Tuesday, April 2, 2024

National Geographic Quest Small Ship Adventure Cruises Lindblad Expeditions

lindblad alaska cruise

After hiking, guests enjoyed a hot beverage on shore brought by National Geographic Sea Bird’s hospitality team, followed by an informal chat on food, wine, and energy by Naturalist Patrick MacQuarrie and Wine Expert Eric Degerman. After lunch, the ship transited the McNary Dam and Lock, the last one on the Columbia River. Guests were treated to an expert presentation on geology by Naturalist Kyle Bowman, and ‘Lewis and Clark Lead to World’s No.1 Wine’, presented by Wine Expert Eric Degerman. The evening concluded with cocktail hour, traditional recap, and dinner while sailing through the Wallula Gap.

lindblad alaska cruise

Alaska Family Cruises

He was very available, and made necessary changes smoothly when needed due to changing conditions. All naturalist guides were excellent and were clearly passionate about their work and sharing the wilderness with us. Alaska is a great destination and one should visit at least once in his/her lifetime.

National Geographic Quest  Overview

Divers, Jim and Lynn, added a whole different dimension to our experience. Local guides were essential to understanding Haida and Kwakwaka wakaw cultures. The Sea Bird is old and cabins are what they are, but still really good.

Cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage on National Geographic Venture

Here, calved glacier ice floats on top of the turquoise water, reflecting the bright snowcapped peaks of the Coast Range that mark the border with British Columbia a mere five miles away. All passengers regardless of their home country, citizenship or country of residency are responsible for obtaining the proper documentation for travel. This includes passports and visas for any country they may visit during their trip. The National Geographic Sea Bird and National Geographic Sea Lion are not wheelchair accessible and do not have elevators on board. In addition, some landings require walking through shallow water that may be difficult for those with mobility concerns.

Wild Alaska Escape: LeConte Bay, Wrangell, and the Misty Fjords

Potlach dances were highlight also as was the ability to meet Jim Hart and Christian White. When Andy didn't know an answer to a question while we were out and about, he went back to the boat, found answers and then shared them with me. Kevin Marshall's communications were clear, timely, and professional.

Shore Excursions on Lindblad Expeditions Alaska Cruises

Experience Alaska small ship style with the experience of Lindblad Expeditions in partnership with National Geographic.

Photography

I found the experts extremely knowledgeable and trustworthy while at the same time entertaining. 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. 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.

The best Alaska cruise for every type of traveler - The Points Guy

The best Alaska cruise for every type of traveler.

Posted: Mon, 05 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

The impact of this excursion resonated, for me, far more deeply than striking visuals. Campbell even gave a presentation on how to identify sustainable seafood, whether hunted, ranched, or farmed, and what to avoid. Throughout each talk, we learned a series of simple but startling facts about conservation, marine ecology, and sustainability that can be applied to daily life. For example, trawling for seafood – scraping the bottom of the sea – is horrible for biodiversity and the planet, as only about 10 percent of what is caught is the target fish. This is why avoiding trawled seafood, like most shrimp, is preferable for a more sustainable marine environment.

Food, Wine & Travel Resources

Lindblad Expeditions has been exploring the region’s wildest corners for more than 40 years, seeking out inlets and coves where larger cruise ships can’t sail and taking travelers deeper into pure wilderness. In these seldom-seen areas, you may witness the thunder of a calving glacier, kayak past foraging bears, or Zodiac alongside a pod of orcas. Become immersed in First Nations culture in Haida Gwaii, and explore epic wildernesses like Glacier Bay National Park, guided by passionate experts with wide-ranging knowledge of America’s final frontier. Lindblad Expeditions are noted for their expedition teams, and we couldn’t fault ours.

Also calling this area home is the Tsimshian, whose native lands stretch as far east as the Skeena River valley. Here, snowcapped, 2,000-foot peaks rise from the fjords to create barrier islands guarding the arms and passageways of the Alexander Archipelago from the rough-and-tumble Pacific Ocean to the west. When the sun does shine from above, the deep greens of this temperature rainforest contrast with the turquoise inlets and make it obvious why writers from Jack London to Ernestine Hayes have drawn inspiration from this region.

Each evening at cocktail hour the entire expedition community gathers in the lounge for an expedition ritual we call Recap. As you enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, various naturalists give talks, the undersea specialist may show video, and your expedition leader will outline the following day’s schedule. The itineraries could have been enriched and improved by more Zodiac rides, hiking activities and kayak paddling chances since there were a plenty of opportunities and down time. By surveying the ship we quickly realized the cruise was geared toward older and less active passengers. We too are seniors, but much more active, very curious and interested in discovering the new...[We least enjoyed] the Petersburg town center visit - most of the stores and museums were closed because it was Sunday.

lindblad alaska cruise

Lindblad Expeditions' small adventure ships sail to every nook and cranny of Alaska, offering guests the journey of a lifetime exploring all of the animals, natural wonders, and cultural treats Alaska has to offer. Sail between May and September on a 6- to 15-night cruise, visiting cities and tiny towns alike. All shore excursions and sightseeing entrance fees are included in your cruise fare, as is transfer to and from group flights and all meals onboard. Lindblad travelers tend to be up for adventure, and the line offers it in spades.

On the Venture and Quest, the Dining Room features a dazzling 270 degrees of glass by its aft location, meaning I was almost always guaranteed a window seat. Also on Venture and Quest, the bow viewing area is directly off the Lounge, which made it easy to view wildlife both indoors and outdoors based on the changing weather. It was no surprise that the captain on my Lindblad Alaska cruise (Captain Cook!) had graduated from years at the helm of the Sea Bird. Venture would stop or change course to allow further exploration of a natural phenomenon or in search of certain wildlife. Lindblad Expeditions has a photography expert and some Olympus cameras and lenses onboard for guests to try out.

There was a pleasant dining room and other spaces to gather with fellow travellers to check out the stunning views whilst underway. For those seeking a little pampering there is also a small spa / beauty salon. Do more than just see Alaska—be an active participant in all that it has to offer.

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