What Are You Waiting For?

I have been a luxury travel advisor for over 10 years, and like many of us in this industry, we have all had more moments than we can count where we have experienced ‘imposter syndrome.’ And some of my most extraordinary ‘pinch me’ moments have occurred on a Lindblad-National Geographic Expedition! There is truly nothing like it!

For many clients, ‘luxury’ and ‘expedition’ are words that seem to contradict one another— like an oxymoron. However, Lindblad Expeditions has beautifully married these two concepts to create the most perfect travel union ever— and it’s called the National Geographic Resolution! (and sister ship…the National Geographic Endurance!).

I had the amazing opportunity to travel to the Arctic on the National Geographic Resolution in April 2022. This ship is a complete game changer! It is modern, sleek and luxurious— with each and every space perfectly designed. The staterooms are so beautiful & spacious with balconies to view the stunning Arctic landscapes & wildlife.

However, a gorgeous, luxurious ship is wonderful— but this is not what sets Lindblad Expeditions apart. What sets them apart is the expedition experience, the National Geographic naturalists & photographers, the unrivaled access to some of the most amazing places on earth— all with the steadfast, unwavering focus on sustainable eco-tourism.

What is a day onboard the National Geographic Resolution sailing 500 miles from the North Pole like? Well, your day starts with Bud Lehnhausen, our amazing expedition leader, waking you up with “Good morning, it’s a beautiful day in the Arctic with the temperature hovering around -25C, so you might want to bundle up!” But have no fear of the cold Arctic weather, because Lindblad Expeditions takes care of every detail when it comes to your gear! You & your clients will receive the warmest down parkas ever as part of the expedition, and all of the other gear you need can be ordered ahead of time and will be waiting for you when you board the ship. Every single detail is taken care of with Lindblad Expeditions and their amazing team!

Each day, we sailed into a new fjord and the goal was to get off the ship to explore the Arctic and experience the incredible wildlife. We were there in mid- April, which was the earliest they had ever taken a group to the Arctic before— but the National Geographic Resolution with its state of the art innovation & technology made it possible. Even the National Geographic guides & naturalists were “geeking out” over being up there so early in the season! The ice and glaciers were truly extraordinary! We went out in Zodiacs and kayaks to explore the fjords and watch walruses bask on the ice, flocks of birds soar just above the surface of the water, and of course the awe inspiring glaciers. We were even able to walk on the frozen sea which would be impossible just a few weeks later. With each and every excursion, you are joined by the top National Geographic photographers and naturalists in the world!! They?teach you about the fragile ecosystems, show you all of the amazing wildlife, and help you understand & witness with your own eyes the impact global warming is having on the Arctic environment. The photographers will show you how to use your camera to get that iconic shot, or even show you how to take fabulous pictures with your phone. But the focus and purpose never deviates from preservation and protection of the landscape and the wildlife. The immense care & attention to detail is truly unbelievable. We left no footprints, we touched nothing, we didn’t speak above a whisper, and we rinsed everything back on the boat to make sure there was nothing to disturb the fragile ecosystem on the next excursion. And when you are back on the ship, a warm ginger turmeric ‘hot toddy’ with whiskey will be waiting to warm you up!

Obviously, the biggest ‘quest’ of this Arctic expedition was to see the superstar of the arctic— the polar bear!! One of my favorite memories from the expedition was being woken up at 1am to Ben saying over the intercom, “We have 2 polar bears on the bow of the ship.” We jump out of bed and immediately commence putting on all of our warm arctic gear (over our pajamas of course!), grabbing cameras and binoculars, and racing up to the Bridge to see the polar bears. It never gets dark this time of year, so it was perfectly light outside. The bears were way off in the distance, but we hear Ben say that they think it is a mother bear and her 2.5 year old cub. Everyone had their zoom lenses and binoculars fixed on the pair, when all of a sudden…?they start mating. Ben quickly comes on the intercom again to say, “Correction…it is indeed a male bear and a female bear!!” Everyone roared with laughter!

The experience of seeing polar bears in the Arctic was magical, awe inspiring, and I will never forget it! And let’s just say that we definitely fulfilled our role as the polar bear paparazzi!

The evenings before dinner are spent in the state of the art Ice Lounge, equipped with flat screen TV’s at almost every seat, listening to exceptional lectures and discussions from our fabulous National Geographic naturalists and photographers. Imagine your clients learning about photography from Camille Seaman?! One of the best National Geographic photographers in the WORLD!

The luxury, expedition experience designed and created by Lindblad Expeditions is unparalleled. I have discovered that since Covid, there has been a major shift in what our luxury clients are looking for. Expedition trips like this one were always on the ‘bucket list’— out there on the periphery to experience once they do their other ‘check the box’ travel. But since Covid, there are no more bucket lists and clients are no longer waiting to experience adventure & expedition travel. They want immersive, off the beaten path experiences, and they want to travel longer and spend more. Also because of Covid, clients now want to travel with their entire families in multi-gen groups, which makes a Lindblad Expeditions trip even more ideal. Because there is truly something for everyone, no matter the age. There has never before been such a surge in demand and such a massive craving for exactly the kind of travel we design, and exactly the kind of expeditions that Lindblad offers!

You and your clients will get out of your comfort zones, experience things you never dreamt possible, and learn how you can truly make an impact by playing a crucial role in eco-tourism!!

And I guarantee you too will have imposter syndrome and be pinching yourself. What are you waiting for?!

-Martha King, Martha King Travel