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

• The entry-level suite included lots of storage, a private balcony, and access to amazing excursions.
• Traveling through Australia’s Kimberley coast was incredible, and the cabin felt like a good value.

We got lucky with an upgrade.

Each landing came with context from an expert guide.

All in all, the cheapest option felt like the best one on this sailing.

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.