National Geographic Venture

The 2018-built National Geographic Venture cruise ship is one of the newer Lindblad-National Geographic expedition vessels, with her sistership NatGeo Quest (2017).

The vessel (IMO number 9799044) is USA-flagged (MMSI 369358000) and registered in Seattle.

History – construction and ownership

The 100-passenger Nat Geo Venture is an expedition ship with an ice-strengthened hull, fully stabilized and designed with a relatively shallow draft (9 ft / 2.7 m), allowing safe navigation in a wide range of regions.

Built at Washington’s Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, Nat Geo Venture is the third larger vessel in the Lindblad fleet. This new trio of same-design ships was constructed by the same yard that built Lindblad’s long-serving 62-passenger vessels Sea Lion and Sea Bird. Compared to the older ships, the newbuilds feature an additional deck, enhanced design, new cabin categories, and upgraded facilities and amenities (including a mudroom with lockers, snorkeling equipment, and other gear). The ship’s ROV (remotely operated vehicle) can dive to depths of up to 1000 ft / 305 m.

National Geographic Venture is owned and operated by Lindblad Expeditions in cooperation with the National Geographic Society (NatGeo), a US-based nonprofit for science and education. This partnership enables expedition-style travel, giving passengers opportunities for active exploration, Zodiac landings, and wildlife viewing in remote destinations.

Decks and Cabins

National Geographic Venture has 4 decks (3 with cabins) and 50 staterooms.

Among all passenger cabins, 22 have small step-out balconies (accessed through floor-to-ceiling sliding doors), and 12 (6 pairs) are connecting cabins with internal doorways, allowing families to combine two adjacent rooms.

All Category 5 suites can accommodate a third guest on a convertible sofabed.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

Nat Geo Venture has one Main Dining Room offering single-seating dining with unassigned tables. Meals are prepared using fresh, local, and sustainably sourced ingredients whenever possible. When weather permits, light fare is served outdoors on the observation deck.

Lindblad’s “Open Bridge” policy provides guests with 24-hour access (weather permitting) to the Wheelhouse/Navigation Bridge to meet the officers and the Captain.

Purpose-built for expedition cruising, the ship carries wetsuits, snorkeling gear, underwater cameras, a glass-bottom boat, 24 sea kayaks, paddleboards, a fleet of Mark V Zodiacs, and a video microscope for viewing microorganisms from polar waters. Each voyage is supported by a full-time doctor, photo instructor, video chronicler, and wellness and undersea specialists. Internet access is available throughout the vessel.

Public areas include an intimate covered deck with seating and hammocks, a fitness center, a spa, the Global Gallery, a library, a doctor’s office, and a lounge with bar and facilities for presentations, slide shows, and films.

Itineraries

Nat Geo Venture’s itinerary program is based on USA and Canada coastal cruises in Alaska, Baja California, and the Pacific Northwest. The originally scheduled 14-day maiden voyage (June 24, 2018) was themed “Treasures of the Inside Passage: Alaska and British Columbia.” Additional voyages included an 8-day “Exploring Alaska’s Coastal Wilderness” program with eight departures, another “Treasures of the Inside Passage” sailing in September, and six 8-day “The San Juan Islands and British Columbia” cruises.

However, due to delayed delivery in October, the ship’s inaugural cruise was rescheduled for December 2, 2018. The 5-night maiden voyage (Northern and Southern California itinerary) was roundtrip from San Francisco CA. Fares started from USD 3,800 pp (double occupancy).

Highlights of the inaugural season included snorkeling in Cabo Pulmo National Park (Los Cabos coral reef with over 220 fish species) and optional tours to Guerrero Negro (the world’s largest salt mine) and Isla Natividad (visit to the fish processing plant). Other destinations included Mexico’s Magdalena Bay (Isla Magdalena) in Baja California Sur.

The vessel was launched and floated out from drydock on September 14, 2018, at the Nichols Brothers shipyard (Freeland, Whidbey Island, WA).

The Lindblad Venture had two Inaugural Cruise itineraries scheduled following her inauguration in December 2018.

• The 5-day itinerary (departing December 2 from San Francisco CA) visited Angel Island, Sausalito, Avila Beach, Catalina Island, Monterey, and Point Lobos, and ended in Long Beach CA. Prices started from USD 3,800 pp.
• The 12-day itinerary (departing December 7 from Long Beach) ended in La Paz Mexico, with multiple calls in Baja California. Prices started from USD 9,100 pp.

The vessel’s christening ceremony was held on December 4, 2018, at the former US Navy base on Treasure Island (a man-made island in San Francisco Bay). The naming ceremony was led by godmother Pamela Fingleton, Senior VP at Lindblad Travel, followed by a preview cruise in San Francisco Bay.

During the drydock in January 2019, the vessel received an upgraded equipment package including the FURUNO VOYAGER Integrated Bridge System (IBS), new FAR3210 and FAR3220 radars, two FMD-3200 ECDIS multifunction consoles, GPS and AIS, GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System), VDR (Voyage Data Recorder), and a DOPPLER SPEED LOG DS-80 system.

NAT GEO Venture is also fitted with Fleet Xpress, the high-speed Internet service provided by Inmarsat, fully integrated with the vessel’s PABX phone system and communication platforms.

Nat Geo Quest has a maximum draft of 3.8 m (12 ft) and a powerplant based on MTU marine diesel engines (model 12V4000) with a total output of 2450 kW. The vessel (yard/hull number S189) was constructed by Nichols Bros Boat Builders in Freeland, WA (USA).