Orion Cruises Announces 2013 Itineraries.

This week Orion Expedition Cruises announced their 2013 deployment. Noticeably missing from their line up is the Orion II. Orion Cruises has stated operational reasons for discontinuing the charter of the Orion II starting mid-November 2012. The company sited that fuel consumption for the ship as the main reason for ending the charter.

Orion Expeditions will continue to operate the upscale Orion in the South Pacific, Asia and Australia.

Orion does expect to announce a replacement vessel for the Orion II shortly.

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Nick's Cruise Corner Blog

Luxury Expedition Ship Orion II Named in Seattle on June 9th, 2011

Sarina Bratton, founder and md of Orion Expedition Cruises, has taken delivery of Orion II in Curaçao where the former Clelia II has been in drydock, prior to setting sail in her new livery for Los Angeles via the Panama Canal.

Trade and consumer events will be held aboard the 100-passenger all-suite boutique ship in Los Angeles (June 1-3) and San Francisco (June 5-6), before the ship arrives in Seattle on June 9 for the renaming ceremony.

The three godmothers are repeat OEC passengers Jill Bennette, Laurel Norris and Shirley Turtle who, between them, have chalked up more than 50 voyages in Orion.

Orion II leaves Seattle on the evening of June 9 for Vancouver, where she will depart the following day on her inaugural voyage to Otaru.

This will be followed by expeditions to the Russian Far East, Inland Sea of Japan, the Ryukyu Islands and a series of varying 10-night itineraries around Borneo.

Later voyages this year include Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

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Orion Expeditions Introduction of Orion II Delayed

Orion Expedition Cruises advises itinerary changes due to the later than
anticipated delivery of Orion II combined with the current situation in Japan.
The vessel, currently operating as Clelia II, is due to undertake a scheduled dry
dock prior to delivery to Orion Expedition Cruises. Due to the time required for
additional technical work the owners have advised that delivery will be delayed
up until 20 May 2011. OEC’s planned interior upgrade works remain unaffected
by this delay.

Orion Expedition Cruises has revised its launch schedule as follows:

• Inaugural voyage 10 June to 4 July 2011
• Russian Far East 4 July to 18 July
• Inland Sea of Japan 18 July to 28 July
• Ryukyu 28 July to 11 August
• Borneo 11 August to 21 August

All itineraries post 21 August 2011 are unchanged.

Guests are being contacted individually to be advised of these date changes and
to assist with any adjustments to travel plans.

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