EXPEDITION CRUISE

Antarctica Direct: Fly the Drake Passage 8-Day

All departures of this trip

CRUISE ID # LINDBLADEXAFLY-271126

Puerto Natales TO Puerto Natales

Antarctica Direct: Fly the Drake Passage 8-Day
Experience the wild grandeur of the White Continent in a more efficient, expedient way. On this new itinerary, bypass the traditional Drake Passage crossing on a two-hour flight to and from Antarctica and discover all of the highlights without sacrificing the extra time. Travel with a diverse team of experts aboard National Geographic Explorer, the definitive expedition ship.

Venture into channels and coves framed by towering peaks. Watch for whales off the bow; Zodiac cruise around enormous icebergs; and hike, kayak, and (in November) even possibly cross-country ski in complete tranquility. Choose an active agenda or surrender to the pleasures of relaxing downtime and shipboard camaraderie.

Plus, get top shots with the help of a National Geographic Photography Expert.  
TRIP STARTS ON
November 25, 2027
SHIP SAILS ON
November 26, 2027
HOTEL NIGHTS
Pre-Cruise: 1, Post-Cruise: 0
SHIP
National Geographic Explorer
TRIP ENDS ON
December 03, 2027
STOPS
1 Stop, 0 Countries
CRUISE NIGHTS
5
OPERATOR
National Geographic - Lindblad Expeditions
FROM: 

$13,500

WITH SPECIAL SAVINGS APPLIED

FARES SHOWN ARE PER GUEST

Suites & Fares

CHOOSE START DATE 

: November 26, 2027

 
STEP 1: CHOOSE YOUR PREFERRED DEAL
Cruise Fare (incl. Recommended Group Flights)
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Cruise Fare
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Itinerary

1 Port
0 Countries
Day
One
Arrival
November 25, 2027
Port
Pre-Cruise Night
Day
Two
Arrival
November 26, 2027
Port
Day at Sea
Day
Three
Arrival
November 27, 2027
Port
Day at Sea
Day
Four
Arrival
November 28, 2027
Port
Day at Sea
Day
Five
Arrival
November 29, 2027
Port
Day at Sea
Day
Six
Arrival
November 30, 2027
Port
Day at Sea
Day
Seven
Arrival
December 01, 2027
Port
Day at Sea
Day
Eight
Arrival
December 02, 2027
Port
Day at Sea
Day
Nine
Arrival
December 03, 2027
Port
Day at Sea
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About the Ship

Name

National Geographic Explorer

Operator

National Geographic - Lindblad Expeditions

Built to handle deep swells and towering waves, the National Geographic Explorer lends herself to globe-spanning travel and a dedication to curiosity and wonder.

Originally constructed for service along Norway's coast as part of the famed Hurtigruten, or Coastal Express, she ferried passengers among the fjords of this iconic coast in conditions that could deteriorate into heavy seas in a matter of minutes. She had to be able to handle deep swells and towering waves-and have a high degree of maneuverability. Those traits, and an ideal size, made her a natural choice for addition to the Lindblad fleet.

Ship Facts
cabin count
81
capacity
148
crew count
99
deck count
6
currency
USD onboard
gross tonnage
6471
language
en
launch year
1982
length
112m
speed
15kts
wheelchair count
No Data
width
16.5m

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DINING

 Meals are served in the dining room, Bistro bar, or the Observation lounge, at a single seating with unassigned tables for an informal atmosphere and easy mingling. Menus feature sustainable choices, local where possible.

Dining Room

Meals are served in a single, unassigned seating for a relaxed and informal atmosphere.

Max Occupancy- 154

Bistro

The Bistro can be found on the Upper Deck.

Entertainment

Public spaces include three dining areas; global gallery; library, lounge with bar and state-of-the-art presentation facilities; observation lounge; mudroom with lockers for expedition gear; plus open access to the Bridge, the Captain, officers, and on-duty wildlife spotters.

Lounge

The lounge offers a full bar and state-of-the-art presentation facilities for talks, presentations, and evening Recaps.

Max Occupancy- 170

Chart Room

Grab a coffee or hot cocoa as you peruse the maps and learn more about your ship’s route.

Max Occupancy- 26

Global Gallery

The Global Gallery offers a unique selection of handcrafted gifts, as well as expedition gear like hats, jackets and sunshirts.

Max Occupancy- 10

Library

The library features panoramic windows and a well-stocked collection of books on the places we explore.

Max Occupancy- 16

Observation Lounge

The Observation Lounge can be found on the Bridge Deck.

Bridge

The fleet's open bridge policy allows guests to visit anytime to chat with the captain and crew, conditions permitting.

Max Occupancy- 20

Sun Deck

More information coming soon.

Health And Fitness
Fitness Centre

The fitness center at the stern of the ship offers cardio equipment, weights, resistance bands, and an excellent view. 

Max Occupancy- 7

Sauna

Warm up in the sauna after braving the polar plunge.

Max Occupancy- 8

LEXspa

Treatments in the LEXspa are available by appointment.

Max Occupancy- 1

Enrichment
Guest Speakers Program

When you travel with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions, you'll enjoy exclusive experiences featuring renowned individuals from the worlds of science, exploration, music, photography, culture and more—including National Geographic experts—thoughtfully curated to enrich your expedition by helping you to connect more deeply to the people, places, and wildlife along your journey.

Expedition Team

Wherever in the world you choose to explore with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions, you will travel alongside a team of experts who are deeply passionate about discovering the places you visit. They are scientists, photographers, and cultural experts at the top of their fields who have spent time immersed in your destination—and they thrive on sharing their knowledge and seeking out new insights alongside our inquisitive guests. For the....

Base Camp

The B Deck houses a base camp with lockers for expedition gear and serves as the embarkation point for Zodiacs.

Max Occupancy- 40

Expeditions

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions' ships are uniquely equipped with state-of-the-art tools so you can experience the excitement and wonder of genuine exploration, no matter where you travel with us. Navigate along rocky shorelines and into secluded coves in a kayak or on a stand-up paddleboard or dive into remote waters to discover a galaxy of brightly colored fish—we supply high-quality snorkeling gear, wetsuits, and optional dive gear....

Visiting Scientist Program

The Visiting Scientist Program has been active for years, and in response to the program’s popularity with guests, National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions is expanding it for the upcoming travel seasons. Now, more travelers than ever before can voyage alongside fascinating researchers, enjoy talks on their findings, and in some instances participate in the scientific process through activities such as data collection. 

New and Ongoin....

Citizen Science

Guests can get involved in the advancement of science by participating in a variety of research projects hosted on their expedition..

Happywhale

Whales have unique markings on their flukes that allow scientists to identify individuals and track them across the globe. When guests capture pictures of the whales spotted on expedition, they can submit them to the Happywhale app to aid in the tracking process. National Geographic....

Kids And Teens
National Geographic Global Explorers Program

Developed in conjunction with National Geographic Education, our hands-on program invites kids and teens ages 18 and under to sharpen their observation skills and bring their adventures to life through photography, video, drawing and more. From studying plankton under the ship’s microscope to building ice cream sundae glaciers or earning a Zodiac “driver’s license,” activities encourage each explorer to follow their curiosity.

The Nat....

USEFUL TO KNOW
Age Requirements

The minimum age for children traveling with a parent or legal guardian varies by itinerary. For most voyages, the minimum age is 6 months at the time of embarkation.

All children must travel with a parent or legal guardian.

Self-Disinfecting Ships

Act Clean Coat™ is a light-activated, self-disinfecting cleaning process that continuously breaks down viruses, bacteria, mold and airborne allergens across all ship surfaces. Not only does this create a cleaner, healthier shipboard environment for guests and crew alike, but this non-toxic, chemical-free system also saves more than one million gallons of water each year in our cleaning procedures, and reduces our carbon footprint as well as th....

Smoking Policy

Smoking and Vaping are allowed only in designated outdoor areas.

Expedition Equipment

A fleet of 6 Zodiacs and 16 kayaks, paddleboards, Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), hydrophone, splash-cam, underwater video camera, video microscope, snorkeling gear and wet suits for all guests (where applicable).

Special Features

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions certified photo instructor, undersea specialist and video chronicler.

Pricing Includes

Excursions, hotels and airport transfers, as indicated in the itinerary

Selection of exploration tools curated to your destination, such as Zodiacs and glass-bottom boats, stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, snorkeling equipment (including wetsuits, masks, and fins) and other state-of-the-art gear

Guidance and company of our leading expedition staff

All meals as indicated in the itinerary, both aboard and onshore. Meals are inspir....

Pricing Does Not Include

Airfare (except flights when indicated as included), pre- and post-expedition extensions, additional hotel nights and private transfers (except when indicated as included)

Travel protection plans

Passport, visa and immigration fees

Laundry, spa treatments, scuba diving* and phone services (except when indicated as included)

Additional costs associated with medical services outside onboard physician consultation (where a....