National Geographic Orion 4 February 2024 First Cruise ship 2024

This week the first 2024 cruise ship, the Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic Orion arrived here on Norfolk Island on Sunday 4 February with approximately 100 on-board. The National Geographic Orion is a regular visitor to Norfolk Island and the last visit was on 6 November 2023.

Massive swells were rolling in at Kingston on Sunday, I read that the waves were predicted to be up to 5 metres, but the coastal sea conditions were favourable at Cascade Bay which was sheltered along the coastline. The National Geographic Orion anchored in the bay and the crew unload their passengers at Cascade Pier using the Orion’s zodiacs.

Local tour buses picked up approximately 60 passengers as they came ashore, and the tour company staff drove the visitors around many tourist attractions, exploring our beautiful Norfolk Island treating them with a fish fry for lunch, and sharing the amazing history and stunning views around our remote island.

I have read that the National Geographic Orion current cruise is 13 days, one-way from Auckland to Honiara. The itinerary started on 01 February 2024 and ends on 14 February 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 next stop was Norfolk Island, then onto the 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.

On Sunday I drove to Cascade to photograph the ship later in the afternoon, but the National Geographic Orion had already departed. There have been photos shared on social media, and Facebook some of these images showed the passengers disembarking on the zodiac tenders. My friend Esther has shared her lovely photo of the cruise ship, which she took on Sunday.

Betty Matthews

9 February 2024