As part of a merger deal to take the company public, Lindblad Expeditions plans on building two expedition ships over the next three years, according to Sven-Olof Lindblad,
founder and president.
“In
order to grow, we need to expand inventory,” said Lindblad. He noted that the
company will order one ship for delivery in 2017 and one
in 2018, though would not specify where those ships would
sail.
Lindblad
said the size of the vessels would be in line with the expedition ships
currently in the Lindblad fleet. Lindblad owns and operates six
National Geographic-branded vessels, ranging in size from the 47-passenger
National Geographic Islander to the 148-passenger National Geographic Explorer.
Lindblad said the company will continue its strategic partnership with
National Geographic at least through 2025.