National Geographic Endurance made its maiden call in London today, sailing past the city’s iconic Tower Bridge before docking alongside HMS Belfast. Later today, officials from The Port of London will board the ship for an honorary plaque and keys ceremony with Captain Oliver Kreuss before National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions welcomes 50 of the UK’s top travel agents and journalists on board for its first-ever UK FAM sailing.
The event is being hosted in partnership with Fred. Holidays, which was appointed General Sales Agent (GSA) for the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions co-brand in 2024 September and has been tasked with accelerating the Brand’s international expansion efforts in the UK market.
Named to honour explorer Ernest Shackleton and his legendary Transantarctic Expedition, National Geographic Endurance is a fully stabilized vessel of the highest ice class (PC5 Category A) that enables adventurous travelers to go where few have or can. Mission-built for polar exploration, National Geographic Endurance and its sister ship National Geographic Resolution were designed to safely navigate the most extreme environments in extreme comfort; its patented wave-slicing X-bow enables smooth sailing and even reduces spray on deck for superior observation. Accommodating just 138 guests, the ship features 76 well-appointed cabins boasting a sleek Scandinavian design and premium finishes and is equipped with a full suite of state-of-the-art tools for exploration—including stand-up paddle boards, kayaks, a flotilla of Mark IV Zodiacs, ROVs for underwater exploration—to ensure an educational and authentic expedition experience.