Orion Expedition Cruises
Orion Expedition Cruises is Australia’s only international-standard, five-star expedition cruise line and a world leader in maritime environmental sustainability. Founded in 2004 by Sydney native Sarina Bratton, the world’s first female founder of a shipping line, Orion perfectly combines luxury with eco-consciousness and a sense of adventure, featuring innovative itineraries designed to showcase wilderness regions of Australia, South East Asia, the South Pacific, and Antarctica. The cruise line’s only ship, the MV Orion, is a 53-cabin luxury expedition vessel accommodating 106 guests and a crew of 75 – the highest staff-to-guest ratio of any Australian passenger ship. Onboard amenities include well-appointed guestrooms, marble bathrooms, spa treatments at Vega Health Spa, and world-class cuisine prepared by leading Sydney chef Serge Dansereau in the Constellation Restaurant. Custom-designed to “access the inaccessible,” Orion is purpose-built to preserve both the physical and cultural integrity of its exotic destinations and utilize energy-efficient systems that enable the ship to be fully self-contained for up to 22 days at sea. In 2010, Orion will introduce new itineraries covering all Australian states, as well as six new destinations in Papua New Guinea and previously inaccessible parts of the exotic Spice and Tanimbar Islands. For the first time, guests can enjoy an expedition that includes Irian Jaya, world-famous for its collection of Asmat Art, and enjoy Christmas in New Zealand’s spectacular Fjordland. Committed to sustaining the remarkable local character of its destinations, Orion Expedition Cruises truly fulfills the promise inherent in its tagline: “A path less traveled.”