Expedition Stories

Our fleet navigates the world in search of adventure. These are the stories they bring back…

World View

8/21/2019

11 Min Read

My Wild Polynesia: Exploring Remote & Storied Islands

I was lucky to meet Lars-Eric Lindblad back in 1977; he immediately hired me to be a naturalist, lecturer, boat handler, and guide aboard his famous ship Lindblad Explorer, otherwise known as the “Little Red Ship.” This was the original Expedition Passenger Vessel, a designation made up by the U. S. Coast Guard by necessity in order to categorize this exceptional ship. Lindblad has been in the business of conducting expeditions, ever since. And now, under Sven Lindblad’s guidance, a fleet of 13 ships has replaced the original "Little Red Ship".

World View

5/1/2020

5 Min Read

The Indelible Mark of the Marquesas Islands

Tattoos are so ubiquitous around the world these days, it’s easy to barely even notice them at all. But there’s one place where the tattoos are so distinctive and artful they stand out from the inking seen anywhere else. That place is the remote and rugged Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia.

World View

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Spotting Manta Rays

The Marquesas Islands are one of the few places where divers and snorkelers can see both the oceanic and reef species of manta rays. Their unique spot patterns can serve as data points to track the manta ray populations in this region.

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Daily Expedition Reports

Follow Along

Daily Expedition Reports

11/4/2024

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National Geographic Endurance

Royal and Cooper Bays, South Georgia

Our adventure began with high hopes for Royal Bay and Drygalski Fjord in South Georgia. After a peaceful breakfast aboard National Geographic Endurance , we arrived at Royal Bay where we marveled at the towering ice walls from the ship, setting an awe-inspiring tone for the day.   Leaving the massive walls of ice surrounding the bay, we navigated through spectacular fjords where pristine glaciers were accompanied by graceful snow petrels gliding against the icy-blue backdrop. Our day culminated in Cooper Bay with exhilarating Zodiac cruises, where we encountered a bustling world of wildlife. Macaroni penguins perched along rocky ledges, fur seals lounged by the water, and we were even graced by a close encounter with a massive leopard seal.   The evening wrapped up with insightful recaps and a delicious dinner, a perfect close to an unforgettable day in South Georgia.

Daily Expedition Reports

11/3/2024

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National Geographic Orion

Ulva and Stewart Islands, Aotearoa, New Zealand

The final day of our extraordinary expedition in Aotearoa, New Zealand had us exploring our southernmost points of Ulva and Stewart Islands. We began the day looking for native and endemic birds at Ulva Island and had a final stroll in the small town of Oban on Stewart Island. The sun was out, the seas were calm, and it was a perfect finish to our voyage.

Daily Expedition Reports

11/2/2024

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National Geographic Resolution

Parque La Tapera, Aysén, Chilean Fjords

Today we were privileged to have been granted permission to visit La Tapera Park, a private, protected area. Owned by a Chilean family, this park is open to people with an interest in nature, and being so remote, access is complicated to say the least. We were the first expedition ship to ever visit the area, and thanks to the incredible skills of Captain Heidi Norling and the bridge team, we crossed into the previously uncharted waters, only recently covered by a glacier. We sailed close to land where no ship had ever been before!

Daily Expedition Reports

11/2/2024

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National Geographic Orion

Fiordland National Park

Another phenomenal day was had in Fiordland National Park as National Geographic Orion departed our anchorage in Doubtful Sound in the morning and headed on to Dusky Sound. Mother Nature showed us all of her glory with a full range of weather as we plied the waters via ship and Zodiac. Birds galore and a visit by Hector’s dolphins whet the appetite for our intrepid explorers as we witnessed the spectacular geology and flora of this area.

Daily Expedition Reports

11/2/2024

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National Geographic Explorer

New Island, Falkland Islands

The wind was gusting 60 knots between us and New Island when we woke up this morning, even the birds were struggling to find their way. Plans onboard National Geographic Explorer pivoted to presentations from our talented naturalists while we waited for the weather to calm down as forecasted. We were provided with gems of information, including “Introduction to Expedition Photography” and “Baleen Whales of the Southern Ocean”.   The weather played to our favor in the afternoon, allowing us to land on the beach to a welcoming cacophony of kelp geese. A short hike took us to sheer cliffs on the other side of the island where thousands of albatross and rockhopper penguins were busy mating. With albatross soaring overhead and rockhoppers hopping up from the shore, it was a wonder how close we could be to this hive of activity, with the birds paying no attention to our presence. Wildlife up close and personal is a memorable experience.