National Geographic - Lindblad Expeditions

A voyage along the Nile is the centerpiece of your journey through Egypt. There are few, if any, ships that can match the elegance, ideal size, and graciousness of the Oberoi Philae. Originally built for 100 guests, she was remodeled and reconfigured to accommodate 44 in her peerless style.

Experience the panorama of life along the world’s longest river

Built in 1996, Oberoi Philae was extensively reconfigured in 2015 with just 22 cabins and luxurious amenities, including an Oberoi spa.

Windows are nearly floor to ceiling and slide open, offering a connection with the river. The topmost deck has a swimming pool that is the largest of any Nile ship and an al fresco restaurant. Downstairs, there’s a stylish enclosed restaurant serving local specialties as well as more continental options.

The heart of the ship is the Lounge, where everyone gathers each night for Recap. It’s here that Egyptologists share stories of the sites, who built them and why, and fascinating modern details like how they’ve changed over the years.

Lord of the Glens was built for one purpose—to fit through the network of locks, lochs, and waterways that make up the Caledonian Canal, which cuts through the very heart of the Scottish Highlands connecting the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. Add to that her ability to navigate the coastline and venture to the islands of the Inner Hebrides, and you have the basis for a singularly unique and striking expedition.

Life aboard Lord of the Glens feels like a cross between relaxing in a stately country manor and taking a voyage aboard a private yacht with friends. It is the perfect way to explore the Scottish countryside. She is paneled in polished wood, with teak decks, offering gourmet cuisine, and exceptional personal service.

Lord of the Glens is the only ship of its kind able to both navigate the locks of the Caledonian Canal and sail among the islands of the Inner Hebrides. She offers us the unique ability to explore both the Highlands and the fabled Scottish isles.

The ship is outfitted with bicycles and kayaks, allowing guests to pedal into these small towns and explore the countryside at a leisurely pace, or kayak on picturesque Loch Linnhe.

To sail along the Mekong River is to experience two fascinating countries and discover how life is led along its banks. There is no better way to travel in comfort and grand style than aboard The Jahan. She has large, gracious staterooms and luxurious touches. Built in 2011 from the ground up, she is the finest ship on the Mekong River. Every cabin has a private balcony and the ship’s public spaces offer a relaxed elegance for your Mekong voyage.

The Jahan's public spaces are built for easy gathering of small groups, intimate nooks to escape on your own, and open spaces like the lounge, where guests gather daily for Recap, or the top deck, to observe while drifting past cities and villages. The dining room easily accommodates all guests at once for a single seating, with no assigned tables for easy mixing. While the ship is luxurious, life aboard is casual in every regard, and there is no need for formal clothing. And you’ll find shipboard services like laundry make packing and traveling more convenient.

At 230 feet long with four decks, The Jahan is an expansive ship with public areas where the expedition community can gather to watch life along the riverbank.

Public areas have sweeping views and are fully air-conditioned. Outdoor areas include the terrace deck, with both covered and open-air spaces, a small swimming pool, and a full-service bar.

Every cabin is exceptionally spacious and comfortable. All have glass doors and private balconies for enjoying the scenery along the Mekong River and its tributaries.

One of two new ships expressly built for polar waters, National Geographic Resolution is named to honor the second voyage of the legendary Captain James Cook. A fully-stabilized vessel with ice class PC5, Category A, she enables adventurous guests to go where few have or can.

The sister ship to National Geographic Endurance, she explores polar and temperate regions.

The ship's most striking exterior feature is her distinctive profile, the patented X-Bow®, a game-changing design that guarantees the smoothest, most comfortable ride in all kinds of conditions; and, since it eliminates bow impact, a quieter ride as well.

Scandinavian-inflected, luxuriously appointed, her inviting interiors would be a destination in themselves. Because she is a Lindblad expedition ship, however, her attention is focused on the world outside—with numerous large windows to keep you connected to the stunning views beyond the pane, and a fleet of expedition tools to get you out exploring.

National Geographic Islander ll is a sleek and elegant expedition vessel. Special features include teak decks, indoor-outdoor dining options, an impressive observation deck and new amenities like a climate-controlled marina and a dedicated science hub.

Delfin II has a distinct advantage over any land-based camp—she moves, giving you an ever-varied experience of the Amazon’s multiple landscapes and wonders.

Delfin II’s iron exterior is clad in tropical hardwoods and her interior gleams with wood floors and lacquered palm ceilings. Wood stairs float between decks and lazily turning ceiling fans add the right tropical notes, while the air-conditioning invisibly cools and dehumidifies.

The lounge features a welcoming open bar and inviting seating. Three walls of windows provide 270-degree views, keeping us connected to the nonstop panorama outside.

The prestigious Relais & Châteaux recently inducted the ship into its hotel group, recognizing its commitment to local nature and culture and its exquisite Amazonian-Peruvian cuisine.

Delfin II’s four Amazon suites and 10 suites are airy and supremely comfortable. Slip into a bed that is well-appointed with crisp cotton linens and drift off as you gaze out at the starry night through the generous, river-framing window wall.

With sweeping views, public areas include an open-air lounge and bar up top, and a dining room with a 270-degree panorama. There is also a small library, exercise room, and spa. Visit the open bridge, where you are welcome anytime.

Before they built the National Geographic Venture and National Geographic Quest, U.S. shipbuilder Nichols Brothers built the twin ships National Geographic Sea Bird and National Geographic Sea Lion. Nimble, reliable and intimately scaled, they sail the waters of the west coast of North America and Central America.

American-flagged, she and her sister, National Geographic Sea Lion, are ideal for discovering domestic waters

National Geographic Sea Bird accommodates just 62 guests in 31 outside cabins. Her inviting public spaces foster a sense of shipboard life where everyone is integral to the adventure, engendering a rewarding sense of community.

With a shallow draft and small size, she can easily reach places inaccessible to larger ships. She can venture into fast-moving channels where whales come to feed, transit a series of locks in the Pacific Northwest, nose up to waterfalls in secluded coves, and sail into protected anchorages in small bays perfect for snorkeling and kayaking.

Explore the wild in a fleet of six Zodiacs and 16 kayaks, as well as stand-up paddleboards.

Delfin III sails the Ucayali and Marañón rivers to the confluence of the mighty Amazon in Peru’s Upper Amazon year-round with style.

Enjoy sweeping views in expansive public spaces, including an air-conditioned presentation room and lounge, an open-air sun deck with whirlpool hot tub, small exercise room and wellness spa, and a dining room with a 270-degree panorama. Visit the open bridge, where you are welcome anytime.

Locally built and carrying 30 marvelous crew, most from the region, this elegant ship was inducted into the Relais & Châteaux group, recognizing its commitment to local nature and culture, and its exquisite Amazonian-Peruvian cuisine.

The ship is sustainably furnished, featuring hand-made furniture and art and textiles from the surrounding communities that are supported by our guests.

Choose from four categories of large suites aboard: the singular Andes Suite, measuring 597 square feet, with 180-degree windows at the bow to take in the surroundings; two corner Amazon Suites; 10 Upper Suites; and 8 Suites, with en suite facilities, comfortable chair and desk.

Built in 2017, National Geographic Quest is ideal for the fast-moving channels and shallow coves of Pan-American waters. Her design and engineering were informed by nearly 40 years of experience in the narrow straits of Alaska, the coast of Costa Rica and into the gray whale nursery lagoons of Baja.

Modern and clean-lined, with large expanses of glass to take in the extraordinary views, National Geographic Quest enables guests to see, do and experience the best of her geographies.

The newly christened National Geographic Gemini joins the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions Galápagos fleet with a heritage of small-ship expedition cruising. National Geographic Gemini provides an authentic, immersive Galápagos experience informed by our decades-long relationships with local communities and conservation groups.

Originally constructed to navigate Norway’s famed Hurtigruten, or Coastal Express, her high degree of maneuverability, ideal size, and platform for discovery made National Geographic Explorer a natural choice for addition to the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions fleet. Her rebuild drew on 50 years of pioneering expedition history and expertise.

Today, National Geographic Explorer is a purpose-built expedition ship. She is a fully stabilized, ice-class vessel with an ice-reinforced hull, enabling her to navigate polar passages while providing comfort, elegance and a deep connection to the environment.

The Charaidew II is a testament to luxury river cruising in India, blending modern comfort with traditional Assamese charm. Her extra-shallow draught and low profile allow for navigation to less-traveled areas of the Brahmaputra River—a holy body of water whose banks are home to incredible wildlife as well as small, rarely visited communities—making her the quintessential home base to explore one of India's most captivating regions.

Just 146 feet long with three decks, and tastefully adorned with traditional Assamese décor, the Charaidew II provides an intimate atmosphere to explore this rich yet seldom-visited region.

French balconies are standard across all cabins, and the sumptuous Category 3 cabins feature an additional private balcony plus floor-to-ceiling windows in the ensuite bathrooms for sweeping river views.

Soothing massages and spa treatments are offered in the ship’s spa, and guests can observe wildlife and rural village life from the gym.

A combination of Western and traditional Indian cuisines, as well as traditional Assam teas, are served on board. Guests can also enjoy a wide selection of wines, spirits and beer.

Aqua Blu is the first ever long-range ocean explorer yacht permanently based in East Indonesia. With a grand naval pedigree and the ability to cover vast distances in a short time frame, she is perfectly poised to navigate the region’s expansive seas and provide access to some of the world’s best dive and snorkel sites in the legendary Coral Triangle.

Just under 200 feet long and featuring 14 individually designed suites, the Aqua Blu offers an intimate environment that reflects its history as a former British naval explorer and a private yacht for a European aristocratic family

A 2019 refurbishment by renowned Dutch yacht designer Cor D. Rover brought this refined vessel up to world-class cruising specifications, blending modern luxury with ultimate comfort and safety

Enjoy an innovative menu curated by renowned chef Benjamin Cross which draws inspiration from Indonesia’s fabled spice trade route as well as European and Mediterranean cuisines

Exceptional amenities, including an outdoor workout area and hot tub a stylish lounge bar, and a tranquil spa featuring Balinese massage and aromatherapy, elevate and enhance your time exploring this wild and stunningly beautiful region

Featuring 53 cabins, the gracious and intimate National Geographic Orion takes travelers to little-known waters and isles in the Pacific Islands, Antarctica and the Mediterranean to experience each location's natural and cultural wonders up close. With her high ice-class rating, National Geographic Orion is strong enough to explore the polar regions, yet her elevated maneuverability allows for navigation practically anywhere accessible by sea.

An authentic expedition ship, purpose-built for exploring the South Pacific, Asia, Antarctica, the Mediterranean, and beyond

National Geographic Orion's elevated maneuverability allows for navigation of inshore waters, secluded bays and sinuous rivers–practically anywhere accessible by sea.

At the helm of National Geographic Orion is an expert crew, capable of handling intricate operations that large cruise ships could never attempt. The ship features modern navigational equipment and technological abilities that allow her to navigate safely, even in uncharted waters​.

Of her many amenities and features, the most appealing is her outdoor dining and deck space, which offers a range of panoramic views of every region’s rich avian and marine life.

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions welcomes the newest and most intimate addition to the Galápagos fleet, National Geographic Delfina. Setting sail in early 2025, this sleek, contemporary vessel is a luxury catamaran designed for cruising the Galápagos Islands in style and stable comfort.

The open-air Observation Deck, which provides 360-degree views, has a shaded area for relaxation, a whirlpool hot tub, and lounge chairs to take in your surroundings. On the wrap-around Upper Deck, dine al fresco at the stern and enjoy spectacular island views from the bow as you watch for dolphins, whales, and other dazzling marine life. The dining room, bar, and cozy lounge with library are on the Main Deck, which is also the boarding area and marina.

Purpose built to accommodate expedition-style travel, National Geographic Endeavour II is elegant, nimble, and equipped with state-of-the-art tools for up-close explorations. She carries just 96 guests and features public spaces that invite observation and community.

Purpose-built for polar navigation, National Geographic Endurance is designed to navigate polar passages year-round, and safely explore uncharted waters, while providing exceptional comfort. The patented X-bow ® is key to their design; its powerful wave-slicing action provides an extremely smooth ride even in adverse conditions, and even reduces spray on deck for superior observation. The ship carries a full suite of expedition tools and offers a variety of experience-enhancing amenities.