Lindblad Expeditions' new ship, the National Geographic
Quest, made its inaugural voyage from Juneau, Alaska, on July 29.
The introduction of the 100-passenger ship, the first
newbuild ever for Lindblad, was delayed for a month by a flawed launch at the
shipyard that damaged a rudder and propeller.
The inaugural cruise was an eight-day trip in southeast
Alaska. After doing a few cruises in Alaska, the ship will depart Sept. 2 for a
series of voyages between Seattle and Vancouver before leaving in December for
winter sailing in Panama and Costa Rica.
Sven Lindblad, CEO and President of Lindblad Expeditions, praised
his team for "having played an important role in the building and launch
of the most sophisticated and beautiful ship built in the U.S. in decades."