Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic will launch the 102-guest National Geographic Orion March 2014. An inaugural series of three voyages have been created that will explore cultures, islands and diving and snorkeling locations.
The newest addition to the Lindblad fleet, National Geographic Orion will be equipped with a full roster of exploration tools including kayaks, a ROV (remote operated vehicle reaching depths up to 1,000 feet), full snorkeling gear for all, and a SCUBA program that can accommodate up to 24 divers at a time. The expedition team will resemble the National Geographic Explorer, and will include a National Geographic photographer on most departures.
The three special inaugural sailings include:
· Exploring Papua New Guinea & the Islands of Vanuatu & the Solomons: Embark in Auckland, New Zealand and set off on a voyage in the wake of Captain Cook. Delve into a history of explorers, convicts, headhunters and traders in the exploration of Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea and the Torres Strait. In Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, don scuba and snorkel gear to discover coral reefs and lagoons, revisit World War II history and get to know island cultures. Cap off the journey snorkeling or diving Australia’s the Great Barrier Reef. The voyage departs March 19, 2014 for 25 days/22 nights. Rates begin at $25,390 per person based on double occupancy in a category 1 cabin.
Expedition highlights include:
- Experience the cultures of Melanesia—Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands & Papua New Guinea—in one voyage.
- Beaches, snorkeling and diving experiences, including three days exploring the Great Barrier Reef.
- Remote islands such as Norfolk Island, a UNESCO site commemorating Australian convict settlements, and Kennedy Island, site of JFK’s PT-109 rescue.
- Witness a diversity of cultures, see traditional communities and some of the best places in the world to collect “tribal” or “primitive” art.
- Travel with National Geographic photographer Amy Toensing, known for her essays about the lives of ordinary people close to home and on the other side of the globe - including the jungles of Papua New Guinea and the Australian outback.
· The Great Barrier Reef, Papua New Guinea & Micronesia: Visit marine habitats. Experience the biodiversity of the Great Barrier Reef and snorkel among hundreds of stingless jellyfish in Palau. Encounter the vestiges of World War II battles in Papua New Guinea and Micronesia, and get acquainted with the cultures of the South Pacific. The voyage departs April 9, 2014 for 22 days/19 nights. Rates begin at $19,990 per person based on double occupancy in a category 1 cabin.
Expedition highlights include:
- Snorkel or dive amid corals and marine life off Lizard Island National Park on the Great Barrier Reef.
- Witness a swirl of flowers, feathers, and woven grasses at a festive traditional dance performance on the island of Kitava, Papua New Guinea.
- Discover World War II cave systems, torpedoes, and shipwrecks in the tropical island of Chuuk, Micronesia.
- Experience age-old traditions untainted by time on the islands of Micronesia’s Yap State.
- Voyage with National Geographic photographer David Doubilet, acclaimed for his award-winning underwater photography.
· Voyage to the Spice Islands & the Coral Triangle: Scattered across the tropical seas, the islands of eastern Indonesia are fringed with white-sand beaches, karst pinnacles and coral reef systems. Sail south from Palau to the Moluccas archipelago—once known as the Spice Islands. Witness marine biodiversity in Raja Ampat, discover the legacy of the Dutch East India Company in the Banda Islands and experience island cultures from West Papua to Timor. The expedition departs April 27, 2014 for 17 days/14 nights. Rates begin at $14,730 per person based on double occupancy in a category 1 cabin.
Expedition highlights include:
- Glide a Zodiac among the emerald-tufted Rock Islands of Palau, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and kayak beneath the karst formations of Bird’s Head Peninsula.
- Immerse yourself in a world of coral and tropical fish while snorkeling or diving Raja Ampat.
- Examine ancient rock art and encounter a patchwork of cultures on these remote islands.
- Explore the history of the spice trade in Dutch East Indies, and see vestiges of World War II.
- Travel with National Geographic photographer David Doubilet, whose personal challenge is to create a visual voice for the world’s oceans and to connect people to the beauty within the invisible world below.
For more information, visit www.expeditions.com.