National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions

Accommodations Review

Clean, well appointed, private, and comfortable. Luggage was handled seamlessly. Our room on the middle deck of the ship had a private balcony, just above the water, with sliding glass door to our tidy room. This feature allowed a peaceful, private retreat to view water, vistas, and bring fresh air, allowing a feeling of immersion in the environment.

Meals Review

The crew on Venture accommodated my life-threatening dairy allergy seamlessly. I felt secure and cared for. They served one meal that was better tossed in the compost, on the night that they made a huge fuss about a "crab feast", serving vegetarian option of a cold skewer of tofu and vegetables, where a knife and strength was needed to cut tofu. Desert was a paltry substitution of what the omnivore was provided.

Itinerary Review

[We most enjoyed]...glacial exploration by Zodiac and kayaks, dining experience with a wide variety of vegan options, with special care for my life threatening dairy allergy; full access to education from a host of experienced and knowledgeable guides offering inspiration and educational opportunities; opportunities to get off the ship every day to experience hiking, kayaking, stand up paddling, and Zodiac tours. The much anticipated tour of Glacier Bay National Park, was not as described in brochure, having no Tlingit guide for the day, and rushing us off the ship to see the welcome center or walk a couple of miles on the park access road. The other disappointment was the ship plan for a Crab Feast on evening, with the focus on feeding all diners with crab and ribs, while offering me a cold skewer of tofu and vegetables that was a real let down from their general excellent fare for vegan options.

Fellow Passengers Review

A good mix of individuals and small families together at meals and education/lounge communication with one another, bringing lots of opportunity to share experiences, knowledge, and common interests.

Crew & Guides Review

The expedition leader was John Mitchell. He was organized, and delivered his daily information pieces with humor that engaged all ages and interests. He was very available, and made necessary changes smoothly when needed due to changing conditions.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Kevin Marshall's communications were clear, timely, and professional. He communicated a sense of genuine enthusiasm for my experience, with professional, clearly worded messages, only when necessary to support my knowledge. ASE support and attention to detail with good and clear communication left me feeling assured of my ability to manage the unknowns of my anticipated travel experience.

Traveler Advice

Be prepared to be awed by the epic scenery, wildlife, wildflowers, active outdoor opportunities and native cultural collections in excellent museums.

Accommodations Review

Absolutely first class.

Crew & Guides Review

The were all exceptional.  The naturalists were excellent, full of information and willing to answer any questions--dumb or otherwise--we asked.  I learned a lot and I think the others did, too.

The crew/staff on both ships were excellent, as well.  The attention to detail on both ships was remarkable and everyone, from the top managers on down, went out of their way to make sure we were well taken care of.

Meals Review

Could not have been better. The chef was exceptional at providing food that reflected the local cultures, yet catering to American (or Australian in some cases) tastes.  Every meal was fun and something of an adventure.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

In addition to providing information, they were available for any questions we had.  AdventureSmith was great and answered any questions I had. They made all of our transfer arrangements and they were seamless!  Really well done.  We worked through Exito Travel for our flights to and from South America, and they were excellent, especially in the face of the problems with the reservation systems caused by the merger between American and US Airways.

Accommodations Review

The Mandarin hotel prior and the National Geographic Orion were exactly as I expected and met all our needs.

Meals Review

The meals on the ship were consistently incredible. The variety of fresh foods and beautiful presentation never got boring.

Crew & Guides Review

The pre-tour guide and driver were outstanding. Our guide went above and beyond to make our experience a good one and to give us insight into his country in addition to seeing 'the sights' - it was a true cultural experience which I wanted and appreciated. The National Geographic crew from top to bottom were fantastic.

Itinerary Review

Antarctica was simply amazing. Nothing can compare and you simply have to see it to believe it. We also enjoyed our day trip to Valpairaiso. The day trip and the drive over with a stop at a local winery gave us a good flavor for the region as well as a day to adjust and get ready for the next leg of the journey.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Nick helped us for more than a year to secure the trip, work on pre-tours and help with all preparations and questions - which were many. He was also professional and responsive and educational in preparing us for the trip. Just what I wanted from a travel agency. Expert advice from people who have been there and can match your wishes and travel style to the right fit for you.

Traveler Advice

Plan far ahead and research what the actual trip experience will be like. Find the fit that best suits your personality and travel style. Be flexible. The only challenge was a very late night flight out of Santiago to Dallas. The downtime on that final day proved to longer than I would have liked. I would recommend to future travelers that they spend the night in Santiago, taking a morning flight out the following day in order to ensure a less exhaustive end to the trip. Santiago city center is worth seeing but not particularly engaging - at least at the moment. The protests have very much disrupted the flow for tourists and the effects on the city with graffiti and boarded up sites around the city are painful to see.

Accommodations Review

The NG Endurance is very comfortable, in rough seas we felt safe and were surprised how stable and comfortable it was. Well done to Lindblad on a great design. All areas were very clean and well presented. Always kept in top condition. Excellent library and great to see pics in the Science Hub.

Meals Review

Food quality was outstanding and I couldn’t believe we had lettuce for 4 weeks! The attention they went to was outstanding. Amazing friendly staff serving us, knew every detail and our names very quickly. Always going the extra mile to service the guests.

Itinerary Review

Have always wanted to go to Antarctica so when we saw the itinerary with remote areas and the Ross Ice Shelf, we decided on this one. Ross Island - amazing ice, penguins everywhere, and found a protected bay in the ice for kayaking. Cape Adare - rare to get a landing in at that location and was a perfect day weather wise. Macquarie Island - king penguins all around the ship and zodiac excursions.

Crew & Guides Review

All of the crew and expedition staff were absolutely amazing, attentive to detail, friendly, knowledgeable and made everyone feel special and important. Nick Brown ran the Global Explorers program for my son and did a great job. Kitchen staff went above and beyond, including Chef Bogdan. The cleaning staff on level 7 made an amazing dinosaur display for my son's birthday. Brent, expedition leader, had a tough job on such a long trip with lots of factors to consider, and did his best fitting in the activities he could with the conditions and time we had.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Lauren was amazing. So very professional, efficient, and clear with all information and communications. Super impressed.

Traveler Advice

The complimentary parka is excellent and includes an internal puffer jacket. No need to bring heaps of extra jackets. A thermal, fleece and the expedition jacket was sufficient in all the weather conditions we had. Make sure you take clothes that are comfortable to wear on the boat, where it is quite warm. People were even wearing shorts and t shirts.

Accommodations Review

The National Geographic Explorer was awesome, our cabin was spacious and comfortable and the service was exceptional. National Geographic did a great job with protocols related to COVID-19 to keep us safe and healthy.

Meals Review

The quality and variety of the food was top notch. We really enjoyed getting to try local cuisine, the portions were just right and the desserts were delicious.

Crew & Guides Review

Both Michael and Leah did a wonderful job managing the expedition. The daily recaps were informative and interesting.  The naturalists truly enhanced our daily experiences.

Itinerary Review

Every day was unique and we enjoyed every stop and excursion. Highlights were Vigur Island learning about the Eider ducks and seeing lots of birds, especially the Puffins, Grimsey because of the opportunity to be in the Artic circle and the Vatnajokull icecap which was stunning. The flexibility of being able to stop the ship when we encountered whales on 2 occasions was greatly appreciated. We were also impressed by the variety of activities offered. 

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Taylor is exceptional. We can't thank her enough for all her assistance to make this trip happen.  She kept us informed, was always quick to answer our many questions and made sure we had everything we needed for the trip. We were extremely pleased with the customer service we received from Taylor.

We had originally booked a different trip for 2020 that included Norway, Greenland and Iceland that ended up being cancelled in 2020 and again in 2021. Taylor Cranney really worked hard to move us to the Circumnavigation of Iceland trip so we could travel this year.

Traveler Advice

I would suggest walking on a regular basis prior to going on the trip to be able to maximize your experience on the trip.

Accommodations Review

The National Geographic Endeavor II had wonderful accommodations! My cabin was roomy, comfortable, and the wonderful crew member, Olga, who took care of the cabin always did an amazing job.

Meals Review

The food was incredible! It was like visiting a 5-star quality restaurant at every meal! The food was not only delicious, but the presentation and plating were creative and beautiful. The wait staff was also top notch! They took the time to get to know us and even anticipated our "usual" needs.

Crew & Guides Review

The naturalist guides were fun, informative, knowledgeable, and they really took the time to get to know us, the travelers. The certified photo instructor was fun, informative, knowledgeable, and he really took the time to get to know us, the travelers. All of the naturalist guides were consummate professionals! And our expedition leader, Paula, was equally amazing. She was fun, informative, knowledgeable, and her daily presentations provided the perfect balance of important information, brevity and humor.

Transportation Review

I had already arranged my own flights to get to and from the destination. National Geographic/Lindblad Expeditions arranged the in-country flights. Leslie made sure I was aware of all of the transportation arrangements, putting my mind at ease.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Leslie C. was great! She provided me with all of the important information I needed. She was also very timely in getting back to me with my myriad of questions. It was great to have a dedicated Adventure Specialist, Leslie, to whom I could turn with questions.

I had another trip planned for the summer of 2021, but it was canceled/postponed due to COVID-19. In the "travel bucket list" in my mind, the Galápagos Islands were my next destination, and they were open for travel this summer. I did a little quick research, and decided that I wanted to travel with National Geographic/Lindblad Expeditions, and I found that AdventureSmith Explorations could book the trip for me.

Traveler Advice

The Galápagos Islands are a destination of a lifetime! Do not skip any excursions! Soak up every moment. You can rest when you get home, but you will probably regret missing any opportunity to explore the islands.