Lindblad Expeditions (LEX), the NY-based expedition travel pioneer that works in partnership with the National Geographic Society to inspire people to explore and care about the planet, recently launched the seventh ship in its fleet – the National Geographic Explorer. This ice-class polar expedition vessel, which holds 148 guests in 81 outside facing cabins, is the best-equipped expedition ship in the world.  Sailing down the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, the ship will make visits to noted destinations such as Cape Cod, MA; Mystic, CT; Block Island, RI; New York, NY; Washington, DC; Charleston, SC; and Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

Welcome celebrations for the vessel are being planned in New York City on Wednesday, 1 October and Washington, DC on Thursday, 9 October.  In New York, the greeting for the vessel will include a fireboat salute complete with a water display by the NYPD.  Lindblad Expeditions will also host a press briefing while the ship is in New York to discuss commentary and outcomes from the company’s recent Arctic Expedition for Climate Action, which included leaders such as President Jimmy Carter, The Honorable Madeline Albright, Larry Page from Google and Ted Turner.