Page 15 - 2020 CIN Expedition Market Report
P. 15
EXPEDITION
MARKET
“Within that, diversity is important,” he continued, “so
if it is wildlife, for example, we are not just looking at a few
species, but for diversity. On the flip side, the same goes for
cultural destinations. In the British Isles, for example, you
can have both wildlife and cultural diversity.
“And we like to surprise our guests with something they
were not expecting so afterwards they can say ‘wow, that’s
why we chose you guys.’”
Northeast Greenland Trey Byus, chief expedition officer
Lindblad will soon have 10 owned ships and five on charter, “We have a deep level of
according to Byus, which will give the company the ability experience and a great
to have three ships in Antarctica during the winter, while working relationship
also recognizing that not everybody wants to go to a cold between the expedition
place. Hence, another ship will be in Papua New Guinea and leaders and navigators on the
Micronesia during the same timeframe. bridge.“
“More ships will open up more areas for us, not that we it has been before, spending more time, and offering new
have not been there before, but now we can have more ships experiences.
in more areas at the same time.”
Among the new programs offered is the Ross Sea, West
Lindblad’s new ships, the National Geographic Endurance Antarctica and New Zealand, and two Northeast Passage
and Resolution, are built to ice class PC 5 and will be able to transits during the 2021 summer between Nome and Tromsø.
access destinations that otherwise would have been beyond
reach, such as Northeast Greenland. The brand is also a major player in the small-ship Alaska
market. “We offer a strong value proposition,” said Byus. “We
“We have already been up a fair distance on the northeast take small groups into places big ships cannot even dream
coast,” Byus said, “but with our new ships we will be able to go about going and hike in places you can barely see in binoculars
much higher up. We will be in places we have not been before from their decks.
and make landings where no one has ever put foot before.
“We embark in Juneau and Sitka and don’t see many other
“Northeast Greenland has the largest national park on communities. Instead, we are exploring the coast and have
earth which, ironically, has the lowest visitation rate of any been doing this for decades so we have a ton of experience
national park. and knowledge.”
“We will go six miles One of the attractions is the Inian Islands, which act as a
out of our way to funnel when the Pacific Ocean water comes in on the tide in
see whales while Southeast Alaska every six hours, Byus explained. The tide,
somebody else might current, upwelling and churning make the area extremely
instead be focused on fuel rich, attracting all kinds of wildlife, whales, seals and birds.
savings and that can happen
if you charter a vessel from The islands are located just west of the entrance to Glacier
somebody else who is paying Bay and at the base of the Fairweather Mountain Range, rising
the fuel cost.” from sea level up to 15,000 feet.
“With those itineraries we will offer some exciting guest “We have also supported the Alaska Whale Foundation for
experiences like cross country skiing, kayaking among ice- years,” Byus continued. “They have small groups of scientists
bergs, and close encounters with wildlife.” with their own boat. As they are out there researching whales,
we try to hook up with them on our voyages and have them
Different Alaska come aboard and tell us what they are doing.”
For 2021 and 2022, Byus said that Lindblad will be offer-
ing not only new itineraries but is also going back to where
Cruise Industry News: 2020 Expedition Market Report 77
