Orion Expedition Cruises

On 20 May 2008, Bratton, then managing director, announced the purchase of the company by US private equity firm KSL Capital Partners, and Cruise Ferry Master Fund (CFMF), a division of German shipping bank DVB.

Visiting the capital Dili and the nation's second largest centre Baucau, guests of the Orion were some of the first tourists to be part of organised travel in the country.

Following OEC's acquisition by Lindblad Expeditions in March 2013, it was announced that cruises to Orion's destination mainstays of Indonesia, Borneo, Papua New Guinea and the Kimberleys would continue.

Orion was to be equipped with an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV), capacity for up to 24 scuba divers and oceangoing kayaks, with cruises to be accompanied by a National Geographic photographer.

In a statement in January 2015,[1] Lindblad surprised the industry by announcing that Orion would be based in Europe for the northern summer from 2016, ceasing Southern Hemisphere winter operations.

MV Orion anchored off Kitava in Papua New Guinea's Trobriand Islands with a traditional Kula Canoe in the foreground
MV Orion in Kuri Bay on Western Australia's Kimberley Coast