Two very special words defined our day at Queen’s Wharf. Here they are, as defined in the American Heritage Dictionary:
Christen – “To name and dedicate ceremonially.”
Inauguration – “A formal beginning or introduction.”
As the sun came up over the waterfront of Auckland we welcomed our guests aboard the National Geographic Orion for the first time, proudly inviting them into our beautiful new ship and urging them to explore all her comforts and amenities. Everyone present seemed to share in the feeling that this was a special moment, a day to be savored and remembered. Coffee and croissants and champagne cocktails added to the festive atmosphere in the lounge as we met our shipmates and discussed the exciting voyage ahead.
In the early afternoon our Expedition Leader, Tim Soper, welcomed us all on board and introduced Jeremy Lindblad, the third generation of his family to create this kind of expedition travel experience. Jeremy spoke of his excitement about the new voyages planned for the National Geographic Orion and then passed the microphone to longtime expedition star Tom Ritchie, a colleague of all three generations of Lindblads, who recalled the thrills of past trips and promised much more to come in the future.
Next came the big event of the day, as we all gathered on the quayside for the traditional christening of the ship. Captain Mike Taylor introduced our Global Perspectives Guest Speaker, Valerie Taylor, who spoke the happy words, “I christen thee National Geographic Orion! May God bless this ship and all who sail on her!” With a great swing she smashed a bottle of champagne on the bow, naming the vessel in honor of the great institution that will support her explorations all around the world.
And then we set sail! The engines began to throb beneath our feet, lines were thrown down and our new ship pulled away from the quay on her inaugural voyage! In the coming days we will cruise north into the remote tropical paradise of Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, but this is only the beginning of a long series of voyages that will take the ship all around the world in the months to come. And that too is only the beginning. Many horizons, many destinations and many thrilling adventures beckon us. The National Geographic Orion is on her way!
