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Lindblad's polar newbuild has Nordic interiors, lots of glass, long range

RENDERING: Lindblad Expeditions
There will be 13 extra-large balcony suites
Lindblad Expeditions took the wraps off the interior design of its first polar newbuild and said National Geographic Endurance will enter service in early 2020 with eight Arctic itineraries, including a Northeast Passage trek.

The 126-passenger ship will have luxurious interiors of Scandinavian style conceived by Partnership Design in Hamburg.

With six guest decks, National Geographic Endurance has more than 10,000 square feet of glass to afford great views.

Fire and ice

Fire and ice are twin themes throughout, in the color schemes and the feelings engendered by the spaces. The Ice Lounge will have a ‘chill’ cool, while The Den on the Observation Deck will offer the conversation-kindling warmth of a fireplace.

Spa treatments and therapies will be offered in The Sanctuary with stunning twin infinity Jacuzzis, saunas with million-dollar views and a glass-walled yoga studio.

Thirteen extra-large balcony suites—each named for a famous polar explorer—are designed to impart a feeling of serenity with warm creams, oatmeal and coral, soft textures, round corners, art and Lindblad’s signature feather duvets, plus a walk-in closet and roomy, stone-clad baths. Full-height windows and furnished balconies bring the scenery in.

In the 56 standard cabins, azure accents meet polar vistas at the windows for a feeling of expansive yet cozy space. Forty of these rooms, including the 12 solo cabins, feature a balcony.

A 'Command Center' in every accommodation

All of the 69 accommodations have a sofa or reading chair, as well as the new 'Command Center' with a National Geographic Atlas, barometer, analog clock, digital tablet with daily programming and a generous array of USB and universal electrical ports for cameras and devices, plus a retractable lighted vanity mirror.

Restaurant Two Seven Zeroº surrounds superb dining with stellar views. C. Green’s, named for explorer Ernest Shackleton’s cook, offers an early riser breakfast, fresh salads and lighter fare, plus custom-grilled selections at lunch and dinner. The Chef’s Table is an innovative approach to private dining.

Over the course of each voyage, all passengers will be hosted by the chef. Intimate and interactive, each dinner features ‘polar theater’ in the form of regionally inspired, sustainable and inventive food. In addition, daily high tea, hors d’oeuvres at recap and barbecues in the heated outdoor Winter Garden round out the new level of dining.

Exploration tools

The ship will feature a suite of Lindblad’s signature tools for exploration: a fleet of Zodiacs, kayaks, snowshoes, cross-country skis, an ROV, hydrophones, video microscope, underwater video technology, hyper-efficient Zodiac loading for ‘getting out there’ more swiftly and safely, plus more expedition enhancements to be announced soon.

With a high ice class rating (PC5 Category A), the X-BOW ship will be able to explore remote polar areas with the capacity for long-range itineraries. The X-BOW also significantly increases the ability to observe wildlife by enabling optimal forward and straight down-the-sides viewing—no leaning out over the deck rail required. There will be multiple walk-out areas from the bridge and Observation Lounge and glass rails on the top deck to create superb conditions for viewing and photography.

Remote routes

National Geographic Endurance will venture to Svalbard in the spring, and will sail a Northeast Passage voyage from Norway to Alaska. This High Arctic route includes Franz Josef Land, Severnaya Zemlya, the barely explored Siberian coast and Wrangel Island.

East Greenland, flanked by thousands of bergs calved from the massive ice sheet, is where National Geographic Endurance will enter the largest national park in the world, Northeast Greenland National Park, to see polar bears, seals, walrus, crevasse-laced glaciers, mountains and coastal villages.