National Geographic Orion

Intimate ship Bliss scored

Designed and purpose built in Germany in 2003 specifically for expedition travel, National Geographic Orion was created from the outset to explore the far comers of the Earth in complete self-sufficiency. Engineered for maximum comfort and safety, Orion is…

102guests
4,050gross tons
37cruises now
$7,735fares from

Enjoy a Lindblad Expedition sailing to Antarctica, the Arctic or Europe aboard National Geographic Orion.

At a glance

National Geographic Orion is an intimate-size cruise ship operated by Lindblad Expeditions, in service since 2003. It carries 102 guests and 75 crew (1.4 guests per crew member) at 4,050 gross tons. It is the 4th largest of 19 Lindblad Expeditions ships by guest capacity. On Cruiseable's Bliss scale it scores highest for active and adventure & nature (10/10) and lowest for party (0/10). It is rated 4 out of 5 by Cruiseable and 4.5 out of 5 by Cruise Critic. It has 37 cruises on sale, with lead fares from $7,735 to $27,181. 1 of its upcoming sailings dropped in price since the previous weekly fare check.

Builder's plate

Specs

Cruiseable: 4 / 5
Cruise Critic: 4.5 / 5

Guests: 102
Crew: 75
Gross tons: 4,050
Decks: 5
Length: 337 ft
Beam: 46 ft
Maiden voyage: 2003
Space ratio: 1.4; Gross tons per guest
Guests per crew: 1.4
Mph: 18
IMO: 9273076

Bliss scores

What National Geographic Orion is best at

Ten dimensions scored by our editors on a 10-point scale. The Cruiseable app ranks every cruise against the mix you care about.

Active 10.0
Adventure and nature 10.0
Cultural 8.0
Dining 5.0
Entertainment 4.0
Family friendly 6.0
Party 0.0
Romantic 6.0
Spa and fitness 8.0
Staterooms 6.0

Our review

National Geographic Orion: Explore the polar regions or small harbors in Europe

The state-of-the-art National Geographic Orion, owned by Lindblad Expeditions since 2013, serves as a luxurious base camp for voyages to the far-flung corners of the planet. A fully stabilized, ice-class vessel, the Orion is at home navigating polar ice as well the small harbors of Europe. The ship accommodates 102 guests in 53 cabins.

Public areas include an outdoor café, a lounge and bar, sun deck, high-tech lecture theater, library, boutique, mud room with lockers for expedition gear, sauna, fitness room, spa treatment rooms, hot tub/plunge pool and a centrally located elevator. The restaurant features international cuisine inspired by the ship's ports of call and all meals are served in a single seating with unassigned tables.

The ship carries kayaks and a fleet of Zodiac motorized landing craft, as well as a remotely operated vehicle and sophisticated video equipment that allows access to the underwater world. The Orion is also equipped with snorkeling and diving gear. An "open bridge" policy provides guests the opportunity to meet the captain and officers and learn about navigation. A full-time doctor, a video chronicler, an undersea specialist, a National Geographic photographer and a photography instructor are part of every expedition team.

Each cabin features ocean views, private facilities, climate controls, internet access and a flat-screen TV with DVD/CD player. Some cabins also have balconies.

Where National Geographic Orion sails

National Geographic Orion offers interesting itineraries to Scandinavia, the French Atlantic Coast, Basque Country, Argentina, Antarctica and the southern Mediterranean.

Read the full review

Get recharged for the next day's adventure in National Geographic Orion's dining room on your Lindblad Expeditions trip. Courtesy of Lindblad Expeditions

Your take

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Interested in a cruise on this ship?

If you're interested in a cruise on National Geographic Orion, contact a Cruiseable travel consultant at 1-877-322-3773 or by email. We can usually offer a better deal than you can get by contacting the cruise line directly.

SEE ALL ORION SAILINGS

On board highlights

Adelie penguins Antarctica

Photos

Inside and out

Destinations 12

An adult Adelie penguin trundles along on an iceberg in Antarctica during a Lindblad expedition.
Adult Adelie penguins plunge into Antarctica's frigid waters during a Lindblad expedition.
A gentoo penguin looks skyward while standing on an iceberg during a Lindblad expedition in Antarctica.
Young gentoo penguins trundle across a snow field in Antarctica during a Lindblad expedition.
A gentoo penguin parent with two chicks on Pleneau Island near the Antarctic Peninsula during a Lindblad Expeditions tour.
Kayakers in Antarctica take photos of gentoo penguins during a Lindblad Expeditions trip.
While hiking in Antarctica on a Lindblad expedition, have an up-close encounter with an Adelie penguin.
Go on an action-packed hike of Neko Harbor, Antarctica, during a Lindblad expedition.
Adventure travelers on a Lindblad Expeditions trip see a humpback whale breach the surface near the Antarctic Peninsula.
Travelers on a Lindblad Expeditions tour get a closeup look at a humpback whale near the Antarctic Peninsula.
A lone Adelie penguin shows off the size of a massive iceberg during a Lindblad expedition to Antarctica.
While kayaking on a Lindblad Expeditions trip to Antarctica, enjoy an up-close encounter with a crabeater seal.

Staterooms 1

Relax in your Category 4 Deluxe Suite aboard National Geographic Orion during your Lindblad Expeditions trip.

More photos 12

Enjoy a Lindblad Expedition sailing to Antarctica, the Arctic or Europe aboard National Geographic Orion.
Get recharged for the next day's adventure in National Geographic Orion's dining room on your Lindblad Expeditions trip.
National Geographic Orion and Zodiacs on the Hunter River in the remote Mitchell Plateau of Western Australia.
Think three's a crowd? A colony of king penguins greets visitors to Salisbury Plain on South Georgia during a Lindblad Expeditions tour.
Two king penguins stand side by side in Salisbury Plain of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
A couple of courting king penguins face each other in Gold Harbor, South Georgia, during a Lindblad Expedition.
Two wandering albatrosses engage in a courtship display under a rainbow.
Three king penguins walk in a line on the shore of St. Andrews Bay on South Georgia Island at sunrise.
Elephant seals and penguins announce who's in charge when visitors stop in at Gold Harbour on the island of South Georgia.
A group king penguins gather at sunrise on the shore of St. Andrews Bay on South Georgia during a Lindblad Expeditions tour.
Two Antarctic fur seal pups play at the abandoned whaling station at Grytviken during a Lindblad Expeditions visit.
Visit Stanley, capital of the Falkland Islands, while on a Lindblad Expeditions tour.