Orion Cabins

All cabins on Orion are oceanview, and in keeping with its luxury identity, all are fairly roomy. For those who are only happy cruising in multi-room suites, however, it should be noted that only 170 square ft. separate the largest (Category OS Owners' Suite: 345 square ft.) and the smallest (Category D Stateroom: 175 square ft.). The staterooms definitely express the nautical character of the ship, counterpointing carpeting in rich aquatic colors with expansive wood and brass accents. Bathrooms for all categories are floored and accented in contrasting black and white marble, some with bathtubs -- both full length and put-your-knees-up-to-your-chin length (inquire when booking). Toiletries are from Escada and include shower gel, body lotion, shampoo and conditioner.

Six of the vessel's 53 cabins have French balconies (Owners' Suites and Balcony Suites only). For those not familiar with that nomenclature, these are narrow ledges just wide enough to step out onto, but not large enough to accommodate any furniture. However, since much of Orion's cruising territory encompasses some of the Pacific's and Coral Sea's most scenic areas, simply having the floor-to-ceiling window of a balcony's sliding glass doors is a plus in and of itself.

There are no obstructed views, and only two of the three Category D staterooms have less than full windows (twin portholes). Cabin selection is best accomplished with the aid of knowledgeable advice, because unlike larger ships, there are relatively few identical cabins. Categories are assigned not only by size and deck, but also by position fore and aft in the vessel. Though this is not uncommon on larger ships, our feeling is that since Orion is small, in rough seas there is likely to be less variation in perceived motion between forward and amidships cabins than on much longer vessels, and for those less sensitive to motion sickness the savings can be substantial -- as much as $100 to $200 (Australian) per cabin per night.

Basic stateroom amenities include flat screen TV's, DVD/CD players, robes, safes and mini-refrigerators. Though the latter do not include minibars, they do include an unending supply of bottled water, which is supplied gratis and replenished regularly. TV offerings include two feature films per day, informational channels on destinations, a GPS display of the ship's location, and feeds from the Cosmos Lecture Hall and the forward-looking bridge-cam. A changing slate of satellite news and sports outlets is offered based on the ship's current location.

Each cabin has a built-in hair dryer, and many -- though not all -- have U.S. standard 110-volt AC current. (The ship has a limited number of adaptors for borrowing, but the savvy passenger is well advised to bring their own.)

Though the ship has an elevator, there are lots of areas other than stairs that would pose problems for handicapped passengers. Further, the emphasis on venturing from the ship on Zodiacs, as well as from Zodiacs to shore, unfortunately makes this cruise a poor choice for those whose mobility is wheelchair-dependent.

However, we saw many passengers who, despite limited ambulation, had such a great attitude about stretching the limits of their abilities that they were able, with assistance, to participate in many off-ship activities.

Next: Orion Dining

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