Lindblad all but sold out

by Louise Goldsbury, editor, Travel Daily Cruise Update

Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic is “stronger than it’s ever been” with more than 95% occupancy for the first half of 2014 across its fleet, including the Asia-Pacific’s National Geographic Orion, the company has said.

Jeremy Lindblad, business development director, Lindblad Expeditions-Australia, told TD Cruise Update that NG Orion has fewer than 40 cabins available
this year in total.

Cruise winners hailed ROYAL Caribbean Cruise Lines was named Best Cruise Operator – Australian Based Operation at the sell-out National Travel Industry Awards on Sat night.

RCI vice-president Asia-Pacific Gavin Smith thanked the industry for its support and hailed sales manager Peter McCormack and his team as “the leading voice in sales in the travel industry.”

The winner of Best Cruise Operator – International Based Operation was APT, which had a huge night, also taking out the awards for Best Tour Operator – Domestic and Best Tour Operator “This means that we are more than 96% full for the year on this ship,” he said.

Lindblad also reports “more than double” the number of Australian pax booked with the company from 2013 to 2014.

“While these guests are travelling with us across all 10 vessels, the majority still occupy the National Geographic Orion,” he said.

“The sky really is the limit in terms of anticipated sales growth for the next six to 12 months here, and we are excited to continue developing itineraries that cater to our Australian passengers,” Lindblad added.

National Geographic Orion was renamed and upgraded with new exploration tools and an expanded expedition team in Mar this year.

Itineraries include the Coral Sea: Papua New Guinea to Fiji; Fiji to Tahiti; Tahiti to Easter Island; Treasures of the Indian Ocean: Zanzibar and the Seychelles; and Indian Ocean Odyssey: Seychelles, Maldives & Sri Lanka.

See www.expeditions.com for more information.