Cruise ships February 2024

This week there are two small cruise ships due to visit Norfolk Island. The National Geographic Orion is due on Sunday 4 February with approximately 100 on-board, and Le Laperouse on Monday 5 February with an estimate of 180 on-board.

The Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic Orion is a regular visitor to Norfolk Island and the last visit was on 6 November 2023. If the coastal sea conditions are favourable this week, the crew will unload their passengers at Cascade Pier or Kingston Pier using the Orion’s zodiacs. Last year I took a few photos of the ship and boats when I visited Cascade Bay. Local tour buses will pick up the passengers as they come ashore, and the tour company staff will take them exploring our beautiful Norfolk Island.

National Geographic Orion current cruise is 13 days, one-way from Auckland to Honiara. The itinerary starts on 01 Feb, 2024 and ends on 14 Feb, 2024.

The cruise ship departed Auckland New Zealand on Thursday 1 February and sailed to the Bay of Islands on Friday, and the South Pacific cruise takes them to Norfolk Island, Isle of Pines, New Caledonia, Port Vila, Efate Island, Vanuatu, Lelepa Island, Vanuatu, Champagne Bay, Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu, Loh Island Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, arriving in Honiara, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands on 14 February 2024.

Lindblad National Geographic Cruises National Geographic Orion cruise ship was built in 2003 and is 21 years old, and sails under the flag of Bahamas. The cruise ship has 6 decks with 53 cabins on 5 of the decks. National Geographic Orion carries 102 to 106 passengers and 75 crew.

National Geographic Orion Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review | CruiseMapper

Check this site to read more details about the National Geographic Orion and the current positions.

Le Laperouse sailing the South Pacific Ocean departed Auckland on Friday 2 February, cruising en route to Norfolk Island. Le Laperouse current cruise is 6 days, round-trip 6 Night Ocean Voyage Auckland to Auckland Cruise. Prices start from USD 2650 (double occupancy rates). The itinerary starts on 02 Feb, 2024 and ends on 08 Feb, 2024. The Ponant Explorer cruise ship is six years old, built in 2018, and sails under the flag of Wallis and Futuna. I read Le Laperouse can carry 184 - 264 passengers with 112 crew. There are 7 decks, with 92 cabins on 4 of the decks, and it is 131m length and 18m Beam/width.

Le Laperouse Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review | CruiseMapper

Check this site to read more about Le Laperouse and the current positions.

The P&O Cruise ships are due to start in July 2024. Last year, 2023, was a busy cruise ship season, it will be interesting to see how many passengers will have at excitement of disembarking at Norfolk Island during 2024.

We wish the cruise ships safe sailing and look forward to seeing the ships on Sunday and Monday

Betty Matthews

2 February 2024