Four incredible new ships are heading to the Kimberley this year

Seabourn Cruise Line's Seabourn Pursuit, which debuted in August last year, will be making its way to the Kimberley, offering 10-day voyages between Broome and Darwin from June to August. The purpose-built expedition vessel features a private-club atmosphere for a maximum of 264 guests, including its Constellation Lounge, where you can enjoy drinks with floor-to-ceiling glass walls affording sweeping views. Guests are joined by a team of scientists, historians and naturalists, with lectures and briefings held in the ship's Discovery Centre. There are two custom-built submarines on board, with the itinerary taking in some of the best parts of the Kimberley, including the Horizontal Falls and Montgomery Reef. Add-ons include helicopter flights and trips to El Questro National Park. seabourn.com

If helicopters are your thing, Scenic Eclipse II is the ship for you as it will be the only vessel sailing the Kimberley with two onboard helicopters, each carrying six passengers. What's more, there are up to 10 helicopter excursions on each journey, with scenic flights over icons such as the King George River and the Horizontal Falls. Scenic Eclipse II will offer 11-day cruises between Darwin and Broome from May to August. This six-star ship has room for 228 passengers, all staying in suites with their own verandas. As well as a helicopter, there's a Scenic Neptune submarine for those wanting to discover what lies beneath the surface (think an ocean full of sharks and crocodiles). Plus, a team of "discovery leaders" means you'll always have access to expert insights. scenic.com.au

It's one of Ponant's fanciest ships - and it's coming to the Kimberley for the first time in 2024. Le Jacques-Cartier will take guests on 11-day Kimberley cruises between Darwin and Broome from June to October. The vessel features two fine-dining restaurants with a predominately French menu, which means you can feast on dishes like langoustines with sauce perigueux one day and lobster with celery remoulade the other. There are rooms for up to 184 guests in a variety of all-balcony suites, plus a 188-capacity theatre with cutting-edge audio and lighting technology. There's also a hydraulic platform which makes it's easier to embark and disembark on zodiac tours - a great feature for less-abled passengers, particularly in this rugged Western Australian region. au.ponant.com

Operating in the area since 1999, True North is one of the original Kimberley cruise companies. It's brought back its original 34-metre-long, 22-berth vessel, which is more intimate than the 36-berth replacement vessel the company has operated since late 2004. The repurposed older vessel - branded True North II - has a smaller combined saloon and lounge area. Because of its smaller size, it can get even closer to some of the Kimberley's best attractions, such as the King George Waterfall. But small size doesn't mean it's low on luxurious trimmings. There's an onboard helicopter, along with the original boat's iconic outdoor bar deck and sundeck. And the best news? There are a range of Kimberley cruise options - from four-night-long expeditions to 13-night journeys - to choose from. truenorth.com.au

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