Orion

Ship Highlights
• Passengers : 106
• Luxury Expedition Ship

Technically and aesthetically, Orion is arguably the most sophisticated vessel in its class. The Berlitz Ocean Cruising and Cruise Ships guide describes her as "the latest in the quest to build the ideal expedition cruise ship". Constructed by the world-leading Cassens Shipyard in Emden, and launched in November 2003, she boasts a host of advanced design features including technology that sets new standards in sustainable marine environmental practices.

Although custom-made for expedition cruising, Orion is the epitome of elegance. No expense has been spared when it comes to the quality of fittings and furnishings, and the range and calibre of onboard recreational facilities are nothing short of five-star. Orion's luxurious appointments means she is more mega-yacht than cruise ship and her guests are few; around just 50 couples, all cared for in 5-star comfort by a crew of 75. Chart your own path less travelled.

Facilities:

Boutique
Open daily when the ship is at sea, the Boutique offers a wide range of gifts ranging from signature clothing to the most beautiful pearls in the world from Paspaley. A limited supply of sundry items is available.

Elevator
Orion has a glass elevator, centrally located in the atrium for ease of access. It services all stateroom decks and Deck 6, where you will find the Galaxy Observation Lounge and Cosmos Lecture Theatre.

Gymnasium
Located on Deck 6 with sweeping ocean views, the gymnasium is equipped with the following LifeFitness equipment: a step machine, a treadmill, a cross trainer, 2 bicycles, free weights and exercise mats.

Hair and Beauty Salon
Our hair stylist is available by appointment, offering a range of services from a simple shampoo and blow dry to a complete make-over including manicure and pedicure.

Hospital & Infirmary
Orion has a doctor on board at all times and consultations should be arranged through the Reception Desk. A very limited range of pharmaceuticals is maintained on board so please be sure to pack sufficient quantities of medicines for your journey. Please note the Australian Medicare system does not extend to Orion and consultation fees will be charged to your stateroom account.

Internet
A laptop is available in the Library with internet connection. Internet access is also available in your stateroom using your own laptop. If your laptop is wireless enabled you may use it anywhere in the Galaxy Observation Lounge or the Leda Lounge. Two laptops are available for loan from the Reception Desk. Internet access cards can be purchased for A$30.00 (60 minutes) or A$50.00 (125 minutes). Communications at sea are subject to satellite connections.

Jacuzzi
A Jacuzzi spa is located on the Sun Deck, Deck 6. In warmer climes you'll find the spa affords a cool dip, doubling as a plunge pool.

Lecture Theatre
Our state-of-the-art lecture theatre with surround-sound is the scene for themed presentations by our Expedition team and Guest Speakers. All guests are comfortably accommodated in arm-chair style seating.

Leda Lounge and Cocktail Bar
Centrally located on Deck 4, the Leda Lounge and Cocktail Bar is the hub of social life aboard Orion, comfortably seating all guests at once. Tour briefings are held here before dinner and a duo plays for your entertainment later in the evening.

Library
Our library is well-stocked with a wide variety of informative books and journals on our destinations, and both novels and games are also available. You'll also find a laptop here for internet access.

Marina Platforms
You'll embark the Zodiacs from either the Stern Marina Platform (accessed by the rear stairs from the Outdoor Café) or the Portside Embarkation Platform (accessed via the Mud Room on Deck 2). Cruise staff will direct you to the platform in use each day.

Mud Room
Located on Deck 2, this is a "wet area" allowing you to wash down boots after returning to the ship, thereby minimising the risk of cross-contamination between pristine locations ashore, such as those found in Antarctica. You may also use this room to store your snorkel and flippers in designated lockers.

Observation Lounge
Located high atop Orion on Deck 6, the intimate Galaxy Observation Lounge affords stunning 270º views. Early Riser breakfast and Afternoon Tea are both served here.

Outdoor Café
The Delphinus Outdoor Café, located aft on Deck 4, offers al fresco dining for buffet breakfast and lunch. On balmy evenings you may book a table outdoors for dinner enjoying the same menu and service as presented in the restaurant.

Outdoor Bar
Located high on the ship adjacent to the Sun Deck Jacuzzi spa on Deck 6.

Reception Desk
Manned 24 hours a day, the Reception Desk is your 'first port of call' for all administrative matters.

Restaurant
The Constellation Restaurant offers guests a relaxed yet sophisticated environment for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Dining aboard Orion is a leisurely experience with a single, open sitting allowing you to choose when and with whom you dine. Special signature menus designed for us by Sydney's Serge Danserau of 'The Bathers' Pavilion' fame complement our other alternatives.

Sporting Facilities
Orion is equipped with a fleet of 10 inflatable 2-man kayaks and when in warmer waters you are welcome to borrow goggles, snorkels and fins for the duration of your stay with us.

Sun Deck
You'll find padded teak steamer chairs on Deck 6 beside the Jacuzzi spa affording you a relaxing spot to read a book or simply doze in the sun. You'll find an ample supply of large blue beach towels close by.

Vega Health Spa
The Vega Spa offers a uni-sex dry sauna, the gymnasium is equipped with cardio vascular exercise machines and a range of massage/spa treatments are available.

Technical Information
Length: 103 metres
Beam: 14.25 metres
Draft: 3.82 metres
Hull: Ice-reinforced for voyages in the Arctic and Antarctic
Ice Class: E3 (Germanischer Lloyd)
Gross Tonnage: 4,000
Engines: Mak; 8M25; 3,265HP
Speed: 12.5 knots
Stabilisers: Blohm & Voss, retractable fin stabilisers
Manoeuvrability: Bow and stern thrusters
Built: 2003
Delivery Date: November 2003
Builder: Cassens Shipyard-Emden, Germany
Staterooms and Suites: 53
Guest Capacity: 106 (twin occupancy). 19 additional guests may be accommodated in convertible sofa or upper Pullman beds.
Elevator: Yes
Classification: Germanischer Lloyd
100 A5 E3 Passenger Ship MC E3 AUT
Regulations: Orion is built according to the latest international safety regulations, including those of the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Public Health, Canadian Arctic Shipping, and St. Lawrence Seaway.
Additional Craft: 10 Zodiac Heavy Duty MK5, 10 Kayaks
Communications: Direct-dial satellite telephones; fax; e-mail; Internet access; internal telephone system
Registry: Bahamas

Antarctica (cruises)from:$8,335

Itinerary	Days	Dates	Destinations
Macquarie Island & New Zealand ...	13	Decshow dates Macquarie Island & New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Wildlife Adventure Dec 8–20, 2012	Antarctica: Macquarie Island South Pacific: Australia, New Zealand
Mawson’s Antarctica Commonwealth Bay: ...	19	Decshow dates Mawson’s Antarctica Commonwealth Bay: Bluff to Bluff Dec 20, 2012–Jan 7, 2013	South Pacific: New Zealand
Mawson's Antarctica-Commonwealth Bay: ...	19	Janshow dates Mawson's Antarctica-Commonwealth Bay: Hobart to Bluff Jan 7–25, 2013	Antarctica: Macquarie Island South Pacific: New Zealand
Scott and Shackelton’s Antarctica Ross ...	21	Janshow dates Scott and Shackelton’s Antarctica Ross Sea - 2013 Jan 25–Feb 14, 2013	Antarctica: Macquarie Island, Ross Sea South Pacific: Australia, New Zealand
Mawson’s Antarctica Commonwealth Bay: ...	19	Janshow dates Mawson’s Antarctica Commonwealth Bay: Dunedin to Dunedin Jan 3–21, 2014	South Pacific: New Zealand
Mawson’s Antarctica Commonwealth Bay: ...	19	Janshow dates Mawson’s Antarctica Commonwealth Bay: Dunedin to Hobart Jan 21–Feb 8, 2014	South Pacific: New Zealand
Scott and Shackletons Antarctica 2014 - ...	21	Febshow dates Scott and Shackletons Antarctica 2014 - Ross Sea Feb 8–28, 2014	Antarctica: Macquarie Island, Ross Sea
Macquarie Island & New Zealand ...	15	Febshow dates Macquarie Island & New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Wildlife Adventure Feb 28–Mar 14, 2014	Antarctica: Macquarie Island South Pacific: New Zealand

Asia (cruises)from:$7,655

Itinerary	Days	Dates	Destinations
West Papua & Maluku	12	Aprshow dates West Papua & Maluku Apr 7–18, 2013	Asia: Indonesia South Pacific: Australia, Papua New Guinea
Borneo Discovery	11	Sepshow dates Borneo Discovery Sep 29–Oct 9, 2013	Asia: Indonesia
Camp Leakey - Faces in the Forest	11	Oct, Novshow dates Camp Leakey - Faces in the Forest Oct 25–Nov 4, 2013 Nov 18–28, 2013	Asia: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore
Forgotten Islands Photography Expedition	11	Novshow dates Forgotten Islands Photography Expedition Nov 28–Dec 8, 2013	Asia: Indonesia South Pacific: Australia

South Pacific (cruises)from:$2,450

Itinerary	Days	Dates	Destinations
Kimberley Expedition	11	Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sepshow dates Kimberley Expedition May 23–Jun 2, 2012 Jun 2–12, 2012 Jun 12–22, 2012 Jun 22–Jul 2, 2012 Jul 2–12, 2012 Jul 12–22, 2012 Jul 22–Aug 1, 2012 Aug 1–11, 2012 Aug 11–21, 2012 Aug 21–31, 2012 Aug 31–Sep 10, 2012 Sep 10–20, 2012 Apr 18–28, 2013 Apr 28–May 8, 2013 May 8–18, 2013 May 18–28, 2013 May 28–Jun 7, 2013 Jun 7–17, 2013 Jun 17–27, 2013 Jun 27–Jul 7, 2013 Jul 7–17, 2013 Jul 17–27, 2013 Jul 27–Aug 6, 2013 Aug 6–16, 2013 Aug 16–26, 2013 Aug 26–Sep 5, 2013 Sep 5–15, 2013	South Pacific: Australia
Art of Arnhem Land	8	Sepshow dates Art of Arnhem Land Sep 20–27, 2012	South Pacific: Australia
Tropical Reefs & Culture	6	Sepshow dates Tropical Reefs & Culture Sep 27–Oct 2, 2012	South Pacific: Australia
Papua New Guinea Cultural Highlights	12	Mar, Octshow dates Papua New Guinea Cultural Highlights Oct 2–13, 2012 Oct 13–24, 2012 Oct 24–Nov 4, 2012 Mar 16–27, 2013 Mar 27–Apr 7, 2013	South Pacific: Australia, Papua New Guinea
Great Barrier Reef	7	Novshow dates Great Barrier Reef Nov 15–21, 2012	South Pacific: Australia
Tasman Discoverer	8	Novshow dates Tasman Discoverer Nov 21–28, 2012	South Pacific: Australia, New Zealand
Pure New Zealand	11	Novshow dates Pure New Zealand Nov 28–Dec 8, 2012	South Pacific: New Zealand
Macquarie Island & New Zealand ...	13	Decshow dates Macquarie Island & New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Wildlife Adventure Dec 8–20, 2012	Antarctica: Macquarie Island South Pacific: Australia, New Zealand
Mawson’s Antarctica Commonwealth Bay: ...	19	Decshow dates Mawson’s Antarctica Commonwealth Bay: Bluff to Bluff Dec 20, 2012–Jan 7, 2013	South Pacific: New Zealand
Mawson's Antarctica-Commonwealth Bay: ...	19	Janshow dates Mawson's Antarctica-Commonwealth Bay: Hobart to Bluff Jan 7–25, 2013	Antarctica: Macquarie Island South Pacific: New Zealand
Scott and Shackelton’s Antarctica Ross ...	21	Janshow dates Scott and Shackelton’s Antarctica Ross Sea - 2013 Jan 25–Feb 14, 2013	Antarctica: Macquarie Island, Ross Sea South Pacific: Australia, New Zealand
New Zealand Golf	9	Febshow dates New Zealand Golf Feb 16–24, 2013	South Pacific: New Zealand
South Pacific Splendour	11	Febshow dates South Pacific Splendour Feb 24–Mar 6, 2013	South Pacific: New Caledonia, New Zealand, Vanuatu
Melanesian Island Discovery	11	Marshow dates Melanesian Island Discovery Mar 6–16, 2013	South Pacific: Solomon Islands
West Papua & Maluku	12	Aprshow dates West Papua & Maluku Apr 7–18, 2013	Asia: Indonesia South Pacific: Australia, Papua New Guinea
Kimberley with Spice	15	Sepshow dates Kimberley with Spice Sep 15–29, 2013	South Pacific: Australia
Forgotten Islands Photography Expedition	11	Novshow dates Forgotten Islands Photography Expedition Nov 28–Dec 8, 2013	Asia: Indonesia South Pacific: Australia
Great Barrier Reef & Islands - Food & ...	6	Decshow dates Great Barrier Reef & Islands - Food & Wine Dec 8–13, 2013	South Pacific: Australia
Tasman Discoverer - Food & Wine	8	Decshow dates Tasman Discoverer - Food & Wine Dec 13–20, 2013	South Pacific: Australia, New Zealand
Exploration of the Antipodes	15	Decshow dates Exploration of the Antipodes Dec 20, 2013–Jan 3, 2014	South Pacific: New Zealand
Mawson’s Antarctica Commonwealth Bay: ...	19	Janshow dates Mawson’s Antarctica Commonwealth Bay: Dunedin to Dunedin Jan 3–21, 2014	South Pacific: New Zealand
Mawson’s Antarctica Commonwealth Bay: ...	19	Janshow dates Mawson’s Antarctica Commonwealth Bay: Dunedin to Hobart Jan 21–Feb 8, 2014	South Pacific: New Zealand
Macquarie Island & New Zealand ...	15	Febshow dates Macquarie Island & New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Wildlife Adventure Feb 28–Mar 14, 2014	Antarctica: Macquarie Island South Pacific: New Zealand