National Geographic Resolution

National Geographic Resolution is an expedition cruise ship operated by Lindblad Expeditions in partnership with National Geographic. The vessel is the second ship in the Endurance class, following National Geographic Endurance, which entered service in 2020. It was conceived for voyages in demanding polar environments and combines a passenger-ship layout with an ice-strengthened hull, expedition equipment, and specialist operating capabilities. The ship was ordered on February 28, 2019. Its hull was built at the CRIST shipyard in Gdynia, Poland, before being transferred to Ulstein Verft in Ulsteinvik, Norway, for outfitting and completion. Construction proceeded through several notable stages: the vessel was laid down on September 18, 2019; its hull was launched on October 16, 2020; and the completed ship was launched again on June 9, 2021. Lindblad Expeditions took delivery on September 30, 2021, and the vessel entered service for the Antarctic season in November of that year. The ship's name commemorates HMS Resolution, the vessel used by British explorer James Cook during his voyages, including its crossing of the Antarctic Circle in 1773. National Geographic Resolution was christened on November 24, 2021, on an ice sheet in Antarctica's Weddell Sea. Captain Heidi Norling, one of the ship's captains, conducted the ceremony; she is identified in reference material as Lindblad's first international fleet female captain. National Geographic Resolution uses an ice-strengthened X-bow hull. The X-bow configuration, originally developed for offshore vessels, is intended to reduce wave impact, improve comfort and stability in rough seas, and support more efficient movement through challenging conditions. The vessel carries a Polar Class PC5 rating, allowing operation in medium first-year ice conditions. Azipod azimuth thrusters improve maneuverability in ice and confined waters. Its installed power is approximately 7 megawatts, and its service speed is about 16.5 knots. The ship has a gross tonnage of 12,786 GT, a deadweight tonnage of 1,250 DWT, a length of 124.4 meters, a beam of 21 meters, and a draft of 5.3 meters. It has six decks and is designed to accommodate 138 passengers supported by a crew of 116. Onboard amenities include dining venues, a spa, gym, and library, while its expedition configuration supports Zodiac boating, kayaking, shore landings, and guided walks. Its operating model is educational as well as recreational. Voyages may travel south of the Antarctic Circle and seek access to remote polar regions. Expedition teams commonly include naturalists and scientists who interpret wildlife, marine ecosystems, climate science, and conservation issues for passengers. The vessel therefore represents a ship-specific offering within Lindblad Expeditions' adventure-travel portfolio rather than a conventional mass-market cruise brand. Its identity is defined by polar access, small-ship expedition operations, National Geographic educational programming, and the ability to operate in ice-affected waters.

National Geographic Resolution was developed as the second member of Lindblad Expeditions' Endurance-class expedition ships. The project was ordered on February 28, 2019, with construction divided between Poland and Norway. CRIST in Gdynia constructed the hull, after which it was moved to Ulstein Verft in Ulsteinvik for outfitting, completion, and final integration of its expedition and propulsion systems. The ship was laid down on September 18, 2019. Its hull was launched on October 16, 2020, and transferred to Ulstein Verft for the next phase of work. Following additional construction and fitting-out, the completed vessel was launched on June 9, 2021. Lindblad Expeditions accepted delivery on September 30, 2021, and prepared the ship for its first Antarctic operating season. The vessel was christened on November 24, 2021, in Antarctica's Weddell Sea, using an ice sheet rather than a conventional shore-side ceremony. Captain Heidi Norling performed the christening. The ship's name refers to HMS Resolution, associated with James Cook's exploration and its crossing of the Antarctic Circle in 1773. Resolution was designed around the operational requirements of polar expedition cruising. Its ice-strengthened X-bow hull is intended to lessen wave impact and improve behavior in rough seas, while the Polar Class PC5 rating supports operations in medium first-year ice conditions. Azipod azimuth thrusters provide maneuverability in restricted waters and ice. These features distinguish the ship from ordinary cruise vessels, whose primary design assumptions are generally open-water passenger transport and larger-scale onboard capacity. The vessel entered service in November 2021. Its voyages are centered on remote and polar destinations, including Antarctic itineraries that can travel south of the Antarctic Circle. Expedition activities include Zodiac excursions, kayaking, shore landings, guided hikes, and wildlife observation. Lindblad's relationship with National Geographic adds an interpretive and research-oriented dimension: scientists, naturalists, and other expedition specialists may provide lectures and field-based programming concerning marine conservation, climate science, and wildlife monitoring. With capacity for 138 passengers and a crew of 116, National Geographic Resolution follows the small-ship model used for expedition travel. Its facilities include dining areas, a spa, gym, and library, but its principal value lies in access to remote environments and the equipment and personnel needed to explore them. The ship remains an active Lindblad Expeditions vessel and is best understood as a named expedition product within the company's National Geographic partnership rather than as an independent corporate brand.

1. 2021Completed vessel launched

   After outfitting and further construction at Ulstein Verft, the completed vessel was launched on June 9, 2021.

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2. 2021Delivered to Lindblad Expeditions

   Lindblad Expeditions took delivery of National Geographic Resolution on September 30, 2021.

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3. 2021Antarctic christening

   The ship was christened on an Antarctic ice sheet in the Weddell Sea on November 24, 2021, with Captain Heidi Norling conducting the ceremony.

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4. 2021Entered expedition service

   The vessel entered service for the Antarctic season in November 2021.

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5. 2020Hull launched

   The ship's hull was launched on October 16, 2020, and subsequently moved to Ulstein Verft in Norway for completion.

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6. 2019Ship ordered

   Lindblad Expeditions ordered the second Endurance-class expedition ship on February 28, 2019.

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7. 2019Keel laid at CRIST

   The vessel was laid down at the CRIST shipyard in Gdynia, Poland, on September 18, 2019.

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A purpose-built, small-capacity expedition vessel positioned for educational and adventure travel in polar and other remote environments, emphasizing ice capability, access, specialist interpretation, and National Geographic-branded scientific and natural-history programming.

• National Geographic ResolutionExpedition cruise ship2021

  The flagship and sole known offering associated with this subject is the vessel itself: a 124.4-meter expedition ship with a Polar Class PC5 rating, an ice-strengthened X-bow hull, and Azipod propulsion. It accommodates 138 passengers and 116 crew members. Its onboard program combines polar transportation with Zodiac outings, kayaking, guided hikes, shore landings, wildlife observation, and educational presentations by naturalists and scientists. Facilities include dining venues, a spa, gym, and library.

1. National Geographic Resolution