Expedition cruise ship to have Scandinavian-style venues created by Partner Ship Design
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Lindblad Expeditions’ first new polar expedition ship, National Geographic Endurance, will feature more than 10,000 square feet of glass windows and doors, as well as Scandinavian-style interiors inspired by the themes of fire and ice.
Named in honour of explorer Ernest Shackleton, the 126-guest vessel will debut in 2020 and will feature interiors designed by Germany-based company Partner Ship Design. The team has created ‘quiet luxe in the best Scandinavian design tradition’.
Onboard highlights will include a modern reception area, an Ice Lounge, The Den on the Observation Deck, twin infinity Jacuzzis, saunas with views over the ocean, a glass-walled yoga studio, The Sanctuary spa area and Recap, which will host talks and presentations. There will also be a fleet of Zodiacs, kayaks, snowshoes, cross-country skis, a remotely operated underwater vehicle, hydrophones, a video microscope and more.
Accommodation will comprise 13 extra-large balcony suites – each named after a famous polar explorer – that will have full-height windows, furnished balconies, walk-in closets, stone-clad bathrooms, beds with feather duvets, artwork and a warn neutral colour scheme. The ship will also boast 56 standard cabins – including 12 for single travellers – which will have a sofa or reading chair, a retractable lighted vanity mirror, and the line’s new Command Center, which includes a National Geographic Atlas, barometer, analogue clock, a digital tablet with daily programming and a range of USB and universal electrical ports for cameras and devices. Forty of the cabins also have balconies.
Guests will be able to choose from various dining venues, such as Two Seven Zeroº, Recap, the heated outdoor Winter Garden barbeque restaurant, and C. Green’s, which bears the name of Shackelton’s cook. All guests will also be offered the chance to eat at The Chef’s Table and enjoy ‘polar theatre’ as the chef creates inventive dishes inspired by the cuisine of the region.
National Geographic Endurance will also be built to ice-class standards and feature a patented X-Bow hull designed by Lindblad’s Norwegian shipbuilder, Ulstein, to increase fuel efficiency and minimise emissions. The X-Bow also improves guest comfort and provides more space for passengers to view the ocean and wildlife because there are unobstructed downward sight lines, glass rails on the top deck and multiple walk-out areas from the Bridge, and Observation Lounge.
When she debuts in 2020, National Geographic Endurance will sail eight inaugural Arctic itineraries, taking guests to ports in Svalbard and East Greenland. There will also be a ‘Northeast Passage: An Unforgettable Voyage from Norway to Alaska’ voyage with highlights including Franz Josef Land, Severnaya Zemlya, the Siberian coast and Wrangel Island.