Nat-Geo-Quest

National Geographic Quest, the first new cruise ship built for Lindblad Expedtions National Geographic, made its inaugural sailing Saturday in Alaska. The 100-passenger expedition ship has been much anticipated by fans of the line, which is known for the National Geographic photographers, naturalists and lecturers that it brings onboard. Although Lindblad Expeditions has been around since 1979 and partnered with National Geographic since 2004, National Geographic Quest is the line's first new ship and as such, it's built with state-of-the-art audio-visual capabilities for wildlife sightings. The ship also carries full warm- and cold-water diving gear and underwater cameras for an onboard expert to bring back images under the water, as well as a fleet of sea kayaks, paddleboards and specially designed landing craft. Built in the United States, the ship originally was slated to commence sailing in late June. Delays at the shipyard and issues at its original launch meant that several voyages were canceled.