A MELANESIAN MELODY – Fly Free* Exclusive Offer – 20 Aug 2026 – Cruise Traveller

A MELANESIAN MELODY – Fly Free* Exclusive Offer

Cruise Line
Ponant
Ship
Le Jacques Cartier
Package Departs
20 Aug 2026
Package Duration
17 Nights
Embark Ship
Darwin, NT, Australia
Disembark Ship
Lautoka, Fiji
Deluxe Stateroom Deck 3 Prestige Stateroom Deck 4 Prestige Stateroom Deck 5 Deluxe Suite Deck 4
AU $17,475
per person
AU $19,265
per person
AU $20,125
per person
AU $28,985
per person

BIG SAVINGS INCLUDING FREE FLIGHT!

Twin Deluxe Balcony was $20,580 – your special price from $17,475*pp
Twin PR4 Prestige Balcony was $22,740 – your special price from $19,265*pp
Twin PR5 Prestige Balcony was $23,795 – your special price from $20,125*pp
Twin DS3 Deluxe Suite was $33,270 – your special price from $28,985*pp

Single Deluxe Balcony was $38,660 – your special price from $17,665*pp
______________

A MELANESIAN MELODY Fly FREE*, Cruise & Stay package includes:
– FREE* One way economy class airfare from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane (other cities on request) to Darwin
– 1 nights accommodation in Darwin with breakfast
– 16 night Melanesia expedition cruise aboard Le Jacques Cartier from Darwin to Lautoka
– All meals while on board the ship (from dinner on the day of embarkation to breakfast on the day of disembarkation)
– Captain`s welcome cocktail and gala dinner onboard
– Open Bar (pouring wines, house champagne, alcohol except premium brands) during cruise
– Evening entertainment and events
– Room service 24h (special selection)
– Highly qualified bilingual French/English expedition team
– Zodiac excursions and off ship excursions
– Park entry fees into protected areas (where applicable)
– Port taxes
– One way economy class airfare from Nadi to Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane

HIGHLIGHTS
– Exploring the natural and historic treasures of the Java and Timor Seas, featuring monumental temples, paradisiacal beaches and lush nature.
– Discovering an exceptional heritage (archaeological sites of Trowulan and Bordobudur, UNESCO World Heritage Sites) and fascinating nature (Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
– Possibility of diving* (PADI Open Water Diver or equivalent) with an experienced instructor to admire the local marine life.

Special Conditions

*Conditions Apply: All prices shown here are per person share twin (unless stated as single) in AUD, based on best available cruise fare at time of publication (29 July 2025). Some cabins may have obstructed views. All airfares/taxes are due in full 24 hours from reservation and strict cancellation/change fees apply. Selected routing and airlines apply to package offers - any variances requested by guest will incur surcharges. A passport is required to travel on this cruise as it visits international waters. Cruise deposit, amendment and cancellation conditions apply. Travel agent service fees may apply. Special conditions apply - please ask for full details at time of enquiry. All passports, vaccinations and visas are the responsibility of the travelling guest to secure prior to departure from Australia. Please note that the prices shown here are not shown in real time. While we endeavour to keep our pricing as up-to-date as possible, the advertised prices shown here may differ from the prices in our booking system at time of reservation. Transfers only included if guests are arriving/departing by air at specific airports on exact package dates and not included in Darwin pre cruise. Offer ends 15 Decenber 2025 or sold out/withdrawn and is subject to availability at time of booking. We reserve the right to correct errors without penalty. PADI diving will be at an extra cost. Travel insurance is mandatory on expedition cruises and not included.

Special Validity Dates

Special is valid from 29 Jul 2025 to 15 Dec 2025 or until sold out/withdrawn.

Pre-cruise Itinerary

DateActivityArriveDepart
20 Aug 2026 Flight from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane to Darwin. Check into hotel
21 Aug 2026 Check out hotel, make own way to port, embark ship

Cruise Itinerary

DateActivityArriveDepart
21 Aug 2026
Darwin, NT, Australia
5:30 PM
22 Aug 2026 At sea    
23 Aug 2026 At sea    
24 Aug 2026
Thursday Island, Queensland, Australia
2:00 PM 7:30 PM
25 Aug 2026 At sea    
26 Aug 2026
Port Moresby PNG
7:00 AM 4:00 PM
27 Aug 2026
Alotau, Papua New Guinea
2:00 PM 8:00 PM
28 Aug 2026 At sea    
29 Aug 2026 At sea    
30 Aug 2026
Honiara, Solomon Islands
8:00 PM
31 Aug 2026 At sea    
01 Sep 2026 At sea    
02 Sep 2026
Luganville, Vanuatu
7:00 AM 5:00 PM
03 Sep 2026
Port Vila Vanuatu
7:00 AM 10:00 PM
04 Sep 2026 At sea    
05 Sep 2026 At sea    
06 Sep 2026
Lautoka, Fiji
7:00 AM

Post-cruise Itinerary

DateActivityArriveDepart
06 Sep 2026 Disembark ship, make own way to airport. Fly Nadi to home city

All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.

Please select your preferred category and cabin configuration/price. Then scroll down and select Continue to provide your contact details and preference. Our cruise specialists will check availability and respond to you as soon as possible.

Category Twin Per Person     Single Per Person
Deluxe Stateroom Deck 3
   
Prestige Stateroom Deck 4
   
Prestige Stateroom Deck 5
   
Deluxe Suite Deck 4
   

Leaving from Darwin, PONANT invites you to embark on board Le Jacques Cartier for a 17-day journey featuring idyllic landscapes, lush nature and ancestral civilisations with secular traditions. Set off to discover the ancestral lands of Australia and four Melanesian treasures: Papua New Guinea, the Vanuatu archipelago, the Solomons and the Fiji islands.

On cosmopolitan Thursday Island, in the far north of the Australian territory, make the most of a visit to discover the history of this part of the Pacific during the Second World War. The Jacques-Cartier will set sail for Papua New Guinea, a fascinating land that is home to no fewer than 700 ethnic groups within a highly diverse yet mainly unexplored, ecosystem.

Setting sail for the Salomon Islands! You will stop over in Honiara on the large island of Guadalcanal, where exoticism and beauty go hand in hand, from paradisiacal waterfalls to lush green hills.

Then, the Jacques Cartier sails towards heavenly lands, where white sandy beaches encircle luxuriant forests with unique ecosystems, and legends and myths remain engraved in memories and traditions… In Port-Vila, capital of Vanuatu, you will relish the unforgettable sight of magnificent bays, a colonial heritage, paradise beaches and enchanting waterfalls. In Espiritu Santo, the archipelago’s main island, you are sure to be captivated by the unspoilt seabed surrounding this luxuriant islet.

Your journey will end in Lautoka in Fiji, famous for its sugar cane crops.

Featuring innovative and environmentally-friendly equipment, elegantly designed staterooms, spacious suites with large windows, and lounge areas that open onto the outside, this new limited-capacity yacht boasting just 92 staterooms and suites will offer you a truly unique cruising experience.

As the sixth ship in a new series that remains true to the Ponant spirit, Le Jacques Cartier will embody the unique atmosphere that is the cruise line’s hallmark: a subtle blend of refinement, intimacy and comfort.

Aboard this ship that flies the French flag, you will experience the incomparable pleasure of an intimate cruise, with the possibility of exploring an ever-increasing range of destinations in an ethnic-chic ambiance with luxury service.

Experience a luxurious setting where the accent is on authenticity and passion for travel.

Ship Profile & Stats

  • Length: 131 metres
  • Tonnage: 9,900 gross tons
  • Maiden Voyage: July 2020
  • Passenger Capacity (dbl): 184
  • Officer Nationality: French
  • Ship Registration: French

Ship Amenities

  • 110/220 volts outlet
  • Bath Robes
  • Flat screen television
  • Hair Dryer
  • In Room Safe
  • Individual Climate Control
  • Ipod(TM) players
  • Minibar
  • Satellite Direct Line Telephone

Ship Facilities

  • Art Gallery
  • Bars
  • Fitness Centre
  • Hydraulic Platform for Water Sports / Swimming
  • Main Lounge
  • Dining Room
  • Panoramic Lounge
  • Shopping Boutiques
  • Spa
  • Swimming Pool
  • Theatre

EXPERIENCE CRUISING ANOTHER WAY, DISCOVER THE MAGIC OF YACHT CRUISES.

Our mission is to transport you to mythical destinations and secret ports only accessible to small capacity ships.

To offer the delights of a French-inspired cuisine in an intimate environment – a discreet service where no attention to detail is spared – and unforgettable moments of relaxation on board elegant yachts of character.

To combine sophistication and conviviality, with priority given to authentic experiences, emotions and the ongoing quest for excellence.

Yacht cruises: more than a cruise, a privilege…

Attentive, professional, discreet and elegant, the fully bilingual service on board will meet your every desire. Our unique atmosphere is filled with a signature sentiment: a warm welcome from an experienced crew who are passionate about what they do, in the tradition of private yachting.

In the dining areas, our gourmet cuisine is worthy of top fine dining restaurants: exquisite wines are available, and menus are created with expertise by our skilled chefs with a French-inspired menu enhanced by specialties from our various ports of call.

Pleasure, enrichment, discovery: relax – we take care of everything…

Select the Cabin to view detail.

* Unless otherwise noted all pricing is on a per person twin share basis. All prices based on cash payment - credit card fees may apply. Cruise deposit, amendment and cancellation conditions apply. Special conditions may apply - please ask for full details at time of enquiry. All passports, vaccinations and visas are the responsibility of the travelling guest to secure prior to departure from Australia. Any pricing not in Australian Dollars will be converted on the day of payment into the relevant currency based on our daily rate of exchange. Please note that many of the prices shown on this website are not shown in real time. Whilst we endeavour to keep our pricing as up-to-date as possible, the advertised prices shown here may differ slightly from the live prices in our booking system. All pricing and offers are subject to availability at time of booking. Whilst all information is correct at the time of publication, offers are subject to change. We reserve the right to correct errors without penalty. Please submit any data errors/omissions you may notice on this site.

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