New Ship
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS BUYS ADDITIONAL ICE-CLASS
POLAR EXPEDITION VESSEL FOR FLEET
The new NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER will set sail in the summer of 2008.
New York, NY, October 16, 2007
– (New York, NY) Lindblad Expeditions (LEX), the NY-basedexpedition travel pioneer, has announced the newest addition to its fleet, an ice-class polar expedition
vessel that will hold approximately 150 guests and will set sail in the summer of 2008. The ship, the
Lyngen,
purchased from the Norwegian company Hurtigruten, will be renamed the National GeographicExplorer
and will be redesigned to provide travelers with the most innovative tools for exploring theundersea, the polar regions and key destinations around the globe. The ship will be the seventh in the
Lindblad fleet.
Built in 1982, Lindblad’s new ship will undergo extensive renovations to become a state-of-the-art vessel
offering guests an intimate, educational environment. The new ship, like all Lindblad vessels, will carry
the name of National Geographic, showcasing the deepening relationship between the two organizations.
In addition, the ship’s new name reflects the National Geographic Society’s century of exploration and
the name of Lindblad Travel’s first ship, the
Lindblad Explorer, which was commissioned in 1969 byLars-Eric Lindblad, known to many as the ‘father of eco-tourism,’ as the world’s first purpose-built
expedition ship.
“Adding the
National Geographic Explorer to our fleet of ships enables us to bring to life, in the fullestsense, the name of my father’s first ship, but with all of the best tools for exploring and the comfort of a
21
st-century expedition ship,” said Sven Lindblad, founder and president of Lindblad Expeditions. “Thisvessel will not only explore the remote corners of the world, but with our partners at NGS, we hope to
positively impact these regions through guest involvement in scientific research and conservation”.
Building upon Lindblad Expedition’s spirit of exploration and discovery, the
National GeographicExplorer
will house technology for sea exploration, such as zodiacs, kayaks, hydro-phones, underwaterHD cameras and a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV). Additional ship-enhancement plans include the
development of multiple dining venues, a lounge area designed specifically for educational presentations
and a luxury wellness spa.
The vessel, staffed with highly experienced LEX and National Geographic undersea experts,
photographers, naturalists and expedition leaders will be deployed from the Arctic next summer and will
sail to Greenland, Iceland, the Canadian Arctic and down the east coast of the U.S. before sailing to
Antarctica via the west coast of South America.
Lindblad Expeditions will be highlighting, on its website (
www.expeditions.com), the eight-monthjourney of the
National Geographic Explorer as it is transformed into an ultra-modern expedition vessel.Weekly updates from the shipyard, including photos, will enable maritime buffs and travel enthusiasts a
rare opportunity to observe this dramatic ship overhaul.
About National Geographic
The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational
organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society works to
inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 300 million people worldwide each month
through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel;
television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; school publishing programs;
interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 8,000 scientific research
projects and supports an education program combating geographic illiteracy. For more information, visit
nationalgeographic.com.
About Lindblad Expeditions
Lindblad Expeditions is an expedition travel company providing voyages in the Galápagos, Antarctica,
Baja California, Alaska, the Arctic, and beyond. Sven Lindblad has received international recognition,
including the 2007 Global Tourism Business Award, 2007 Seafood Champion Award, U.N. Programme
Global 500 Award, and recognition from HRH, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg for his dedication to
the conservation and environmental stewardship of the Galápagos archipelago. The company has also
been named #1 Small-Ship Cruise Line (Travel + Leisure's World's Best Value Awards 2006); “The Best
Ships in the World” and “The Best Itineraries” (Condé Nast Traveler: Truth in Travel Awards 2006).
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