Lindblad Expeditions adds Antarctica fly-cruise options

An eight-day itinerary flies round-trip across the Drake Passage and a 10-day itinerary crosses the Drake Passage by ship with an air return from King George Island.

'Fly the Drake Passage'

The eight- day 'Antarctica Direct: Fly the Drake Passage' expeditions fly round-trip across the Drake Passage to the Chilean base of Presidente Frey on King George Island where passengers embark National Geographic Explorer. On day seven, the ship will return to King George Island where passengers disembark and fly to Puerto Natales, Chile, where they overnight before beginning their journey home the next day.

This new expedition launches with limited time inaugural pricing, including return-trip private air to King George Island. Travelers who before Jan. 31, 2024 receive a special $500 expedition credit per person.

'Sail and Fly'

For the new 10-day 'Antarctica Direct: Sail and Fly the Drake Passage,' passengers embark National Geographic Explorer in Ushuaia, Argentina, and spend two days crossing Drake Passage then five days in Antarctica before arriving to King George Island, where they board their chartered flight to begin their journey home. Limited time inaugural pricing, including outbound private air to King George Island, is avaiable.

Travelers who book before Jan. 31, 2024 will receive a $1,000 expedition credit per person.

Immediate surge in demand

'While we’ve only just started accepting bookings from the public for our new Antarctica Direct itineraries on board National Geographic Explorer today, we’ve already seen a surge in demand for these accelerated expeditions,' said Noah Brodsky, chief commercial officer, Lindblad Expeditions. 'As part of our pre-launch teaser campaign, we opened a wait-list for eager travelers, which had more than 1,000 time-crunched past guests and first-timers registered.

'The incredible demand for our shorter Antarctica Direct offering in 2024-2025 makes this one of the most successful pre-launch campaigns in Lindblad Expeditions’ history.'

 Seven itineraries and nearly 50 departures

The new options bring Lindblad's 2024/25 Antarctica itineraries to seven and nearly 50 departures.

Next season the line will carry renowned scientists, birders, archaeologists, mountaineers and researchers on board to educate passengers.

Throughout the current 2023/24 season, Lindblad-National Geographic are hosting more than 20 visiting scientists sailing as part of a research program using the ships as a catalyst toward a more environmentally focused future. Travelers on select departures have the opportunity to participate in various projects, assisting with data collection, wildlife spotting and hands-on research.