By
Rebecca Gibson |
Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic has created two new ‘Epic Antarctica’ itineraries for its first purpose-built polar expedition cruise ship, National Geographic Endurance, which is scheduled for delivery in 2020.
To depart on 27 December 2020 and 26 January 2021, the extended itineraries will enable guests to explore rarely visited areas including the Antarctic Peninsula, Western Antarctica, the Ross Sea ice shelf, Macquarie and the sub-Antarctic islands of Australia and New Zealand.
Highlights will include the chance to visit UNESCO sites, walk on the ice in West Antarctica, kayak in bays and take a Zodiac cruise among the icebergs. There will also be ample opportunities to see wildlife, such as royal, gentoo, southern rockhopper, king and Adélie penguins.
Guests will be accompanied by an expedition leader, a team of veteran naturalists, a National Geographic photographer, a Lindblad-National Geographic certified photo instructor, an undersea specialist and a wellness specialist.
Named in honour of British explorer Ernest Shackleton, the 126-guest National Geographic Endurance was designed by Norway’s Ulstein Design & Solutions and will be built to Polar Class 5 standards. The vessel will feature Ulstein’s patented X-Bow hull to improve passenger comfort in rough weather. She will also have expanded fuel and water tanks to cater for extended operations in remote areas, as well as zero-speed stabilisers to ensure stability at all speeds. Interiors will be Scandinavian.
CRIST laid the ship’s keel at its yard in Gdynia, Poland this March and once complete, the hull will be moved to the Ulstein Verft shipyard in Norway so the ship can be fully assembled ahead of her delivery.