Video: Orion Expedition Cruises

Orion Expedition Cruises is a line we don't hear too much about in North America, but they've got some of the most enticing itineraries in the southern hemisphere.

Check out this promotional video from Orion Expedition Cruises:

The cruise line, headed up by founder and managing director Sarina Bratton, operates one expedition ship: the 106-passenger MV Orion. The ship was built to be both rugged and environmentally friendly. She's equally at home sailing Antarctica or Papua New Guinea. Despite the far-flung locales she sails, Orion is also a luxury vessel serviced by 75 well-trained crew members.

Orion's dance card looks like this:

February and March Sailing Melanesia and Norfolk Island
Nine- and 10-night voyages available calling upon the Melanesian Islands that stretch between New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. Ports of call include Auckland, Te Raawhiti Inlet, and Russell, New Zealand; Norfolk Island, Australia; Isle of Pines, New Caledonia; Anatom, Tanna Island, Port Vila, Malekula, and Espiritu Santo, Vanatu; Santa Ana Island and Marovo Lagoo, Solomon Islands, Ngella, Florida Islands; and Rabaul, Papua New Guinea. Wonderful itineraries for those interested in World War II or volcanoes.

March and April Sailing Papua New Guinea
You'd be hard-pressed to find a more unique cruise. You'll have 11 nights to explore Rabaul, Sepik River, Madang (for Goroka), Tami Islands, Tufi Harbour, Fergusson Island, Samarai and Kwato Islands, Milne Bay, and Cairns, Australia.

May to August Sailing The Kimberley Region of Western Australia
This 10-night cruise embarks Darwin and ends in Broome with the following ports in between: King George River and Falls, Vansittart Bay, Bigge Island, Hunter River (for Mitchell Falls), Montgomery Reef/Raft Point, Talbot Bay/Horizontal Waterfals, and Cape Leveque and the Lacepedes.

September and October Sailing Southeast Asia
As far as Southeast Asia cruises go, this one would be hard to beat. The Orion embarks from Singapore and calls on Tioman Island and Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia; Ko Samui and Ko Kood, Thailand; Kampo, Cambodia (for Angor Wat); and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

December Sailing New Zealand and Sub-Antarctic Islands
There are two 13-night Sub-Antarctic itineraries: one is a roundtrip out of Hobart (Tasmania), Australia and the other is out of Bluff (Invercargill), New Zealand. You may visit Macquarie Island, Australia and, in New Zealand, Campbell Island, Auckland Islands, Snares Island, Fjordland, Mileford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Dusky Sound, and Stewart Island.

December and January Sailing the Antarctic Continent
There are two outstanding Antarctic offerings from Orion. One is an 18-night adventure that starts in Bluff, New Zealand and ends in Hobart, Tasmania. In between you'll sail New Zealand's Snares and Auckland Islands; Australia's Macquarie Island; and the Commonwealth Bay Region. The 20-night itinerary also calls upon the Ross Sea Region and Campbell Island, New Zealand.

For more information about Orion Expedition Cruises, talk with your travel agent.

—Andrea M. Rotondo