Orient Cruise Line

Company Overview

Originally under the ownership of Norwegian Cruise Lines, Orient Lines was founded in 1991. In the summer of 2008, Orient Lines was on the brink of extinction, when a wealthy cruise industry veteran and entrepreneur named Mr. Wayne Heller came to the rescue. Mr. Heller bought a new ship and carried on the line. Mr. Heller founded Cruises Only and knew his business. He bought the name Orient Line and made it what it is today. He named his new vessel after the beloved original Orient Lines’ Marco Polo. This German built ship spent her years sailing for a cruise line from Russia. She was fondly named Marco Polo II from her previous moniker Maxim Gorky. Due to his excellence in cruise marketing, Heller dubbed Orient Lines "Destination Cruise Specialist" and aptly so .This boutique cruise line never had more than two ships. For most of the life span of the business, the cruise line operated with just the one vessel, the original Marco Polo. At 22,000 tons, this 1965 built craft could hold 826 passengers. She rounded the globe every year until the Marco Polo II came on the scene. At 25,000 tons, although a larger ship, she only holds 650 passengers aboard her decks. Heller relocated Orient Line to Celebration Florida. You may know this as the home of another famed line, Disney Cruises. It is fabled that this was at the request of the new company president, cruise icon Bruce Nierenberg. Mr. Nierenberg was formerly of Premier Lines, that he home ported at Port Canaveral. In addition to this feat, he was responsible for the purchase of the Norway. Some of you may recall this being a behemoth ship. Mr. Nierenberg also invented NCL’s “private – island” concept. The 2009 cruise season for the Marco Polo II will be spent in European waters. This being the North Cape of Norway and then to Cairo, Egypt is just one of the itineraries. Then in the fall, Marco Polo II makes a trans-Atlantic sojourn to Rio de Janiero, with cold winter months in South America for its summer. Antarctica is also on the docket. Check our site for updates on this route. This cruise line is known for very extensive inineraries that are port-intensive. Most of the cruises are one way, and unique itineraries. You won’t find this many over night stays, or length of time in port, on any cruise line but Orient Line. Travel agents that sell this cruise line are dedicated and loyal to Orient Lines. It’s a once in a life time experience for the traveler and a joy for the booking agent to handle as well. Unique cruising, coupled with sightseeing, glorious hotels and air, make selling Orient Lines a dream vacation package.

• Eileen Coulter  Marco Polo  Mediterranean Highlights

  Once again I sailed on the Marco Polo, mainly because some friends from the US were booked so decided we would catch up with them again on this voyage. I booked with my friend Phylis whom... read more

• Eileen Coulter  Marco Polo  Agean/Adriatic

  I booked my cruise in February 2005 and then looked up 'Cruise Reviews'. Yes, I know, the wrong way to go about things. On Cruise Reviews there were a number of points that really did give... read more

  1 users found this review helpful.
• Ray and Janet Zegarski  Marco Polo  Antarctic Peninsula

  We are a couple of New Englanders, who like many of our neighbors like to head South for part of the long winter. This time, we just went a bit further South than we would usually. Janet is a... read more

  1 users found this review helpful.
• Raoul Fiebig  Marco Polo  Western Mediterranean

  Raoul recently enjoyed Orient Line's Marco Polo on the Grand Passage to Venice itinerary. Follow this link to read the review and for over 100 pictures. ... read more

• Kim Friedman   Marco Polo  Greek Isles & Italy

  After spending three nights in Istanbul at The Marmara Hotel we boarded the ship. We paid for an additional night at the hotel. This is a good idea since the trip is an arduous one and you have an... read more

• Peter Stocker   Marco Polo  Grand Antarctic

  Background We are both retired, myself for 9 years now, and this was our 38th. cruise. 20 different ships of 10 companies so we have a little experience. This was a cruise which had been... read more

  1 users found this review helpful.
• Patricia Schebor  Marco Polo  Northern European Capitals

  Just returned from this cruise. The ports were excellent as was the serving staff and the shows were very good. However, the food was very disappointing. Things as Mac & Cheese, Oxtail Stew, were... read more

• Douglas Emond  Marco Polo  Northern European Capitals

  I had a very enjoyable time on my recent Orient Line cruise on the Marco Polo. We sailed from Copenhagen for 12 days with calls at Tallinn, St. Petersburg, Helsinki, Stockholm, Kalmar, Kiel,... read more