We’re Doing an Expedition Cruise in the Arctic Circle

Carol and I are doing an expedition cruise in the Arctic Circle with our friends from Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic.

As I shared with you in Expedition Cruising: The Next Travel Megatrend, 44 new expedition ships are coming in the next two years.

And as I believe many of you will be very interested in exploring remote parts of our world on these new luxury expedition ships, we’ve made it our mission to sample these ships on your behalf so we can better advise you.

We’ve already experienced an expedition cruise of the Galapagos Islands with Silversea Expeditions (here’s our review), and we’ll be sailing Niagara & the Great Lakes with Viking Expeditions in May. And in July, we’ll sail Norwegian Discovery: Svalbard and the Northern Fjords with Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic.

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Our Norwegian Discovery: Svalbard and the Northern Fjords Expedition Cruise

• DAY 1-2: Oslo, Norway Depart on an overnight flight to Oslo and check into the Hotel Bristol (or similar) upon arrival. In the afternoon, embark on a tour of Norway’s capital city. Stroll through Frogner Park among the famed Vigeland sculptures–hundreds of life-size human figures by native sculptor Gustav Vigeland. Then visit the Fram Museum, dedicated to the wooden ship sailed by Norwegian polar explorers such as Nansen and Amundsen. Lunch and dinner are included on Day 2.
• DAY 3: Oslo / Tromso / Embark Ship Depart Oslo on a private charter flight and enjoy breathtaking vistas en route to Tromsø, known as the “gateway to the Arctic” for the numerous Arctic expeditions that originated here. Explore this charming coastal city, then embark the National Geographic Endurance, your floating base camp for the rest of our expedition.?(B,L,D)
• DAY 4: Senja Island Senja, the second-largest island in mainland Norway, is characterized by dramatic mountains, colorful fishing villages, and a coastline split by beautiful fjords. In the southern part of the island, is Ånderdalen National Park—more than 70 square miles of pristine wilderness that is home to reindeer, elk, red foxes, and more. Spend a day exploring the island and fjords, and, if desired, join our naturalists on a spectacular hike.?(B,L,D)
• DAY 5: Sørøya Island Off Norway’s northern coast lies the mountainous island of Sørøya, known for its scenic bays, pristine nature reserves, and long sandy beaches. It also is renowned for its large populations of?skrei, or cod, which migrate to these waters during winter and spring. We plan to make an indepth visit to this beautiful island, with opportunities to explore its surrounding fjords by Zodiac and kayak, and hike on shore.?(B,L,D)
• DAY 6: Bear Island (Bjørnøya) Sail south to isolated Bear Island, the southernmost island of the Svalbard archipelago. Board a Zodiac to explore the coves and inlets of this mist-shrouded island. Gaze up at sheer cliffs and use your binoculars to take in the spectacular sight of tens of thousands of fulmars, kittiwakes, and murres. (B,L,D)
• DAY 7-9: Exploring Svalbard Svalbard lies north of the Arctic Circle, where the summer sun never sets. Here, in true expedition style, we let nature guide our course. Our flexible itinerary and years of experience in the archipelago allow us to take the best advantage of ice and weather conditions. With our fully stabilized, ice-class ship, we probe deep into the ice in search of wildlife. Join our spotters on the bridge, scanning the edges of the pack ice for huge walruses, bearded and ringed seals, arctic foxes, reindeer, and polar bears. Venture ashore to hike the tundra, abloom with wildflowers. Sail deep into beautiful fjords and kayak quiet coves surrounded by sparkling icebergs. Board Zodiacs to view tidewater glaciers and spectacular ice formations.? With our photographers, experts, and seasoned naturalists, we make the most of our days here. Enjoy nightly recaps and talks about the natural wonders we encounter, and view underwater video footage taken some 1,000 feet below the surface by our remotely operated vehicle (ROV). On this extraordinary voyage, every day is different, and every day is an adventure. (B,L,D)
• DAY 10: Longyearbyen / Disembark / Oslo Disembark in Longyearbyen, visit the Svalbard Museum to learn about the history of Svalbard and the Arctic, from 17th-century whaling to modern scientific research. Explore the Svalbard Art Gallery, home to a permanent collection of historic items as well as contemporary exhibitions of local artists. Then, board our charter flight to Oslo and check in to the Radisson Blu Airport Hotel. (B,L,D)
• DAY 11: Oslo / Home After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight home. (B)

Our Ship: National Geographic Endurance

How to Book a Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic Expedition Cruise

Complimentary VIP Perks!

A Lindblad/Nat Geo price is the same booking directly with the cruise line or booking with Roaming Boomers Travel Services.

However, Lindblad/Nat Geo is a member of our Virtuoso Voyages program. Therefore, we have complimentary VIP perks to share on many of their voyages.

For more information or to book a fun expedition cruise with Lindblad/Nat Geo, please call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online information request (click here), and we’ll reach out to you.

Special Offer

Enjoy a $250/stateroom shipboard credit when you book with Roaming Boomers Travel Services. This offer is valid on new bookings confirmed by 1/31/23 and applies to all Lindblad-National Geographic ships.  It does not apply to the Sea Cloud, Lord of the Glens, Jahan, Delfin II, or Oberoi Philae. 

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Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40