation was very quick at the port of Broome, as we used a local taxi company for transfers that has the authority to take us to the gangway.
We were onboard at 12.30pm, enjoying our lunch in the Colonnade (Deck 5) until the suites were ready at 1pm.
Our suite was 821, a penthouse on Deck 8 forward and had a separate dining/sitting area, walk-in wardrobe through to the bathroom with double vanities, shower and bathtub, and separate toilet.
There were Molten Brown amenities and 1891 Montaudon champagne to greet us, together with a stocked minibar of our personal choice.
Wining and dining
You certainly don’t go hungry, with plenty of dining choices for a small vessel.
There is the casual sushi in the Club, the Colonnade for buffet style, the Restaurant on Deck 4 and 24/7 room service, just ideal after a long day on Zodiacs in the sun.
When the drink of the day is beckoning, Deck 9 has the forward Constellation Lounge and The Club and SkyBar. This deck also houses the Zodiacs.
We lived on Deck 8, and the craft was right above us, and we had no major noise each day as they deployed early for our engagement and enjoyment.
Onboard facilities
It’s soon evident the trademark Seabourn Square is a favourite, with a barista, books, reception and a future cruise consultant, and an excellent aft deck space right behind. The other go-to on Deck 4 is the Exploration Lounge, a cosy array of chairs and inviting bar.
On the rear of Deck 5 is the infinity pool and bar area outside of the buffet-style Colonnade Restaurant, which is for breakfast and themed lunches and dinners. This same deck has a small meeting room that the Aussies took over for a live Carlton v Geelong AFL match!
It’s great to come back to the vessel, hot and bothered to be able to sneak away to a quiet spot, like the Bow Lounge forward on Deck 6, where the bow has a wonderful observation deck – that last chance to view outside before the anchor is raised.
Deck 7 has a generous spa and wellness space with the port side situated spa cabins, hair and nails and the starboard side fitness centre and spa treatment rooms, with a deck space aft for some sunshine after working hard to keep the kilograms off.
The Bridge on Deck 9 is an open-door policy – unless otherwise stated and a great place to learn more about the area the ship is currently positioned in, and that learning continues to the Discovery Centre or the presentation lounge for the day’s review and the next day’s briefing.
This room is good for viewing no matter where you sit, and the large LED screen is amazing when shown the best pics of the expedition day.
On Deck 4 is the shop, small but with items to purchase like Seabourn clothing, jewellery, and the necessary bits and pieces when you run low.
We worked each day with excellent Starlink connectivity, and we don’t lose track of events or happenings as the Seabourn app, the Source, is easy to navigate with a daily itinerary. There’s also a digital copy of the daily news and a dining summary by restaurant.
Entertainment and excursions
As it’s a voyage of expedition, which is generally quite tiring, entertainment is low-key with live music on the open decks and the occasional vocal performance in the lounges or bar areas. A small team of entertainers (four on our cruise), including the Cruise Director, bring all the ocean-going classics like Team Trivia, Name that Tune and more.
Zodiac access is very good from both the port and starboard sides of the vessel, depending on water and wind conditions. There are 24 Zodiacs and a 23-person expedition team, all so passionate about their field of expertise.
Kayak and snorkelling opportunities are also possible. The mudroom has a stainless steel shelf for every cabin, which is convenient for leaving wet landing shoes or similar.
Our first port is Hidden Island in Yampi Sound, and the Zodiacs are deployed for an afternoon of touring the peaceful coastal scenery. There are clear waters framed by the rugged sandstone formations shaped over millions of years and showing the tidal mark, which is at times up to 11 metres in fall.
A beach stop for some refreshments after heading back to the ship through the mangroves meant we were able to spot ospreys and their young, which set the scene for the 10 days ahead to explore and marvel at our great land and its Dreamtime stories.
It’s worth noting that a cruise like this does not offer a lot of walking, just a couple of wet landings; otherwise it’s just a few hours each time in the Zodiac, so back onboard the gym/fitness area gets a workout, as does the walking track on Deck 9.
Highlights include the King George Falls, the two highest twin waterfalls in Australia, and incredible geological sandstone formations.
We see Indigenous Aboriginal artwork everywhere, get involved in cultural events and fireside chats, and Paspaley’s only land-based pearl farm operation provides a rare insight into the world of South Sea pearling.
There are also helicopter opportunities to Talbot Bay, the Horizontal Falls, and Swift Bay for Mitchell Falls.
Along the way, crocs can be seen, and by night, the tawny nurse shark around the ship in the lights, black-shouldered kite and brahminy kite and the well-camouflaged short-eared rock wallaby.
There is something about this red dirt, sandstone environment which stays with you long after you disembark.
Tips
This was a hot weather expedition and many guests did not have the appropriate footwear and sun protection, and there are no shops along the way, so make sure you assist your clients with appropriate lists to be well prepared.
Also, you can’t prebook the off-vessel options like the helicopters and the full-day excursions like Kakadu in a day, so have your clients get in early at reception/guest services to be sure these events can enhance their experience.
Our verdict
A perfectly sized ship for a 10-day fully inclusive expedition with a team of expedition staff who want to show and share their love with you in an intimate manner.
For more information, visit Home Travel Company and Seabourn.
