FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
MJ Viederman
Lindblad Expeditions
(413) 549-3950
maryjov@expeditions.com
Mary Jeanne Jacobsen
National Geographic
(202) 857-7759
mjacobse@ngs.org
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC AND LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS LAUNCH
INAUGURAL JOURNEY OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ENDEAVOUR
Exploration and Travel Pioneers Celebrate New Platform
For Expedition Travel, Scientific Discovery and Conservation
VALPARAISO, CHILE (April 3, 2005)—National Geographic Endeavour today set sail on
its 20-day inaugural voyage from Valparaiso, Chile, to the Panama Canal, launching an exciting,
multifaceted alliance between the National Geographic Society and Lindblad Expeditions,
leading pioneers in exploration and travel. On board the newly christened ship, formerly known
as M.S. Endeavour, are National Geographic President and CEO John Fahey and Lindblad
Expeditions President and Founder Sven-Olof Lindblad.
The partnership, which signifies a new standard of excellence in the field of expedition
travel, is aimed at furthering collaboration in the areas of scientific research, conservation and
educational programming. During the launch ceremonies, Fahey and Lindblad unveiled plans for
unparalleled opportunities for travelers to explore remote, pristine and endangered regions with
scientists and photographers and to witness, firsthand, scientific discoveries and the use of new
technologies, while interacting with experts in the field.
“This partnership is a great fit with our mission of advancing geographic knowledge,
while promoting the conservation of natural and cultural resources,” Fahey said. “We can now
bring travelers to places that National Geographic has covered over the past century and allow
them to participate in scientific exploration in real time from this special ship that bears our
name.”
Lindblad acknowledged National Geographic as a catalyst for inspiring both him and his
father, Lars-Eric Lindblad, a pioneer of expedition travel who founded Lindblad Travel in 1958.
“This partnership is a dream come true,” said Lindblad, “and this voyage ahead of us promises
to take us farther than we can both imagine.”
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NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ENDEAVOUR (PAGE 2)
Joining Fahey and Lindblad on this voyage is renowned high-altitude archaeologist and
National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Johan Reinhard, best known for his work in the
Andes, especially his discovery of the Inca ice maiden in Peru. Other experts on board are
Peruvian-born archaeologist and National Geographic grantee Guillermo Cock and National
Geographic photographer Pablo Corral.
As on all Lindblad voyages, a seasoned expedition team, including veteran Expedition
Leader Tom Ritchie, naturalists, undersea specialists, biologists and geologists, will run the dayto-day expedition. Among the many highlights of the inaugural voyage will be Zodiac cruises for
up-close viewing of marine mammals, coves and bird colonies; hikes along the coast and inland;
and visits to cultural and geological points of interest, such as Andean villages, museums and
national parks. A remotely operated vehicle (ROV), hydrophones, video microscopes, “splash
cams” and underwater cameras will be used to gather underwater data.
Enhancements to the National Geographic Endeavour — which now bears the Society’s
distinctive yellow border — for its maiden voyage include the newly released “National
Geographic Atlas of the World, 8th Edition” with a built-in rack in every cabin, National
Geographic furniture, photographs, globes, maps, binoculars and other expedition gear. Some
of these enhancements are being incorporated fleet-wide at Lindblad, allowing guests aboard
the other ships to benefit from the partnership.
A National Geographic expert will accompany all future departures of the National
Geographic Endeavour. National Geographic photographer and arctic expert Paul Nicklen will
accompany the July 17 “Land of the Ice Bears” Expedition to Arctic Norway. Journalist and
former host of the National Geographic Explorer television series Boyd Matson will be on board
the Jan. 7, 2005, and Jan. 18, 2005, voyages to Antarctica.
National Geographic experts also will join select other Lindblad ships in coming months.
Biologist, inventor and filmmaker Greg Marshall and his team will spend May and June this year
on board Lindblad’s M.V. Sea Voyager, conducting research in the Sea of Cortez on sperm
whales, using Marshall’s innovative Crittercam video technology.
About National Geographic
The 117-year-old National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit
scientific and educational organizations. It reaches more than 280 million people each month
through its official journal National Geographic and four other magazines; the National
Geographic Channel, books, films, videos, maps and interactive media. The Society has funded
nearly 8,000 scientific research projects and supports an education program combating
geographic illiteracy.
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NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ENDEAVOUR (PAGE 3)
National Geographic’s travel products and services include National Geographic Traveler
and Adventure magazines, travel guidebooks, maps and National Geographic Expeditions, the
Society’s travel program that operates more than 100 trips each year to destinations around the
globe. For more information about the Society, visit nationalgeographic.com; AOL Keyword
NatGeo.
About Lindblad Expeditions
Lindblad Expeditions was founded in 1979, originally as a division of Lindblad Travel,
which was founded in 1958 by Lars-Eric Lindblad, the pioneer of expedition travel. Lindblad
operates a fleet of six ships in regions such as Galapagos, Antarctica, Arctic Norway, Alaska
and Baja California, to name a few. The company is known for its commitment to sustainable
tourism and is the recipient of many environmental awards, including the Conde Nast Traveler
Ecotourism Award (2002) and the ASTA/Smithsonian Magazine Environmental Award (1993).
Sven Lindblad is a member of the General Assembly of the Charles Darwin Foundation for the
Galapagos Islands; he serves on the National Council of the World Wildlife Fund and the Board
of Directors of the Mexican Fund for the Conservation for Nature. He is a founding member of
the Galapagos Conservation Fund and is a recipient of the United Nations Environmental
Programme Global 500 Award (2001).
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