Lindblad Expeditions to Launch Fly/Sail & Fly/Fly Antarctica Cruises

Have clients that want to go to Antarctica but don’t want to gamble on the Drake Passage? Lindblad Expeditions has joined the list of cruise lines offering fly/sail and fly/fly cruise options that allow cruisers to skip the Drake crossing.

“No matter how many days they have to invest, helping curious explorers discover the majesty of Antarctica is a joy and a privilege we’ve been successfully offering for more than 50 years,” said Trey Byus, chief expedition officer at Lindblad Expeditions. “We know this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip for most guests, so we don’t want them to miss a thing.”

Though Lindblad has been sailing in Antarctica since 1966, this is the first time the line is offering itineraries that include either a one-way flight or roundtrip flights straight to/from the White Continent. 

The decision to add the fly options was based solely on the increase in flight reliability, Noah Brodsky, chief commercial officer for Lindblad Expeditions, told TMR.

“Historically, the reliability just wasn’t there. The number of times that the flights had to get canceled and the trips had to get canceled was just to high for our comfort… the science is just better on what the weather is going to do through those flight routes. It’s gotten up to 98% reliability within 24 hours of the scheduled time.”

Itineraries start at eight days (fly/fly), making it easier for clients with less time on their hands to tick off this bucket list trip. The eight-day itinerary includes seven days onboard National Geographic Explorer (sailing roundtrip from King George Island), as well as one night pre-cruise in Puerto Natales, Chile. Guests are required to arrive a day early for these itineraries, as the flight time to King George Island can change on a dime if the weather changes.

“While there is a scheduled time when your flight is we do make you come in a day early because the flight could go anywhere 12 hours earlier or 12 hours later,” Brodsky explained. “Your flight may be scheduled for 10:30 am, but you may get a call at 2 am that says it’s time to go. We’re good with that. That is expedition philosophy. You have to go with the weather, you’ve got to go with the conditions.”

A 10-day sail/fly option is also available, departing from Ushuaia, Argentina, but skipping the Drake Passage back with a flight from King George Island. The decision to put the Drake Passage at the front end of these cruises was intentional, Brodsky said.

“For people who do want to do it one-way, they want to do it right away. Their courage is built up, they want to do it, and then no more.”

Brodsky told TMR he expects to see a younger demographic (40s and 50s) taking advantage of these shorter itineraries. 

“When you’re only gone seven or eight nights, for somebody who is still working, who has shorter amount of vacation time, it does make it way more approachable. Taking one week off is way easier than taking two weeks,” he said.

Unusual for Antarctica itineraries that include bypassing the Drake Passage, the fares for Lindblad’s fly/fly and cruise/fly itineraries are more affordable than the line’s traditional cruise/cruise options. Prices for the eight-day fly/fly journey start at $7,975 per person, while the 10-day cruise/fly itinerary starts at $10,950.

Both itineraries will be offered onboard National Geographic Explorer starting in late 2024. Bookings are open and included in the line’s Wave Season offer, which runs through Jan. 31, 2024.