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ABOUT A & K's PROGRAMS - ACTIVITIES - LUXURY & EXPEDITION CRUISING - 'EXPLORER'
In the late 1960s, "expedition cruising" was a concept whose time had yet to come. Unless you were an explorer, a research scientist, or a magnate with pockets deep enough to finance a private expedition, in the late 1960's some of the most fascinating, off-the-beaten-track corners of the world remained as difficult to visit as they would have been a century or two earlier. Then, in 1969, Lars-Eric Lindblad launched a ship that changed the travel industry forever. Mr. Lindblad had led the first traveler's expedition to Antarctica in 1966, and he quickly came to realize that exploration in this unique destination required an equally unique method of transportation. He saw the need for a passenger-friendly ship designed expressly for remote, potentially challenging seas - and began the process which resulted in the creation of 'Explorer.'
Purpose-Built for
Adventure Her most striking innovations, however, were the features that added passenger comfort and access to expeditionary ability. A topside observation deck provided unobstructed, 360° views of the vast Antarctic ice fields, lush Amazonian backwaters and North Atlantic seas through which she was soon to sail. The Lecture Hall, designed for films, informal briefings and natural history demonstrations, was soon to become one of the most-used and best-loved public areas on board. And with a maximum passenger complement of just 100, 'Explorer' began her career with a predisposition to intimate, personal discovery, in the relaxed, companionable atmosphere that was soon to become a hallmark of every departure. But no single innovation was to make more of a difference to passengers' enjoyment than the choice of Zodiacs - small, inflatable rubber boats - as ship's tenders and exploratory vessels. Fast, safe and easy to use, the ship's fleet of Zodiacs made it possible for passengers to safely land in places where there were no piers or other formal docking arrangements and thereby opened even the most remote and undeveloped shores for exploration.
The
Log Book Fills - "Simply the Best Way" to Explore For the next 15 years, 'Explorer' sailed the seas of the world on a never-ending journey of discovery. She carried intrepid passengers on dozens of expeditions along the Antarctic Peninsula, sailed the Indian Ocean between Kenya's Mombasa and the Seychelles, visited China, the Arctic and cruised the North Atlantic. In her decade and a half as the 'Lindblad Explorer,' the "little red ship" logged more than 1,300,000 nautical miles...and created a new way to see the world. "Expedition cruising" had been born. In 1984, the ship sailed under a new flag and a new name when she was purchased by a travel company specializing in natural history and cultural tours in exotic destinations. Soon, the newly christened 'Society Explorer' was visiting new ports, and opening new corners of the world to intrepid travelers, in Micronesia, Indonesia, Alaska, Canada and Siberia. Eight years later, 'Explorer' was again on the market - an opportunity global travel company Abercrombie & Kent could not resist. A&K, with its well-established reputation as "Simply the best way to travel"® in some of the planet's most remote and little-visited landscapes, saw 'Explorer' as a logical and exciting extension of the company's fundamental philosophy of travel. Still sailing with many of her original crew and staff members, 'Explorer' began a 1992-1993 cruise season for A&K, to destinations ranging from Borneo to Pitcairn Island. Popular as these programs were, the ship's original destination, Antarctica, remained such an overwhelming favorite that, in the years to come, austral-summer expeditions to the Antarctic Peninsula would fill most of the ship's A&K sailing schedule. Recent seasons have, however, seen the addition of destinations very much in the original style of 'Explorer' adventure to Abercrombie & Kent's itineraries. In addition to Antarctica, A&K passengers can now visit the Amazon River and the historic ports of the North Atlantic aboard "the little red ship" that invented a whole new way of seeing the world.
Just The Right Size Bigger, less maneuverable ships are restricted in their choice of routes and destinations, and great crowds of passengers not only dilute the wilderness experience, but reduce the number of shore and Zodiac expeditions possible. Conversely, ships with very small passenger complements find it difficult to provide staff in numbers sufficient to create a rich, well-rounded educational experience. 'Explorer' is famous for her ability to combine tough, dependable, go-anywhere and do-anything transport with high degrees of comfort, safety and style...but physical advantages are only part of her unique persona. It's the atmosphere on board that keeps passengers coming back to 'Explorer' again and again: a friendly, welcoming spirit and a passion for adventure that's contagious. 'Explorer' offers her travelers an opportunity to discover the world just as modern-day explorers and researchers do - as part of a friendly community of experts eager to see what surprises the day will bring. Lecturers on board are leaders in their fields of endeavor - and these explorers, adventurers, biologists, historians, geologists and anthropologists are always charting new horizons for the ship and her passengers. The result is a fresh, spontaneous, unpredictable adventure that's fundamentally different from a traditional cruise itinerary. Of course all 'Explorer' adventures are carefully planned and expertly managed. The ship's crew and staff have a healthy respect for the power of nature, and passenger safety is always the top priority. But they also have the experience and skill required to take maximum advantage of changing conditions and special sightings as they occur - to surprise their fellow travelers with an unexpected stop, to add to the ship's long list of "Firsts," to illuminate a hidden facet of a little-seen landscape. No two cruises are ever the same.
Hands-On Adventure Staff and crew operate under the highest standards of environmental conduct, to ensure that the presence of the ship and her passengers never compromise the fragile landscapes through which 'Explorer' travels. Passengers appreciate the "non-cruise" atmosphere aboard 'Explorer': informal, unregimented and with a warm sense of camaraderie. Air-conditioned cabins and suites are cozy and comfortable, and public areas are spacious. Meals, served in a single open seating so everyone can eat together (oh, the stories you'll hear over dessert!), are consistently rated on a five-star level. An on-going program of interior renovations, upgrades and redecoration have kept 'Explorer' abreast of passengers' expectations as well as all current SOLAS (Safety Of Life At Sea) regulations. All bar drinks and house wines are included in the cruise price on all departures (except Lost Islands). |
