Rare and truly unexpected was the ship’ spontaneous stop in the middle of the North Sea today. Not in any way caused by trouble or distress, rather by buttery smooth seas and stunning weather, our captain decided to stop the engines, geo stabilize the vessel with its azipods, and open the tool bay for kayaking on the open North Sea.
Having left Buckie, Scotland and the many world-renowned Spey-side distilleries the afternoon before, our captain’ anticipation was for typical North Sea waves and swells in the 10 to 15 feet range. Instead we were served up bathtub water and endless blue skies too good to pass up. This kayak outing was a tremendous experience and a totally spontaneous one at that.
As you will see coming up, the weather gods stayed with us all the way to the end of this Scandinavian voyage of discovery which made it an unforgettable journey for all.
Unexpected experiences beyond nature are found aboard the vessel in several areas. One such surprise are the two igloos aft on deck 10. They are available on a first come, first serve basis by stateroom for overnight stays. Whether it be stargazing or midnight sun watching, these glass domed pods of coziness offer warmth and style.
Purpose built for polar exploration, this ship and its sister vessel Resolution deliver to guests with spacious staterooms, wide open and light filled public spaces, and a team of scientists and naturalists to bring the outdoors alive inside. The exterior design with its distinctive X-bow reduces drag and resistance in the waves as well as creating a stabilizing effect to calm water turbulence. I particularly like its puffin-like grin when seen from the front.
From a culinary perspective, Lindblad impresses with a dedicated sustainable option in the C Green restaurant called Charlie’s Table. Named after Charlie Green, the British cook on Ernest Shackleton’s historic 1914 Antarctic expedition, this remarkable experience showcases how simple and renewable ingredients can be used to nourish us in creative high end cuisine.
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