Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic Quest made its inaugural sailing at the end of last month after much anticipation.

The 100-passenger ship is the first built for the line and the brand is known for its adventure cruises as well as special guests onboard like National Geographic photographers, naturalists and lecturers.

Lindblad Expeditions CEO and President Sven Lindblad congratulated the team and said, “You all must feel a deep sense of pride and accomplishment, you have all worked tirelessly to make this possible, and are a part of history having played an important role in the building and launch of the most sophisticated and beautiful ship built in the U.S. in decades.”

The ship is currently sailing in Alaska and offers guests a number of itineraries including voyages between Seattle and Vancouver. In December this year, the ship will operate expeditions in Costa Rica and Panama before starting new cruises in Belize and Guatemala.

The Quest has some unique features which allows guests to have a more intimate experience with the destination. The ship is the first in the fleet to have step-out balconies on 22 of the 50 staterooms. There are also new connecting cabins to cater for adventurous families.

The vessel also has twin landing platforms for close-up wildlife viewing and the ship has open large decks with plenty of windows. The Quest has zodiacs for expeditions as well as kayaks and stand-up paddle boards as well as glass bottom boats.

There’s also beautiful observation lounges, a fitness centre and spa as well to keep busy while you’re not exploring.