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Spend 3-4 nights at a remote backcountry lodge situated 90 miles inside Denali National Park. Unbeatable wildlife viewing, landscape photography, guided hikes, fishing, dog sleds and an Alaska railroad ride can be customized to complement any Alaska small ship cruise. Compare and contrast the various Lindblad Alaska cruises and ships from an expert who's been aboard. Learn what stands out about Lindblad's Alaska programming, guides and crew.
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This afternoon cruise Eastern Passage and Blake Channel, narrow waterways on the backside of Wrangell island where other ships rarely venture. One of two new ships expressly built for polar waters, National Geographic Resolution is named to honor the second voyage of the legendary Captain James Cook. A fully-stabilized vessel with ice class PC5, Category A, she will enable adventurous guests to go where few have or can.
5 of 5 Alaska National Geographic Venture Alaska Cruise Reviews
Our partners at Travelex Insurance offer a variety of plans and policies to fit every trip and budget. Coverage for a pre-existing medical condition is also available if you purchase the Travel Select plan within 15 days of the initial trip payment; refer to plan details. Travelers under the age of 18 at time of travel save $500, at double occupancy.
Review: Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess
I followed my advice, knowing we had very few ports of call and that catching up to National Geographic Venture would be near impossible. No matter how often I have explored the Last Frontier, I am ready to return. What could be more interesting than exploring the Inside Passage of Alaska and British Columbia with Lindblad Expeditions? Lindblad partners with National Geographic to immerse guests in this wondrous area. Back on the ship, the National Geographic photographer helped select my best pictures and gave me advice to improve my shooting. He also suggested cropping some of my photos to eliminate a distracting background and draw a viewer's eyes to the subject more easily.
From expedition leaders to naturalists, most hold advanced degrees and are established authorities in their fields. Some join a few expeditions each year to explore the same sites, some of them spending some time in the field away from rigorous academic work. And others lead expeditions all around the world—with many guests saying, “Where you’re going, we’re going,” and returning time after time to travel with them. Browse our team directory to discover the full cast of expedition staff. Enjoy active exploration amid a dramatic scenery of mountains, fjords, rivers and glaciers along the Inside Passage of Alaska and British Columbia.
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But if money were no object, I wouldn't hesitate to take another Lindblad Expeditions - National Geographic cruise to explore a new destination, like Portugal or Iceland. While seeing the glaciers felt magical, I was also left with a sense of sadness knowing that I might never see these ice structures in the same way, as glaciers are rapidly receding as a result of climate change. The Dawes glacier, which we visited on the Zodiacs, has retreated 3.8 kilometers since 1985, at a rate of 105 meters per year, according to the American Geophysical Union. The Mendenhall Glacier, which we visited in Juneau, has receded 800 feet just between 2021 and 2022, according to Juneau's KTOO News.
Take advantage of spectacular photographic opportunities, practicing tricks and tips from a certified photo instructor. The experienced captain reads the ice and bring the ship as close as possible to the glacier. Set out by expedition landing craft to navigate among these surreal floating sculptures. Navigate the stunning Wrangell Narrows, an area inaccessible to larger ships, and then cruise into the Sumner Strait, keeping watch for humpback whales surfacing and sea otters gliding through the clear water around our ship.
Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Cruises Review [2024] - Upgraded Points
Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Cruises Review .
Posted: Tue, 09 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
National Geographic Quest Deck Plan
Her design innovations were informed by 50+ years of expedition expertise to ensure extraordinary discoveries. National Geographic Quest was purpose-built to explore the Americas, her design and engineering informed by our nearly 40 years of experience in these regions. See the world from a new perspective with a veteran expedition team by your side and leading the way. Venture would stop or change course to allow further exploration of a natural phenomenon or in search of certain wildlife. Leaving Seattle, we headed to the San Juan Islands, a popular spot for orcas.
Led by our Expedition Team of naturalists and experts, learn all about the nature and wildlife we encounter. Learn about the living indigenous culture of the region from the Kwakwaka'wakw people; explore the charming provincial capital of Victoria; and sail the waters where orcas gather to hunt in Johnstone Strait. In terms of other Alaska cruises, there are more frugal ways to plan a trip, and you can find cheaper rates on routes in the Sitka region with carriers like Carnival, as of May 2023. However, if you're willing to splurge, I think the wildlife excursions, nature experiences, and connection with naturalists and National Geographic experts are worth the price. There were four naturalists on my cruise, with specialties ranging from geology to undersea studies, as well as one National Geographic photographer.
Later, kayaking was canceled due to the winds, but we took out on the zodiacs to explore the area. Our competent guide and birder pointed out different types of birds and spotted an eagle high in a tree. We learned about the area’s geology before returning to the ship for lunch. The lounge functioned as a window on wildlife, with glass enclosing much of the space. From the lounge, guests could head out to the bow to get an unobstructed view of the surroundings, whether on land or sea. Being a small ship, NatGeo Venture contains few public spaces besides the dining room, a lounge, and an outdoor deck.
We really enjoyed the naturalists and programs, though didn’t attend all that was offered as it would have been more than we wanted. Some days were a little slow for the kids, but they managed as there were a few other children on board. The seas became rougher, and the captain moved the ship to a more protected area. We later set out again in the zodiacs and hiked around another part of Sucia with our octopus expert guide, explaining the local nature along the way. Each day, we disembarked the ship and boarded smaller boats called Zodiacs, which were inflatable vessels about the size of life rafts and used for expeditions.
We ventured into inlets, searched for sea life, and hoped for calving glaciers. We saw bears, moose, whales, sea lions, porpoises, puffins, and a variety of birds. Breakfast came as a buffet with a special dish usually offered each morning. New small ship cruises, adventure trips, ships & the best deals at your fingertips. This 14-day itinerary between Seattle, Washington, and Sitka, Alaska, is an educational voyage aboard 100-guest sister ships National Geographic Quest or Venture.
Explore the coast by kayak or expedition landing craft and go ashore to trace bear trails through forests intersected by crystalline salmon streams and learn about the rain forest ecosystem from naturalist guides. Fix binoculars on the banks to spot Sitka black-tailed deer and moose, as well as black bears, wolves and bald eagles that frequent the shoreline in search of plentiful salmon. Navigate the stunning Wrangell Narrows, an area inaccessible to larger ships, and then cruise into the Sumner Strait, keeping watch for humpback whales surfacing and sea otters gliding through the clear water around the ship.
The ability to be flexible makes this type of small ship cruising unique. Gratuities for all departures of National Geographic Explorer, Orion, Endurance, Resolution, Sea Cloud, Jahan and Lord of the Glens. More than simply recreational travel, Lindblad is known for its emphasis on natural history. Topics of onboard presentations ranged from the impact of climate change on Alaska to insight into whale behaviors and wildlife photography tips. Zodiacs dropped into the frigid water and Venture’s 61 guests were invited to spend the morning navigating the dramatic landscape. Any disappointment from not being able to reach the face of the glacier quickly evaporated, thanks to what naturalists described as an unheard of parade of “charismatic megafauna,” or wildlife.
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