Expeditions venture into Epic Antarctica
Today’s article is culled straight from the “this is pretty cool” file: Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic (expeditions.com) has announced a brand new itinerary in Antarctica that will traverse the furthest reaches of the Last Continent.
Dubbed Epic Antarctica, this voyage will visit the Antarctic Peninsula along with the rarely visited shores of Western Antarctica, the amazing Ross Sea Ice Shelf, Macquarie Island and the sub-Antarctic islands of Australia and New Zealand.
To put things in perspective, this 35-day adventure is rare among Antarctic voyages. Most cruises to Antarctic sail from Ushuaia, Argentina, and confine their explorations to the Antarctic Peninsula. Lindblad Expeditions takes that one step further by ensuring guests get to set foot ashore on some of the most remote places on the continent.
The Ross Sea Ice Shelf also just happens to be the largest ice shelf in Antarctica, stretching more than 600 kilometres in length and towering an impossible 15 to 50 metres above the surface of the ocean.
Named after Capt. Sir James Clark Ross, polar historians might be more familiar with it as The Barrier — an insurmountable obstacle that was first explored fully by Robert Falcon Scott on his 1901 Discovery Expedition.
Only offered on Dec. 27, 2020, and Jan. 26, 2021, these one-ofa-kind cruises will be operated aboard Lindblad’s brand new National Geographic Endurance. Capable of carrying just 126 guests, this state-of-the-art ship utilizes the latest in maritime design and ice class safety features giving the vessel its unique external appearance.
Scheduled for delivery in 2020, National Geographic Endurance will feature luxurious Scandinavian decor, and six public decks offering more than 10,000 square feet (929 square metres) of glass to ensure that not a second of Antarctica’s beauty is missed.
If you’re reading between the lines here — new ship, rare polar itinerary — you’ve probably guessed that this cruise is fairly expensive. But for those who have always dreamt of visiting the Last Continent, Lindblad has literally created the opportunity of a lifetime with these cruises.
With no permanent population, Antarctica is an isolated beauty. Dramatic landscapes are present regardless of whether it is snowing or sunny, and temperatures are frequently warmer there during the North American winter than they are at home.
If you can’t quite swing 35 days, Lindblad Expeditions still offers a full slate of Antarctic explorations to the Antarctic Peninsula.
But you’re best to book early: as expensive as these voyages are, they can sell out almost a year in advance in many cases. That’s definitely going to be the case for these new sailings from Lindblad. Exciting, rare and wholly unique, they’re the perfect life experience for those who have done it all.
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