| Orion II dumped from 2013 program

Orion Expedition Cruises’
troublesome second vessel will
be returned to its owners in
Nov – but a replacement is on
the horizon.
RELEASING its 2013 Calendar of Sailings this
week, Orion has revealed that it will not be
renewing its lease of Orion II.
Citing problems with the ship, the company’s
managing director Sarina Bratton said: “We
have not been satisfied with some
performance aspects, such as the fuel
efficiency of the vessel, and therefore have
decided to return the ship at the completion of
the first charter term”.
Bratton said she hoped to make an
announcement regarding another vessel
“soon”, but it was unlikely to operate in 2013.
“We have managed to accumulate a great
deal of local knowledge and pioneered some
remarkable remote destinations across Asia
through investments in resource, time and
money – this knowledge will see us return as
soon as possible,” she said.
“In the meantime it is very much business as
usual.”
All scheduled 2012 Orion II voyages will go
ahead, Bratton confirmed.
“But we do not anticipate having a
replacement vessel in Asia during 2013, so if
planning to visit these destinations, then 2012
is the year to do this,” she said.
Orion II voyages for the balance of 2012
include expeditions to the Yangtze Delta (Kobe
to Shanghai) and Shanghai to Tawau (Yangtze,
Taiwan, Philippines), Java and the temples of
Borobudur.
The original Orion will continue to offer
voyages in 2013, in Antarctica, the Kimberley,
Papua New Guinea, Melanesia, Borneo, New
Zealand and the sub Antarctic Islands, with
itineraries ranging from five to 20 nights.
There will be 15 opportunities for the 10-
night Kimberley voyages (still to include a
Bungle Bungle sightseeing flight for all clients),
while other one-off expeditions are set to
explore the Solomons and the Forgotten and
Spice Islands of the Indonesian archipelago.
Prior to general release, the new inventory
will be made exclusively to Orion’s past guests
until 30 Mar 2012.
2013 pricing has increased by an average 3%,
but advance purchase options are available,
with savings of up to 40% off published prices.
Additional incentives are offered for back-toback
voyages, see www.orionexpeditions.com.