Lindblad Expeditions Recent Press Releases
Lindblad Expeditions Delivers the Daily Activities and Rhythms of an Expedition on a Virtual Exploration of the World’s Most Remote Places
Photo Tips with Certified Photo Instructors, Live Musical Performances from Around the World, Naturalist Lectures, Artisan Demonstrations, Educational Activities for Kids & more
NEW YORK, NY, April 1, 2020 — During this time of social isolation Lindblad Expeditions is bridging the distance—bringing the world’s wild places & keeping moments of ahhh alive and well—through a Virtual Expedition to explore the world’s remote pristine reaches. The small ship adventure travel company is taking guests on a virtual expedition, designed to offer the “tonic of wildness,” and the engaging and reassuring rhythms of life on board—from morning stretch classes, to exhilarating sights, photo ops and even evening Recap daily at 6 pm, complete with cocktail recipes from fleet menus.
As the Virtual Expedition unfolds in the weeks ahead—and pulling from a renowned expedition team of naturalists and experts in isolation as well —there will be activities for kids led by Lindblad’s team of certified field educators; lectures with the line’s renowned naturalist team; live musical performances from around the world; artisan demonstrations; and cooking demos of sustainable shipboard bites. And a special evening recap will reveal the newest addition to their fleet, National Geographic Endurance, via a virtual ship tour led by the Captain and members of his team.
“We are all adjusting to our new ways of living. Never have any of us experienced anything like this and we are all having to learn new tricks during a period of social distancing,” stated Sven Lindblad, CEO of Lindblad Expeditions. “The main intent is to keep us connected, put a smile on your face, and provide a bit of inspiration.”
Choreographed with all the hallmarks of a Lindblad expedition, the Daily Program will be posted daily to Virtual Expedition. Flexible, spontaneous—who knows where you’ll go?—the expedition will feature new discoveries each day, using Facebook and Instagram for both video and live activities, including:
· Today’s Activity: Video clips with Lindblad naturalists taking guests from temperate to tropical rainforests to the towering ice of Antarctica, guiding them into the sights & sounds.
· AHHHHH Moment: The healing tonic of wildness, a tiny dose of bliss, or a bit of insight. What does it feel like to spend time, truly steep in wild remote places, stop, let it sink in, get captured by one moment or a string of them? Experience it now.
· Photo Tips: Get info you can use to practice indoors or out. Learn from Lindblad certified photo instructors as they explore their own landscape in isolation.
· RECAP: It’s 6pm—grab a cocktail recipe & meet us in the Lounge, with demonstrations from virtual shipboard bartenders – and soon to be added lectures, presentations, and more.
· Virtual Music Lounge: Choreographed by Lindblad’ ethnomusicologist, Jacob Edgar, enjoy a series of live musical performances from Ireland, Iceland, Trinidad, Rapa Nui, Scotland, and more. Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, a multi-award winning traditional singer and musician from Ireland, leads the lineup starting this week.
The invitation is open: Come aboard and join the expedition—see familiar faces, discover exhilarating places, observe wildlife, get photo tips, and experience a Virtual Expedition.
Lindblad Expeditions’ National Geographic Endurance Completes Sea Trials
NEW YORK, NY, February 17, 2020 – National Geographic Endurance, a next-generation expedition ship, purpose-built for polar navigation and the first polar new build for Lindblad Expeditions, has successfully completed her first sea trials in Storfjorden, which is the entrance of the iconic Geirangerfjord.
During the trials, the ship was put through a series of exercises which tested engines, azipods, navigation systems and emergency maneuvers.
The first of two new polar vessels for the line, the 126-guest National Geographic Endurance is fully stabilized with the highest ice class (PC5 Category A) of any purpose-built passenger vessel, and features the distinctive X-Bow® which will afford the smoothest, most comfortable ride imaginable, in all sea behavior, resulting in greater fuel efficiency and fewer emissions for reduced environmental impact.
National Geographic Endurance is back in the shipyard currently undergoing final outfitting before delivery set in March. She will embark on her maiden voyage, Svalbard in Spring: Polar Bears, Arctic Light and Epic Ice on April 2, 2020 followed by a series of expeditions exploring areas both familiar and new, presenting unprecedented opportunities to explore further, including the Northeast Passage.
Lindblad Expeditions Becomes The First Self-Disinfecting Fleet In The Cruise Industry
* IMPLEMENTS GREEN CLEANING AND SANITIZING SYSTEM FLEETWIDE*
NEW YORK, NY, FEBRUARY 2020 – Lindblad Expeditions, a global leader in responsible tourism, has become the first self-disinfecting fleet in the cruise industry. In keeping with their legacy of sustainability and protecting the places they explore, they have announced that they are now implementing Premium Purity fleetwide, a unique cleaning system which creates a cleaner, healthier ship while drastically reducing the impact on the environment.
The new system, ACT CleanCoat™, is a photocatalytic process that works when illuminated, breaking down unwanted microbes such as bacteria, viruses, mold, and airborne allergens. It can be applied to all surfaces which become self-disinfecting after application. Created by ACT.Global A/S, a Copenhagen-based company, the antibacterial spray is transparent, odorless, and activated by light, and protects a room like an invisible insulation – plus purifies and deodorizes the air for up to one year.
Chemical free, the product uses the ACT ECA water system created by electrolysis of salt and water, to clean the rooms which is completely harmless to guests, staff and the environment.
“As the oldest and most experienced expedition travel company in the world, we go to some of the most pristine places on the planet. We are very conscious of the waste we produce, and how the cleanliness of our ship and protection of our guests onboard is vital to a healthy environment,” said Bruce Tschampel, Vice President, Hotel Operations for Lindblad Expeditions.
“Premium Purity is unlike anything we have seen out there. Our ships are truly pristine and healthy, and we already have measurable results to prove it from our initial pilot program on one ship. We reduced guest reported illness by 50%; eliminated over 1,000 plastic bottles of cleaning products; and dramatically reduced water usage by 1.1 million gallons per year. The crew is raving about how much healthier the ship is and how effective it is to use this solution,” he continued.
The fleetwide rollout is another step in Lindblad’s commitment toward defining travel industry standards for sustainability and environmentally responsible operations. In 2019 they become a carbon neutral company, offsetting 100% of emissions from their ships, all land-based operations, employee travel, offices in New York and Seattle, and other contributors. They successfully eliminated guest-facing single-use plastics fleetwide in 2018 and have operated a sustainable seafood program aboard the fleet for many years. Other related sustainability initiatives include building new ships that reduce emissions while increasing efficiency; mandating supply chain solutions to eliminate plastic; sourcing and serving local, organic produce; making crew uniforms from recycled plastic, and more.
Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Announces a New Panama and Colombia Itinerary
*A NATURE AND CULTURE EXPEDITION EXPLORING THE CARIBBEAN COAST*
NEW YORK, November 2019 — Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic has announced Panama & Colombia: Exploring the Caribbean Coast, an exhilarating 8-day expedition that will navigate the South American coast, from Cartagena to Panama City, to explore the region’s astonishing trove of natural and cultural treasures.
colombia and panama mapSailing aboard one of Lindblad Expedition’s newest ships, the 100-guest National Geographic Quest, guests will have one-of-a-kind opportunities to experience and explore the South American Coast. Highlights include hiking into dense rainforests that harbor extraordinary biodiversity, gliding through little-explored inlets by Zodiac and kayak, and meeting the indigenous inhabitants of a secluded Panamanian archipelago where age-old traditions remain part of everyday life. Guests will experience the diverse heritage of stunning cities and remote towns off the beaten path, from the Arab-influenced architecture of Colombia’s Santa Cruz de Lorica to the bustling shores of Santa Cruz del Islote—one of the most densely populated islands in the world.
Notable highlights of this South American cruise include:
· Transit the Panama Canal to see an up-close view of this modern engineering marvel and navigate the waters of the man-made Gatún Lake.
· Discover the coastal treasures and remote wilderness of Colombia, exploring vibrant villages, pristine beaches and wildlife-rich jungles.
· Visit the palm-shaded Panamanian archipelago of Guna Yala (formerly San Blas Islands), an autonomous province that is home to the indigenous Guna people and become immersed in the local Encounter timeless artistic traditions from the handcrafted mola textiles of Guna Yala to the famed vueltiao sombreros woven by artisans in the mountain village of Tuchín.
· Experience an overwhelming variety of life as you explore Colombian wilderness along jungle trails. With the most bird species of any country (almost 1900) and an astonishing list of approximately 450 mammals, Colombia unquestionably contains within its borders the greatest biodiversity by area on the planet.
· Snorkel vibrant coral reefs and discover turquoise waters and mangrove groves via kayak, Zodiac and stand-up paddleboard.
This extraordinary adventure cruise will be under the guidance of an expedition leader, a team of veteran naturalists, a Lindblad-National Geographic certified photo instructor, an undersea specialist and a wellness specialist.
Panama & Colombia: Exploring the Caribbean Coast will have four departures in 2020: Oct. 10, 17, 24 and 31. Rates begin at $5,990 per person based on double occupancy in a Category 1 cabin.
