The Lindblad Expeditions head is currently in town to celebrate the line’s 60th anniversary, sharing with Cruise Weekly that her brand’s ambition for Australia matched the growing size of the local adventure travel market.
“I very deeply and passionately believe that our brand could be so much bigger in Australia… we should be the number one expedition company for Australian guests,” she said.
“The Australian expedition market is one of the fastest-growing markets and we are very committed to the market, and making our brand more known and available to Australian guests,” she added.One of the ways Lindblad is targeting Australian passengers is through more attractive fly-cruise options, Leahy explained.
This has seen Lindblad add more Vancouver round trips on its Alaska product – one of Australia’s most popular destinations.
Lindblad now offers a 14-day Vancouver round trip option in Alaska, as well as seven-day segments between Vancouver and Sitka.
“That direct airlift for Australian guests is one of the things we definitely keep in mind for this market as well, to make it more accessible,” Leahy explained.
“It is symbolic of our deep commitment to making Australia one of our most strategic markets in the world.”
Australia is so important to Lindblad, Leahy said, because the market’s travellers are the perfect fit for the cruise line’s immersive and educational travel style.
Other top destinations for Lindblad out of the Australian market include Antarctica, the Arctic, and the Galapagos.
