National Geographic Orion Review

National Geographic Orion isn’t the newest in the Lindblad fleet. Built in 2003, the 102-passenger ship is one that the veteran expedition line inherited in a 2013 takeover of the Australian company Orion Expeditions. At the time, the ship was seen as luxurious, and when Lindblad added an ice-strengthened hull, retractable stabilizers, sonar and radar, it was considered cutting edge.

Times have changed since then, with better technology and more luxury cruise lines getting into the expedition business. Lindblad also has more modern tricked-out ships in its fleet, including National Geographic Endurance and National Geographic Resolution.

But what Orion lacks in fanciness, it more than makes up for it, in service and enrichment. On my 16-day cruise through Indonesia and Australia’s Kimberley – the region where the ship sailed regularly for years – the ship shined, with outstanding expedition guides and a crew that couldn’t do enough. Zodiacs and a glass-bottomed boat, as well as snorkeling gear, hiking poles and opportunities for diving, were available (the ship also carries kayaks and paddleboards).

And that’s the heart of any expedition ship; all of the extras mean nothing if you don’t have engaged and enthusiastic guides or a caring crew. Lindblad also keeps Orion in tip-top condition with regular dry docks so it always feels traditionally nautical, as opposed to dated.

National Geographic Orion’s Deck Plan Keeps Things Simple

National Geographic Orion’s deck plan is relatively simple. Cabins are located on Deck 3, 4 and 5, in between two staircases that lead to passenger gathering spaces. The ship’s main restaurant is on Deck 3, although in warm climates, breakfast and lunch are served outside in a buffet corner on Deck 4. The main lounge for passenger briefings is also on Deck 4, and there’s also a small store and reception desk.

Deck 6 is the ship’s main outdoor area. There’s a hot tub and lounge chairs that are put out on sunny days. Morning stretch classes are held under a covered area. Deck 6 is also where you’ll find the small fitness room and spa, the sauna and a compact Observation Lounge that has an excellent serve-yourself coffee machine, as well as computers and nature books.

When you leave the ship for Zodiac landings and scenic cruising, you line up in the outdoor dining area on Deck 4. There you wait to be called down to Deck 3, where you’ll sign out from the ship and step down another flight of stairs for assistance boarding the Zodiac. While this worked well in warm climates, we’re unsure how slippery the outdoor boarding will be in polar regions.

There’s no mud room for passengers to get on their gear for polar expeditions, nor is their space in your cabin to store wet gear, and this is a real flaw if you’re taking National Geographic Orion to Antarctica. Add in the fact that Lindblad’s newer ships at the poles have better stabilizers, and we’d recommend checking out National Geographic Resolution or National Geographic Endurance instead.

National Geographic Orion has Unusual Cabin Configurations – and Also Rooms for Solos

The rooms on National Geographic Orion are somewhat unusual, in that very few are exactly the same. Even within categories, cabins have different configurations, so it’s harder to choose.

One nice thing is that National Geographic Orion has several solo cabins. The best one is #512 on Deck 5. This room has a long layout and has two twin beds in it, even though it is sold as a single cabin. Of the three solo cabins on Deck 3, it’s better to go for #301, as it’s close to the lounge; the other two do receive noise from the anchor.

Cabins 418 and 419 on Deck 4 are larger and meant for two people. But they also encounter anchor noise (although 419 is quite large). All cabins on Deck 4 come with a large window.

The suites are on Deck 5, and include special perks like free laundry during the trip. Some suites come with a picture window, while others have a French balcony where you can step out on. The Owners Suites are true suites, with the bedroom and living area separated. Room 502 is the only one with a bathtub.

National Geographic Orion’s Food is Tasty, With Regional Specialties and Fresh Flavors

There are two restaurants onboard National Geographic Orion, although only one is generally open at once. On our warm-weather trip, breakfast and lunch buffets were served outside on Deck 4, while dinners were held in the dining room. In an effort to save food waste, passengers were asked to make their dinner choices on a sign up sheet in the morning, although you could always change your mind (and I often did).

Menus provided plenty of options, including choices for vegetarians and gluten-free. Allergies and preferences were noted when you checked in, and also when you boarded; the kitchen had a list of dietary requirements in the back, and those passengers felt well cared for on our trip.

One aspect I loved about National Geographic Orion was the emphasis on local produce and dishes. “Papa George’s chili sauce,” a take on Indonesian sambal sauce, was always available. The hotel director Francoise Said presented local fruits and vegetables on the buffet during meals so people could try local cuisine. For those with less adventurous palates, always available options such as chicken, Caesar salad and steak were on the dinner menu daily.

Elevated menus were presented three times during our 16-day voyage – a captain’s welcome dinner, farewell dinner and a chef’s choice gala dinner. Another aspect of National Geographic Orion that I really liked: members of the Expedition team often hosted tables and sat with passengers. It was fun to get to know the guides in a casual setting and hear about their adventures.

Finally, the hotel staff also hosted several "wow" moments off the ship, including a beachside cocktail party on Pink Beach on Komodo Island; a sunset cocktail party near Thor's Hammer in the Kimberley and morning Champagne, mimosas and pastries at Bluff Rock at Raft Point.