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Le Soleal, 11 Night The fascinating nature of Melanesia ex Darwin, NT, Australia Return

Cruise Le Soleal, 11 Night The fascinating nature of Melanesia ex Darwin, NT, Australia Return
Cruise Line Ponant
Ship Le Soleal
Destination South Pacific & New Zealand
Brief Description 11 Night Cruise sailing from Darwin, NT, Australia onboard Le Soleal
Type of Cruise Luxury
Departure Date 10 Sep 2025
Cruise Description As the gentle trade winds caress the turquoise ocean, a light breeze skims over the luxuriant vegetation, and Western Melanesia’s lush green islands appear before you in a constellation. During a unique 12-day expedition cruise, PONANT invites you to board Le Soléal to discover the jewels of the Banda, Seram and Sorong seas, with their tropical forests, magnificent seabed and ancestral heritage.

Departing from Darwin, a multicultural city where over 50 ethnic groups live together in perfect harmony with their environment, you head for the Maluku Islands, nicknamed the "Spice Islands". These hidden jewels, surrounded by incredibly blue water, are home to some of Indonesia’s most beautiful white sandy beaches.

Then you set sail further north. At the junction of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and the meeting point of the Seram and Sorong Seas, a string of green and leafy islands called Raja Ampat inspires wonder, a sense of peace and enchantment. Preserved in a setting of majestic karst peaks and bordered by magical coral reefs, the archipelago captivates visitors with the beauty of its multicoloured lagoons, immaculate beaches, lush green landscapes and exceptionally biodiverse seabed.

Le Soléal will continue to sail in the Indonesian province of West Papua to allow you to admire the superb natural site of Kitikiti Waterfall where you could enjoy a swim or snorkel surrounded by lush nature, both on land and under water.

You then set out for the Maluku archipelago to discover the charms of Banda Neira Island. Between its age-old culture marked by Dutch and Portuguese influences, its ruins from ancient times, coral reefs and luxuriant jungle, you will experience a truly timeless moment...

You then return to Darwin, which rounds off this fabulous and enchanting epic.

The encounters with the wildlife described above illustrate possible experiences only and cannot be guaranteed.
Sailing Dates
10 Sep 2025
Category Single Twin Triple Quad
SP3 AU $22,290 AU $11,550 AU $6,180
PR4 AU $13,900 AU $13,900
PR5 AU $14,580 AU $14,580
PR6 AU $15,410 AU $15,410
DS6 AU $21,500 AU $21,500
PS5 AU $29,120 AU $29,120 AU $14,960
PS6 AU $30,640 AU $30,640 AU $15,720
Cruise Itinerary
Date Port Arrive Depart
10 Sep 2025 Darwin, NT, Australia 6:00 PM
11 Sep 2025 At Sea    
12 Sep 2025 Kei (Kai) Islands, Indonesia
13 Sep 2025 At Sea    
14 Sep 2025 Raja Ampat
15 Sep 2025 Raja Ampat
16 Sep 2025 Raja Ampat
17 Sep 2025 Raja Ampat
18 Sep 2025 Kitikiti Waterfall, Mommon, Indonesia
19 Sep 2025 Banda Neira, Indonesia
20 Sep 2025 At Sea    
21 Sep 2025 Darwin, NT, Australia 7:00 AM
All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.

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