Company Overview
Orient Lines, founded in 1991, has spent years building and enforcing its good reputation as a cruise line (albeit with but one ship) for people who love one thing, sailing to exotic destinations in the classic style of ocean liner cruising.
Decades ago, Cunard would occasionally divert the QE 2 to South America for the people who loved the ship but did not want to go back and forth to Europe. Imagine if all those people got together for a reunion. You would have Orient lines.
Billing itself as the "Destination Cruise Specialist," for good reason, its single ship, the Marco Polo (also a fitting moniker) manages to circumnavigate the entire globe each year. This adventurous little ship, built in 1965 and refurbished in 1992, is a mere 22,000 tons, and packs in 826 passengers, so they are not exactly sailing in the lap of luxury, but what they get is authentic excitement, the feel of the sea and the thrill of arriving at exotic destinations.
Most of the line's itineraries are port-intensive "one-way" cruises that almost never repeat. They feature more ports per itinerary, more time in each port and more overnight stays than most other cruise lines.
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Orient line, working with a number of dedicated travel agents who sell this ship almost religiously, creates vacation packages where the ship itinerary is the highlight, but air and hotel are added into the package, as well as add-on sightseeing excursions.
The Orient Experience:
When it comes to bang for the buck, Orient places near the top of
nearly everyone's list, taking its passengers to exotic destinations
in a classy (and older, so one can also say "classic") vessel with terrific food at a relatively low price. On most cruises they invite
esteemed lecturers aboard (Mediterranean and Northern Europe the usual exception).
Fellow Passengers:
If you even meet anyone on board who has never have cruised before, at least they are almost invariably well traveled. Most Mediterranean cruisers are between 40 and 50 age
group; the passengers on most other itineraries are usually older.
Orient's low occupancy rate makes it popular with singles. Its urbane
gentleman hosts make it popular with single women of a certain age. The line offers a very reasonable, low-cost single's supplement.
Shore Excursions:
They're well organized and fairly priced: a half-day tour in Greece,
for instance, is $28, a full day $75. In exotic locales, they include
adventure and nature excursions with approximately 10% higher rates.
Taking The Kids:
Marco Polo has no facilities or programs specifically for kids.
Theme Cruises:
All sailings, except those in the Mediterranean, feature the Discovery
Lecture Series of noted international speakers, experts on science,
history, journalism, and politics and diplomacy who will provide
insights about your destinations far beyond those available in even
the most informative guidebook.
Tipping:
Gratuities are at the passenger's discretion, but Orient now
officially suggests $9.00 per passenger per day, to be divided among
the cabin steward, dining room waiter and bus boy. Tips are given at
the end of the cruise as cash or in traveler's checks. Additional tips
are at the passenger's discretion and a 15% service charge is added to
all bar and wine orders, beauty salon and spa services.
