We attended a presentation yesterday on the Orion cruises which suggested that many shore expeditions were included, when we returned home and read all the fine print in the brochure we got the impression that many of the expeditions may be extras. Has anyone been on one of these cruises, how many expeditions were included and how many were extras?

I don't know but would be interested in the answer. I have always thought that if I have some money to burn I would love to do one of the Kimberley cruises as they consistently get a good write up. I had assumed most of the shore expeditions were included apart from say, the special helicopter ones.

From what I have read some excurions are included and some are optional depending on your choice. I would say pick your cruise and then find out how much is included by phone or e-mail.

Hi Nigel,

I haven't been (but like Shandy, I'd love to do the Kimberly one!), but I can tell you that there will be different shore excursions offered in each port of call.

There will be excursions included (that wouldn't be included on most cruise lines), but of course, not everyone's taste is the same - that's why there's options to do other things.

Like Shandy mentions the helicopter - that would be a high end item that wouldn't be costed in (not everyone would choose to go up in a helicopter), but it's there as an option. Also, it's very common to have a couple "split" and each do a different excursion. (which is sort of fun because you'll have an interesting dinner convesation!).

I have a couple going on an Alaskan cruise next month and the husband's taking a fly fishing excursion and the wife's going shopping!

Hope this is helpful!

Regards,

Melodie
Certified Aussie Specialist

Thanks everyone for your comments. We recently attended an Orion presentation and have since had a good look at their website. The presenter gave us the impression that many shore excursions by Zodiac were included but when examining their website in detail it seem that very few are included, maybe two or three in a twelve day cruise. There are plenty of daily shore excursions but they do cost a fair bit for what they are. What you seem to be paying for is a superb ship that is well up to the private yacht standard along with gourmet food, fine wines are available but we do not know if they are included. We have decided to look for another way of seeing Papua New Guinea, the food and wines would be wasted on us because we are teetotal vegetarians and even the best chefs never seem to be able to get much past pasta or tofu for us. Clearly their cruises do have a lot to offer because at the function we met many people who had been with them three or more times.

Have you thought of asking what discount teatotalling vegetarians would get? Perhaps they would not give you a discount but throw in a couple of those shore excursions.

You might take a look at www.zeco.com. It is a company called Zegrahm and they have the Clipper Odyssey in that area at certain times of the year. I have sailed on the ship many times although they have become rather pricey. Last year I was on the ship in the New Guinea, Yap and Palau area. Also did a cruise two years ago from Brunei to Bali. Fantastic snorkeling on both cruises by the way. All their excursions are included.

Thanks Louise, I never heard of those expeditions, sounds great, will investigate, could be just the thing for us. The snorkelling sounds very interesting, a chance to use my two year old underwater camera which hasn't taken a shot yet.

Saltuarius, have asked that on a few cruises in the past but never got anything, they usually tell us that cooking vegetarian food for us costs them more money. Last year on a river cruise everyone was having really good European wines, we asked if we could have fruit juice instead, they said we'd have to pay for it.