LINDBLAD Expeditions has revealed details and renders of its first new polar build, National Geographic Endurance.
The 126-passenger vessel will begin sailing in 2020 on a series of eight inaugural Arctic itineraries.
The cruise line said National Geographic Endurance would provide “unprecedented access to polar environments” due to its design, opening up “previously unexplored areas as well as allowing Lindblad to explore familiar geographies for longer in polar environments”.
Highlights of the inaugural season include the 26-day Northeast Passage: An Unforgettable Voyage from Norway to Alaska, which will venture to Franz Josef Land, Severnaya Zemlya, the barely explored Siberian coast, and Wrangel Island.
The 20-day East Greenland: Wild Shores of the High Arctic itinerary will explore the largest national park in the world — Northeast Greenland National Park — to find polar bears, seals, walrus, crevasse-laced glaciers; mountains made from some of the oldest rock, and coastal villages.
A distinctive feature of the vessel is its “X-bow”, designed to provide a smoother ride, facilitating greater fuel efficiency.
In the dining department, Restaurant Two Seven Zero will offer stellar views, while C. Green’s, named for Shackelton’s cook, will serve an early riser breakfast, fresh salads and lighter fare It will also offer custom grilled selections and each guest will be invited to enjoy a meal at The Chef’s Table.
Daily high tea, hors d’oeuvres at Recap, and BBQs in the heated outdoor Winter Garden round out the new level of dining.
National Geographic Endurance will sport luxuriously appointed interiors and Scandinavian design, with fire and ice as key design themes throughout the ship.
Guests will also have the chance to indulge in spa treatments and therapies at The Sanctuary, offering twin infinity Jacuzzis, saunas with stunning views, and a glass-walled yoga studio.
National Geographic Endurance will feature 13 extra-large balcony suites with a walk-in closet and roomy stone-clad baths. All cabins will have a sofa or reading chair, as well as the new “Command Center” with a National Geographic Atlas, barometer, analogue clock, digital tablet with daily programs, USB and universal electrical ports.
