Natural History: Orient Lines: seeing the world up close, in-depth

ORIENT LINES HAS CARVED OUT a special niche for passengers who truly want to experience the culture, geography, scenic wonders and spirit of a destination in-depth. Offering 10- to 26-day cruises to all four corners of the globe, the company's aptly-named Marco Polo carries 822 passengers in big-ship luxury with all the modern amenities: a showroom, two restaurants, casino, health club, library, internet cafe, four bars/lounges and a full roster of onboard activities. What's more, an experienced European, British and American crew and staff foster a friendly small-ship atmosphere. This blend of the best of both worlds, coupled with a reputation for value, has earned Orient a loyal global following.

Orient's longstanding commitment to passengers learning about their chosen destination from the experts means an impressive roster of distinguished guest lecturers are on hand to enrich the guest experience on sea and land wherever the Marco Polo sails. On this year's Antarctic cruises, for example, the onboard team includes scientists, naturalists and explorers, led by respected naturalist Nigel Sitwell. Bon voyage!