Cruise Passenger > Reviews > Review: Orion Kimberley

Review: Orion Kimberley

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21 Jun 2011

Over the next couple of weeks I will be writing about my latest cruise adventure on Orion Expedition Cruises’ Orion – a Kimberley cruise that departed Darwin and recently concluded in Broome.

But as I write this, Sydney Airport is being closed due to the dreaded volcanic ash from the eruption of the Mt Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano in Chile. And, if you are a regular reader of my blogs, you will know that I am always espousing the importance of allowing at least two days leeway in getting to an embarkation port.

Some passengers, I feel sure, missed joining Orion in Broome for the return cruise to Darwin because of the volcanic ash. While I feel their pain, this is just another example of how important it is to approach a coming cruise thinking, ‘Neither RAIN, SNOW, HAIL OR VOLCANIC ASH will keep me from my cruise!’

I was not able to report directly from Orion due to communication problems caused by the mountainous terrain, but here is my first day for you:

After a four and a half hour flight from Sydney to Darwin, we arrived at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, well-situated in the heart of the city. Orion was due to leave from a nearby dock the next day.

Darwin had changed drastically since Sandra and I last visited, some twelve years ago. The newly developed waterfront area is a must see, especially the wave pool.

It was a Friday night and all the local bars were packed, but we were looking forward to our next eleven days so headed to be bed early.

After a buffet breakfast on the outdoor deck, which included my favourite, Eggs Benedict (cooked to order), we were on our way to Jaco Island, East Timor.

Australia, like many other countries, has this weird ruling that foreign registered ships have to visit a foreign port on a cruise – East Timor was ours.

We arrived as darkness was falling, but no one was home. It must have been the officials’ dinner hour. After a short wait we headed back to sea.

The next day was a sea day. Sandra and I love sea days as they give us a chance to explore the ship and meet fellow passengers. They also allow more time for leisurely dining.

We went to our first enhancement lecture, held in the Cosmos Theatre. Entitled “Kimberley – The Great Rock & Roll Show” and given by a member of the expedition crew, we learnt all about Kimberley geology and early explorers.

There were other lectures throughout the cruise, covering a multitude of topics. The in-house TV channel also broadcast different movies each day to our cabin. Despite my love of TV, we were so busy throughout the cruise that I never had the opportunity to watch one.

We were looking forward to our arrival the next day at Wyndham, Western Australia.

Our Kimberley adventure was soon to start in earnest.