Orient Lines possible return to cruising

[oldcruiser1]

We enjoyed all three of our MP cruises (Baltics, Med from UK to Athens and the best - Barcelona to Buenos Aires alas on the last voyage cycle of Orient. We have cruised again of course and enjoyed our trips with OAT's small ship along the Dalmatian coast and with RCL to the Caribbean but we have been spoiled by the MP experience. The unique older ship with the beautiful stern bar and lounge area were our favorites. We had coffee and breakfast there every morning and the days just drifted by as we looked at the horizon mezmerized. This size and age of ship set the standard for us. We are in our mid and early 60's and found the pace wonderful. The staff made these voyages as much as any destination or ship amenity. Would we go again and ask our friends and relatives who joined us in the past if a similar ship and crew were available? Absolutely! Long cruises to New Zealand and Australia, the Orient, or South America sounds great to us. Just make the ports unique and the old and new passengers as wonderful as in the past. Good luck with making it work.

Oldcruiser1

[wah1957]

We at Orient Lines would Like to wish all A Holiday Season filled with Joy.

Also I wanted to let you know we will be aggressively looking for the right ship in 2011 and hopefully a return to cruise service by late 2012 or 2013. In the meantime we continue to monitor this board & the Facebook Orient Lines page for Destination suggestions or any other input to make Orient Lines the Best Destination based cruise lines in the World.

Smooth sailing to all.

Wayne Heller
President, Orient Lines

[Watty]

I haven't been to this board in months, but want to add my interest in Orient Lines being revived, either on the MP or a similar ship. One thing I really liked about the old Orient was that passengers were given time to enjoy the beginning and ending ports. Please continue that and keep the cruises at a reasonable cost.

[librarian]

Just received our Voyages of Discovery brochure for 2011 and 2012 cruises. They are going to India and that is my next destination. Looking for a small ship and it looks like this will be our answer. they have about 4 choices. the times of the year make it for me- March. Oceania goes there but in later spring and summer. Wish another ship would come along. Did take Discovery once to Antarctica. Enjoyed it but really enjoyed our 2 Marco Polo cruises. Especially want to have a land program from Mumbai to see the Taj Mahal. Discovery is affordable.

[wbgdigger]

Really miss the MP. Truly a great cruise destination intensive product. The 2010 SOLAS put one excellent company and product out of circulation. Would sign up for Australia/New Zealand immediately and the same for the South Pacific islands with Singapore. Please keep searching for an acceptable vessel and the same great Philipino, service beyond compare, stlyed cruise staff.

[silvercruiser]

I'm still a Polo Club member, #136087 (different last name back then) and have fond memories of sailing from Athens to Cape Town for 5 weeks in '97, then reboarding after MC was in drydock for 10 days and sailing over to Buenos Aires and on to Antarctica. In '98 we boarded MC in Singapore and disembarked in Mumbai.
Every time I'd run into MC in a port somewhere my heart skipped a beat and I would stand there and look at it and smile. A very special ship indeed, with Capts. Eric and Roland. Steve Lewis was a great CD, as was the maitre'd, whose name escapes me at the moment.

[bellybutton530]

I'd book Marco Polo again, in a heartbeat. Personally, I love the smaller ships.

Sadly for me, all of my favorite ships are now gone; Marco Polo, Vistafjord, and Sagafjord. I'm making do on the smallest large ships; but that doesn't mean that I'm loving the experiences. I hate being a number.

Two of my most cherished possessions are the maps of my Antarctic voyages, signed by all of the lecturers and officers. They cost me a mint to get them, but I love opening and looking at them. When I evacuate during hurricane season, they go with me.

I'll keep checking back for updates. Mr. Heller, I hope that 2012 is THE year....

[Wanderer 35]

I would love to go back to the Med and Europe. Please bring back the Marco Polo or a similar ship and size is important. I loved the fact we had a ship where you didnt have to have 3,000 people running around.

[Andee]

When we sailed on Orient, we chose it for the itinerary (Baltic & Scandinavian), which we loved, so it was a good decision.

OTOH, the cruising experience was the worst we've ever had. The cabin was so tiny that, if one of us was up and about, the other had to sit on the bed. The ship's decor bordered on shabby.

The food was mediocre, and there were a number of times when we couldn't get something that was on the menu. For example, at lunch in the MDR, I ordered a BLT. I was told they were "out"! Of what? Bread? Tomatoes? Lettuce? Bacon? Things they use in mutliple items every day?

The MDR service was mediocre. The waiter seemed unhappy to be doing his job, never remembered anything we liked every night for 14 mights--complicated things like iced tea and coffee. Even when we asked, we often didn't get what we requested. And special requests? No way! Expensive things like a plate of onion rings for the table when several people ordered steaks that came with one onion ring.

The entertainment wasn't as good as most high school productions. There were times when it was hard not to laugh at the performers' ineptitude.

Are we glad we went? Absolutely! Could Orient put together an itinerary so perfectly suited to us that we'd sail them again? I doubt it.

[tommui987]

Well, I don't know what the passage of time has done. But one of our first cruise was on the old Crown Odyssey - one of the two ships that were flying the Orient flag at that time.

We loved the service and the ship so much that we took another voyage on the ship but at that time, it had reverted to the Norwegian Cruise people but still maintained some of the crew members.

The Crown Odyssey/NCL Crown still sails - (refurbished and lengthen, to be sure under the Fred Olsen flag) - but we remember the ship and crew with great fondness.

We look forward to seeing if Orient will sail again and what cruisers will think of the "new" Orient. Who knows, maybe our Polo membership will still be recognized!

[the simpsons]

only sailed on marco polo once: end of the year, end of the century, end of the earth to antarctica. was without a doubt the best of many many cruises and cruise lines we've been on. the ship and hotel staff could not have been better. after returning to ship from a zodiac landing, the crew would scrape the penguin poop off your boots, offer you a hot toddy, sit you down, and help remove your wellies. then you'd go to your staterooom, shower, change into your formal wear, head to the lounge outside the dining room, and enjoy a martini or glass of champagne before entering for a great dinner. great service, great crew, great cruise line. we miss them, and would sail again with them in a heartbeat.

[bahrain_not_dubai!]

Originally Posted by bellybutton530

I'd book Marco Polo again, in a heartbeat. Personally, I love the smaller ships.

Sadly for me, all of my favorite ships are now gone; Marco Polo, Vistafjord, and Sagafjord. I'm making do on the smallest large ships; but that doesn't mean that I'm loving the experiences. I hate being a number.

Two of my most cherished possessions are the maps of my Antarctic voyages, signed by all of the lecturers and officers. They cost me a mint to get them, but I love opening and looking at them. When I evacuate during hurricane season, they go with me.

I'll keep checking back for updates. Mr. Heller, I hope that 2012 is THE year....

BellyBUtton, why don't you try Voyages of Discovery, or Voyages to Antiquity. Also, the Marco Polo continues to servie with Cruise & Maratime Voyages, perhaps you should have a look at their website.

[wah1957]

I just wanted to give you an update on Orient Lines recent activities. With worldwide financal troubles continuing and recent unrest in some parts of the world it's not possiable to return with international itinaries in 2012.

We have looked something that I think makes alot of sense. Americans as well as internaltional travelers have shown a great deal of interest in cruising America, but to smaller little visited ports most Traveler don't get to explore.

Orient Lines America made an offer to buy the Alaska (& columbia River) Luxury Riverboat "Empress of the North" which is currently setting in U.S. government hands costing $700,000 a year of tax payer money to maintain. We were the highest cash bidder a few months ago, but for some unknown reason the Federal Government doen't want the cash or to put hundreds of Americans to work. If we can convince them to sell it to us we can begin Orient Lines America cruises in 2012. This would be a major departure from the normal Orient lines Ocean liner, but we think it's better to bring back the brand and reunite our Past Polo Club members with some close to home adventures.

I just wanted you all to know that Orient Lines has not been forgotten about, and this is a short term solution to restarting full worldwide cruise operations with other ships that can provide the experiance and crew you all have come to expect.

Thank You all,

Wayne Heller
President
Orient Lines

[jollyjo]

Hi Mr. Heller. My husband and I haven't been on many cruises but we did take
the Marco Polo on a 7 night Baltic cruise a few years ago and loved it! The crew was fantastic and the food was wonderful. Many of the passengers had sailed before with Orient, it was a family atmosphere. We feel fortunate that we had the opportunity to experience this awesome cruise and hope you can bring back this great ship and crew again. Thanks, Theresa and Mike

[habibti]

My mother & I did 4 cruises on the MP and 1 on the Crown Odyssey, starting in 2000 cruising the Barbary Coast - Fantastic!! We have cruised other ships, bigger & newer but adored the MP - the crew, the service and the overall "feel" of it. We would definitely support OL coming back, and look forward to seeing it happen

[frediver]

The best cruise experience my wife and I ever had was on the Marco Polo from Venice.

[newlightning]

Originally Posted by frediver

The best cruise experience my wife and I ever had was on the Marco Polo from Venice.

me too!

[muskokacruizerz]

Although we never cruised on the Marco Polo, we enjoyed a fabulous 30-day South Pacific cruise on the Crown Odyssey in 2001.
If Orient Lines made a comeback, with the same ambience, the same fabulous all-Filipino crew, the same DIFFERENT ports of call.... I'm sure we'd be back.

[Olive1950]

I'd go back also.

Three of my favorite cruises EVER were on Marco Polo:

1996: Flew to Nairobi; 6-night photo safari; cruised from Tanzania to Singapore. We crossed all timezones on that cruise!!!!

1999: Flew to South Africa; spent 4 nights there; then cruised from South Africa to South America, then down the east coast to the Falkland Islands; the on to Antarctica for 6 landings. It was dubbed the Grand Millennium; 28 days....

Loved Antarctica so much that I went back the following year to celebrate the REAL millennium....

I love smaller ships. Marco Polo, Vistafjord, Sagafjord, previous Westerdam were just right....

[budddawn]

Mr Heller;
My wife and I have spent over 50 days sailing with Orient, and we would greatly appreciate the opportunity to spend 50 more before we become too old to do so. THANKS

BUDD & DAWN LYNSTER