Cruise: Ship to shore

The Orion is a small, but perfectly formed, luxury cruise ship. Photo / Supplied

Hearing the theme to Titanic echoing around the small but perfectly formed Orion cruise ship as you board is, it has to be said, a little disconcerting.

I shake it off. This is, after all, no trans-Atlantic pilgrimage but rather a 10-day jaunt through the balmy waters of the South Pacific. The prospect of rogue icebergs is, surely, slim.

And to be honest, the bigger immediate threat to my wellbeing is the absence of cellphone coverage, newspapers and TV. I feel a surge of panic. How will the world cope with me being cut off from it for so long? The cold sweat subsides a little with canapes and champagne, and a little more with a look around.

The Orion isn't any old liner - it represents grand luxury, in a small package. Where other cruise ships can accommodate thousands of guests, Orion takes just 106 passengers, plus a crew of 75. That far more manageable number and high crew-to-guest ratio means your needs are never lost in the crowd and the quality of food and service remain impeccable.

The largely Filipino crew all seem to have names such as Renaldo, Dexter, or Edwardo - I feel a Love Boat moment coming on. My husband and I are just settling into our roles of "Mr Mike" and "Madame Carolyne" when it's time for our first dinner.

It is an occasion where passengers are encouraged to dress up and mingle. There are no tables for two onboard, just for six, which means compulsory mixing. Think of it as speed dating your fellow guests. It can be a little daunting at first but talking about the impressive dinners onboard proves an excellent way to break the ice.

The food is outstanding and quickly becomes a highlight. As does our cabin. Teak-lined, it has a vast window instead of a porthole, a comfy bed and a generous bathroom. It's a perfect spot to retreat to after a day exploring hot islands.

First stop on this cruise, though, is a foggy Russell in the Bay of Islands. After a day exploring via one of the dozen zodiacs that ferry passengers on expeditions, the ship departs New Zealand for Norfolk Island, off the Queensland coast.

Norfolk is a little more challenging, thanks to wet weather, which causes our zodiac to bob perilously on entry. Then I manage to chill the locals' warm welcome by asking to see Cockpit Reserve - of all the historic sights on Norfolk, I ask to visit the site of its first murder in 150 years; the place Janelle Patton was found after she was stabbed by New Zealander Glenn McNeill. Once a journalist always a journalist.

Norfolk Island also boasts plenty of duty-free shopping but my luxury cabin is calling so I reboard the Uranus and head back to Orion for an indulgent afternoon "nana" nap. That's the best thing about travelling this way. There are always off-ship excursions available but you can do as much or as little as you want. If you don't feel like exploring there are many activities on board to enjoy - yoga, spa treatments, quiz afternoons, or reading in the library.