- The Orion embarks on an annual circuit of Australia's southern, eastern and northern waters exploring some of the most wonderful but rarely seen places on earth, making small but key changes every year to offer unique itineraries. She offers expeditions to NW Australia’s rugged Kimberley coast, Australia’s ‘Top End’, the Great Barrier Reef, New Zealand, Tasmania, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica (for which she was built). All suites and staterooms are exterior. Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising rates it as the latest in the worldwide quest to build the perfect expedition vessel.
- All 53 suites and staterooms are exterior and feature a sitting area or living room, hand-crafted cabinetry, TV, DVD/ CD player, Internet access, mini-refrigerator, safe deposit box, marble bathroom with fluffy towels and robes, ample closet space, twin beds that can be converted to a queen-size bed, and 24-hour room service. Whatever accommodation guests choose, the facilities are top rate. Staterooms have ocean views through large oval windows. The adventure cruises are not suited to wheelchair-dependency.
Junior suites mostly have a two-seater sofa and large rectangular window. Balcony suites have an open living room, and full-height sliding glass doors opening to a private French Balcony. The Owners’ Suites contain a beautifully appointed separate bedroom and living room. Only the Owners’ Suites have a bathtub; all others have large shower enclosures. TV offerings include two feature films per day, informational channels on destinations, a GPS display of the ship's location, and feeds from the Cosmos Lecture Hall and the forward-looking bridge-cam. A changing slate of satellite news and sports outlets is offered based on the ship's current location.
- Dining is buffet for breakfast and lunch at the Outdoor Café, and à la carte dinners served at a single open seating in the Constellation Restaurant. Guests choose when and with whom they dine. Menus are created by Serge Dansereau of ‘The Bathers’ Pavilion’ fame, featuring produce and flavours of the regions visited. The cuisine is extremely good and varied. The wine list draws from familiar and lesser-known wineries of Australia, New Zealand and Europe. The dining atmosphere is relaxed yet sophisticated.
The Delphinus Outdoor Café offers al fresco dining with the same menu and service as presented in the restaurant, and occasional barbeque dinners. Espresso/cappuccinos are complimentary in the two lounges/bars and restaurant. The Leda Lounge and Cocktail Bar is the hub of social life aboard. Early Riser breakfast and Afternoon Tea are both served in the Observation Lounge on the top deck. An outdoor bar is located next to the Jacuzzi spa. The service staff are Filipinos, warm and communicative.
- There is no formal entertainment, apart from a small number of musical soloists who play background music and host the daily team-trivia game. Lectures by the expedition staff in the Leda Lounge (along with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres) review the day’s activities, with a video or Power Point presentation. During the day there are often lectures presented by specialists, about marine or plant biology, and insights into the regions visited.
A fleet of ten Zodiac inflatable motorized boats, a covey of kayaks, and a near-waterline transom platform from which to board them, make it possible to land in shallow areas and navigate small rivers and waterways. Expeditionary teams lead nature hikes and other explorations. A mud room on the lower deck stores equipment used during a day of exploration. Optional shore excursions may include helicopter flights, bus tours and scuba diving.
| 2012Orion Cruise Calendar |
VIEW ALL 34 CRUISE SHIPS
IN AUSTRALIAN WATERS
2012-2013
CLICK HERE
and visit CleanCruising
for 200+ ocean & river cruise ships
WORLDWIDE! |
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Antarctica |
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Asia |
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Australia |
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South Pacific |
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New Zealand |
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Date
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Nights
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Cruises
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Previews
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Ports
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Availability
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Twin share
p.p. from
 |
Daily rate
p.p. from
 |
Cruisewatch Results
for Sat 4 Feb 12
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| 21 Jan 12 |
20 |
Scott and Shackletons Ross Sea Cruise |
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Bluff-Auckland Islands-Macquarie Island-Campbell Island-Snares Island-Bluff |
Available
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$21,515
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$1,076
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Sailing |
| 20 Feb 12 |
6 |
NZ Bay of Islands Cruise |
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Auckland-Tiritiri Matangi Island-Kawau Island-Port Fitzroy-Mokohinau Islands-Whangaroa Harbour-Bay of Islands-Russell-Auckland |
Available
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$1,955
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$326
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Check Rates & Availability
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| 26 Feb 12 |
6 |
Tasman Discoverer Cruise |
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Auckland-Balls Pyramid-Lord Howe-Brisbane |
Available
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$1,955
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$326
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Check Rates & Availability
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| 3 Mar 12 |
6 |
Great Barrier Reef Cruise |
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Brisbane-Percy Island-Hayman Island-Hardy Reef-Dunk Island-Cairns |
Available
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$1,955
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$326
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Check Rates & Availability
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| 9 Mar 12 |
11 |
PNG Cultural Highlights Cruise |
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Cairns-Milne Bay (Alotau)-Samarai Island-D' Entrecasteaux Islands-Tufi-Tami Island-Madang-Sepik River-Rabaul |
Available
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$6,745
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$613
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Check Rates & Availability
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| 20 Mar 12 |
11 |
Papua New Guinea Cultural Highlights Cruise |
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Rabaul-Sepik River-Madang-Tami Island-Tufi-Trobriand Island-Samarai Island-Milne Bay (Alotau)-Cairns |
Available
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$6,745
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$613
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Check Rates & Availability
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| 6 Apr 12 |
7 |
Forgotten Islands & Asmat Art Cruise |
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Darwin-Port Moresby-Yamdena Island-Darwin |
Sold Out
|
Sold Out
|
Sold Out
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Check Rates & Availability
|
| 13 Apr 12 |
10 |
Kimberley Expedition Cruise |
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Darwin-Wyndham-King George River-Vansittart Bay-Hunter River-Talbot Bay-Koolan Island-Broome |
Available
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$6,825
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$683
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Check Rates & Availability
|
| 23 Apr 12 |
10 |
Kimberley Expedition Cruise |
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Broome-Koolan Island-Talbot Bay-Hunter River-Vansittart Bay-King George River-Wyndham-Darwin |
Available
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$7,280
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$728
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Check Rates & Availability
|
| 3 May 12 |
10 |
Kimberley Expedition Cruise |
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|
Darwin-Wyndham-King George River-Vansittart Bay-Hunter River-Talbot Bay-Koolan Island-Broome |
Available
|
$7,735
|
$774
|
Check Rates & Availability
|
| 13 May 12 |
10 |
Kimberley Expedition Cruise |
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|
Broome-Koolan Island-Talbot Bay-Hunter River-Vansittart Bay-King George River-Wyndham-Darwin |
Available
|
$7,735
|
$774
|
Check Rates & Availability
|
| 23 May 12 |
10 |
Kimberley Expedition Cruise |
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|
Darwin-Wyndham-King George River-Vansittart Bay-Hunter River-Talbot Bay-Koolan Island-Broome |
Available
|
$7,735
|
$774
|
Check Rates & Availability
|
| 2 Jun 12 |
10 |
Kimberley Expedition Cruise |
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|
Broome-Koolan Island-Talbot Bay-Hunter River-Vansittart Bay-King George River-Wyndham-Darwin |
Available
|
$7,735
|
$774
|
Check Rates & Availability
|
| 12 Jun 12 |
10 |
Kimberley Expedition Cruise |
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|
Darwin-Wyndham-King George River-Vansittart Bay-Hunter River-Talbot Bay-Koolan Island-Broome |
Available
|
$7,735
|
$774
|
Check Rates & Availability
|
| 22 Jun 12 |
10 |
Kimberley Expedition Cruise |
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|
Broome-Koolan Island-Talbot Bay-Hunter River-Vansittart Bay-King George River-Wyndham-Darwin |
Available
|
$7,735
|
$774
|
Check Rates & Availability
|
| 2 Jul 12 |
10 |
Kimberley Expedition Cruise |
 |
|
Darwin-Wyndham-King George River-Vansittart Bay-Hunter River-Talbot Bay-Koolan Island-Broome |
Available
|
$7,735
|
$774
|
Check Rates & Availability
|
| 12 Jul 12 |
10 |
Kimberley Expedition Cruise |
 |
|
Broome-Koolan Island-Talbot Bay-Hunter River-Vansittart Bay-King George River-Wyndham-Darwin |
Available
|
$7,735
|
$774
|
Check Rates & Availability
|
| 22 Jul 12 |
10 |
Kimberley Expedition Cruise |
 |
|
Darwin-Wyndham-King George River-Vansittart Bay-Hunter River-Talbot Bay-Koolan Island-Broome |
Available
|
$7,735
|
$774
|
Check Rates & Availability
|
| 1 Aug 12 |
10 |
Kimberley Expedition Cruise |
 |
|
Broome-Koolan Island-Talbot Bay-Hunter River-Vansittart Bay-King George River-Wyndham-Darwin |
Available
|
$7,735
|
$774
|
Check Rates & Availability
|
| 11 Aug 12 |
10 |
Kimberley Expedition Cruise |
 |
|
Darwin-Wyndham-King George River-Vansittart Bay-Hunter River-Talbot Bay-Koolan Island-Broome |
Available
|
$7,735
|
$774
|
Check Rates & Availability
|
| 21 Aug 12 |
10 |
Kimberley Expedition Cruise |
 |
|
Broome-Koolan Island-Talbot Bay-Hunter River-Vansittart Bay-King George River-Wyndham-Darwin |
Available
|
$7,280
|
$728
|
Check Rates & Availability
|
| 31 Aug 12 |
10 |
Kimberley Expedition Cruise |
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|
Darwin-Wyndham-King George River-Vansittart Bay-Hunter River-Talbot Bay-Koolan Island-Broome |
Available
|
$6,825
|
$683
|
Check Rates & Availability
|
| 10 Sep 12 |
10 |
Kimberley Expedition Cruise |
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|
Broome-Koolan Island-Talbot Bay-Hunter River-Vansittart Bay-King George River-Wyndham-Darwin |
Available
|
$6,825
|
$683
|
Check Rates & Availability
|
| 20 Sep 12 |
7 |
Art of Arnhem Land Cruise |
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Thursday Island-Bathurst Island-Darwin |
Available
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$2,855
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$408
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Check Rates & Availability
|
| 2 Oct 12 |
11 |
PNG Cultural Highlights Cruise |
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|
Cairns-Milne Bay (Alotau)-Samarai Island-D' Entrecasteaux Islands-Tufi-Tami Island-Madang-Sepik River-Rabaul |
Available
|
$6,745
|
$613
|
Check Rates & Availability
|
| 13 Oct 12 |
11 |
Papua New Guinea Cultural Highlights Cruise |
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Rabaul-Sepik River-Madang-Tami Island-Tufi-Trobriand Island-Samarai Island-Milne Bay (Alotau)-Cairns |
Available
|
$6,745
|
$613
|
Check Rates & Availability
|
| 24 Oct 12 |
11 |
PNG Cultural Highlights Cruise |
 |
|
Cairns-Milne Bay (Alotau)-Samarai Island-D' Entrecasteaux Islands-Tufi-Tami Island-Madang-Sepik River-Rabaul |
Available
|
$6,745
|
$613
|
Check Rates & Availability
|
| 15 Nov 12 |
6 |
Great Barrier Reef Cruise |
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|
Brisbane-Percy Island-Hayman Island-Hardy Reef-Dunk Island-Cairns |
Available
|
$1,955
|
$326
|
Check Rates & Availability
|
| 21 Nov 12 |
7 |
Tasman Discoverer Cruise |
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Brisbane-Lord Howe-Balls Pyramid-Russell-Auckland |
Available
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$1,955
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$279
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Check Rates & Availability
|
| 28 Nov 12 |
10 |
Pure New Zealand Cruise |
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Auckland-White Island-Napier-Marlborough Sounds-Akaroa-Dunedin-Stewart Island-Dusky Sound-Doubtful Sound-Milford Sound-Bluff |
Available
|
$4,905
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$491
|
Check Rates & Availability
|
| 8 Dec 12 |
12 |
Macquarie Island Sub Antarctic Wildlife Adventure Cruise |
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Bluff-Milford Sound-Dusky Sound-Doubtful Sound-Stewart Island-Snares Island-Auckland Islands-Campbell Island-Macquarie Island-Bluff |
Available
|
$7,360
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$613
|
Check Rates & Availability
|
| 20 Dec 12 |
18 |
Mawsons Antarctica Cruise |
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Dunedin-Snares Island-Auckland Islands-Macquarie Island-Commonwealth Bay-Dunedin |
Available
|
$16,460
|
$914
|
Check Rates & Availability
|
| 2013Orion Cruise Calendar |
VIEW ALL 34 CRUISE SHIPS
IN AUSTRALIAN WATERS
2012-2013
CLICK HERE
and visit CleanCruising
for 200+ ocean & river cruise ships
WORLDWIDE! |
 |
 |
|
|
Date
 |
Nights
 |
Cruises
 |
Previews
 |
Ports
 |
Availability
 |
Twin share
p.p. from
 |
Daily rate
p.p. from
 |
Cruisewatch Results
for Sat 4 Feb 12
 |
| 7 Jan 13 |
18 |
Mawsons Antarctica Cruise |
 |
|
Bluff-Snares Island-Auckland Islands-Macquarie Island |
Available
|
$16,460
|
$914
|
Check Rates & Availability
|
| 25 Jan 13 |
20 |
Scott & Shackletons Antarctica Cruise |
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|
Hobart-Macquarie Island-Cape Adare-Campbell Island-Snares Island-Bluff |
Available
|
$18,290
|
$915
|
Check Rates & Availability
|