Receive $1,000-$2,000 in expedition credit per person when you book your select 2024 or 2025 departure of the below-linked Antarctica cruises.
Offer valid on new bookings only, subject to availability, and cannot be combined with any other offers. Amount will be deducted from cabin fare prior to any additional applicable savings. See all Antarctica cruise deals for a comprehensive list of current savings on these and other adventures.
Solo travelers! Book your select 2024 or 2025 departure of the below-linked National Geographic Antarctica expedition cruises and save up to 33% off the single cabin rate.
Offer valid on new bookings only, subject to availability and may be combined with select offers. See all Antarctica cruise deals for a comprehensive list of current savings on these and other adventures.
Save 5% when traveling as a group of 8 or more on select 2024 and 2025 departures of the below-linked National Geographic expeditions.
Offer valid on new bookings only, for a limited time upon availability and may be combined with other select offers. Applicable on voyage fares only, not valid on extensions or airfare. Deposit, final payments, and cancellation policies for group travel vary from the standard policy. See all small ship cruise deals for a comprehensive list of current savings on these and other adventures.
Lindblad Expeditions is a pioneer in small ship expedition cruises and one of the biggest names in small ship cruising today. The company is synonymous with exploration, education and conservation. Lindblad delivers an authentic and exhilarating travel experience through all-five-senses engagement with the world’s most exotic locations, from Galapagos cruises to Arctic cruises. Learn here about the history, expedition cruises, reasons to take a Lindblad cruise and how to get aboard.
When AdventureSmith Explorations Founder and President Todd Smith was a young guide working in Alaska for Glacier Bay Tours & Cruises, everyone compared themselves to Lindblad expeditions Alaska. Ever since, Todd has known and respected Lindblad, as do many of the captains, crew and shipmates Todd worked with back in the day.
“It’s been exciting to watch Lindblad’s evolution in small ship cruising, including their partnership with National Geographic and the expansion of their fleet, while at the same time having AdventureSmith Explorations mature, expand and grow alongside them,” Todd says.
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See the full list of itineraries across the fleet, plus reviews.
Over the years, Lindblad has launched 12 ships of their own: Nat Geo Explorer (148 guests), Nat Geo Endurance & Nat Geo Resolution (126 guests), Nat Geo Orion (102 guests), Nat Geo Venture & Nat Geo Quest (100 guests), Nat Geo Endeavour II (96 guests), Nat Geo Sea Bird & Nat Geo Sea Lion (62 guests), Nat Geo Islander II (48 guests), Nat Geo Gemini (48 guests) and Nat Geo Delfina (16 guests).
The company partners with 7 more ships for select itineraries. While Lindblad’s own ships span from 16 to 148 guests, their smallest charter ship carries 28 passengers. Lindblad’s over 50 years leading the expedition cruise industry is passed down in careful design elements reflected in their newer vessels, some of which are twins, like the Nat Geo Venture and Quest, and the Nat Geo Endurance and Resolution.
Lindblad ships are built to travel comfortably to remote corners of the planet and provide educational, enriching experiences along the way. Think specialty onboard tools like a hydrophone, remotely operated vehicle and science hub, plus thoughtful construction elements like a wave-cutting X-BOW®, ice-breaking capability, mudroom for gear storage and shallow draft to tuck into secluded areas.
The onboard atmosphere is no-frills, but the service is guest-oriented and attentive. Food is fresh and local but not gourmet. An onboard library is chock full of reference materials reflecting the regions in which each ship travels. And lounges provide ample sightlines and video equipment for the daily Recap lectures that this cruise line is known for.
Lindblad Expeditions was founded in 1958 under the name of Lindblad Travel by Lars-Eric Lindblad. Lars-Eric channeled his passion to be an explorer into the travel business, planning trips to some of the most exotic parts of the globe, including the first tourist expedition to Antarctica in 1966, Easter Island and the Galápagos Islands in 1967, and along the coast of China and Bhutan in 1978.
By believing that educated people who saw things with their own eyes would be a potent force for the preservation of the places they visited, Lars-Eric made his notions a powerful force for the good of conservation and restoration projects worldwide.
Since 1979, Lars-Eric’s son, Sven-Olof Lindblad, has expanded the Lindblad legacy by providing transformative travel experiences in the world’s most remarkable places. Sven-Olof has also increased the company’s commitment to conservation and field science, most notably through the Lindblad partnership with National Geographic starting in 2004, and the launch of the Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic Fund in 2008.
Financed by donations from Lindblad travelers, the fund’s proceeds benefit projects in conservation, education, research, storytelling and technology.
Lindblad cruises attract guests who are well educated, well traveled and committed to the environment. With top names in photography and science as your shipmates on board, these truly are expeditions for the intellectually minded. Choose Lindblad if you want the best expedition experience possible, with the best guides in the industry, and you are willing to pay the premium of such an experience.
The company is also at the forefront of sustainability initiatives in the expedition cruise industry, including becoming a carbon-neutral company in 2019; eliminating single-use plastics fleet-wide in 2018; launching a sustainable seafood program; making crew uniforms from recycled plastic; and launching a fleet-wide sustainable Premium Purity cleaning system to reduce water usage by 1.1 million gallons per year, eliminate thousands of plastic bottles used for cleaning products and increase passenger health and purified air.
If you are seeking a Galapagos family cruise or Alaska family cruise, Lindblad is a top choice thanks to their National Geographic Global Explorers program in these two destinations (and beyond). The program helps children develop the attitudes, skills and knowledge of a National Geographic explorer.
Through photos, videos, music, poetry, drawing and more, kids and teens are encouraged to tell stories about their voyage. Daily activities prompt kids to watch out for a particular item—like a creature with scales, plankton during snorkel outings or a giant coral head on land—then record their observations.
“My father, Lars-Eric Lindblad, was a lifelong explorer and involved me at a very young age,” said Sven-Olof Lindblad. “Those experiences made an indelible impression on me, and informed the person I am today. Children love to explore, and our goal for this program is to help inspire our next generation of global explorers to make a positive impact on their world.”
Experience the Galapagos aboard a stylish and stable double-hulled yacht for 16 guests, well-equipped for up-close exploration. Enjoy a rare 8:1 guest-to-guide ratio while touring pristine beaches and volcanic shores on foot and by panga, snorkel, kayak and stand-up paddleboard. See and do more with two veteran naturalists, including a National Geographic certified photo instructor. National Geographic Delfina is also available as one of AdventureSmith’s Galapagos Islands yacht charters, for a private experience with family and friends, or your organization.
Your travel journal will be full of memories from your Nat Geo Galapagos catamaran cruise. Adventure by kayak, paddleboard and Zodiac on waters rich in marine life. Discover wildlife unfazed by your presence: lounge on beaches with sea lions, walk among huge colonies of marine iguanas, and delight at the antics of nesting seabirds from ship and shore. Snorkel with sea lions, turtles and abundant fish in the protected waters of the Galápagos Marine Reserve.
Galapagos sailings aboard the National Geographic Delfina feature nimble kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and Zodiac-brand pangas that cruise to the volcanic shores and pristine beaches of Galapagos, plus an undersea focus to bring seldom seen or heard worlds to life. Every expedition in the Galápagos is led by a team of naturalists, a videographer and expedition leader, providing a multitude of resources for a rich and unmatched understanding of all the sights and sounds. Plus, each ship’s unique exploration-based family program, National Geographic Global Explorers, caters to kids and teens, making each an excellent option for Galapagos family cruises.
Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Galapagos cruises and Galapagos trips.
The newest and most intimate addition to the National Geographic fleet, the Nat Geo Delfina is a sleek, upscale catamaran designed for cruising the archipelago in style and stable comfort. The elegant, well-appointed ship, with a double hull, accommodates only 16 guests in eight spacious, air-conditioned double staterooms with polished wood décor.
We have a long history with this ship and welcome her return to service under the National Geographic banner. Originally named the Motor Catamaran Athala II she was one of our favorite Galapagos catamarans from her launch in 2007 until 2017 when she was sold and rechristened as the Celebrity Xploration.
One of the initial wave of catamaran’s designed and built to operate in the Galapagos Islands she was among the largest and nicest. She offered the spacious and comfortable, fully air-conditioned accommodation of a larger boat while still preserving the relaxed exclusivity of a smaller vessel.
We are confident the Delfina will maintain everything that made her a luxurious pioneer while adding elements of education and expedition that Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic are known for.
AdventureSmith Explorations’ National Geographic Delfina review includes a detailed description of the small ship including a deck plan and photo gallery. Our small ship cruise experts have been aboard the National Geographic Delfina firsthand and can be your ultimate resource when comparing other Galapagos cruise ships, yachts and catamarans offering Galapagos cruises.
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Choose the National Geographic Delfina for an intimate voyage steeped in learning and action-packed excursions led by expert naturalists with a passion for protecting this one-of-a-kind archipelago. Her educational programming and multi-million-dollar renovation (2024) will dazzle any traveler, and she’s perfectly sized for a group of family and friends looking for a private Galapagos yacht charter.
National Geographic Delfina was built in 2007 and extensively renovated in 2024. On board, the open-air Observation Deck offers guests sweeping 360-degree views of the islands, with a cozy shaded area for relaxation, a Whirlpool hot tub, and lounge chairs to kick-up one’s feet and take in the surroundings or stargaze. On the wraparound Upper Deck, guests can dine al fresco at the Outdoor Café and enjoy spectacular island views from the bow as they watch for dolphins, whales and other dazzling endemic marine life.
The dining room, bar and cozy lounge with library are on the Main Deck, which is also the boarding area and marina. Guests can savor Ecuadorian-inspired cuisine with local, sustainable ingredients in both indoor and outdoor dining areas, enjoying a sociable and informal atmosphere within a single, unassigned seating.
Guests can enjoy multiple ways to explore on land and at sea, including hikes, photo walks, kayaking, paddleboarding and snorkeling. The intimate National Geographic Delfina is equipped with state-of-the-art tools for exploration, including Zodiacs, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and complete snorkeling gear for kids and adults.
Explore the Galapagos in good company with Ecuadorian officers and crew plus two veteran National Geographic expedition staff: an Expedition Leader and National Geographic certified photo instructor (both licensed naturalists). Staff are certified as Field Educators to offer the National Geographic Global Explorers program for kids and teens as well. Many of the veteran guides aboard the National Geographic Galapagos fleet are Galapagueños, who in addition to sharing their extensive knowledge of island species and habitats, also offer an authentic connection to the region’s culture.
Located on two decks, all 8 cabins are bright with outside view windows, convertible queen/twin beds, ample closets, and large bathroom with plush bathrobes and stand-up showers. In addition, staterooms have a stocked mini-bar, in-room WiFi and a flat-screen TV.
Category 5 staterooms have a private balcony. Cabins have either a private balcony (Category 5) or direct access to an expansive wood deck (Category 4). Families may opt to connect select Category 4 cabins.
Launched in 2001 from the same shipyard as National Geographic Orion, the 48-guest National Geographic Gemini is a highly maneuverable, shallow-draft expedition ship purpose built to explore remote areas with ease. Following a multi-million-dollar renovation, the ship embodies the spirit of adventure and extreme comfort that are synonymous with National Geographic, and will celebrate a deep connection to the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador and its people.
AdventureSmith Explorations’ National Geographic Gemini review includes a detailed description of the small ship including deck plans and a photo gallery. Our small ship cruise experts have been aboard nearly every first-class vessel in the Galapagos Islands. Find the detailed ship description and deck plan below. Then contact our experts to compare this expedition ship with other Galapagos cruise ships offering Galapagos cruises.
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Choose the National Geographic Gemini for an enriching experience aboard a state-of-the-art vessel. At only 48 guests, she is National Geographic’s second-smallest ship cruising in the archipelago. Add her size to her fresh renovation and top expedition guides, and travelers are in for the perfect combo of the finest educational and onboard experience. This ship is excellent for Galapagos family cruises, with select interconnected cabins, family-friendly activities and numerous educational opportunities for kids like National Geographic’s Global Explorers program. She also makes our list of Galapagos luxury cruises due to her high level of educational programming.
National Geographic Gemini was built in 2001 and extensively renovated in 2024. You’ll find abundant comfortable spaces to take in the scenery and relax after an active and exhilarating day ashore. Enjoy optional onboard laundry service, a doctor’s office available 24 hours a day free of charge, a global gallery selling handmade local artisan items, a library, lounge with panoramic windows, full-service bar and a sun deck. The captain welcomes guests per the open bridge policy. WiFi is available for purchase by the minute, suitable for basic tasks such as checking emails and browsing the web. In areas with good connectivity, the satellite internet is likely strong enough to support high-data activities like streaming videos or making video calls.
Enjoy the outdoors on the Upper Deck, which features an outdoor shower, a whirlpool hot tub with adjacent shaded seating area, and a windowed fitness center with exercise classes and wellness specialist. The onboard LEXspa features massages, body treatments and facials inspired by the Galapagos..
The open and expansive windowed lounge hosts presentations and recaps, and features a well-stocked, comfortable bar. The dining areas aboard the National Geographic Gemini, offered in the outdoor café on the Lounge Deck and the indoor restaurant on the Marina Deck, can comfortably seat all passengers in one sitting. The atmosphere is laid back with casual dress and open seating arrangements. Expedition leaders, naturalists and guest speakers often join guests for lunch and dinner, while breakfast often serves as a planning session for the day’s adventures.
National Geographic Gemini provides an authentic sense of place informed by decades-long relationships with local communities and conservation groups. Meals will have Ecuadorian flair and are designed to support the community—comprised by locally sourced farm-to-table and ocean-to-table ingredients.
Restful onboard moments are balanced by active off-ship explorations. Guests are regularly treated to opportunities to kayak, stand-up paddle, hike, practice photography and seek unique flora and fauna on Zodiac cruises. National Geographic Gemini is equipped with a Zodiac boarding and gearing up area for snorkeling and excursions, plus expedition tools like a video microscope and underwater video camera. She also carries a fleet of kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, a glass-bottom boat, various Zodiac Mark VI boats, and snorkel gear for travelers of all ages, including shortie wetsuits.
Contributing to the fully immersive Ecuadorian experience on board is the passionate and knowledgeable Ecuadorian crew. Guests are treated to a 1:1 guest-to-crew ratio for the feeling of a private yacht. And the ship carries a wellness specialist and 5 guides, including an undersea specialist, photo instructor, video chronicler and field educators.
All cabins aboard this Galapagos expedition ship are ocean-facing and offer ample storage, queen or twin beds, a sofa, desk, television, a stocked mini-fridge and air conditioning. Bathrooms are large, equipped with towels and a hair dryer, and feature glass showers. Triple options are available with the third guest sleeping on a sofa bed, and families may opt to connect select rooms.
Suite 601 on the Upper Deck (Category 7) is the largest in the National Geographic Galápagos fleet with a separate living room, forward-facing balcony, private jacuzzi, side balcony and floor-to-ceiling windows. Cabins on the Bridge Deck (Category 4 & 5S) all have private balconies with seating.
Few places offer such exuberant, colorful and diverse nature as in the tropics of Costa Rica. This 8-day Costa Rica & the Panama Canal journey offers intimate exploration of Costa Rica’s lowland rainforest, pristine waters and rambunctious wildlife, as well as transits the famous Panama Canal.
The Panama Canal, stretching more than 50 miles and traversed by some 14,000 ships each year, is one of the most celebrated human achievements on the planet. Because cargo ships tend to pass through the canal during the day, small cruise ships enjoy evening or nighttime transits, when the canal is dramatically lit. A full day on Gatún Lake, the flooded lake between the Panama Canal’s two lock systems, offers an educational visit to Barro Colorado Nature Monument in Gatún Lake, where scientists have worked at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute since 1923. Discover why Panama’s natural beauty and biological diversity rivals Costa Rica’s.
On this Costa Rica and Panama small ship cruise, explore famous national parks and wildlife reserves, including a privately-owned tropical garden. Walk rainforest trails, home to capuchin and howler monkeys, three-toed sloths, green iguanas and colorful hummingbirds. Swim and snorkel Panama’s famed Isla Coiba. Kayak along wildlife-rich, remote coastlines. Go horseback riding on the beach. Relax with all the comforts and intimacy of small ship cruising.
The 100-guest National Geographic Quest expedition vessel is home base and ideal for travelers seeking small ship adventure, professional naturalist guides and activities for all levels. In addition to the eastbound itinerary, this Costa Rica and Panama Canal small ship cruise also operates westbound. Contact an Adventure Specialist for more details.
Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Costa Rica cruises and Costa Rica trips.
The National Geographic Endurance, identical sister ship to the National Geographic Resolution, is a 126-guest innovative polar expedition ship sailing in Antarctica and the Arctic. The ship’s motto is “To Explore and Understand the World” and was named after the great explorer Ernest Shackleton’s ship, The Endurance. This educational polar vessel has a specifically designed hull to break through the tough pack ice, increasing the ability to explore these hard-to-reach destinations and making new expeditions possible. Her polar ice class 5 rating allows her to operate during any time of the year in polar environments, vastly expanding the range of exploration in Antarctica and the Arctic. Her ability to venture deeper paired with state-of-the-art educational equipment and highly qualified guides, create an in-depth intellectual and truly exploratory experience.
Choose the National Geographic Endurance for a sophisticated, educational and comfortable experience voyaging aboard a modern, innovative polar vessel with highly intellectual programming and unique itineraries that reach into the depths of the polar regions. Dubbed the ultimate expedition platform, National Geographic Endurance is equipped to be a basecamp in the most remote of locations, with numerous tools for learning, expert onboard guides trained to National Geographic standards and a helicopter landing pad to further extend the range of exploration. For these, and many other reasons, the National Geographic Endurance is among our top choices for passengers seeking Antarctica luxury cruises.
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AdventureSmith Explorations has been aboard National Geographic firsthand. Read our dedicated National Geographic Endurance ship review, written by our founder and president who sailed aboard the ship in the Arctic. Or consult this page further for a detailed description of the National Geographic Endurance, including ship specs, deck plan, cabin images, photo gallery and current links to all the trips she sails. We can help compare the National Geographic Endurance with other Antarctica ships and polar expedition ships offering Arctic cruises, Antarctica cruises, Greenland cruises, Chile cruises, Patagonia cruises and Northern Europe cruises.
Designed and built by the Norwegian ship builders Ulstein Group, this ship is pioneering a new age of polar travel conceived with sustainability, efficiency, safety and stability in mind. The Ulstein’s innovative, signature bow—the X-BOW®—creates a faster, safer, more efficient and comfortable vessel and incorporates sustainability solutions to reduce the ship’s environmental impact.
This hull design also allows for excellent forward and straight-down viewing, combining perfectly with her multiple observation decks, including observation wings that extend out from the sides of the ship. Her larger volume displacement in the foreship, inverted bow and slender hull lines offer higher fuel efficiency, less loss of speed in waves, more stability in rough waters, softer entry into waves, low acceleration levels, less spray, less slamming and bow impact, and reduced vibration. Her zero-steam stabilizers create a more stable ship while anchored/not moving, and her expanded fuel and water tanks allow for longer expeditions to go farther afield.
With six guest decks, the Nat Geo Endurance has over 10,000 square feet of glass for prime enclosed viewing. The interior is fitted with Scandinavian design making this expedition ship comfortable yet modern. Common spaces follow the themes of fire and ice throughout the ship, keeping the outdoors close. Photographers gather in the purpose-designed space for editing and collaboration that comes included with a photo gear locker filled with photography equipment for guests’ use. This Nat Geo expedition ship takes self-care options to the next level with spa treatments and therapies, saunas with incredible views, training options in the gym, a gorgeous yoga studio and two infinity-pool Jacuzzis, leaving each traveler relaxed and reinvigorated for their entire trip and beyond.
Internet is available on board Nat Geo Endurance (one device at a time) via three plans: the time-limited complimentary “basic” internet plan offers app messaging, email and simple social media; the time-limited “enhanced” internet plan adds general web browsing and video conferencing capabilities; and the “premium” internet plan provides unlimited access to all features under the “enhanced” plan. Note that WiFi is satellite based and may not always be accessible due to inclement weather or the ship’s remote location.
Guests aboard National Geographic Endurance can enjoy “CHANGE,” a definitive polar art exhibition curated by acclaimed artist Zaria Forman. This first-ever, permanent ship-based installation of drawings, paintings, video, photography, sculpture and soundscape features 35+ artists dedicated to examining and expressing response to vulnerable polar geographies. Key themes are displayed in both public and private spaces, on each deck of the ship, with explorations of polar light, the intimate geometries of vast geographies, human history in polar regions and more.
With multiple dining options, the Endurance keeps travelers fed, and fed well. Restaurant Two Seven Zero provides stellar views and a menu filled with options. C. Green’s is named for Shackleton’s cook and offers an early breakfast, fresh salads, lighter fare and custom grilled items for lunch and dinner. The Chef’s Table offers private dining with “polar theater” in the form of regionally inspired, sustainable and inventive food. High tea and hors d’oeuvres are served daily. BBQs in the Winter Garden are offered when weather permits.
The Nat Geo Endurance has an innovative Zodiac loading system for quick, easy and safe loading and unloading for onshore exploration. The ship’s expedition tools include cross-country skis, kayaks, hydrophones, underwater video cameras, a remotely operated vehicle, a video microscope and a helicopter landing platform.
Two glass dome igloos at the rear of the Observation Deck may be booked for an overnight stay on a first-come, first-serve basis. Enjoy polar stargazing from the comfort of a quality mattress and cozy duvet warmed by hot-water bottles, with Scandinavian decor.
Cabins are decorated with warming tones, creating the perfect opportunity to take comfort inward from exploring outward. The large windows keep the outdoors present as well as offer a refuge from the midnight sun with the blackout shades. A whole 75% of the cabins offer balconies and 12 are designed for solo travelers. All 69 cabins have a command center with atlas, barometer, clock, tablet, electrical ports and mirror, and a sofa or reading chair.
The Chilean Fjords & Argentina’s Staten Island is an embarkation into the unknown lands and islands of the ends of the earth. These rarely visited areas are known for their seldom-seen natural splendors and mythical wilderness. This Patagonia cruise inhabits all the must-see’s of the area, including glaciers, snowcapped peaks, dramatic fjords, lakes, towering granite walls and epic waterfalls. This nature-filled voyage travels through tight channels and is only accessed by expedition ship, for which the 138-passenger National Geographic Endurance and 148-guest National Geographic Explorer are ideally suited.
This carefully curated voyage includes visits to the wildlife-filled Karukinka National Park and sails through the Beagle Channel to view Cape Horn. Have the unique opportunity to explore the wilderness of the previously closed-to-visitors site of Isla De Los Estados (Staten Island) where Magellenic penguins inhabit and wildness abounds. Cruise around Observatory Island, a must-see island for birders, with its diverse and massive bird nesting colony. Visit wildlife reserves with animals such as condors, elephant seals, austral parakeets, foxes and sea lions.
Explore the incredible fjords, channels and scenic vistas via Zodiac, kayak or by foot with specialized naturalist guides and National Geographic photo instructors, both offering an in-depth travel experience. While aboard, guests can enjoy amenities such as a fitness center and sauna or even get a massage in the wellness center. Traveling through Santiago, Chile, this trip embarks in Puerto Natales and disembarks in Ushuaia, Argentina, with some departures operating in reverse.
Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Patagonia cruises and Patagonia trips.
