Lindblad Expeditions, one of the pioneering as well as most highly-rated expedition lines, introduced its brand-new, 100-passenger ship, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC QUEST, on July 29th. Built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders located on Whidbey Island, north of Seattle, the US-flag vessel’s inaugural cruise signaled the start of its slightly shortened Alaska season. The ship was originally planned to begin service on June 19th. However, in spite of the delay, this highly-sophisticated ship celebrates a return to excellence in the U.S-flag cruise ship building market.
Up to this point, Lindblad’s fleet has consisted of ships that had previous careers and owners then modified for the firm’s nearly worldwide cruise services. The NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC QUEST brings a far higher standard of passenger accommodation and more creative technical features than the current vessels SEA LION and SEA BIRD offer operating the North and Central American programs.
The new ship is equipped with the most up-to-date equipment to capture wildlife sightings in the air, on the sea, and beneath its waters. The results of the underwater cameras are often shown to passengers at pre-dinner cocktail hours, one of the most popular end-of-the-day features the line is known for.
Often, National Geographic photographers are aboard to lead forays ashore and to share their expertise, including photo classes at various levels. Activities also include stand-up paddle boarding, kayaks and Zodiac excursions.
After the Alaska season winds down in September, the NG QUEST spends part of the fall season cruising in the San Juan Islands and Puget Sound then heads south for a winter of coastal cruises on both sides of Central America — exploring Costa Rica and Panama and venturing through the Panama Canal to Guatemala and Belize.
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HEIDI SARNA
I love ships with daily lectures on the destination natural history and WILDLIFE. On a ship like this, are the talks by true expert researchers?
Great question! It depends on the line, Lindblad Expeditions, for example, employs very highly qualified expert guides and naturalists. The small-ship lines that go to the Galapagos, Antarctica and Arctic regions are at their top of their fields, like polar expert Richard White, who we have featured in several articles on QuirkyCruise.
Especially relating to the Galapagos, the naturalist staff are required to complete a training program with the Galapagos National Park Service and the Charles Darwin Research Station, then they are issued a Naturalist Guide license for a specific length of service.