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We’re in shipyard this week with Kris Thompson, VP of Guest Services for Lindblad Expeditions. Kris is normally based in Lindblad’s Seattle office, but her role with the company often takes her to the field. Kris took a few minutes to answer some questions for this week’s portal update.

Q: Kris, how are you spending your time in shipyard this week?
A: I’m working with the Swedish design team that is drawing the plans for the National Geographic Explorer.

Q: Where is your focus directed while you’re there?
A: The General Arrangement drawing of the ship is nearly complete, which means there are countless details that need to be sorted out and finalized before the final plan is submitted for regulatory review and approval. With Hotel Managers, I try to ensure each of those decisions will ultimately benefit the guests' needs and comfort.

Q: What sorts of details are you finalizing at this stage?
A: Today it seemed like we talked about every conceivable element of the ship. From the locations of electrical outlets in the cabins to the design of cabinetry in the restaurant and the layout of the self-serve beverage station, all these decisions are adding up to a final ship plan. We are also selecting materials and goods for the public areas and deciding what materials we will purchase locally here in Europe and which will be shipped from the States.

Q: How do your projects fit in with other renovations currently underway?
A: Almost always, there is a domino effect to a design process. For example, the locations of cabin heads (i.e. bathrooms) must be determined before one can finalize the cabin and corridor arrangements. The bathrooms are also the first part of the ship to be built, so this means that the team contracted for the construction work is quite anxious to finalize the details of the “wet spaces.” While some areas of the ship are more generally defined at this time, all details of the bathrooms must be signed, sealed, and delivered – right down to the millimeter height of the handrails!

Q: How do you approach decision-making on this project?
A: I feel tremendous responsibility to ensure we are seeking and using expert advice for virtually all of these decisions. To me, the experts are our guests – for whom the ship is ultimately designed – and the experienced Lindblad personnel that have years of experience in delivering the expedition experience. It’s exciting to draw upon that knowledge, to know we are making the ship’s design as functional as possible.

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