We paid $9,000 a person for the cheapest cabin on an ultra-luxury expedition cruise. Here’s what that price got us.

With a guarantee booking, a cruise line assigns your cabin shortly before departure based on what’s still available.

We expected to be in one of the V1 entry-level veranda suites, which are located toward the front of the ship and prone to more movement. That’s why they usually have the lowest prices.

However, we also knew there was a chance we’d be placed in a higher-category suite if one remained unsold. That’s exactly what happened.

Our voyage sold out, and we were assigned a midship V4 veranda suite on Deck 8 rather than the entry-level category we’d booked.

The location turned out to be excellent, with no public spaces above us to generate noise and a central position that made the ship feel noticeably steadier whenever the seas became rough.

Our approximately 355-square-foot veranda suite, including a 75-square-foot balcony, wasn’t extravagant, but it was thoughtfully designed and never felt cramped.

It was divided into a sleeping area with two twin beds and a living area with a couch and a vanity/desk area.

We appreciated the spacious bathroom with double vanities, a soaking tub, and a separate shower.

Between our walk-in closet, drawers, shelves, and cabinets, there was considerably more storage than I expected. My mom and I had no trouble finding space for everything we packed.

Heavy blackout curtains could cover the balcony doors, while another curtain could separate the sleeping area from the living space.

That made afternoon naps surprisingly easy after early expedition mornings.

One detail I particularly appreciated was how customizable the minibar became. After the first day, it was consistently stocked with our preferred drinks, including fresh juices, coconut water, Diet Coke, ginger beer, Don Julio tequila, Grey Goose vodka, and rosé.

Interestingly, sailing the same ship twice changed how I think about paying for a larger suite.

In Antarctica, I spent hours in my pricier, larger panoramic penthouse cabin watching whales surface alongside the ship, admiring towering icebergs, and taking in the ever-changing scenery through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Having more interior space was easy to justify on that voyage.

The Kimberley felt different. Each evening, the expedition team briefed us on the following day’s plans, which often included both morning and afternoon Zodiac (small boat) excursions, whether that meant exploring waterfalls, cruising through mangrove-lined rivers, or going ashore.

Between the outings, lectures from the expedition staff, meals, and the occasional visit to the spa, our days were remarkably full.

We returned to our suite mainly to shower, change clothes, sleep, and occasionally relax with a drink on the balcony. For this itinerary, I never found myself wishing we’d booked anything larger.

Our room simply provided a comfortable place to recharge between adventures.

Our cruise fare included food, beverages, and alcohol.

Once again, Seabourn Pursuit’s cuisine was consistently solid, particularly in The Restaurant, the ship’s main dining room for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

We also enjoyed stopping by The Colonnade for rotating themed regional dinners throughout the voyage. Many passengers also gathered in The Club lounge for sushi after each nightly expedition briefing, then sat down for dinner elsewhere.

Seabourn’s “caviar anytime” policy, which allows guests to be served complimentary caviar on demand anywhere on the ship, remained one of my favorite perks.

Although Seabourn Pursuit certainly offers luxury accommodations and dining, I quickly realized that’s not what makes an expedition cruise expensive.

Instead, much of the value comes from operating in some places with virtually no tourism infrastructure.

Our fare included expedition guides, excursions, lectures, specialized equipment, meals, beverages, gratuities, and the complex logistics required to explore one of Australia’s most isolated coastlines.

The Kimberley isn’t a destination most travelers stumble upon. Stretching across northwestern Australia, the region is defined by immense red cliffs, mangrove-lined rivers, waterfalls, and dramatic tidal systems that are difficult to access without an expedition vessel.

Our itinerary felt jam-packed with activities.

At Montgomery Reef, we arrived by Zodiac while the reef remained underwater.

As the tide rapidly receded, thousands of acres of reef gradually emerged from the sea, creating the illusion that the ocean itself was draining away as waterfalls spilled off the newly exposed limestone.

At Horizontal Falls, we experienced the immense tidal forces from the entrance rather than speeding through the narrow gap itself, Seabourn’s more conservative approach to navigating one of Australia’s best-known natural attractions.

Anyone expecting Antarctica-level wildlife should probably adjust their expectations, though.

We certainly saw saltwater crocodiles, sea turtles, dolphins, and countless birds throughout the voyage, but I found the Kimberley’s greatest appeal lay in its landscapes rather than nonstop wildlife encounters.

The experience felt less like a safari and more like exploring one of the last truly remote coastlines on Earth.

Some of my favorite moments weren’t necessarily the scenery but the explanations that accompanied it.

The expedition team provided historical, geological, and cultural context throughout the voyage, particularly during visits to ancient Indigenous rock art sites featuring Wandjina and Gwion Gwion figures.

Another memorable morning began with a wet landing on a remote beach before we hurried across the sand to avoid saltwater crocs, climbed over low dunes, and crossed mudflats dotted with mudskippers to reach the wreckage of a World War II aircraft.

Without the expedition staff, many of these places still would have been beautiful — but their interpretation made them meaningful.

Outside the fare itself, we spent relatively little on board.

Optional purchases included spa treatments, specialty wine dinners, and a helicopter excursion to Mitchell Falls, which cost about $795 per person and offered spectacular views over one of the Kimberley’s best-known natural landmarks.

The ship’s boutique also sold everything from expedition apparel to Swarovski binoculars, luxury watches, jewelry, and high-end cosmetics. It was an easy place to spend any extra onboard credit.

After sailing Seabourn Pursuit in both Antarctica and Australia’s Kimberley, I’ve come to think the least-expensive veranda suite is the sweet spot for most expedition itineraries.

The room was comfortable, thoughtfully designed, and included everything I needed.

More importantly, booking the lowest-priced category never limited my experience. I joined the same landings, listened to the same expedition experts, and explored the same extraordinary places as every other guest on board.

That said, I’d still probably make a different decision in Antarctica. On sea days, I spent hours watching whales, seabirds, and towering icebergs drift past the floor-to-ceiling windows — and a larger suite was easier to justify for the extra living space.

In the Kimberley, however, I rarely thought about the cabin. The expedition itself was the destination, and I was busy exploring from dawn till dusk.