North America, East Coast (USA)
Exploring the Hudson River: Fall Colors, Conservation & Creativity
In the seasonal transformation with summer’s longer days only a memory, we are in the Hudson, legendary for music and art, dotted with riverside towns full of history and steeped in maritime legend, often guarded by stoic lighthouses. Rising serenely from the river, the land occasionally borders the great waterway by startingly steep cliffs, as autumn bursts forth in a many-hued transformation. Along our journey, we focus on and learn about the river, valley, critical conservation work, the Hudson’s maritime history, and the essential roles music and art have played in the region. The Hudson, “America’s First River,” has emerged as a place of rebirth, transformation, nature, and of adventure. Our meticulously designed itinerary explores the region, designated as the Hudson Valley Natural Heritage Area and part of the National Estuarine Research Reserve, with remarkable depth, coming to know this river of constant change through specially curated experiences.
• Experience the magic of autumn’s transitional beauty
• Encounter fall wildlife while kayaking Constitution Marsh and Rogers Island Wildlife Management Area
• Visit Storm King Mountain Art Center
• Photograph the many iconic lighthouses and bridges along our journey
• Visit Sleepy Hollow and hear Washington Irving’s ageless tale re-told.
Highlights
• Experience the magic of autumn’s transitional beauty
• Encounter fall wildlife while kayaking Constitution Marsh and Rogers Island Wildlife Management Area
• Visit Storm King Mountain Art Center
• Photograph the many iconic lighthouses and bridges along our journey
• Visit Sleepy Hollow and hear Washington Irving’s ageless tale re-told.
This evening, we embark National Geographic
Sea Lion and sail out of New York Harbor north
into the Hudson River. (D)
With the dawn, we awake to the beauty of the
Hudson River Valley. The place to be is on deck as
we spend the early hours of the day cruising with
the river unfolding before us.
We cruise slowly by West Point Military Academy
before arriving at Constitution Marsh, where we
launch kayaks to explore the protected riverside
wetland. Watch for birds: belted kingfishers sitting
quietly or darting up a slough sounding their
rattling call, or hawks like northern harriers
quartering over the marshland. Or, simply stop for
a moment and relish the stillness of the wetland.
The island protecting the marsh was presented to
the nation on behalf of early American authors,
Anna and Susan Warner, to be forever preserved
as a historic and natural landmark.
Next, we make the short trip north for a cruise
around Bannerman Castle on Pollepel Island. This
abandoned military storage facility with a storied
history dates back to the early 1900’s. On shore,
take in a special musical performance as our first
evening on the Hudson fades to night. (B,L,D)
This morning, we call at the village of Catskill. Visit
the home of renowned landscape painter Thomas
Cole, now a National Historic Landmark Site.
Passionate about American wilderness, Cole is
recognized as the founder of the Hudson River art
movement.
Later, as our ship is anchored near the
picturesque Hudson-Athens Lighthouse, opt to join
a kayak excursion through the waterways of
Rogers Island Wildlife Management Area or
choose to visit the quiet town of Hudson. (B,L,D)
This morning, we are at Kingston, where the
Rondout Lighthouse marks the entrance to the
creek with the town a short distance from the river.
At Kingston, we learn the story of the sloop
Clearwater and the organization, founded in part
by legendary American folk musician Pete Seeger
and dedicated not only to the care of the vessel,
but to many conservation and environmental
projects in the area. Conditions permitting, we
embark the sloop and sail out of the harbor for a
unique experience on the Hudson. Later, we stop
by the Hudson River Maritime Museum, featuring
exhibits on a variety of subjects, especially
focused on the conservation of this great
waterway. (B,L,D)
Today, we are off exploring the Hudson in the
Esopus area. By kayak and Zodiac, we cruise
Esopus Island, now a quiet less-visited mid-river islet. Over the years, this skinny little island—not
even a mile long and mere yards wide—has seen
its share of intriguing visitors from Native
Americans’ gatherings to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s
parties. Even the legendary and notorious Aleister
Crowley camped for 40 days and nights in solitude
on Esopus Island in the summer of 1918 during
the waning days of the First World War.
Our day of exploration takes us to Esopus
Meadows Lighthouse, considered one of the most
scenic on the Hudson. Later, meandering slowly
along the great riverway, the splendor of the river
surrounds us. (B,L,D)
The mountain, called “Butter Hill” in earlier days,
later became known as Storm King, encouraged in
part by writer Nathaniel Parker Willis, who wrote,
“The tallest mountain is ... looked upon as the
most sure foreteller of a storm. When the white
cloud-beard descends upon his breast in the
morning ... there is sure to be a rain-storm before
night.” Storm King was a regular subject of
Hudson River School painters, as they depicted
the natural splendor of the mountain while
wrestling with the approaching industrialization
and commercialization of the Hudson, a
contentious duality to this day. Art is alive on the
western flanks of the mountain. The 500-acre
Storm King Art Center seeks to bring art, nature
and people together in the open air of the
sculpture park. Later, we ascend to the higher
reaches of the mountain itself to take in the
magnificent views back down towards the river
and beyond. (B,L,D)
We awake in sight of Bear Mountain Bridge, the
morning’s golden hour offering the opportunity to
photograph the bridge against the backdrop of the
Hudson fall. If conditions look good, we set out for
a morning kayak exploration where Popolopen
Creek meets the Hudson at Fort Montgomery. On
our way south, we pass Iona Island, part of the
Hudson River National Estuarine Research
Reserve.
Soon, we arrive at Sleepy Hollow. “A drowsy,
dreamy influence seems to hang over the land,
and to pervade the very atmosphere,” wrote
Washington Irving about the town. We disembark
and hear a re-telling of Irving’s tale before a walk
along the 13 Bridges Trail. In the late afternoon we
stop at the Sleepy Hollow cemetery as the sun
sets on our Hudson River adventure. (B,L,D)
This morning we disembark in New York Harbor to
begin our homeward journeys. (B)
Itineraries are subject to change.
| 14 October, 2023 to 21 October, 2023 | Book now |
Category 1
$7,200 AUD pp
Main Deck #300-305 - Conveniently positioned between the Dining room and Lounge, these cabins feature two lower single beds, a writing desk and a view window.
Category 2
$8,220 AUD pp
Bridge Deck #100-104; Upper Deck #200-212, 215 - These well-located cabins include two lower single beds and a view window.
Category 3
$9,220 AUD pp
Bridge Deck #105, 106; Upper Deck #214, 216, 217, 219 - These cabins feature a seating unit with table and two large view windows. Upper Deck cabins include two lower single beds which can convert to a double bed and a pull-out single bed for a third person; Bridge Deck cabins include two lower single beds only.
Category 1 Single
$10,800 AUD pp
Main Deck #300-305 - Conveniently positioned between the Dining room and Lounge, these cabins feature two lower single beds, a writing desk and a view window.
Category 2 Single
$12,320 AUD pp
Bridge Deck #100-104; Upper Deck #200-212, 215 - These well-located cabins include two lower single beds and a view window.
| 21 October, 2023 to 28 October, 2023 | Book now |
Category 1
$7,200 AUD pp
Main Deck #300-305 - Conveniently positioned between the Dining room and Lounge, these cabins feature two lower single beds, a writing desk and a view window.
Category 2
$8,220 AUD pp
Bridge Deck #100-104; Upper Deck #200-212, 215 - These well-located cabins include two lower single beds and a view window.
Category 3
$9,220 AUD pp
Bridge Deck #105, 106; Upper Deck #214, 216, 217, 219 - These cabins feature a seating unit with table and two large view windows. Upper Deck cabins include two lower single beds which can convert to a double bed and a pull-out single bed for a third person; Bridge Deck cabins include two lower single beds only.
Category 1 Single
$10,800 AUD pp
Main Deck #300-305 - Conveniently positioned between the Dining room and Lounge, these cabins feature two lower single beds, a writing desk and a view window.
Category 2 Single
$12,320 AUD pp
Bridge Deck #100-104; Upper Deck #200-212, 215 - These well-located cabins include two lower single beds and a view window.
| 28 October, 2023 to 04 November, 2023 | Book now |
Category 1
$7,200 AUD pp
Main Deck #300-305 - Conveniently positioned between the Dining room and Lounge, these cabins feature two lower single beds, a writing desk and a view window.
Category 2
$8,220 AUD pp
Bridge Deck #100-104; Upper Deck #200-212, 215 - These well-located cabins include two lower single beds and a view window.
Category 3
$9,220 AUD pp
Bridge Deck #105, 106; Upper Deck #214, 216, 217, 219 - These cabins feature a seating unit with table and two large view windows. Upper Deck cabins include two lower single beds which can convert to a double bed and a pull-out single bed for a third person; Bridge Deck cabins include two lower single beds only.
Category 1 Single
$10,800 AUD pp
Main Deck #300-305 - Conveniently positioned between the Dining room and Lounge, these cabins feature two lower single beds, a writing desk and a view window.
Category 2 Single
$12,320 AUD pp
Bridge Deck #100-104; Upper Deck #200-212, 215 - These well-located cabins include two lower single beds and a view window.
| 04 November, 2023 to 11 November, 2023 | Book now |
Category 1
$7,200 AUD pp
Main Deck #300-305 - Conveniently positioned between the Dining room and Lounge, these cabins feature two lower single beds, a writing desk and a view window.
Category 2
$8,220 AUD pp
Bridge Deck #100-104; Upper Deck #200-212, 215 - These well-located cabins include two lower single beds and a view window.
Category 3
$9,220 AUD pp
Bridge Deck #105, 106; Upper Deck #214, 216, 217, 219 - These cabins feature a seating unit with table and two large view windows. Upper Deck cabins include two lower single beds which can convert to a double bed and a pull-out single bed for a third person; Bridge Deck cabins include two lower single beds only.
Category 1 Single
$10,800 AUD pp
Main Deck #300-305 - Conveniently positioned between the Dining room and Lounge, these cabins feature two lower single beds, a writing desk and a view window.
Category 2 Single
$12,320 AUD pp
Bridge Deck #100-104; Upper Deck #200-212, 215 - These well-located cabins include two lower single beds and a view window.
| 11 November, 2023 to 18 November, 2023 | Book now |
Category 1
$7,200 AUD pp
Main Deck #300-305 - Conveniently positioned between the Dining room and Lounge, these cabins feature two lower single beds, a writing desk and a view window.
Category 2
$8,220 AUD pp
Bridge Deck #100-104; Upper Deck #200-212, 215 - These well-located cabins include two lower single beds and a view window.
Category 3
$9,220 AUD pp
Bridge Deck #105, 106; Upper Deck #214, 216, 217, 219 - These cabins feature a seating unit with table and two large view windows. Upper Deck cabins include two lower single beds which can convert to a double bed and a pull-out single bed for a third person; Bridge Deck cabins include two lower single beds only.
Category 1 Single
$10,800 AUD pp
Main Deck #300-305 - Conveniently positioned between the Dining room and Lounge, these cabins feature two lower single beds, a writing desk and a view window.
Category 2 Single
$12,320 AUD pp
Bridge Deck #100-104; Upper Deck #200-212, 215 - These well-located cabins include two lower single beds and a view window.
National Geographic SeaBird & SeaLion
Vessel Type: Comfortable Expedition
Length: 52 metres
Passenger Capacity: 62 (in twin cabins)
Built: 1982 / Refurbished 2015
Twin Expedition ships, National Geographic Sea Bird & Sea Lion, can reach places inaccessible to larger ships due to their small size, yet each can comfortably accommodate 62 guests. The feeling, is often compared to that of a large private yacht, with everyone integral to the adventure. Accessibility means freedom. Our captains have decades of sailing experience in the regions we explore. They know when and where to navigate so that you feel the places we visit are all ours.
Full interior renovations have been completed on these twin 62-guest ships, National Geographic Sea Lion and National Geographic Sea Bird. The extensive renovation to guest cabins, the lounge and bar, dining room, public areas and spa has transformed the ships to provide the ultimate in expedition hospitality and comfort. Nothing has been left untouched, from the sleekly framed wall photos, to the fresh paint, and new carpets throughout the ships.
- The lounge and bar have been completely redesigned and reconfigured to provide an open, enhanced environment with additional seating and better flow. The modern design features new tables and chairs, upholstery of settees, overhead ceiling panels, and LED dimmable lighting. The lounge also hosts a new food & beverage area, library, and Global Market.
- The dining room’s upgrade features all new tables, chairs, ceiling panels, and LED dimmable lighting. The wine bar has been replaced and features a display showcasing selections from the regions explored.
- Every cabin has been completely redone and all furnishings have been replaced. Modern aged cherry bed boxes, faux leather headboards, Lindblad signature bed linens, new windows, lighting, and additional USB outlets provide a dramatic makeover for a relaxing guest experience. Bathrooms now feature new shower doors and all new hardware.
- Exterior renovations include new deck furniture and outdoor awning.
Special Offers
• BACK-TO-BACK SAVINGS. Save 10% on any consecutive journeys taken on board one of our expedition ships. This savings is applicable on voyage fares only, and are not valid on extensions or airfare.
• TRAVELING AS A GROUP. Save 5% when traveling as a group of 8 or more people. Take advantage of these great savings, while enjoying traveling with your friends and family. This savings is applicable to voyage fares only, and is not valid on extensions or airfare. Deposit, final payments, and cancellation policies for group travel vary from our regular policies.
• COMBINING OFFERS. Certain offers may be combinable, up to two savings opportunities, except where noted otherwise. For example, travel with a group of 8 or more on back-to-back expeditions, and take advantage of both savings.
Inclusions
• Voyage on board in selected cabin category
• All meals while on board
• Non alcoholic beverages
• Experienced expedition team and leader
• All excursions
• Zodiac and kayak exploration
• Snorkeling, including wetsuits, masks, fins & snorkel where relevant
• Lectures and presentations on board
Exclusions
• International and domestic flights unless otherwise stated
• Travel insurance
• Passport and visa costs if applicable
• Alcoholic beverages on board unless otherwise stated
• Gratuities unless otherwise stated
• Wifi on board
• Any items of a personal nature including laundry
Expedition
8 Days from
$7,200 AUD pp
Our Associates Include
