Recently, I had the privilege of being one of the first passengers to sail aboard the brand-new ship, National Geographic Endurance, that Lindblad Expeditions operates. The northern and western regions of Iceland were on our itinerary, and during our time there, we witnessed a wide variety of natural phenomena, including an active volcano, the interior of a glacier, fascinating rock formations, an abundance of marine mammals, remote islands, and birds, birds, and more birds. Seeing Iceland from the deck of the Endurance was a fantastic experience in and of itself, but visiting Iceland by boat was an unforgettable adventure in and of itself.

A Vessel That Serves a Function
The majority of Lindblad's fleet consists of repurposed icebreakers and research boats, which is typical for many expedition cruise lines. The liner is Lindblad's first expedition ship that was purpose-built from the ground up. This indicates that they are able to navigate stormy seas and distant arctic regions, both of which are requirements for adventure sailing. However, this does not ensure that they are the most luxurious ships, especially considering the fact that they are frequently converted from more basic working vessels.

Lindblad Expeditions designed and built the ship Endurance from the ground up, paying careful attention to all aspects of the vessel's construction, including its speed, fuel efficiency, safety features, and passenger amenities. Ulstein Group, a Norwegian company that specialises in the construction of ships, came up with the revolutionary X-Bow design, and Endurance was one of the first passenger ships to integrate this cutting-edge technology. The X-Bow design not only makes the ship seem quite different, but it also decreases the amount of fuel that is used and prevents the hull of the ship from slapping against the ocean surface when it is travelling through rough seas.

The Endurance has the highest-rated ice-class of any passenger ship currently in operation. This refers to the ship's hull's strength as well as its capability of navigating through sea ice. Even though we did not come across any sea ice around Iceland, Lindblad Expeditions is certain that their ship will be able to reach frozen polar regions earlier in the season, through the ice more deeply, and travel to locations that other ships are unable to access.

Not only are the ships purpose-built, but they are also Lindblad's most opulent vessels to date, making them a departure for the company in more ways than one. Resolution, the sister ship of Endurance, has only recently made its debut. Only a maximum of 126 guests can be accommodated on the Endurance, which has 69 outdoor cabins that are either doubles or singles (56 of those cabins are staterooms with 40 of them boasting balconies, while the other 13 are balcony suites). Windows, rather than portholes, are featured in even the most compact of cabins, which also have sitting areas and desks. The largest suites come with private balconies that are furnished with hammocks and seating places. Inside, they have a spacious walk-in closet, separate sleeping and sitting areas with sofabeds, large bathrooms with walk-in showers and separate tubs, and a walk-in closet with plenty of hanging space.

The ship features two restaurants that offer table service as well as two bars. The latter has the Ice Lounge, which acts as the primary gathering place for passengers and crew members alike. It was here that we would get together for a pre-dinner happy hour and presentations, which would include a rundown of the day's adventures as well as a preview of what the next day had in store for us. Photo workshops and talks on Icelandic history and wildlife were among the topics covered during the afternoon sessions, which were frequently led by professionals from the local community. The lounge has been outfitted with a number of TV monitors so that speakers can display images, maps, and films during their presentations.

A scientific centre, a library with a game room, an observation deck with abundant seats outside, and a lounge with a fireplace are some of the additional common facilities. The Endurance features two hot tubs, two saunas, a yoga studio, and two spa treatment rooms as part of its luxurious amenities package. In addition to that, there is a relaxation area as well as a fitness room that is fully equipped. The ship is filled with a permanent art exhibit called "CHANGE," which addresses the beauty and fragility of the world's polar regions. The display is situated throughout the ship. On the backside of the Observation Deck are two glass igloos, which are a distinctive feature. Guests have the option to make a reservation for an igloo, which we did twice, and spend the night in luxurious glamping comfort, replete with hot water bottles to tuck beneath the sheets.

Built for Exploring
The activities that take place ashore are the primary focal point of an adventure cruise. Because of their smaller size, expedition vessels are able to navigate to locations that are inaccessible to larger ships. As a result, passengers get the opportunity to see and interact with animals that they otherwise would not have the chance to see or experience. It meant that we were able to access some of Iceland's most inaccessible regions and secluded nooks and crannies. In most cases, this took place on a zodiac raft. We would prepare ourselves with waterproof clothing for the often brief, choppy, and splashy journey to shore, at which point we would either land on the beach or explore the coastline from a zodiac.

Due to the nature of our exploration, which was on a more intimate scale, and the fact that our entire company was quite small, we were able to explore some of Iceland's most breathtaking locations both by boat and on foot. Personal highlights for us included Grimsey Island, where we were able to walk to the boundary of the Arctic Circle; getting close to the stunning cliffs and bird colonies of Westman Islands; and navigating the narrow harbour at Heimaey, where lava from a volcanic eruption in 1973 nearly closed the channel and cut off the town. All of these experiences were incredible, but our time spent on Grimsey Island was particularly memorable. Puffins, who are considered to be the unofficial bird mascot of Iceland, nested and bred in Iceland in the millions from April through September, and we were able to see them on practically every tour. They generated a beautiful cacophony of noise and flight, together with Arctic Terns, gannets, kittiwakes, and other migratory species; in addition, there was a significant amount of bird guano.

On other trips, we travelled by bus to some of Iceland's breathtaking interior landscapes. We took a trip in the direction of the Fagradalsfjall volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula, and after getting close enough, we were able to observe lava gushing from the mouth of the volcano, which had begun erupting in March of 2021. During one of our other excursions, we went on a tour with Into the Glacier that took us to the top of the Langjokull glacier in an enormous ice truck and then into an artificial ice cave.

Exploring Iceland With Lindblad Expeditions' National Geographic Endurancehttps://t.co/QTVQJB2vQd pic.twitter.com/4DYLAl7dWe

— TripSavvy (@TripSavvy) November 3, 2021

Reflections Before We Part
Before stepping foot on Endurance, I was already a big admirer of expedition and small-ship sailing, so I wasn't worried that I would be let down by the experience overall. However, unlike on large-ship trips, where you are very well assured to visit particular attractions and ports of call, adventure sailing involves a certain element of chance. This is typically the result of weather conditions or the caprices of nature. As an illustration, we were meant to go to a puffin nesting site that had as many as one hundred thousand birds. The only problem is that the puffins were unaware of the meeting and opted to leave the night before. It is exactly the same way with excursions; the natural world does not care about the itinerary of the ship.

The entire quality of our time spent aboard the Endurance was quite high. This was largely attributable to the high staff-to-guest ratio, the informed and enthusiastic team of naturalists and expedition crew, as well as the sumptuous comforts of the ship. It is not a cheap endeavour to sail with Lindblad or any other expedition cruise service. But if you value service, comfort, and the opportunity to visit some of the world's wildest, most beautiful, and off-the-beaten-path locations, this is an excellent mode of transportation to take.