Table Of Content
Join this evening for dinner and a briefing on the following day’s activities. Choosing the right ship is crucial, given the amount of time you'll spend on board. Swoop is experienced at helping match our customers to exactly the right ship. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don’t cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Day 12-13: Exploring the Chilean Fjords
Later in the week, after rounding the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula to James Ross Island, some of us kayaked in a tranquil bay fed by waterfalls descending from a glacier, while others explored by Zodiac. The next morning, in the Gerlache Strait, we ran across an armada of humpback whales. We stopped for hours to watch them — first from the decks of National Geographic Resolution and then from Zodiac boats.
COMBINING OFFERS
Travel with a diverse team of experts aboard 148-guest National Geographic Explorer, the definitive expedition ship. By late January, when I first arrived in Antarctica to test out National Geographic Resolution, the fast ice mostly had melted away in the northernmost areas of the Antarctic Peninsula that draw the bulk of Antarctica expedition vessels. To get us into the ice, the ship had to travel farther south than some expedition ships will go in Antarctica, to an ice-clogged waterway known as Lallemand Fjord.
Day 18: Punta Arenas / Santiago
Many expedition vessels have either a marina or side doors, but not both. Thus began seven days of daily landings and waterborne exploring by Zodiac boats that brought repeated encounters with penguins — often in large numbers — as well as sightings of whales, seals and all sorts of petrels, terns, skuas and other birds. The ship has powerful engines that let it travel at more than 16 knots even in rough seas — several knots more than is typical for most expedition vessels. Even for people like me who have traveled by ship through polar regions many times, it was a special moment — one made possible by the remarkable abilities of this new vessel. Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic reveals the beauty and wonder of the world by leading high quality, authentic and immersive travel to the world’s most remarkable and wild places. The brand offers expeditions in 120+ destinations across all seven continents for curious and discerning travelers seeking to experience the world from a new perspective.
LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS-NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LAUNCHES TWO NEW WAYS TO EXPLORE ANTARCTICA - PR Newswire
LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS-NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LAUNCHES TWO NEW WAYS TO EXPLORE ANTARCTICA.
Posted: Tue, 09 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
National Geographic Explorer now roams the world, offering expedition cruises in the Polar regions and cultural enrichment sailings in the Baltic and Mediterranean seas. Lindblad and its partner, National Geographic, provide a top team of 14 naturalists, historians and photographers who cruise aboard Explorer. Some have been with Lindblad for years, and they, along with two highly experienced captains, aim to get the ship as close to wildlife as is warranted and give passengers the unique experiences they crave. A cruise on National Geographic Explorer does not come cheap, but you are paying for one of the best expedition offerings with respect to the standard of ship, the number and experience of the staff and the excellent organization. Experience the wild grandeur of the White Continent in a more efficient, expedient way.
An adventure focus
This can be a big deal on Antarctica voyages, which usually begin with a nearly two-day ride across the often-rough body of water between South America and Antarctica known as the Drake Passage. Another notable — and very noticeable — feature of the ship is its distinctive sloping bow, which looks almost as if it were accidentally put on upside down. Our second new polar build, National Geographic Resolution, is named to honor the second voyage of the legendary Captain James Cook. See the world from a new perspective with a veteran expedition team by your side and leading the way.
Day 10-11: At Sea
Such efficiency plays right into the Lindblad style of expedition cruising, where it's all about maximizing the experience in any given destination, even if that means changing plans on the fly. Every day brought something a little different as we stopped at a wide variety of sites. At Neko Harbor, a picture-perfect, mountain-lined bay flanked by a glacier calving into the sea, we landed by Zodiac late one evening to marvel at large numbers of gentoo penguins. In addition, National Geographic Resolution can spin completely around in place, thanks to two Azipod thrusters that hang down below the vessel and can rotate a full 360 degrees. This allows it to better maneuver in ice-clogged areas than older expedition vessels with traditional propeller propulsion systems.
How much does it cost to go on Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic Explorer?
100+ combined years of experience, 7 continents explored, decades of expedition cruising around the world & here to help you find & book your dream trip. Group charter flights between Puerto Natales, Chile and King George Island are required on this trip’s itinerary; see this trip’s Exclusions. There is a strict luggage limit of one or two checked bags weighing up to 51 lbs (23 kg) combined, and one carry-on bag weighing up to 17 lbs (7 kg) plus a personal item that can be stowed under the seat. Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Antarctica cruises and trips to Antarctica, including even more ways to fly the Drake Passage.
Solo Travellers
National Geographic Resolution is one of two nearly identical vessels that Lindblad Expeditions has unveiled in quick succession. The other, the 126-passenger National Geographic Endurance, also has debuted in recent months and is sailing in Antarctica. That said, the fares bundle together a lot of extras, including a pre-cruise, one-night hotel stay in Buenos Aires, Argentina, or Santiago, Chile; flights from Buenos Aires or Santiago to Ushuaia, Argentina; drinks, including spirits and wines; and prepaid gratuities.
The ship prints a list of passenger and staff names, along with everyone's cities, states and countries of origin. Lindblad has built up a lot of expertise in polar cruising over many decades of offering ship-based trips to places like Antarctica — an expertise that shows in the way it designed National Geographic Resolution. Along with its sister vessel, the ship is one of the most versatile around for exploring the destination and other polar regions. After four trips to the White Continent, I'm convinced it's truly the ultimate Antarctica cruise ship. In Antarctica, in particular, the size of a vessel matters when it comes to the quality of the experience, as expedition ships in Antarctica are limited to landing 100 passengers at a time by international treaty.
One of two new ships expressly built for polar waters, National Geographic Resolution is named to honor the second voyage of the legendary Captain James Cook. A fully-stabilized vessel with ice class PC5, Category A, she will enable adventurous guests to go where few have or can. The first new polar build in Lindblad’s 50-year history, National Geographic Endurance is named to honor explorer Ernest Shackleton and his legendary Transantarctic Expedition. A fully-stabilized vessel of ice class PC5 Category A, she will enable adventurous guests to go where few have or can. Every member of our team—from our naturalists and photographers to our expedition leaders—is committed to ensuring you have an unforgettable experience.
One day, you might set out by kayak to encounter towering icebergs at water level; embark on a Zodiac excursion in search of seals and blue-eyed shags; or walk amid thousands of Adélie and gentoo penguins. The next, you might experience the thrill of the ship crunching through pack ice. Venturing to Antarctica is an expedition like no other—a chance to explore otherworldly beauty at the bottom of the globe.
The Last Place on Earth: My Journey to Antarctica with National Geographic - Paste Magazine
The Last Place on Earth: My Journey to Antarctica with National Geographic.
Posted: Wed, 14 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Fly one way and skip the Drake Passage to dive, snorkel and kayak sooner. The longer expeditions attract an older group, except during school holidays, and the shorter trips see a wider age range. Most passengers are Americans, with a smattering from Europe, Australia or East and South Asia, depending on the cruising region.
I've now been aboard National Geographic Explorer twice and can't get enough. From her stunning panoramic observation lounge to the retractable stabilisers, and even photo equipment which you can loan, they've thought of everything. It doesn't offer butlers with every cabin, as one luxury vessel sailing to Antarctica does. Yet it's still a stylish and comfortable ship — more so than many expedition vessels.
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