Lindblad Expeditions just christened its latest ship — National Geographic Resolution — while on its inaugural Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands itinerary. The line’s first female captain, Heidi Norling, performed the honors in the Weddell Sea’s Duse Bay.
“I wish this ship calm winds, fair seas and great adventures,” Norling said. “May everyone who sails with her be blessed.”
Attendees watched her break a bottle of champagne onto the hull, fittingly from the ice with adelie and gentoo penguins nearby.
The expedition line now touts two polar newbuilds. Resolution is the sister ship to the recently launched National Geographic Endurance.
“Seeing both of our new ships together in Ushuaia, Argentina, was very touching,” said Sven Lindblad, founder and co-chair of the board. “They are extraordinary ships. We had very high expectations when we were building them — and their performance has far exceeded them.”
Like the Scandinavian-influenced Endurance, the 126-guest Resolution features full stabilization and a signature X-Bow for smooth sailing through rough waters.
“There is over 1,000 years of combined team expertise that go into a moment like this, and what an amazing team it is,” said Dolf Berle, CEO of Lindblad. “We are so proud of everyone who worked tirelessly to create this extraordinary ship.”
After a season in Antarctica, Resolution will reposition to Europe next spring, heading from Portugal to France and Scotland to Norway. Then the ship will spend the summer in the Arctic before returning to Antarctica via Pacific islands, Japan and the East China Sea.
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