Cruise adventures | Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic

Susan Skelly meets the scion of a family with a thirst for adventure, a long association with people who care about the planet, and cruising in its blood.

Jeremy Lindblad has travel in his blood. Born and raised in New York, he is the grandson of Lars-Eric Lindblad, “the father of ecotourism” and the son of Sven Lindblad, founder and president of Lindblad Expeditions. Jeremy has, from a young age, travelled extensively to remote and exciting places. Now business development director for Australia and the Pacific he is busy introducing the new European voyages of the National Geographic Orion in 2016. (The alliance between Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic was forged in 2004 and the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic fleet now comprises 10 ships, exploring some of the planet’s most interesting places, including the Galapagos, Antarctica, Central America and Europe.)

Safe harbour in picturesque Oporto, on the north of Portugal. Photo: Shutterstock

What was your first expedition and how old were you?

To be honest, I don’t remember my first expedition as I was an infant. My parents travelled and therefore I went with them, whether that be on one of our ships or on land. The first expedition that I remember was to Baja California when I was 4 or 5 years old.

What do you remember most about it?

The team of naturalist staff members on board. These people were superheroes to me, filled with knowledge and lacking any sense of fear! I remember playing with baby gray whales in Magdalena Bay, seeing giant cacti, jumping off massive sand dunes and swimming with sea lions.

Sven Lindblad Jeremy Lindblad travel DNA

Cruise pioneer Sven Lindblad and son Jeremy Lindblad, heeding the call of the wild.

Which do you prefer – sea or land?

I love travelling by sea for a number of reasons; the pace of travel, access to difficult to reach places and the camaraderie on board.

How do those inside the cruise industry categorise cruises?

We focus solely on small ship, expedition travel which is defined by purpose and geography, less by the type of ship. We operate everything from a 120m, 148-passenger ice classed vessel called the National Geographic Explorer to a 4-masted, 58 passenger wooden sailing vessel called the Sea Cloud.

What do you see as the Lindblad point of difference?

Lindblad Expeditions, along with our partner National Geographic, work to inspire people to explore and care about the planet. We have many years of experience exploring the far reaches of the world with some of the most intelligent and engaging staff in existence. We work tirelessly to create unique and exciting itineraries that are illuminated by these fantastic staff who have access to the best expedition tools available. We believe that our expeditions are the most exhilarating travel experiences that a human being can have.

Penguin Lindblad Expedition National Geographic Antarctica

I think it’s next on the right, sir … happy feet on an Antarctic stopover. Photo Michael S Nolan

Cruising has boomed in recent years. What have been the game changers?

There has clearly been an increase in operators, which we believe is good for our industry as more people have the opportunity to see what travelling by sea can offer them. This, along with increased interest in the polar regions and archipelagos like the Galápagos have caused travellers to look seaward for these types of adventures.

What do see as the most enticing offerings from Lindblad in 2016?

2016 marks the 50^th anniversary of my grandfather’s first expedition to Antarctica. This, along with the fact that it is the 100^th anniversary of Shackleton’s famed journey from Elephant Island to South Georgia Island leads me to say that Antarctica is going to continue to entice our guests. We have also developed a new series of seven-night trips in Europe aboard the National Geographic Orion that we believe will offer our guests something completely new from us in 2016.