2.0 EUROPEABOARD NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ORION | 2016 EXCLUSIVE & ALL INCLUSIVE 2-WEEK OR 1-WEEK VOYAGES WITH AIR OFFERS PLUS COMPLIMENTARY EXTENSIONS TM TM Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic have joined forces to further inspire the world through expedition travel. Our collaboration in exploration, research, technology and conservation will provide extraordinary travel expe- riences and disseminate geographic knowledge around the globe. DEAR TRAVELER, In the fall of 2015 we announced our Europe 2.0 2016 program—carefully curated, perfectly paced one-week voyages aboard National Geographic Orion dedicated to exploring Europe in the most individualized, experiential way possible. Given the strength of the US dollar in Europe, we realized savings that we passed on to prospective guests in the form of a Free Air offer. And, we invited our prospective guests to take advantage of 10% savings if they took two or more voyages—in any combination or sequence. The resulting booking patterns proved highly inspiring. Our guests, in rather telling numbers, booked specific voyages back-to-back—clearly indicating their interest in specific regions and the length of time they felt these regions warranted. We celebrate their creativity in the clearest manner possible—by NEW! imitating it. Now, we are pleased to announce a refinement to our ON THE Europe 2.0 program: six new two-week Europe itineraries, directly FOLLOWING PAGES inspired by our guests’ curiosity and discernment. Six 2-week well-paced And, we have added a special Be-Our-Guest invitation—complimentary & curated itineraries to 3-day pre- or post-voyage extensions in highly rewarding locations, choose from with: including St. Petersburg, Bordeaux & St. Emilion, Lisbon and Norway, in $1,500 AIR CREDIT addition to the other offers shown here at right. You’ll find details on each ALL ACTIVITIES, BAR complimentary extension on the following two-week itinerary pages. TAB & GRATUITIES INCLUDED Choose from our eleven one-week itineraries for a compact yet fulfilling experience of Europe. Combine any two and save 10%. PLUS And, we have selected premier hotel properties at the start and end COMPLIMENTARY point of each itinerary; our Expedition Specialists can assist you with ALL-INCLUSIVE PRE/POST 3-DAY arrangements if you’d like to pad your take-off or landing, so to speak. EXTENSIONS You’ll find these itineraries, and relevant offers, ahead on page 31. Whether you choose a two-week or one-week voyage, we look forward to sharing the adventure of exploring Europe in the unique, On the cover: This incredible yacht-scale way that National Geographic Orion and her team setting for the cliffhanger ending can provide. of Star Wars: The Force Awakens is no fantasy realm. Skellig All the best, Michael, off the coast of Ireland, is designated a UNESCO World Heritage site thanks to the early Christian monastery set high atop its slopes for more than 1400 years. The remote nature of the island and the difficulty of reaching it means that visitors are rare. Lindblad travelers will be among the few who explore Sven-Olof Lindblad here in 2016. This page: Tallinn, Estonia. Ship’s registry: Bahamas 1 Heading back to the ship from lovely St. Jean-de-Luz. 2 IF YOU LOVE EUROPE, EXPLORE WITH US FOR MORE OF WHAT YOU LOVE ravelers who know us know we’re a relevant choice for exploring Europe. Other potential guests didn’t; they told our Specialists: “Lindblad is the best; Twhen it comes to any wild remote place on the planet, I’d go with you. But why would I need an expedition company to get to Europe?” We know we’re the relevant choice for experiencing Europe, and here are the reasons why: We are an exploration company, first and foremost. confer with locals and consult our own historic We believe we can give people an experience of record and collective expertise. And by the way, exploration and discovery in Europe—one of the that’s not solely to assure your safety, it’s also most visited geographies on Earth—that is simply to assure maximum surprise and delight. When more inspiring, more meaningful, more comfortable, you find yourself enjoying, for instance, a striking and more memorable than any other travel option. alignment of view, ship position and sunset, it’s Why do we believe this? Because we have been not a coincidence—it’s part of what our expedition exploring Europe, a region we collectively love, for teams do. decades on a variety of ships and now with the most suitable of all—the National Geographic Orion. We dedicated three teams of Experience Designers to our Europe 2.0 program, to go National Geographic Orion. With just 102-guests, beyond what we’ve offered in the past, and what is it is the perfect size for exploring Europe. While currently available. They have been on the ground we do not wish to be critical of other “cruise” ships, exploring since March 2015. As a result, our Europe being relatively small matters a great deal. The itineraries are carefully designed to make the most National Geographic Orion moves more like a of your time, curiosity and love for Europe. yacht than a cruise ship, anchoring in small bays, or in the center of town. She’s a beautiful ship, too, Value. The prices for our Europe voyages include providing a level of comfort and amenity equal to everything you can do, see, enjoy and experience. the European scenery, food and wine she voyages There are no extras to factor into your budget through and to. planning. Combine that with our special offers (see page 48), and I think you’ll see that value, Curation—research is key; accumulated combined with our recognized ability to provide knowledge from the past and being on top of exhilarating experiences, is your assurance of an what’s new. So, we thoroughly vet conditions, extraordinary European adventure. 2 WWW.EXPEDITIONS.COM | 3 FOR YOUR INSPIRATION– IDEAL 2-WEEK SOJOURNS A view of Granada from Alhambra Palace. 4 FOR YOUR INSPIRATION– IDEAL 2-WEEK SOJOURNS Like food and wine, certain combinations profoundly satisfy the human spirit, and our two-week European itineraries expertly pair possibilities—to ensure you the most in-depth and exhilarating European experience. When we originally offered our Europe 2.0 program, we imagined guests would like the COMPLIMENTARY option to link itineraries their way, to create the SIDE ADVENTURES TO experience they wanted. And we offered 10% off COMPLEMENT YOUR VOYAGE any 2 or more, in any sequence or combination. As you browse the following 2-week itineraries, note that each features an What happened was an impressive display extension, that complements your voyage— and is yours with our compliments. of creativity by our guests—resulting in highly Designed to precede or follow your popular, specific itinerary combinations. So now voyage, these stays extend the pleasures we’re offering these two-week, ‘guest-inspired’ of your 2016 sojourn in Europe. Our itineraries too. For those with the time and Expedition Specialists can provide more inclination, they provide a richer, more rewarding information, and as always handle all the steep in Europe’s regional bounties—and a arrangements for both your voyage and special, relevant inducement to “explore more,” your complimentary extension. as you’ll see ahead. 4 5 Sunset over the Old Town of Bonifacio, South Coast of Corsica Island. 6 ITINERARY: 15 DAYS/14 NIGHTS | DATE: 2016: MAY 8 Sardinia, Corsica & Menorca to the Iberian Coast For ages poets and storytellers have tried to describe the unique beauty of the Mediterranean isles and Iberian coast. Find your own words to the experiences they offer—from simply uncommon to utterly unique—including exclusives such as the haunting sound of polyphonic singing in a private concert in Corsica. Ancient and modern, art and architecture is the thru- line of this voyage from Provence to Portugal’s southernmost province, the Algarve—with nature-made and man-made in brilliant juxtaposition. See Bonifacio upon its massive sea-carved plinth and the Alhambra fortress in Granada with its commanding Sierra Nevada views; Neptune’s Grotto in sunlit Sardinia and Gaudi’s masterworks in vibrant Barcelona; prehistoric monuments in Menorca and the resplendent Alcazar Palace in Seville. It’s heady this voyage—with inimitable vistas, physical and cultural activities, and the foods and wines of scintillating and diverse regions to explore and savor—off-ship and onboard as Orion’s chef artfully mirrors each region. Join us for it all, and then enjoy more—as our guest. LISBON & THE RIBATEJO VALLEY—WITH OUR COMPLIMENTS 3 Days/2 Nights, a $1,575 value Discover the Ribatejo region, home to the famed Lusitano horse breed. Take a river boat to colorful, seldom-seen fishing villages, and lunch in a stilt- perched restaurant above the wild Tagus River. Then to Lisbon—a city savvy travelers are touting—to wander beckoning streets and explore the Moorish Alfama, with tuk-tuks to take us into the charming old Mouraria and Sé neighborhoods, and more. Dine daily in standouts, including Europe’s best gin bar, amid tapas- laden tables; and on Este Oeste’s lovely terrace with its gorgeous Belem views. Most meals, fine wines, your knowledgeable escort, plus transfers and accommodations are on us, with compliments. » FIND DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY AT EXPEDITIONS.COM/LISBON 6 WWW.EXPEDITIONS.COM | 7 SARDINIA, CORSICA & MENORCA TO THE IBERIAN COAST DAY 1: MONACO/EMBARK Provence known as calanques, and stop by Arrive in Monaco and embark National the small Corsican village of Piana. Geographic Orion. After lunch, take time to The crystal clear waters of the Scandola marine settle into life on board before we set sail for a reserve spells hope for the Mediterranean, sunset cruise along the Côte d’Azur.