In Cairns, a bottle of Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve was in our cabin on embarkation. It set the tone for the next 11 days – French luxury mixed with the traditional cultures of PNG and Solomon Islands. If there’s a touch of cognitive dissonance about that, it only takes a couple of glasses of Chateau de Siaurac 2013 to get over it. Le Soleal is one of Ponant’s four expedition ships. Although the emphasis in expedition cruising is what happens onshore, there’s nothing lacking on board, either. The ship accommodates a maximum of 264 passengers, ensuring a more intimate experience….