LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS   
Alaska, Arctic, Antarctic, San Juan Islands, Baja, Mediterranean, Baltic,
British Isles, Scandinavia, Greenland, Central and South America,  South Pacific,
Columbia and Snake Rivers, US East Coast, Nile River

ISLANDER
Passenger Capacity: 47
Built: 1995
Former Names: Lord of the Highlands,  Rivage Guadaloupe
Length:  49.9 m
Officers: Ecuadorian
Staff and Crew:  32. U.S. and Ecuadorian

• Itinerary: Year-round in the Galapagos Islands.

• Cabins:  24. All cabins are outside, are air-conditioned, and have two lower beds that convert to a queen, private shower and toilet. There are two single cabins. Some cabins can accommodate a third person. Cabins on deck 4 have two lower single beds bed convertible to a queen or a lower double bed and have a glassed-in terrace.  

• Dress: Informal

• Facilities and Activities: Ship is fully air-conditioned. There is a covered deck with hammocks, chairs and tables, doctor’s office, fitness center, library, lounge with bar and facilities for films, slide shows and lectures, and a guest e-mail station. A video chronicler is onboard. An expedition team of naturalists are knowledgeable in marine biology, zoology, botany, and geology. Snorkeling and kayaking are included. Expedition Equipment: hydrophone, kayaks, snorkeling gear, Splash-Cam, underwater video camera, video microscope, wetsuits, Zodiac landing craft. There is an open bridge policy.

• Recent Rates Reported to Us: A 10-day trip $4,150 to $6,790 per person double occupancy, $6,230 to $7,190 solo occupancy.  Includes 7- night cruise with all excursions, and two hotel nights in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ENDEAVOUR,  NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER Passenger Capacity: 110, 148 Built: 1966, rebuilt in 1990, remodeled in 1998 Former Name: North Star, Marburg, Lindmar, Caledonian Star, Endeavor Length: 295 ft. Officers: American, European, Filipino Staff and Crew: 60, International

• Itinerary: The ships explore areas all over the world. Current destinations include Antarctica, South Georgia,  Falkland Islands, Cape Verde,  Canary Islands, Spain, France, Portugal, Ital, Albania, Croatia, Montenegro, Greece,  Scandinavia, Baltic, Scotland, Ireland, Britain,  Norway, Iceland., Aractic, U.S., South Aamerica.

• Cabins: 62, 81. All cabins face outside, with windows or portholes. Each has climate controls and private bath with shower.

• Dining: There is an open-seating dining room with a single sitting. Menu is international with a local flair.

• Facilities and Activities: There is a lounge with facilities for films, slide shows and lectures; library, fitness center, spa, swimming pool, laundry, and medical facilities with a full-time physician onboard. There is an undersea specialist, videographer, naturalists and historians on every cruise. Nature photographers accompany cruises to the Arctic. There is an open bridge policy. There are zodiac landing craft for excursions and an enclosed tender. There is a remotely operated video camera (ROV) and hydrophones for listening to marine mammals. Stairways are steep.  Smoking is restricted to outside on the aft deck and no smoking is allowed in cabins or public spaces. There is internet access.

• Recent Fares Reported to Us: An 11-day "Land of the Ice Bears" Arctic Svalbard from $5,890; 15-day Antarctica trip from $8,890;  northern Scotland to Iceland $8,890; 16-day Scandinavia and the Baltics from $9,450; coastal Norway and Arctic Svalbard from $8,980; a 19-day western Mediterranean from $11,540, all per person double occupancy. Discounts usually for early booking, and sometimes complimentary airfare. 10 %discount for two consecutive voyages or for a group of 8 or more. Family members under age 18 years $500 off. Shore excursions are included.

TRITON, SALACIA
Passenger Capacity: 42, 54
Built: 1968, rebuilt 1995; 1991
Length: 236 ft.
Officers & Crew: 60. Egyptian

• Itinerary: The ship travels the Nile River for four days between Luxor and Aswan. An extension is available to Jordan to visit Petra and Amman. A package includes land trips before the cruise.

• Cabins: 20, 27. All face outside and have two windows, telephone, TV, VCR. Some have twin beds, some double beds. All have private bath with shower and tub. On Salacia a master suite is double size.

• Facilities and Activities: There is a lounge, a sun deck with pool.  A spa is equipped with sauna, steam room, fitness room, and jacuzzi. A masseuse is on board. Passengers visit temples and tombs and are taken behind the scenes in meetings with local experts. On a land trip to Cairo there is a visit to the Egyptian Museum to see treasures of Tutankhamon and a stop at a bazaar for jewelry, copperwork, silver and clothing. Other excursions are made to the Temple of Karnak, Colossus of Memnon, Valley of the Kings, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Temple of Luxor, and Temple of Deneera. A trip is also made by traditional sailboat, a felucca, to Kitchener Island gardens and the mausoleum of the Aga Khan.

• Recent Fares Reported to Us: 10-day cruise/land package $4,700 per person double occupancy for stateroom and $7,125 for suite. A 15-day cruise/land package: $6,290 for a stateroom and $8,990 for Bridge suite. Shore excursions included. Discount for early booking. Laundry is complimentary.

POLARIS
Passenger Capacity: 80
Built: 1960, redone in 1987
Former Names: Lindblad Polaris, Oresund
Length: 237 ft.
Officers: Ecuadorian
Staff and Crew: 43. American, Ecuadorian

• Itinerary: The ship cruises in the Galapagos year round.

• Cabins: 41. Cabins range from 100 to 230 sq. ft. All cabins are outside with windows or portholes and have central heating and air-conditioning, twin beds, private bath with shower. Cabins have a telephone for international calls.

• Dining: There is an open-seating dining room with a single sitting. Menu is international, with an Ecuadorian flair.

• Facilities and Activities: There is a covered deck, a lounge with facilities for films, slide shows and lectures, a library. There are zodiacs, kayaks, a glass-bottom boat, hydrophone, snorkeling gear, underwater video camera, wetsuits. Naturalists are on board for lectures. There is one photo expedition with a professional photographer on board to help passengers with photo-taking. Several summer voyages are designed for families with children age 6 to 14.  There is a doctor on board. Smoking is restricted to outside on the aft deck and no smoking is allowed in cabins or public spaces. There is no smoking on land in the Galapagos National Park. Charles Darwin wrote "On the Origin of Species" 25 years after his visit to the Galapagos, and the unique wildlife is still the main reason to visit. The animals are not afraid of people, so that on the islands you can get within inches of albatrosses, iguanas, sea lions and other wildlife. Activities include a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station, kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, observing and photographing sea lions, blue-footed boobies, albatross, flamingoes and frigate birds. Open bridge policy. There is internet access.

• Recent Fares Reported to Us:  A 10-day trip with 7 nights aboard Polaris is $4,150 per person double occupancy to $6,790,  including 2 nights hotel accommodations in Guayaquil, port charges and park entry fees.

SEA BIRD; SEA LION
Passenger Capacity: 62
Built: 1981, 1982
Length: 152 ft.
Officers: American
Staff and Crew: 41, American, Central American

• Itinerary: A cruise from Portland of the Columbia and Snake Rivers in the wake of Lewis and Clark. An 8-day  Alaska cruise goes between Sitka and Juneau, including Glacier Bay, Haines, Le Conte Bay and Tracy Arm. The ships also go from Seattle to the San Juan Islands and Vancouver Island. In December, January, March and April there are cruises along the Mexico Pacific Coast, the Sea of Cortez, and the lagoons of Baja where whales breed and calve.

• Cabins: 31. All are outside, have individually controlled air-conditioning, private bath with shower, twin beds or double bed. There are windows or (on Lower Deck) portlights. Cabins are 90 to 120 sq. ft.

• Dining: There is open seating with a single sitting. Menu emphasizes local flair. Breakfast is buffet. Lunch is family style.

• Facilities and Activities: These are sister ships. They have a lounge, library.  There are naturalist lecturers, a wellness program, a videographer. There are zodiac landing craft for excursions, an enclosed tender, kayaks, an underwater video camera. A physician is on board. A bow ramp allows for direct access onto beaches.  Stairways are steep. There is an open bridge policy. Smoking is restricted to outside on the aft deck and no smoking is allowed in cabins or public spaces. Passengers may snorkel, or hike with naturalists. On whale-watching trips much time is spent in the zodiacs and viewing from the ship. There are sometimes barbecues on the beach. On the Columbia-Snake River cruise, guests take a train ride up the slopes of Mt. Hood, explore the Palouse River by zodiac and take a jet boat ride into Hells Canyon in Idaho. In Alaska passengers go by zodiac up to glaciers, watch for whales off Point Adolphus, and learn about Tlingit Indian heritage. There is internet access.

• Recent Fares Reported to Us: Seven-day Columbia-Snake River cruise from $3,240 to $4,390 per person double occupancy. 8-day Alaska cruises from $4,480 to $7,890, and for 12- day Alaska, British Columbia and San Juan Islands from $6,890 to $11,290. Land arrangements are also available, such as to Denali National Park.  An 8-day whale-watching cruise in Baja and the Sea of Cortez $3,990 to $4,960 per person double occupancy. Costs of shore excursions and port taxes are included. Discounts for early booking.

SEA VOYAGER
Passenger Capacity: 60
Built: 1982
Former Name: America, Temptress Voyager
Length: 174 ft.
Officers & Crew: 41. Mostly Costa Rican, Panamanian

• Itinerary: Costa Rica, Panama.

• Cabins: 31. All cabins are outside, with doubles, triples, and singles available. All have individually controlled air-conditioning , bath with shower, and a window.

• Facilities and Activities: Guests spend the day hiking rainforest trails, snorkeling or kayaking at remote islands and beaches. Shore excursions include both hard and soft nature tours. A staff of naturalists accompany each voyage. Most socializing takes place at the covered open-air bar on the top deck and on the carpeted aft open air deck. There is a fitness center, library, guest internet access. A glass-enclosed lounge has facilities for video and slide presentations. There are kayaks and zodiacs. Snorkeling gear and underwater cameras are available. There are scuba diving excursions at an extra cost. The rainy season (April to November) offers more foliage and flowering, but nature trails then may be muddy. The Costa Rica voyage includes the Osa Peninsula, Isla Coiba National Park, Manuel Antonio National Park and the Bay of Golfo Dulce. An 11-day voyage also includes visit to the Mpnteverde Cloud Forest. In July and August there are family-oriented cruises in Costa Rica that include traditional dances by local children and interacting with them.

• Recent Fares Reported to Us: Eight-day Costa Rica and Panama Canal expedition from $3,970 per person double occupancy; 11-day Monteverde, Costa Rico and Panama Canal cruise from $4,790.  There is a $500 deduction for children under age 18.

The company also markets expeditions with ships of other cruise lines.

Want to read a we-were-there day-to-day report on a Lindblad cruise?
Go to: WILDLIFE IS KING IN THE GALAPAGOS

For current fares and detailed itineraries, go to expeditions.com

For special offers and to book a Lindblad cruise, fill out our Cruise Request Form.

 

TO MAKE A RESERVATION: Small Ship Cruises                       We work with several agencies and tour operators who are experts in small ships.   For them to make a reservation for you, fill out the  Cruise Request Form.