lindblad cruises galapagos islands

National Geographic Islander

The 48-passenger National Geographic Islander is a versatile vessel that plies the waters of the Galápagos Islands. Designed for year-round discovery and active exploration, this intimate ship provides the perfect mobile platform from which to experience every aspect of the Galápagos—both above and below the sea.

Public Areas

Open-air observation deck, second covered outside deck with hammocks, tables and chairs. Lounge and bar accommodating all guests for presentations and gatherings, dining room, library, Mac kiosks and Internet. The Captain and officers welcome guests to visit the open Bridge.

Served in a single, unassigned seating in a sociable, informal atmosphere with Ecuadorian flair.

Expedition Equipment

Zodiacs, a fleet of kayaks and paddleboards, snorkel gear and wetsuits for both adults and children, video microscope and underwater video camera.

Special Features

Shipboard doctor, Lindblad-National Geographic certified photo instructor, video chronicler, snorkel instruction, Wi-Fi access, laundry service, National Geographic Global Explorers family program, Global Gallery.

LEXSpa and fitness center, exercise classes, and wellness specialist.

Self-Disinfecting Ship

Lindblad Expeditions became the first self-disinfecting fleet with the rollout of the ACT CleanCoat™ system in 2019. This photocatalytic cleaning process activates when illuminated, continuously breaking down unwanted microbes such as bacteria, viruses, mold, and airborne allergens. The positive environmental impacts of this non-toxic, chemical-free system are many:

• less plastic in the supply chain and waste stream
• more than one million gallons of water saved annually

The system lowers Lindblad’s carbon footprint and creates a cleaner, healthier shipboard environment for guests and crew alike.

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Lindblad Expeditions Buys 2 Celebrity Cruise Ships to Expand Galapagos Trips

The company will purchase both the Celebrity Xpedition and the Celebrity Xploration for the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic fleet.

Courtesy of Lindblad Expeditions

Luxury cruise line Lindblad Expeditions is expanding its presence in the Galapagos with plans to buy two ships from fellow cruise line Celebrity Cruises. Lindblad will purchase both the 48-guest Celebrity Xpedition and the smaller, 16-guest Celebrity Xploration for the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic fleet, the company announced Wednesday. Following the sale, which is expected to close in January 2025, both ships will undergo multi-million dollar renovations. Each ship was purpose-built for the Galapagos . "We recognize and appreciate the immense privilege our company has to operate and grow our expedition cruise offerings in the Galápagos Islands," Sven-Olof Lindblad, the founder and CEO of Lindblad Expeditions, said in a statement. "By sourcing well-appointed vessels and onboarding the most experienced crew and staff who meet our exacting standards of responsible exploration, we're able to transport guests from around the world to the iconic archipelago and help them understand the importance of protecting and preserving its wonders and wildlife, as a consequence of their personal experience."

Travelers will be able to book the two ships later this month when their new names are revealed.

Currently, the Celebrity Xpedition features two dining venues and 24 cabins, including 13 balcony suites. The Celebrity Xploration is an eight-cabin catamaran, which Lindblad said is “perfect for family vacations, affinity groups, and private charters.”

In addition to these ships, Lindblad sails a fleet of 17 other expedition ships across the world from Antarctica to Egypt and beyond.

For its part, Celebrity will now operate just one ship in the Galapagos : the Celebrity Flora . That ship was also specifically built to sail in the Galapagos and features all suites, room for 100 guests, and even the option to glamp under the stars in a cabana on deck.

A spokesperson for Celebrity told Travel + Leisure the company was still committed to sailing in the Galapagos. In addition to the Celebrity Flora, the Royal Caribbean Group will also operate Silversea’s Silver Origin in the Galapagos. 

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After reviewing the brochure, call us toll-free at 1-888-815-5428 for the latest promotions and specials. We have discounts and complimentary air on selected dates. We represent many small ships in the Galapagos Islands and feel that Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic presents one of the best experiences.

Contact Sunstone Tours & Cruises with any questions or to reserve the Galapagos Small Ship cruise of a lifetime.

Linda Androlia President, Owner, Sunstone Tours & Cruises Call toll-free: 1-888-815-5428 or visit our website at www.lindbladgalapagos.com

Sunstone Tours & Cruises is proud to be a Lindblad Expeditions LEXpert.

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Your top options for a Galapagos cruise are about to change

Two of the best-known names in Galapagos Islands cruising , Lindblad Expeditions and Celebrity Cruises , are about to shake up their offerings in the destination in the wake of a deal.

Lindblad Expeditions on Wednesday announced that two of Celebrity's three vessels in the Galapagos will shift to the Lindblad fleet in January.

The two vessels — 48-passenger Celebrity Xpedition and 16-passenger Celebrity Xploration — will be extensively refurbished after the transfer before beginning operations under the Lindblad banner, the company said.

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Lindblad also said the vessels would be renamed.

The addition of the two new vessels, which Lindblad is purchasing for an undisclosed sum, will double the size of the Lindblad fleet in the Galapagos from two to four vessels, making it one of the largest players in Galapagos cruises.

For years, Lindblad has operated two ships in the region: 96-passenger National Geographic Endeavour II and 48-passenger National Geographic Islander II.

The brand offers six different itineraries around the Galapagos, with more than 100 departures a year.

"We recognize and appreciate the immense privilege our company has to operate and grow our expedition cruise offerings in the Galápagos Islands," said Sven-Olof Lindblad, founder and CEO of Lindblad Expeditions. "By sourcing well-appointed vessels and onboarding the most experienced crew and staff who meet our exacting standards of responsible exploration, we're able to transport guests from around the world to the iconic archipelago and help them understand the importance of protecting and preserving its wonders and wildlife, as a consequence of their personal experience."

Related: Is this the ultimate Antarctica cruise ship? Our take on one of Lindblad's newest vessels

Lindblad was one of the pioneers of expedition cruising in the Galapagos more than half a century ago. Notably, it operated the first nonscientific international civilian expedition to the destination in 1967.

The company has also long been a leader in expedition cruising in other parts of the world, sailing to some of the most remote and hard-to-reach destinations, including the Arctic, Antarctica and Australia's Kimberley region.

With the addition of the two Celebrity vessels, Lindblad's worldwide fleet of owned, leased and chartered ships will grow to 19 vessels.

Related: Expedition cruises: The ultimate guide to cruising to remote, hard-to-reach places

Lindblad said on Wednesday that customers would be able to make bookings for the two new vessels starting later this month. Lindblad didn't say when the first sailings for the ships under the Lindblad banner would be.

With the transfer of two of its three Galapagos ships to the Lindblad fleet, Celebrity's footprint in the Galapagos will decline significantly. The line's sole remaining ship in the region will be 100-passenger Celebrity Flora.

Unveiled in 2019, Celebrity Flora is one of the newest, biggest and most elegant vessels in the Galapagos.

Celebrity's expedition-style Galapagos sailings, which have taken place on very small vessels, have been a bit of an outlier for the brand. Celebrity is better known for more traditional cruises operated by much larger vessels.

Celebrity and its sister brand, Silversea Cruises , have been leaders in Galapagos voyages for many years. Silversea currently operates one large ship, the 100-passenger Silver Origin, in the Galapagos. It is considered the most upscale vessel in the destination.

Built on a similar platform, Celebrity Flora and Silver Origin are two of the biggest ships in the Galapagos. The destination limits the number of people who can sail on a Galapagos cruise to 100 per voyage.

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Lindblad Doubles Galápagos Fleet With New Adventure Tourism Ships

Sean O'Neill , Skift

June 12th, 2024 at 7:02 AM EDT

Lindblad is not just expanding its fleet but is also pursuing a broader ambition to balance growth with ecological stewardship. Easier said than done, however.

Sean O'Neill

Lindblad Expeditions said Tuesday it would add two purpose-built ships to its fleet. The adventure travel operator will use the vessels specifically for small-group expeditions in the Galápagos Islands, doubling its capacity there.

The two ships, formerly operated by Celebrity Cruises, will undergo multi-million-dollar refurbishments before being deployed in early 2025, according to Lindblad.

Lindblad Expeditions said the smallness of the ships will promote conservation in the ecologically sensitive Galápagos Islands. One vessel holds only 48 guests, while the other is a 16-guest catamaran designed for family vacations, affinity groups, and private charters.

Lindblad Expeditions partners with National Geographic to run educationally oriented voyages, where guests interact with scientists, naturalists, and researchers. It has more than 100 departures a year in the Galápagos region. Lindblad Expeditions also financially supports the Charles Darwin Foundation, a conservation and research organization.

Executives said the expansion into the Galápagos is part of Lindblad’s broader strategy to enhance its fleet while keeping its carbon footprint in check. The company currently operates 17 owned, leased, and chartered vessels. Its subsidiaries, such as Natural Habitat, Off the Beaten Path, DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co., and Classic Journeys, offer land-based adventure travel. Last month, it bought Wineland-Thomson Adventures.

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Tags: adventure , adventure tourism , adventure travel , celebrity cruises , cruise , cruise industry , cruise lines , lindblad expeditions , national geographic , responsible tourism , responsible travel

Photo credit: Lindblad National Geographic expeditions in Galapagos.

Lindblad Buys Two Celebrity Ships for Galapagos Cruise Expansion

• June 12, 2024

Lindblad Expeditions today announced that it has added two purpose-built Galápagos expedition vessels to join the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic fleet as the company said it has acquired the current 48-guest Celebrity Xpedition and 16-gust Celebrity Exploration.

The ships will transition to the Lindblad fleet in early 2025, according to a company statement.

“We recognize and appreciate the immense privilege our Company has to operate and grow our expedition cruise offerings in the Galápagos Islands,” said Sven-Olof Lindblad, Founder and CEO of Lindblad Expeditions. “By sourcing well-appointed vessels and onboarding the most experienced crew and staff who meet our exacting standards of responsible exploration, we’re able to transport guests from around the world to the iconic archipelago and help them understand the importance of protecting and preserving its wonders and wildlife, as a consequence of their personal experience.”

He continued: “When my father, Lars-Eric Lindblad, led the first international citizen expedition to the Galápagos nearly 60 years ago, I don’t think he ever could have dreamed it would serve as the foundation for ecotourism in the archipelago and would be the catalyst for meaningful, positively impactful connections. We look forward to not only bringing more Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic guests to the islands with the growth of our fleet, but also to having a greater positive social impact supporting conservation, education and the creation of livelihoods.”

Later this month, bookings will open for sale and the names of the two ships will be revealed.

Following the closing of the transaction in January 2025, the ships will undergo multi-million-dollar revitalizations. Once complete, the ships will embody the spirit of adventure and extreme comfort, both synonymous with Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic, and will celebrate the Company’s deep connection to the islands, Ecuador, and its people.

“For decades, Lindblad Expeditions has set the standards for sustainable tourism in Galápagos and been an extraordinary friend and supporter to the Charles Darwin Foundation and the greater conservation community in the islands,” said Rakan Zahawi, Executive Director of the Charles Darwin Foundation. “Together with community leaders, farmers, scientists and researchers, as well as Ecuadorians from Galápagos and the continent, Lindblad Expeditions has helped to uplift local communities and safeguard the archipelago’s precious species and habitats. We are grateful for their continued commitment to protecting, promoting, and preserving our home, while showcasing its beauty to responsible travelers.”

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