With just 53 staterooms and space for up to 102 guests at any one time, National Geographic Orion is an intimately-sized ship that gracefully takes travellers to little-known locations in the Pacific, the Mediterranean, and Antarctica. Purpose built with a high ice-class rating, while also being agile and maneuverable, each itinerary available aboard this impressive vessel will feature a variety of destinations, both easily accessible and remote. When you’re not embarking on an exciting shore excursion, or listening to the expert crew explain something intriguing about the world around you, National Geographic Orion is home to several lounge spaces for you to unwind in and a lounger-laden Sundeck with a whirlpool hot tub. This ship is also home to impressive wellness facilities, given its size, and plenty of places for you to sit and spot wildlife – with the help of on-duty wildlife spotters. The culinary journey you’ll embark on, though, is almost as exciting as your adventures ashore, with sustainable meals from regional cuisines served throughout your voyage. So, whatever type of cruise holiday you’re after, you’ll find National Geographic Orion delivers an experience worth remembering.
The ship in numbers
What's onboard
Dining
The dining experience you’ll encounter and enjoy aboard National Geographic Orion is an exciting one, where you’ll be met with flavourful dishes from regional cuisines – and some international classics – made sustainably from local ingredients – where possible. It’s an adventure in and of itself, and you’ll find yourself looking forward to each mealtime just as much as you do upcoming shore excursions.
On the Main Deck, you’ll find the ship’s only restaurant: a stylish venue where you’ll enjoy most of your meals. However, when the weather is agreeable, you’ll also have the option to dine al fresco on the Upper Deck, thanks to the Outdoor Cafe. This aft-facing area boasts sweeping views of the surrounding scenery and – much like the restaurant a deck below – a welcoming informal atmosphere. Fear not, though, for the restaurant also features more than enough windows, so you’ll never miss a fantastic sight as you sample some remarkable foods from the region around you.
Entertainment
An intimately-sized ship where the real focus of each voyage is the stunning world surrounding you and the shore excursions you’ll embark on, the entertainment options available aboard National Geographic Orion are low-key and relaxed – meaning, you’re not going to find any Broadway-style stage productions or video arcades onboard.
Instead, you’ll find two comfortable lounge spaces – a main lounge on the Upper Deck with enough seating for everyone at once, and an Observation Lounge on the Observation Deck. In the main lounge space, you’ll find plenty of places to sit and socialise with your fellow travellers, a well-stocked bar, and an entertainment programme featuring intriguing presentations from onboard experts and other light entertainment. Meanwhile, the Observation Lounge is also home to the onboard library. So, alongside the sweeping views of the surrounding scenery you can enjoy here, you’ll also have the chance to tuck into a good book!
Family
While National Geographic Orion isn’t designed to cater specifically to children and young cruisers, everyone is invited to share in the exciting adventures available with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions. So, children over the age of six months are welcome aboard this stylish ship; although, some of the experiences available are unsuitable for younger children and you may find that additional age limitations apply.
On select voyages, though, younger cruisers can participate in National Geographic’s Explorers-in-Training programme; this is something that aims to further enhance their experience onboard with more interactive learning experiences and activities. Beyond this, however, you can still expect an exciting adventure for younger cruisers. The crew onboard will endeavour to make each moment as memorable as possible, with excitement and intrigue at every turn.
Things to do
On National Geographic Orion, mostly everything you can do is related to furthering your connection to the world around you; however, there are some wellness facilities worth keeping in mind when it comes to planning a day aboard this stylish National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions ship.
On the Observation Deck, you’ll find a bubbling whirlpool hot tub alongside a sauna space, a well-equipped Fitness Center, and a Lexspa Treatment Room. With a whole range of relaxing treatments onboard, you’ll have no trouble finding something to help you unwind between destinations. This deck is also home to the Observation Lounge and Library, somewhere where you’ll find comfortable seating, sweeping views of the surrounding scenery, and a few good books to get stuck into. Wildlife spotting is a great way to pass the time onboard, and you’ll have a fantastic seat to do just that in this lounge area.
Beyond this, you’ll find more comfortable seating in the lounge space on the Upper Deck, and a Marina Platform where destination-appropriate watersports equipment will be available at select stops on your adventure.
Useful Information
Suite Exclusives
When booking a suite aboard National Geographic Orion, you’ll have the chance to enjoy the following exclusive amenities throughout your voyage. These include:
- Priority booking for spa treatments (one appointment per departure)
- In-room espresso maker
- Complimentary laundry services
On this ship, these only apply to accommodation on the Bridge Deck; these being the Bridge Deck Suite, and the Bridge Deck French Balcony Suite.
