Explore the world's most remote sites in extraordinary comfort

Designed and purpose built in Germany in 2003 specifically for expedition travel, National Geographic Orion was created from the outset to explore the far corners of the Earth in complete self-sufficiency.

Engineered for maximum comfort and safety, Orion is equipped with the latest technology including large retractable stabilizers, sonar, radar, and an ice-strengthened hull. A shallow draft plus bow and stern thrusters provide the convenience of being able to maneuver close to shore. 14 Zodiacs ensure quick disembarkation and offer the ideal transport for up-close exploration. Best of all, Orion is equipped with a glass-bottom Zodiac that enables remarkably clear, gratifying observations of the undersea for those who prefer to stay dry.

National Geographic Orion meets strict specifications for environmental protection and the on board waste management systems meet the stringent Antarctic operational standards enabling us to travel to the most pristine environments. A host of advanced design features and technology ensures sustainable marine environmental practices.

The privilege of wildness and the luxury of comfort

National Geographic Orion accommodates 102 guests in 53 cabins, including several with balconies. She is spacious and modern, with a variety of public rooms that offer panoramic views of the passing landscape. Friendly and informal, Orion cruises foster a welcoming atmosphere where like-minded guests share in exceptional experiences and enrichment.

Her public rooms include a dramatic window-lined main lounge, as well as an observation lounge and library perched at the very top of the ship, with plentiful observation decks. The spacious lounge is the heart of our expedition community, and is suited for spirited cocktail hours, informative presentations and our nightly tradition of Recap. Both the main dining room and outside buffet easily accommodate all guests at once for open seating dining. On selected nights, weather permitting, our dining room menu is also available on the outside deck.

While Orion interiors are elegant, life aboard is always casual, with no need for formal clothing. And you'll find shipboard services like laundry, in-room cabled internet, and public-area wifi make packing and traveling more convenient.

After your day exploring, you can relax in the comfort of Orion's main or observation lounges, share your day's stories with convivial company over a classic cocktail, an ice cold beer, or chilled champagne and enjoy the anticipation of another evening of fine dining.

Our degustation menus are created by one of Australia's renowned international chefs, Serge Dansereau, principal of Sydney's The Bathers' Pavilion. Serge has created a selection of fantastic menus, while Orion's executive chef and team have also been busy in the galley creating a delicious companion menu using the best and freshest seasonal produce - a winning combination. Dining is an integral part of your expedition experience, with influences and flavors that reflect the regions we're exploring. Much of the food prepared aboard is sourced locally whenever possible from sustainable providers and we endeavor to always use seafood that is sustainably caught or raised.

Seating is open, allowing you to choose where to dine, and table sizes range from two to 12. And our style is relaxed and casual - there's never a need to dress up. More than opportunities to eat well, mealtimes are also opportunities to engage in the diversity of the expedition community - to join or be joined by naturalists, guest speakers, ship's officers, and fellow guests for stimulating and entertaining conversation.

Orion's adventurous spirit is also reflected in our selection of New World Australian, New Zealand, North American, and European wines: vintages from exceptional lesser-known wineries complement our range of familiar labels and wine styles.

Our philosophy is to adapt the dining experience to the environment so you can look forward to culinary styles which evolve from a la carte to casual 'on deck' barbecues, with classics like fresh fish from the markets or prime lamb cutlets.

Breakfasts are designed to set you up for a day of physical and mental activity. Hearty and always healthy, with a seasonal selection of fruit and yogurts, freshly baked breads and pastries, cheeses, cold cuts, and freshly made omelets to order. An early riser continental breakfast is served as well, and many guests choose to take their coffee and morning pastries out on deck.

Lunch is a favorite on-deck experience, perhaps accompanied by a beer or glass of wine, perfect for a more relaxed afternoon, and is usually served buffet-style on the outside deck (weather permitting), with salads and both hot and cold buffet choices available. There's nothing like a few days at sea to sharpen your appetite, so be prepared to indulge yourself during your time with us.

Depending on the day's activities, an afternoon tea with cookies, cakes or pastries, is served buffet-style in the lounge.

And regardless whether a meal is buffet-style or served, our gracious wait staff is always present to attend your every need.

With the entire expedition team dedicated to delivering the best expedition possible, meal times are always flexible. If a pod of dolphins is sighted shortly before lunch, our crew is adept at quickly changing meal times so you don't miss a moment, and the quality of lunch is uncompromised.

Inviting public spaces for gathering & relaxing

National Geographic Orion is a perfectly sized ship - with a warm and intimate feeling, yet large enough to offer a variety of public spaces, plus plenty of nooks and crannies. Depending on your mood, there are shipboard places that gratify the need for sociability, from large gatherings to quiet conversations with newfound friends. And places that reward your desire for contemplative time, to read in quiet or simply stare peacefully at the sea or shoreline.

Lounge: Centrally located, the lounge and cocktail bar is the hub of social life aboard Orion, comfortably seating all guests at once. Lounge seating is arranged to provide good views of the center podium; and multiple, state-of-the-art monitors on the surrounding walls ensure optimal views of presentations, slideshows, and videos. It's here where the expedition community gathers for presentations, photography talks, guest speaker presentations, and the evening Recap, a long standing Lindblad tradition. Recap is when naturalists share stories and answer questions about the day's events, and the expedition leader presents the plan for the following day - as guests enjoy cocktails and hors d'ouevres. Large windows line two sides of the room, so guests who gravitate to the lounge to read or use their laptops during the day won't miss the dramatic views. The bar is inviting and casual, a perfect spot to have a cappuccino before or after activities. A variety of beverages are available for purchase including beer, cocktails, spirits, and wines by the glass or bottle.

Outdoor cafe:

The outdoor cafe is the choice for breakfast, lunch, and even dinner on selected evenings. The cafe offers alfresco dining for buffet breakfast and lunch. On warm evenings you may enjoy the same menu and service as presented in the restaurant. Weather permitting, every expedition features our signature dinner buffet or themed barbecue on selected nights.

Theater:

We host occasional movies in our theater with surround-sound. Guests are comfortably accommodated in armchair-style seating.

Observation lounge & library:

Located high atop Orion, the intimate observation lounge and library affords stunning 270º views. Early riser breakfast and afternoon tea are both served here. With panoramic windows running the entire length of this lounge, you'll feel as if you're almost floating above the ship while spectacular scenery dramatically unfolds outside. A wide range of books run the gamut from fiction to regional guides, and reference books on the wildlife and region you're exploring. Two photo kiosks are also available.

Mud room:

Located on Expedition Deck, this is a 'wet area' allowing you to wash down boots after returning to the ship, thereby minimizing the risk of cross-contamination between pristine locations ashore, such as those found in Antarctica.

Elevator:

Orion has a glass elevator, centrally located in the atrium for ease of access. It services all stateroom decks and the observation lounge and theater.

Sundeck:

You'll find padded teak steamer chairs beside the whirlpool hot tub, affording you a relaxing spot to read a book or simply doze in the sun. You'll find an ample supply of large beach towels close by.

Wellness:

Everyone who travels with us discovers what Henry David Thoreau named "the tonic of wildness." And to complement the inspiring destinations we visit, we've designed a Wellness program. From early morning yoga or stretching on deck or in the lounge to massages and face, handy or body treatments inspired by the location, our wellness specialist will help you achieve a more relaxed and revitalized state of being.

Fitness Center:

With sweeping ocean views, the fitness center is equipped with the following LifeFitness equipment: a step machine, a treadmill, a cross trainer, two bicycles, free weights, and exercise mats.

Health spa:

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

Whirlpool Hot Tub:

A whirlpool hot tub is located on the sundeck. In warmer climates you'll find it affords a cool dip, doubling as a plunge pool.

Discover and learn more with our suite of modern tools for exploration

We believe that travelers don't want to be passive tourists, so our expeditions foster active engagement. As of March 2014, National Geographic Orion will be equipped with all these tools for exploration - to get you out there for up-close forays, or to let you see deeper into the marine or terrestrial environments surrounding you.

Zodiacs

Orion carries Zodiac landing craft - a full fleet - allowing us to get the entire expedition community out, engaged in activities quickly, comfortably, and safely. Widely regarded as the most robust watercraft available, they can run up on sandy shores and push through pack ice. While Zodiacs can carry 15 people, we usually limit capacity to 12 or less to ensure everyone has plenty of room, and an opportunity to get that perfect shot. The addition of a glass-bottom craft to our fleet of Zodiacs allows for undersea exploration without diving or snorkeling.

Kayaks

Orion is equipped with a fleet of kayaks. Prior kayaking experience isn't necessary - many of our guests have their first kayaking experience in extraordinary locations. Kayakers are usually free to explore where they want within boundaries set by the undersea specialist and officer of the watch.

Underwater camera

Our undersea specialist will dive many days of your expedition, even in Antarctica, with almost 200 pounds of gear, to shoot high-definition, Cousteau-like footage of the deep. Colorful nudibranchs, swimming, plant-like crinoids, and mysterious fish with antifreeze blood that thrive in the frigid sea will give you an entirely new appreciation of the marine environment.

Remotely Operated Vehicle

Capable of reaching 1,000 feet, far beyond the range of any Scuba diver, the ROV allows you to literally view parts of the undersea that are as unexplored as the moon. In polar waters, for example, we may be the first ever to explore and record in vast areas. By sharing videos of potentially new species with scientists, such as a large worm our specialist captured in the Weddell Sea, we actively contribute to science. Chances are you, like many of our guests, will be struck by how surprisingly colorful undersea life is in these unlikely places. And this glimpse may fundamentally change how you view the ocean.

Video microscope

Naturalists will use the video microscope to help explain all elements of the environment, including tiny organisms that are the building blocks of the marine ecosystem. Spellbinding images of a krill's body, at 80x magnification, fills the plasma screens in the lounge with vivid detail, and fills every onlooker with a sense of wonder at the importance of an otherwise unobservable creature.

Crow's nest camera

Perched high atop the vessel on the ship's mast, this camera provides a continual view on the outside world that can be seen on your cabin TV. You'll get a unique perspective on your surroundings.

Hydrophones

These underwater microphones are deployed to listen to the vocalizations of marine mammals. Real time transmissions of their eerie, haunting sounds can be broadcast through the ship or recorded for later playback.

Electronic charts

An electronic chart showing the ship's location, course, and speed is always on display on a dedicated channel on your cabin TV.

Snorkeling gear & wetsuits

On warm weather itineraries where there will be snorkeling, you'll select a mask, snorkel, fins that remain yours for the duration of the expedition. There's no need to pack and tote your own gear, although guests who prefer to are welcome to bring their own.

Scuba diving*

We offer scuba diving for up to 24 guests on warm weather itineraries where scuba diving is available. There's no need to pack and tote your own gear, although guests who prefer to are welcome to bring their own. There is a surcharge for scuba diving which includes equipment and the services of a certified divemaster.

*Scuba diving requirements: Scuba divers must be certified by an internationally recognized dive association prior to the voyage, and certification cards and logbooks must be shown on board. Divers must have logged 25 dives in total and made a dive within the 12 months preceding the voyage.

Note: A fleet of Zodiac landing craft, a hydrophone, underwater video cameras, a video microscope, and a crow's nest camera are available on voyages in the Kimberley. In addition, kayaks, snorkeling gear for all guests, scuba gear for 24 guests, a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), and a glass-bottom Zodiac are available on all South Pacific, Indonesia and the Kimberley with Spice voyages. All expedition equipment except for scuba diving is offered in Borneo.

Comfort & convenience in every cabin

Air-conditioning/heating

The ship is air-conditioned throughout. Each cabin has individual climate control, allowing you to adjust the temperature to your liking. Basic amenities

All cabins feature ocean views, private facilities, climate controls, internet access for your own laptop, and a flat-screen TV with DVD/CD player. Some cabins have French balconies. Each cabin includes a hair dryer, robes, refrigerator, and safe. Laundry and Pressing services are available on board Orion for a nominal charge. We regret dry cleaning facilities are not available and for safety reasons we are unable to provide ironing facilities in staterooms/suites.

Electrical current

The electrical system operates on 220 volts 50/60 hertz. All rooms have 2-prong European outlets and adaptors accommodating Australian 3-prong flat plugs are provided.

Luggage storage

Your cabin has been designed so that luggage can be stored under your bed. There is ample space to hang and store clothing in your cabin. Due to space limitations, we cannot store your luggage in other areas on board the ship.

Smoking

The No Smoking policy adheres to all cabins and the interior public spaces of the ship. Smoking is permitted in the designated areas outdoors on portside Deck 6. Please use the receptacles provided. Do not discard cigarette butts over the side of the ship as they harm the environment and represent a fire hazard as they may be drawn into the ventilation system.