Luxury Cruises with Orion

Are you looking for a more adventurous cruise option? Would you prefer a small, intimate ship that is able to travel where the big ships can’t? Are you still looking to enjoy 5-star luxury with a high staff to client ratio? Is it important to you to have expert naturalists, historians etc on board? If so, then read on…. 

Orion Cruises is a small, Australian company specialising in luxurious expedition cruises. The flagship, MV Orion, was specially designed for expedition cruising and features cutting edge technology that makes it a leader in sustainable marine environmental practice. The MV Orion II is an Italian built ship that was first used as a private yacht. Now completely refitted and with stabilisers and an ice-strengthened hull, she is ideally suited to cruising in Antarctic waters.

Both ships offer intimate five-star luxury in elegant surroundings and with 75 staff to 100 passengers, you are guaranteed top class service. Due to their relatively small size, the ships can’t offer dozens of restaurant choices but the restaurant serves top quality cuisine designed by award-winning Sydney chef, Serge Dansereau and inspired by the culinary traditions of the region you’re visiting. The outdoor café allows you to enjoy a quick bite during the day without missing any of the stunning scenery. Ships have jacuzzis, plunge pool and a small gym and a library stocked with relevant reference books, novels and journals. In warmer waters you may use the inflatable kayaks or snorkels and masks to get a closer look at the marine life.

On every expedition, there will be a team of experts sailing with you. Specialists in fields such as marine biology, botany, anthropology and history, they’ll be on hand to answer any questions you may have during the voyage and to give lectures on a range of fascinating topics in the on-board lecture hall.

Orion’s expeditions offer a unique view of a diverse selection of cultures, amazing landscapes and spectacular wildlife. Cruise Australia’s rugged Kimberly coast with its wild inlets and waterfalls and wealth of ancient Aboriginal art and culture. Or explore Japan’s outlying islands, visiting remote villages and gaining an understanding of the importance of the sea to Japan’s people and its influence in their art, culture and of course, cuisine. For the adventurous with a yen for polar exploration, a trip to Commonwealth Bay in the footsteps of Mawson, or the Ross sea visiting areas first charted by Shackleton would be an unforgettable treat.