National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions hosts first agent ship visit in Edinburgh

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions has teamed up with the Expedition Cruise Network to host its first agent ship visit in Edinburgh.

Twenty agents were hosted at the event from companies including Travel Counsellors, Ponders Travel, Mundy Cruising, Journey Latin America and Swoop Adventures.

Sixty agents applied to have the chance to get on board National Geographic Endurance and gain insight into the onboard and offshore experience.

The event featured a ship tour, a photographer workshop with a National Geographic photographer, a city tour of Edinburgh, presentations from head of UK sales Danielle Bates and Expedition Cruise Network chief executive Akvile Marozaite, and an overnight stay at the Malmaison Edinburgh with a three-course dinner.

Agents have already been using the visit to help them get bookings over the line, with Emma Sowden of Impala Adventure Travel UK confirming a booking for a 10-day Svalbard expedition in 2027 four days after the ship tour.

Sowden told Travel Weekly the sale, for a long-standing customer who loved the videos of the suites she sent, was worth almost £40,000.

She said she was “over the moon” with the booking, adding: “I can’t express how valuable it was to see the ship first hand and have access to the UK team to ask questions and build relations over the two days.

“I already had a client interested in Svalbard and as soon as I stepped onboard, I knew this was the perfect match for him. I sent him images from the visit, and he booked and paid his deposit within four days.”

Bates said: “From exploring Edinburgh and meeting our expedition team to participating in the photography workshop, every element helps agents truly understand how we position the brand and why what we offer is so unique.

“The booking confirmed just four days after the event is testament to the impact these experiences can have, and we are so excited for all that is to come.”

Marozaite added: “The response to this event was phenomenal and demonstrated the growing appetite within the trade for authentic expedition cruise experiences.

“Giving agents meaningful access to the product, the people and the philosophy behind the brand is invaluable, and we are delighted to have had the opportunity to experience it with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions on this first Edinburgh ship visit.”