Lindblad Purchases Expedition Ship

Lindblad Expeditions has acquired a 150-guest ice-class polar expedition ship from Norwegian expedition cruise line Hurtigruten, which will begin operating in summer 2008. The ship, the Lyngen, will be renamed the National Geographic Explorer, per Lindblad's exclusive partnership with National Geographic, and be redesigned to provide guests innovative tools for exploring the undersea, the polar regions and other key destinations around the world. "This vessel will not only explore the remote corners of the world," said Sven Lindblad, founder and president of Lindblad Expeditions, "but with our partners at National Geographic, we hope to positively impact these regions through guest involvement in scientific research and conservation." The ship will house technology for sea exploration including zodiacs, kayaks, hydrophones, underwater HD cameras and a remote operated vehicle. Amenity wise, there will be multiple dining venues, a lounge area and wellness spa. Visit [www.expeditions.com]. (DE)