Sometimes, in the everyday course of life, an interaction comes along, out of the blue, that is unusual and startling and revealing all at the same time. This past week, for example, my wife Annette and I had been asked by the folks at Wilderness Explorers (Teri and Gavin O’Brien) to do an informal cultural presentation for the passengers on the National Geographic Explorer vessel visiting Guyana. The outing turned out to be a highlight of our week.
In two days of singular experiences, the Explorer itself was a key one. Commissioned 10 years ago as part of the National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions, she is a state-of-the-art Norwegian-built vessel, 367 feet long, and the term ‘high quality’ applies everywhere. Just one week after my column stressing the importance of detail, the Explorer is classic example of doing it right. Every piece of fitting is either stainless steel or chrome, so everything looks brand new. Superior quality shows in every cabin, down to the lighting fixtures and the bathroom appointments. The ship is built with six decks, includes several spacious observation areas, and accommodates 160 passengers. The crew of 81 (that ratio in itself is informative), obviously carefully chosen, are relaxed but accomplished in their work, ranging from Patrick, who welcomed us on board, to expedition leader Bud Lehnhausen, to the technician (sorry, I’m bad with names) who handled our audio and Power Point details, to the dapper Filipino staff in the dining room.
In a complement of 11 vessels, National Geographic operates these Lindblad nature expeditions (named for the Norwegian founder of the idea) all over the world, from as far away as China and as near as Venezuela. The trips range from 10 to 34 days, all with a nature focus. On board, the ships provide Zodiac landing craft, stable sea kayaks, and snorkelling gear, as well as specially designed tools that allow for more extensive exploration. A singular feature of the adventure is the team of experts that accompanies every trip—seasoned naturalists, undersea specialists, and researchers who share their
