APT Luxury Travel has opened bookings for its 2028 Kimberley coastal expeditions, releasing the 11-day sailings to market ahead of the full 2028 Australian programme launch.

The move puts a roughly two-year booking window on one of Australia's most capacity-constrained expedition products, and it gives agents selling the Kimberley an early lock on inventory before APT's broader programme reaches the trade.

Ponant's 184-passenger Le Jacques Cartier will operate the 2028 voyages, which run in both directions between Broome and Darwin. Every stateroom and suite on the purpose-built expedition ship has a private balcony — a hardware point APT is pushing hard in a destination where the coastal scenery is the core product.

Cher Lontok, GM of product & operations Australia and New Zealand at APT, framed the Ponant charter as both an operational and brand fit.

"The Kimberley remains one of Australia's most extraordinary destinations and we are delighted to be partnering with Ponant in 2028 to offer our guests an exceptional expedition experience aboard Le Jacques Cartier," Lontok said.

"The vessel's expedition capabilities, elegant design and all-balcony accommodation make it an ideal fit for the destination, enabling guests to experience the Kimberley's rugged beauty in exceptional comfort while enjoying the immersive exploration for which APT's itineraries are renowned," she said.

The itinerary highlights APT is using to sell the voyages are concentrated on the destination's signature assets: Zodiac explorations to Horizontal Falls, cruising the King George River, and a traditional "welcome to country" and smoking ceremony — an Indigenous cultural element that has become a differentiator for Australian expedition operators.

For sellers of travel, the early release signals where APT sees demand. The Kimberley season is short, ship capacity is limited — Le Jacques Cartier carries just 184 passengers — and the operator is effectively asking the trade to commit clients to 2028 berths now rather than wait for the full programme drop. Operators in hot expedition markets increasingly treat early inventory release as a tool to capture high-intent bookings before competitors with overlapping products reach the same customers.

The structure also extends the APT-Ponant partnership, which has anchored APT's small-ship expedition lineup, into a third season cycle. Le Jacques Cartier carries a fleet of Zodiacs, an infinity pool and a marina platform for water sports and open-deck relaxation.

APT has not yet released pricing or the full 2028 Australian programme details; those will follow with the broader launch, which the Kimberley voyages now precede.