A three-mast French-flagged sailing ship once captured by pirates off the coast of Somalia is set to sail the serene waterways of the Kimberley next cruise season, following its multimillion-dollar redesign at San Giorgio del Porto shipyard in Genoa, Italy.

Le Ponant, which now has 16 staterooms and suites, will take just 32 passengers on seven- to 14-night sailings in the northern and southern Kimberley, in Western Australia. Before it was refurbished it accommodated up to 66 passengers.