Lindblad Expeditions

Luxury Cruises

Gay & Lesbian Cruises

Romantic Cruises

Senior Cruises

Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego)

Reykjavik

Oslo

Bergen

Santiago (Valparaiso)

Vancouver

Punta Arenas

Antarctica

South America

Argentina

Arctic

Europe - All

Baltic Sea

Iceland

Canada & New England

Chile

Falklands

Norway

Excellent

Very Good

Average

National Geographic Explorer

National Geographic Endeavour II

National Geographic Orion

National Geographic Quest

National Geographic Islander

National Geographic Sea Lion

National Geographic Sea Bird

National Geographic Venture

Jahan (Lindblad)

National Geographic Resolution

National Geographic Endurance

Well run company and spectacular itinerary

I chose this cruise because of the places it was going to...Falklands, South Georgia and the Antarctic peninsula.  The staff on board, including pro photographers, naturalists, scientists were all extremely knowledgeable and gave awesome presentations daily.  The crew were all from the Philippines and were extremely attentive, warm and friendly.

If you are wanting to go to the Antarctic and explore the region...this is a stellar way to go.

If you a foodie, you may not enjoy the cuisine which was mediocre for most meals. There were were some exceptions. This is the only reason I did not give 5 stars. 

Our cabin was perfectly located and was cleaned daily.  very comfortable mattress on the bed and shower was just like home.  Hot water and good water pressure.

EXTREMELY well organized logistics from the moment you land in Buenos Aires until you get on the plane there to go home.  Very impressive!!!!

I have always wanted to visit Antarctica and chose National Geographic because of their outstanding reputation.   Nat Geo exceeded my expectations and then some.   I can't say enough about the total experience.   Seeing Antarctica was like being on another world.   There are not enough superlatives to describe the journey.   The icebergs were magnificent, the penguins adorable, the whales were incredible.   The Nat Geo naturalists, experts, divers, scientists and photographers informed us, challenged us and transmitted their love of nature and the Antarctic.   The ship and it's crew were outstanding.  The food was good and drinks were included.   Internet was spotty but that was to be expected given out location.   Besides, part of the experience was to be totally in the moment without contact with the daily cares.   It was a relief to avoid news for the entire trip.    The Drake Passage was not as intimidating as advertised.   Every passenger onboard would say that minor seasickness was totally worth it.    I urge everyone to go and experience this magical place.

The trip of a lifetime!

We picked the NatGeo Explorer/Lindblad cruise to go to Antarctica because we figured we would get more than just a tour of Antarctica and it truly went above and beyond our expectations! The price tag was more than worth it and we couldn't recommend this trip more - our only regret was not going for a room with a full window instead of a porthole.

Our expedition leader (Lucho) did an amazing job planning the whole trip and we were lucky enough to cross the Antarctic Circle! When we weren't out on Zodiacs, hiking, kayaking, or polar plunging the naturalists (Doug, Andy, Javier, Eric) and guest speaker (Ted Scampos) kept us busy with interesting lectures about the Antarctic animals, climate change, glaciology, and their own work/research. We also got great photography tips from a NatGeo photography (Andy Coleman) and Lindblad photo instructor (Nathan). 

The service and food on the ship was enough to make us want to travel with Lindblad again. The entire ship crew (Randy, Gabriel, Rosalie, Renato, and everyone) was incredibly friendly and accomodating.

The whole operation was very smooth and even the Drake's Passage was surprisingly calm on the way back. The captain and crew were experts at navigating through the sea ice, getting us close to the animals, and answering all our questions about the ship (there is an open bridge policy that we all really took advantage of). 

The only bad experience during our whole time on the National Geographic Explorer was when we crossed the Drake's Passage on the way to Antarctica and our seasickness medication wore off. Luckily the ship's doctor had some better medication available onboard!

Excellent Expedition and Crew/Staff! 

We traveled with Lindblad/National Geographic last year to the Galapagos and Machu Picchu and it was excellent, so we decided to take the Antarctic cruise.

This trip was fantastic for many reasons.  The ship was small enough (148 passengers) so it felt like a community or like minded adventurers. It was well maintained with spacious cabins.  The crew from the hotel staff to the waiters and kitchen staff were friendly and very attentive.  The Captain was friendly and welcoming to spend time with the crew on the Bridge and willing to answer our questions. Dinning was good, not great, but we weren't going for the food.  The chef kept the menu interesting by having a daily theme offering cuisines from around the world,

Entertainment consisted primarily of lectures by presented by the expert naturalists and global climate expert.  Also there were presentation by the on-board whale and underwater researchers.  It was truly like having a university at sea.  And all were very friendly, approachable and ready to answer our questions.  Also the Nat. Geo. photographer was a great help with helping us learn how to make the most of our cameras and take great wildlife and landscape photos.

The activities included, shore excursions to penguin colonies and Antarctic research stations, glacier hikes, kayaking, wildlife spotting.

On shore staff and excursions that were included were also great.  They are very good at all the travel transfers and making sure everything goes smoothly.

To be honest, one of the things that made this trip so fantastic was that we had very good weather.  Just a bit rough crossing the Drake Passage on the way to the Antarctic Peninsula, but all very smooth after that.

We are now thinking about our next trip with Nat. Geo./Lindblad.

A trip of a lifetime

Our 10 days on this LEX/NG Explorer expedition was about as good as one can imagine.  The ship is designed for both comfort and suitability for seafaring exploration in extreme environments.  The sea level embarkation platforms and the way passengers are organized to go ashore or out on zodiac trips both contribute to smooth outings for all.  The team of many scientists and naturalists on board give each passenger unlimited opportunities to learn the context of what we're seeing and experiencing (history, geology, geography, biology and ecology of the things all around us).  They were all so friendly, enthusiastic and keen to impart that all to us!  There is an open Bridge policy so we wandered in and out of the Bridge, encouraged to ask and learn about the instruments, navigation and strategies of choosing a course through well populated iceberg fields.

The food was delicious, varied and available at convenient times, served by a truly epic corps of friendly and attentive crew.  

There were frequent briefings, lectures, daily roundups for our activities and casual gatherings in the lounge and bar.  

Having an emergency room doctor on staff was also very comforting.

The passengers were diverse, international and from all age groups, concentrated in the just retired generation.  There was an 11 month old baby and a family with two young teenage children.

And one last word about the LEX/NG experience on shore, before and after the expedition.  We had a very good bus tour of Buenos Aires before flying to Ushuaia, as well as a nice introduction to the culture, history and beautiful park in Ushuaia before and after the time at sea.

What a trip!

We chose the cruise because we love adventure and seeing God’s creations. This was truly an amazing trip!  Setting foot on Antarctica was so cool!  I would recommend this trip to everyone. We loved the daily talked from the biologist and scientist on board.  Also, the NGO photographers.  The daily excursion to hike, watch whales, visit penguins, Count leopard seals were so much fun.  I also loved that there was an emphasis on making a low impact on the environment.  

I actually came away with a desire to be more responsible regarding my impact on the environment.  Also the trip contained no political agenda.  It’s great to go with a group that didn’t talk about the current political mess in our country.  

Another great aspect was the scuba divers.  Interesting to see what it looks like under the surface.  Also, to hear how difficult it is to dive in very cold waters.

Trip of a Lifetime!

This was a trip of a life time.  I have thought and planned the trip to Antarctica for years. Researching many options. National geographic/Lindblad was always my top choice.  The ship, crew and staff were excellent. National Geographic staff gave presentations on history, wild life and photography.  

We had a variety of food prepared by an excellent chief.  The dinning room had open seating so we sat with different people each meal.  

This was an expedition and the staff planned each day with many challenges.  One of the stops was Brown Bluff a continental landing,  When we arrived a group went on shore to set up.  There were large pieces of ice that blocked access to the landing area and were told we would not be able to go on shore,  This was rather disappointing.  As we suited up to go out another announcement was made that some of the ice was moved and landing was possiable.

An amazing expedition

South Georgia and the Falklands are must see destinations for people interested in wildlife and polar regions.  I've been to Antarctica and the Arctic more than once, loved all those trips, but South Georgia is in a class by itself, given the quantity and diversity of wildlife to be seen -- five species of penguins, many albatross, countless other species of birds, elephant seals, fur seals, just an amazing experience.  The landscapes are jaw dropping as well, and we were lucky with the weather, having many sunny days.  Be aware, though, that there are a lot of at sea days in often very rough water.  I'd never been seasick in my life, but had the pleasure between Ushuaia and the Falklands..  The wonderful doctor on board sorted me out and I was on prophylactics during the rest of the crossings without problems, but if you're very subject to motion sickness, think twice about this itinerary.

As to the expedition ship and staff, good overall, but I've experienced better with other companies, particularly Zegrahm.  The ship's crew members were outstanding, a largely Filipino group who were universally friendly, helpful and attentive.  My cabin attendant was first rate and I heard nothing but good comments from other passengers on that score.  To varying degrees, the officers were visible and engaging and the open bridge is a wonderful element.  Wait staff was generally very good.  As to food, though billed as fine cuisine, it's not, entrees ranging from all right to truly awful -- dried out fish, uncooked lamb, surprisingly bad.  There were some very good things as well, though.  Baked goods were very nice and the soups excellent.  In any case, you don't to expedition trips for fine food, but the pretense on this ship, given what's actually on offer, I found a bit annoying.  

Most expedition staff were friendly and informative, but presentations were of mixed quality, some excellent, some lamentably bad. This was a Nat Geo trip, so photography was a major preoccupation and it was cool hearing from photographers working at that level.  They were willing to share ideas and help the amateurs making up most of the guests.  Equipment was available for loan, which I thought was an nice gesture.  Level of expertise is regards the wildlife, geography, history and so on was mixed.

Bottom line, it was a great experience and I'd love to go back, but would likely choose a different expedition provider.

Amazing Destinations

Liverpool

This was my first Lindblad expedition experience, 2019 Epic Patagonia and everyday from the first day arriving in Santiago, Chile was better than the last. There were some things that Lindblad had no control over, like the amazing mild and sunny weather we experienced on almost all the days of this expedition, and the 5 pumas showing up for their portraits at Torres Del Paine.  My solo cabin on board the ship was roomier than some double cabins I’ve experienced on other cruise liners. The hospitality on board was amazing. One thing that stood out from day one was how happy everyone who worked for Lindblad seemed to be. The staff and crew on the ship always smiled and greeted me. The Naturalists, photographers and historians on board treated each and every guest like we were old friends. Overall, my first expedition experience was fantastic. Lindblad has me hook, line and sinker. I am looking forward to my next expedition with them in the very near future.

Amazing expedition and beautiful weather too

Rarotonga

We were on the Circumnavigation of Iceland, July 23-August 3, 2019 and it was a great way to see Iceland, as promised by the Captain.  The ship was very comfortable and functional.  Our cabin, 305, only had one small porthole, that might have been claustrophobic, but we spent little time there and the porthole made it easy to darken the cabin when it was still light at midnight. The cabin is also located near the anchor, so we knew when the ship was docking but it was never disturbing.  The cabin was generously sized, especially the bathroom and shower - more so than other larger ships we have sailed. 

The exploration programs were accompanied with a naturalist, whether a hike on land, a ride in a zodiac right up to cliffs of nesting puffins or into a pod of whales or a bike ride on an abandoned road.  There were always choices from strenuous to relaxed that allowed you to really see the geology and wildlife.  The ship stopped at a different location every day. If we were traveling to a location over a morning or afternoon there were special presentations on Iceland and its politics and facets of the nature we would see.  This voyage also included a National Geographic photographer who spoke several times - they even did a session on iPhone photography that appealed to me!!  The trip was heavy on people with big cameras and big lenses but friendly and welcoming to all.  It is a tradition on Lindblad cruises to meet every evening before dinner to recap the days adventures with a cocktail, photos, videos and short presentations from the naturalists and other experts on board.  On this voyage, there were also music programs introducing traditional and current Icelandic music on board and on shore, including an on-board 'festival' one evening that offered the chance to listen to 3 different local performers.  The presentations by the botanist on board were a big hit - who knew tiny plants could be so amusing. With the exception of an optional day trip to horseback ride, every excursion was included in the price.

The hotel staff was friendly and efficient.  The dining was excellent - lots of local dishes but a spectrum of choices for everyone. It was a buffet for breakfast and lunch and open seating for dinner.   Smoked and pickled fish caught off the ship that morning, local lamb from the ubiquitous Iceland sheep; one day was Thai and Vietnamese, another day mostly Italian.  My husband raved about the beef.   I tried several of the vegetarian entrees offered each evening because they were so interesting.  I know that Iceland struggles with vegetables but on this ship we had a bounty. A big plus was having the bar tab included - this is not a crowd that cruises to drink heavily, but how nice to have a pre-dinner cocktail,  wine with dinner and sometimes an after dinner drink without fussing with invoices and deciding who was going to pay that evening.  

This voyage marked my first brush with sea-sickness - I can have trouble with cars and buses but usually not ships.  Several days, the ship encountered rough water due to a storm system.  The ship is proportionally smaller than the big ships (156 passengers) and it makes a difference.  One afternoon it felt like being at the top of a roller coaster over and over - (that’s when I suffered:)  I ended up taking Dramamine for several days. That managed the situation but for the future on a ship of this size I will be more pro-active.  The ship’s captain did his best to steer the ship to avoid the worst of the weather and I know one day our location was chosen to get us into a fjord and out of the rougher seas.  On the other hand, the weather on land was great and made many things much more enjoyable - very little rain, clouds and sun and moderately cool temps (45-62 degrees, but often windy). We didn't use our warmest clothes, but we were happy we had windproof/waterproof layers.

If you are interested in really seeing and learning the culture, music, geography and nature and avoiding crowds at the most popular spots, this is a great choice.  We went tiny places and privately owned places that are difficult to reach along with small cities that could not handle crowds.

Getting to the ship was easy - we were met by Lindblad at the airport and transferred to a local hotel where a day room and lunch were available after our overnight flight. There was a city tour, museum visit and then we were transferred to board the ship late afternoon ( a very smooth process).  We met a number of passengers who had arrived a day or two early and joined up with the group for lunch.   Disembarkation was also easy - if you didn't have an early flight departure, there were final excursions that morning and lunch included. We stayed an extra night in Reykjavik and wish we had asked and known earlier which hotel was Lindblad's drop-off for those staying over (the info showed up in final documents we got a couple weeks before departure) - we would have stayed at that hotel rather than having to manage luggage transfer to a taxi and a trip to another hotel. Next time, we will know to ask about the departure hotel early.

See Iceland from the sea

Filters

1-10 of 47