National Geographic Orion

Built by Cassens Werft in Germany, National Geographic Orion is an ice-strengthened expedition vessel that initially operated in Antarctic, Arctic, Great Lakes, and Amazon regions before being repositioned to focus on Oceania exploration. The ship gained notable recognition for rescuing French solo yachtsman Alain Delord from the Southern Ocean in challenging conditions, and is equipped with expedition amenities including Zodiacs, sea kayaks, and underwater research equipment to support exploration and naturalist-led programming.