Lindblad Cruises

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 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.

Meals Review

Amazingly delicious food and excellent food and bar service.

Crew & Guides Review

The officers, crew, naturalists, and passengers were friendly and fun. Laura, the expedition leader, and captain could not have been more cordial and informative.

Itinerary Review

I liked every experience offered, including yoga every morning, visiting Tromso and the Loften Islands, walking to the Fjordnord glacier, seeing all the birds at Bear Island, and being in the Svalbard archipelago for about a week.

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

We had a room with a balcony. Saw many birds (pelicans and gulls) following the ship and fishing throughout the night just outside of our balcony. It was a great little room.

COVID Logistics

In general, it was a very friendly and open environment, despite the COVID pressure.

Itinerary Review

While we did not get to snorkel with the young California sea lions due to wind (had to completely skip that), and there weren’t too many whales or dolphins while making the journey to the Pacific side, we had one absolutely enchanting morning with the whales on the last day—one came right up to the boat and hung out with us. The trip was worth it just for that morning.

Another spectacular sighting was to see about a hundred brown boobies swarming the cliffside of Isla Danzante and diving into the ocean in perfect unison on our first full day. It was as if they were herding the fish from just the above the water — all of them moving so fast in complete unison. There were birds — brown pelicans, boobies — diving all over the place as we watched from the top of the cliff. It was simply breathtaking! That, I thought, was the magic of Baja! The Vista Walk to the top of the cliff gave us an incredible sighting of numerous brown boobies dive-bombing down the cliff. I had never seen so many boobies flying and diving in unison, coming back out of the water, gliding over the water's surface with such speed and agility. I was completely mesmerized. Also, we had our first encounters with the jumping cactus and a very impressive Cordone cactus that was several times my height.

We did not get to kayak nearly as often as I thought, and I hoped for more intimate encounters with the birds, but overall, mom and I think that one morning with the gray whale was worth the entire admission.

Isla San Francisco - amazing clear turquoise waters, thousands of fish -- some very colorful and beautiful, Sally Lightfoot crabs, pelicans diving in front of my kayaks, and the ridge walk with the perfect view of the gorgeous Moon bay and desert vegetations. Adrian also showed us a Chugwala.

By far, the most incredible experience was on the last day at Bahia Almejas. Unlike at Magdalena bay where I felt that we were chasing after the mother-calf gray whale pair, the last day felt very different. We were in a very large body of water, and the whales surrounded us. One particular friendly gray whale came to our boats and stayed with us, lifting its beautiful head out of the water and allowing us to touch and kiss him. He or she stayed by my side for a long while, allowing me to take a very close look at all the barnacles and whale lice, and to feel him and talk to him. It was truly an once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Meals Review

The menu was not variable enough to my liking -- always fish similarly prepared, beef/port of some sort, and vegetarian choices. I did mostly enjoy the fish options. The dining staff was really excellent. I met some of the best companions on this trip, and we have exchanged contact information. We are already in correspondence and hope to make other trips together. One family of 3, in particular, made the week particularly enjoyable. The meals times with this family were so much fun that I nearly cried every time from laughing so hard.

Crew & Guides Review

Of course I treasured learning about the plant species, and the naturalists were (particularly the Mexican biologists) were so knowledgeable that I loved listening to them. The naturalists, particularly Adrian and Carlos - the two Mexican biologists - were true experts of the region's fauna, marine life, and various Sonoran desert ecosystems. Shane Sanders, another naturalist, photographer, and bird expert, took great care to help correct the settings on my camera and took particular effort to be sure that mom and I had the best opportunities for whale and bird watching. While Sarah was very responsive to my requests, I felt as though she did not have the typical energy of an expedition leader. Lindblad was very responsive to my requests to add a bird walk on couple of different days.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Andrew Browning is simply the best. He is the most reliable, responsive, detail-oriented, and meticulous travel guide I have ever had. I could not ask for anyone better and feel extremely fortunate to have had the chance to work with Andrew. He made all the difference!!! I really missed him when he was away on paternity leave. Andrew Browning at AdventureSmith has been one of the best parts of the whole process. He is as honest and trustworthy as he is thoughtful and meticulous. He takes such complete care of you that I would always want to work with Andrew in particular to prepare and book a trip whenever possible. One just cannot get better guidance than what Andrew can offer.

Traveler Advice

I have always wanted to go to Baja for marine mammals and bird watching. While we did not get to see any huge pods of dolphins or humpback whales up and close (did see a few in the distance), the close encounter with the gray whales on the last day made up for the previously lackluster whale encounters. It's hard not to expect fantastic encounters with wildlife when you go to a place like Baja, but the encounters are highly unpredictable as is the wind and water. One has to do his or her best to remain flexible and have an open mind and be willing to enjoy whatever happens and appreciate it. There is true magic to Baja, and it is heartwarming to see places that can not only recover from human destruction but also thrive.

Accommodations Review

The Venture is comfortable and well-maintained...There were only 28 passengers on the 100 passenger ship. With very few exceptions, we shared common interest in the activities and formed supportive relationships with each other.

Meals Review

The meals were creative with multiple options for different tastes or requirements. Special needs were graciously accommodated.

Crew & Guides Review

The entire leadership and guide staff was professional and so passionate about their work. Eric Guth and Alex Rubenstein were generous with their knowledge of photography and encouraging of our progress. Luke Manson and Patrick Webster enthusiastically shared videos of their underwater wildlife discoveries. Sharon Grainger’s and Ashli Akins’ love for the indigenous people groups was obvious.

Itinerary Review

Although I knew the itinerary going in, I would have preferred more time on and around the water, rather than in towns...I loved experiencing the area by kayak, as it was independent, peaceful, and up close. Hikes were divided into casual, moderate, and a new option for photo hikes, where guides shared their knowledge of lighting, composition and camera controls.

Transportation Review

Some of the cruise line’s pre-trip info was incorrect. They said there was no laundry service on the trip, but there was. They asked everyone to arrive at the hospitality suite by 2 for a city bus tour before the cruise. There was no tour so we didn’t need to be there until 3:30. John Delaney, Lindblad’s new Sr VP of Global Sales, joined the cruise in Victoria and was made aware of the miscommunication.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Andrew was always helpful in answering my questions.

Traveler Advice

Don’t miss the opportunity to experience British Columbia with Lindblad!

Accommodations Review

Room was, as expected, tight quarters. It's an old ship, after all. The public areas are great. The upper deck is a beautiful place for cocktails, or just relaxing. Seeing the Sea Cloud under sail is a real treat.

Meals Review

Food was excellent. I think I probably gained weight, but that's my fault. I preferred the buffet dinners to the served ones. Variety was excellent. Lot's of great salads. Good seafood and fresh fish.

Crew & Guides Review

All of the people leading the expedition are true professionals. They know their stuff. One of the regular speakers has her PHD in archeology and is a real expert on the region and Greek history.  I was really impressed with all of them. The two regular guides are Greek and have many years experience in the areas we visited. One of our Lindblad guides, a native Greek, was much too insistent on trying to tell us all about the Greek Orthodox religion. As a non-Christian, I found it a little off-putting. She knew her stuff, but seemed anxious to proselytize...

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Between AdventureSmith and Lindblad, we were well prepared. We made our own flight arrangements, but AS was very helpful. I cannot say enough good about our experience both with AdventureSmith and with Lindblad.