Lindblad's fleet consists of nimble, intimately-scaled expedition ships, able to safely venture where larger cruise ships cannot!
Since 1979, Lindblad Expeditions has provided an alternative way to explore the world. Although each expedition is different, there are some elements that are common to all of them: they are designed to take you to places of natural beauty and compelling history, avoiding crowded tourist stops to actively experience beauty, wilderness and the seldom-seen. While the destinations may be adventurous, guests enjoy comfortable accommodations, fine food and service. An enthusiastic staff of naturalists and historians, National Geographic photographers, and Lindblad-National Geographic certified photographers are on hand to share their knowledge and inspire you. Drawn from the top tiers of journalism, science, and world affairs, the speakers in our Global Perspectives program add an extra layer of insight to the expertise our expedition team and National Geographic photographers provide. Available exclusively aboard National Geographic Explorer, our program enables guests' to travel with fascinating people that they might have seen in the news, on television, or in a lecture hall – now easily available to them in person, in the intimate and conversational context of an expedition. You'll experience the sheer joy of traveling to new, exciting places with a small group of like-minded people, in an informal atmosphere. Spontaneity and flexibility are hallmarks of Lindblad’s expedition style, so you’ll always experience the wonders of the unplanned events nature provides along the way, from breaching whales, to an inspection of the ship by a curious young polar bear.
Inspired by Jacques Cousteau, Sylvia Earle, Bob Ballard and other National Geographic explorers, Lindblad ships travel with undersea specialists who dive to video and reveal the undersea – then displayed in the warmth of the ship's lounge in vivid HD with interesting commentary by the specialist. The footage may be of marine life few scientists, or human eyes for that matter, have ever seen.
Lindblad Expeditions + National Geographic Alliance
Since 2004 the multifaceted Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic alliance has inspired travelers to participate in the world of natural and cultural history as engaged, active explorers who care about the planet and it has enabled them to interact with world-renowned scientists, naturalists and researchers and uncover stunning natural environments alongside skilled specialists utilizing state-of-the-art exploration tools.
At Lindblad Expeditions, shipboard chefs use fresh, local ingredients whenever possible, including locally grown produce, sustainable catch fish, and other local and indigenous products. By adding regional ingredients and flavors to a menu that also includes traditional favorites, the goal is to provide guests with a greater sense of the cuisine and culture in the regions being explored.
Lindblad actively supports the Chefs Collaborative, Blue Ocean Institute and Marine Stewardship Council, organizations dedicated to responsible choices regarding flavorful, healthy food and sustainability for the planet.
Fully recharge with treatments inspired by elements of the natural environment. Lindblad treatments will touch your senses and enhance your overall expedition no matter when you choose to havethem – as a mid-day pick-me-up, or as a way to end the day.
Massage Therapy
Body Treatments
Face, Hands and Feet
Floating Spa
The floating LEXspa (The floating LEXspa is only offered on the National Geographic Endeavour) has been custom built to provide you with the right balance of shelter and exposure, while you experience the “tonic of Wellness.” 360 degrees of serene sights and sounds of nature – the floating Lexspa is positioned and anchored in a safe archipelago bay and the platform features a see-thorugh portal to view the underwater world.
Venturing to the ends of the earth takes experience – and Lindblad Expeditions has more than 50 years’ experience turning vacationers into active and engaged explorers. Go aboard and discover a world of adventure travel you never knew existed.
National Geographic partnership. This collaboration in exploration between two like-minded organizations provides research, technology and conservation for extraordinary travel experiences you simply cannot find anywhere else.
Engaging Experts. The Naturalists and Historians are true experts in their fields. And they, along with National Geographic cruise guest experts, are always available for questions and casual conversation.
Everything is included. Unless it is an item of a personal nature or special arrangements (e.g. flightseeing over glaciers), everything you need to have a perfectly complete experience is included with your expedition.
Innovation and tools for exploration. The ships are equipped with kayaks and Zodiacs to take you into wild places safely, and utilize underwater video and audio technology that will bring the seldom seen or hear to vivid life.
Expeditions, not tours. Whether it’s on or off the beaten track, Lindblad brings adventure to travel by taking small groups to special places for distinctive and exclusive encounters with nature.
Flexibility, spontaneity and freedom. The thoughtfully crafted itineraries are built to include those often magical opportunities to experience nature’s unplanned events.
Fine food and accommodations. Skillfully prepared and presented regional cuisine, comfortable quarters and wellness programs make pleasure a significant part of the expedition experience.
Insider access. Thanks to their long history of exploration, Lindblad is able to provide insider and many times exclusive access to some of the world’s most interesting places and people.
Relaxed and informal atmosphere. Casual clothes and a matching attitude are hallmarks: no need to dress up, and many opportunities for fun, adventure and laughter.
Respect for the world. Lindblad travels in an environmentally responsible manner. And, they donate funds, time and resources, often in partnership with local organizations and guests, to protect or restore the world’s wild places.
From the beginning, Lindblad Expeditions has been dedicated to promoting educational opportunities. Their belief is that by exposing adults and children to the wonders of the world, they will help foster the next generation of committed citizens who care about the future of the planet. The educational outreach consists of awareness campaigns, the sponsorship of research on oceans and seas, and the provision of scholarships for educators and young people to learn about the world.
Some educational initiatives include:
Kids on Board: In 2007, and at the request of local teachers, Lindblad Expeditions – together with the Darwin Station – launched the Kids on Board program, an extension of Teachers on Board in the Galapagos Islands. In the program’s first two years, nearly 400 students from schools on Santa Cruz Island in Galapagos were invited to visit the National Geographic Polaris for a glass-bottomed boat or Zodiac ride, a natural history lesson from a Lindblad naturalist, and a ship’s tour of the National Geographic Polaris.
Grosvenor Teach Fellowship Program: The The Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship program was established in 2007 to honor National Geographic Society Chairman Gilbert M. Grosvenor’s lifetime commitment to geographic education. The fellowships were donated in perpetuity to the National Geographic Society by Lindblad Expedition’s President, Sven Lindblad to mark Grosvenor’s 75th birthday and to honor his service in enhancing & improving geographic education across the United States. The annual fellowships will be awarded to K-12 teachers who demonstrate excellence in geographic education. The selected teachers will travel on a Lindblad ship to one of the company’s many destinations around the world.
At Lindblad Expeditions, shipboard chefs use fresh, local ingredients whenever possible, including locally grown produce, sustainable catch fish, and other local and indigenous products. By adding regional ingredients and flavors to a menu that also includes traditional favorites; they aim to provide guests with a greater sense of the cuisine and culture in the regions being explored.
Recent initiatives promoting sustainable cuisine include:
Chefs at Sea: In 2008, Lindblad Expeditions launched the latest component in its food program – Chefs at Sea. This program engages the passion and energy of A-list chefs on board the ships and includes cooking demos, lectures and other opportunities for guests to learn about food history and culture such as exploring food markets, gardens or other places of culinary interest around the globe.
Seafood for Thought: Seafood for Thought is an initiative designed to provide both information and inspiration when it comes to helping preserve fish stocks world-wide and making informed choices about seafood purchasing. On the vessels Lindblad works to ensure that seafood offerings are carefully selected not only for flavor, but also for the best fishing practices possible.
Shrimp Policy: One of the earliest commitments to marine conservation was the removal of shrimp from our fleet menus in August of 2001. Unfortunately after spending a considerable amount of time searching for confirmable sources of sustainably harvested shrimp to reliably service our fleet we have come to the conclusion that almost all shrimp available on the world market today is either too environmentally destructive to continue to serve in good conscience, or that emerging suppliers’ claims of sustainability have not been credibly verified.
At Lindblad Expeditions, they believe that exploring nature can lead to some of the most inspirational, reflective and rejuvenating moments you can ever have – on your own or with loved ones, family, or friends.
Experience shows that guests prefer flexibility when choosing the way they rest and rejuvenate in the wildest, most remote places on earth. Whether it's on one of the Alaska cruises or Galapagos cruises, some prefer to kayak or hike tranquilly, while others would rather challenge themselves to go longer distances, or dare to try new activities like snorkeling or diving. Still others would prefer to connect with their surroundings through a variety of wellness treatments inspired by the natural world.
To that end, Lindblad offers up a variety of options to help you tap into your own notion of wellness, in whatever way you choose. Whether you join yoga and Pilates inspired movement sessions, pay attention to nutrition, or pursue relaxation, staff will provide guidance and expertise that helps you experience wellness, and wonder, at your pace.
Expedition Team
"The best Expedition Staff in the industry. Period. "And it’s not just us saying it. The comment cards that we collect from our guests after each expedition consistently express the same message: “the expedition staff made the trip.” Our Expedition Leaders, outstanding Naturalists, Marine Biologists, Photographers and Undersea Specialists collectively have thousands of years of experience guiding travelers to the most interesting places in the world. They are the ones who write the books, they are the locals; they are the experts that knowledgeable explorers want to travel with again and again. They are the best in their fields. Read more and see why our staff inspires such passion.
Available exclusively aboard National Geographic Explorer and on select departures on National Geographic Orion, this program enables guests' to travel with fascinating people that they might have seen in the news, on television, or in a lecture hall – now easily available to them in person, in the intimate and conversational context of an expedition.
Developed in conjunction with National Geographic Education, our unique kids' program recently launched in Galápagos and will roll out to Alaska starting in the 2018 season!
Kids and teens choose cool activities—from earning a Zodiac “driver’s license” to recording wildlife sightings in their Field Notebook—all designed to help them develop what National Geographic Education defines as the attitudes, skills an knowledge of an explorer. Guests under 18 will:
Have fun! They’ll take part in daily fun activities, all while making new friends and lifelong memories
Benefit from National Geographic certified field educators: Our naturalists, newly minted as National Geographic certified field educators, optimize daily learning opportunities
Connect with nature: They’ll have direct contact with wildlife above and below the sea, such as snorkeling with sea lions in Galapagos and identifying whale flukes from the ship’s bow in Alaska
Learn to be a storyteller: Through photos, videos, music, drawing and more, kids can use their creativity to tell stories about the unique things they’ll do and see along the way
Develop their observation skills: Daily “In the Field" activities will prompt kids to watch out for a particular item, like a creature with scales or a giant coral head on land, then record their observations in their Field Notebook