New cruise ship will ply the polar seas in style
If you love the idea of taking an adventurous, educational expedition to some of the world’s most remote places, the ships of Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic (expeditions.com) can take you there.
For decades, the company has pioneered expedition cruising around the globe.
Now it has announced an agreement with Norwegian shipbuilder and designer Ulstein to construct its first purpose-built polar expedition vessel.
Set to launch during the first quarter of 2020, the as-yetunnamed expedition ship will be the newest and most technologically advanced ship in the Lindblad-National Geographic fleet. Designed to sail the world’s polar regions, including Antarctica and the High Arctic, the ship will embrace the company’s policy of connecting guests with each environment it explores.
To that end, a full 75 per cent of cabins will feature private balconies, multiple observation decks and specially designed “observation wings” that sit in the footprint of the ship’s navigation bridge. This ship’s new futuristic design isn’t purely esthetic.
Her distinctive bow (designed by Ulstein and registered as the X-BOW) provides greater fuel efficiency and better guest comfort in rough seas. The ship will also be equipped with the highest ice-class rating for access into polar regions that would otherwise be off-limits to other expedition vessels. To do this, the ship’s fuel and water tanks have been expanded, allowing her to cruise longer — and farther — than her contemporaries.
Lindblad’s new ship will feature all the toys and gadgets you would expect from an expedition line of this calibre, including on-board zodiac rafts complete with a brand new loading system; a remotely operated vehicle (ROV); hydrophones; a video microscope; underwater video cameras; and a helicopter landing platform. The line hints that more expedition features are coming in the months leading up to this new vessel’s official debut.
The as-yet-unnamed polar vessel will have 69 guest staterooms and suites, and 12 cabins will be designed for solo travellers.
On-board, the ship will also include a full spa and fitness area; two infinity Jacuzzi tubs out on deck; and both indoor and outdoor dining options.
There could be more of that new-ship excitement waiting in the wings: Lindblad has options for two additional sister-ships that, if exercised, would enter service shortly after this new vessel’s 2020 debut.
Of course, you don’t have to wait until 2020 to set sail on the adventure of a lifetime. Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic currently offers diverse small-ship expedition cruises around the world, including voyages to Alaska and the Pacific Northwest; Baja California and the Caribbean; the Galapagos; Belize and Guatemala; Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, and expedition cruises to the Arctic and Antarctic.
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