Lindblad Expeditions literally pioneered tourism of private citizens to the Galapagos in the 1960s—so it’s no surprise that they’re considered one of the leading cruise operators in the islands today. But what is it really like onboard a National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions Galapagos cruise—and does it live up to its legendary reputation?
My husband, Justin, and I just completed an 8 day itinerary on the National Geographic Islander II and have the scoop on what to expect on and off the ship and whether you can really expect an “expedition” experience.
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We were lucky enough to be hosted by National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions on the Islander II; however, all opinions are my own.
Exploring the Galapagos on a cruise vs. land-based travel
First of all, let’s back up for a second.
If you’re planning a trip to the Galapagos and you’re anything like us, you’re probably doing the calculus of whether it’s worth even going on a cruise here in the first place, as compared to just exploring the islands by land.
With land-based travel, you’re limited to staying on the three inhabited Galapagos Islands—San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, and Isabella—and taking daytrips, either around those islands or to surrounding uninhabited ones.
On the other hand, with a cruise, you can sail to and explore any (or all!) of the Galapagos Islands. Plus, if you go with an operator like Lindblad, all of your activities, from snorkeling and kayaking to hiking and wildlife spotting, will be included in your cruise fare, along with the accompaniment of a certified naturalist, which is required on almost all of the uninhabited islands.
In short, unless you’re on a really tight budget, a cruise is definitely the best way to take a deeper dive (sometimes, literally!) into the Galapagos.
What is National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions?
If you’re new to the cruising space, Lindblad has long been a leader in the adventure expedition cruising space. In fact, they were the first company to not only bring private tourists to the Galapagos but also to Antarctica in the 1960s to share these incredibly remote places with others to inspire wonder and a passion for protecting our planet.
Lindblad’s relationship with the Galapagos has always been deep. Its founder has funded studies related to the islands’ conservation and even was instrumental in the initial establishment of the national park here.
In 2004, Lindblad stepped up its game by partnering with National Geographic to provide an even more immersive experience for guests—think along the lines of offering photography workshops with National Geographic photographers and providing guests the opportunities to learn directly from experts, like archeologists and volcanologists.
Together, National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions have created an incredibly unique cruise line that highlights the intersection between adventurous expeditions and luxury cruising, all while prioritizing sustainable travel, both in small and really big ways. For example, during our time onboard, we learned that Lindblad has a program where you can pre-order your dinner entree earlier in the day to cut down on food waste. Lindblad also has some really big sustainability initiatives, like being one of a few cruise operators that are actually carbon neutral (super cool in our book!).
What kind of Galapagos cruises does Lindblad have?
At the time of this writing, Lindblad has four ships in the Galapagos:
- National Geographic Delphina, a 98 foot catamaran that hosts 16 passengers
- National Geographic Endeavor II, a 236 foot expedition ship that holds 96 passengers
- National Geographic Islander II, a 280 foot expedition ship that holds 48 passengers
- National Geographic Gemini, a 296 foot expedition ship that holds 48 passengers
On these ships, they have six different cruise itineraries yearround, which range in length from 7 to 16 days. Most of the itineraries solely focus on exploring the Galapagos Islands, although there’s also a couple of itineraries that offer additional days exploring Peru as well.
We did a 8 day itinerary on the Islander II (with five nights on the ship itself), called the Galapagos Escape. Given it’s the shortest offering that Lindblad has, it’s a good option if you only have a week off work to get to and explore the Galapagos Islands.
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions Galapagos Cruise Review
Overview of our experience on a Lindblad Galapagos Cruise
Want the TLDR on our experience onboard the Islander II in the Galapagos?
Lindblad is the best choice for travelers that are looking for an adventure-focused and action-packed itinerary in the Galapagos Islands, while still having a luxurious onboard experience.
The expedition staff are incredibly knowledgeable and gifted at crafting an itinerary that squeezes in seeing and doing as much as possible on these beautiful islands. You’ll have the option to be either out adventuring or learning something onboard from literally sun up until sun down!
During our five days on the cruise, we walked amongst giant tortoises; swam with spotted eagle rays, sharks, and sea turtles; spotted wildlife that is found nowhere else on the planet, like flightless cormorants, marine iguanas, and Galapagos penguins; and kayaked while sea lions swam under us. As wildlife lovers, I honestly can’t imagine a better destination—or expedition staff to show us around the incredible islands.
But, even though Lindblad clearly is laser-focused on getting you out into this beautiful and wild place, the onboard experience still feels plenty luxurious, with spacious cabins, an impressive dining program, and extraordinary service (many of the waitstaff had learned our names by the second day!).
From my understanding, Lindblad’s onboard experience is not quite as bougie as a couple of other operators in the Galapagos, like Silverseas or Celebrity, but, in my opinion, that’s actually a good thing for this kind of trip—for example, Lindblad’s cruises don’t have a dress code (other than no pajamas in the dining room), while the aforementioned operators do. Additionally, Lindblad’s cruise fare includes all of the activities, from snorkeling to kayaking and glass-bottomed Zodiac rides, as compared to some other operators, like Celebrity, where excursions are incremental to your cruise fare.
We stayed on Santa Cruz island for a few days after our cruise and happened to strike up a conversation with a local that had previously worked on both Celebrity and Lindblad ships. He distilled his experience down to passengers on Celebrity ships primarily wanted to stay onboard and experience the ship itself, whereas Lindblad’s guests were more interested in actually immersing themselves in the islands and their flora and fauna.
This kind of immersive guest experience with Lindblad is reflected in a variety of ways, including how Lindblad weaves cultural aspects into its onboard experience, such as featuring a local Galapagian band and dancers as the onboard entertainment one evening; serving Ecuadorian- and South American-inspired food; and bringing local artists onboard to display their work.
Other than a few very minor pet peeves (e.g., not having completely impenetrable black out curtains in the cabins), I have nothing but glowing things to say about our time cruising around the Galapagos with Lindblad. It truly was the experience of a lifetime and I can’t imagine a better operator to explore this incredibly unique place.
Want to hear a more in-depth review of our experience? I’m going to break this down into offboard (i.e., the activities) and onboard (i.e., the ship) experiences.
We also made a full YouTube video all about our experience the Islander II, which you can check out below.
Offboard experience
As mentioned above, most people that are interested in a Lindblad Galapagos cruise are generally there more to experience the islands themselves, with the perks of a luxurious ship being more of an added bonus.
So let’s start first with the offboard experience.
Itinerary
Our itinerary was jam-packed from the moment we stepped onboard. Every day, we generally had some kind of activity planned from when the national park opened at 6 AM until it closed at 6 PM.
Here’s what our itinerary looked like:
- Day 1: Baltra, Santa Cruz
- Day 2: Santa Cruz
- Day 3: North Seymour, Rabida
- Day 4: Roca Redonda, Isabela, Fernandina
- Day 5: Santiago
- Day 6: Baltra
It’s my understanding that the sailings on the Galapagos Escape alternate between focusing on the eastern, central, and western islands, with our cruise primarily focusing on the western ones. To my knowledge, I don’t think you can confirm which itinerary you’re going to get before you board the ship (I’m sure it changes from time to time, due to weather or permitting issues), but it doesn’t hurt to ask if your heart is set on going to a particular island!
I REALLY enjoyed our jam-packed itinerary—I think it’s pretty incredible that, with only four full days onboard, we managed to squeeze in experiencing six different islands.
The only regret I have about the itinerary is that I wish we had more time—snorkeling with penguins and marine iguanas was REALLY high on my bucket list and, unfortunately, only longer itineraries (or very lucky sailings on shorter ones!) get to do that.
The expedition staff
We’re always slightly worried about going on guided excursions—we’ve had several experiences in the past that have definitely taught us that even the coolest places can be ruined by bad guides.
But I’m happy to report that the expedition staff on our cruise were absolutely extraordinary.
We had five expedition staff total, with one expedition leader and four naturalists. All of them are local to the Galapagos and incredibly knowledgeable about seemingly everything about the islands, including their geology, flora and fauna, and history. Beyond just magically knowing the answers to every question we lobbed their way, it’s clear they’re passionate about educating visitors about the Galapagos and promoting the importance of their conservation.
Additionally, they were gifted at delivering the information in an engaging way for all of the guests. Our cruise had a wide range of passengers on it, from kids as young as five to senior travelers—and the guides managed to keep everyone entertained throughout the trip.
Activities
Outside of eating times, there was basically some kind of activity you could opt to do from 6 AM all the way through dinnertime (and sometimes, even after dinner!). The activities were varied every day, ranging from visiting a local coffee farm and giant tortoise sanctuary to sunrise hikes to spot blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds and wildlife spotting walks geared towards photography enthusiasts.
Even when the ship was moving between islands (and, therefore, no offboard experiences could be offered), there was almost always some sort of onboard activity being offered, whether we were celebrating crossing the equator, partaking in a wine-tasting night, or learning about Charles Darwin’s time on the Galapagos.
Honestly, with all of the scheduled activities, the cruise is pretty fast-paced. I was COMMITTED to doing each and every activity that was offered (including even the yoga classes that were offered at 6 AM most mornings)—by the end of the trip, I was POOPED! So, unless you’re a super high energy person, feel free to skip one of the activities every now and again and get a massage or just lay by the pool—you’ll appreciate a bit of downtime!
One of my favorite things about Lindblad’s offering of Galapagos cruises is that they’re all-inclusive—everything from kayaking and hiking to snorkeling (including wet suits and our snorkeling gear) and glass-bottomed Zodiac boat rides are included in your cruise fare. That may sound kind of obvious, but we were pretty shocked to find out that actually isn’t the case with some other Galapagos cruise operators that we were considering going on, like Celebrity.
Psssst... not sure what to pack for your cruise? Check out our complete Galapagos packing list so you know exactly what you should bring along—and what you should leave at home.
Another aspect I thought was super cool was that Lindblad is mindful that travelers have different physical abilities and offered alternatives for those who are unable or didn’t want to participate in more strenuous activities. For example, during snorkeling outings, you could alternatively head out in a glass-bottomed Zodiac or, during hiking excursions, you could take a Zodiac cruise instead.
These offerings made it feel like a more inclusive environment and, given that many of the passengers were traveling as part of a multi-generational family, it allowed even the most senior travelers on our sailings to immerse themselves in the islands.
Beyond being inclusive for travelers that may have mobility challenges, the activities were also designed with younger travelers in mind. There were several activities that were for the kids onboard, like “Design a Fish”, where they got to dream up their very own species of fish, and even Zodiac boat driving lessons, complete with a certificate (truth be told, I want to learn how to drive a Zodiac!).
In addition to keeping the kids engaged, it also helped bond them together. All of the kids onboard started to hang out in a large group by the end of the trip and it was clear some of them had made really solid friendships amongst each other. It was super cute!
Guests
You know how I said we were nervous about going on a guided tour? The same can be said about how we felt about going on a group experience—one or two bad apples can REALLY sour the vibe on a trip.
However, we LOVED the other guests on our Lindblad Galapagos cruise. It was clear that Lindblad attracts a specific type of passenger that is mostly interested in getting outside and exploring and learning about the islands, with the luxuries of the onboard experience being secondary. Everyone onboard seemed to be adventure lovers, who didn’t complain when our boots got a little muddy or the ocean water was a bit on the cold side—they just took it in stride as part of the experience!
Beyond that, the guests were down-to-earth, friendly, and came from all walks of life. There were several multi-generational families (we traveled over spring break, so I’m guessing our particular sailing had slightly more families and kids than what is typically aboard), but also a handful of solo travelers, groups of friends, and couples. So, regardless of what kind of traveler you are, you should feel right at home onboard.
Onboard the Islander II
Turning to the onboard experience, the Islander II is a 280 foot expedition ship that’s the second newest of the National Geographic fleet in the Galapagos, with teak decking, sleek chandeliers, and modern tropical decor.
The cabin
Of the 26 rooms onboard, twenty-two of the cabins are 280 square foot guest suites, with four intended for solo travelers, four that are triple occupancy, and the rest for two people. There’s also four 515 square foot suites, which come with larger bathrooms (including a soaking tub!) and two lounge chairs. There’s also a couple of the rooms that are adjoining, if you’re traveling with a larger party.
We were in one of the standard “guest suites” intended for two people.
The rooms are spacious and luxurious, with plush carpet, a custom lighting system, two HUGE windows, a stocked (included!) mini-bar, desk, tons of storage, and plenty of electrical outlets (which is one of our barometers for a solid accommodation). Our favorite part, though, was the bathroom, with a double marble sink, rain shower (with HOT water), and thoughtful touches, like a clothing line to dry your clothes.
We generally were extremely impressed with the cabins, but we do have a couple of nitpicky things that could be improved. For example, the window shades let in more light than I’d prefer and the TV is on the side of the bed, making it difficult to watch it.
However, given the type of cruise this is, these small things were total non-issues for us. We were up for morning activities no later than 6 AM every day, so the light from the shades didn’t really bother us, and we literally never watched TV while we were onboard—we were too busy being outside and having adventures!
One thing that caught me off guard about Lindblad’s cabins is that they typically operate with a “no keys” policy, which they indicate is for safety reasons—meaning, while you can lock your cabin while you’re inside it, you’ll leave your cabin unlocked when it’s unoccupied. If you have any valuables, there’s a safe in every room that you can store them in and our hotel manager said that if you would prefer, arrangements could be made to have keys made for passengers on request.
This initially struck me as a bit odd, but, ultimately, it was a total non-issue. And, actually, it was kind of nice not to have to remember to bring my keycard everywhere and made me feel closer and more trusting of my fellow passengers and the crew!
Dining rooms and food
There are two dining rooms aboard the Islander II.
The Patio Cafe was the more casual restaurant with a mixture of indoor and outdoor seating. This is where we had a buffet breakfast every morning and usually where we had lunch by ordering from an a la carte menu and served by the waitstaff.
The Yacht Club was the more upscale restaurant, where we had a three course dinner almost every evening of the cruise.
We were REALLY impressed by the food. To be honest, we didn’t know exactly what to expect of the food, given it was more of an adventure-focused cruise than an epicurean one. Plus, we follow a vegan diet, which has been a bit challenging in the meat-and-cheese heavy land of South America.
But, man, the kitchen totally knocked it out of the park! Beyond just being delicious, the menu largely highlighted Ecuadorian, Galapagian, and South American cuisines, such as Peruvian causas or Ecuadorian quimbolitos (steamed corn cakes stuffed with cheese). Additionally, we were able to try unique types of local Ecuadoran produce at breakfast that I’d never had before—like fresh soursop juice or a “fruit of the day” that’s not common in the United States, like tree tomato.
I’ve been on a number of cruises and have never been on one that’s actually highlighted the local food. It’s one of many aspects of the cruise that make this experience feel like something that’s truly curated by National Geographic.
Lounge
There was a large lounge, called The Cove, towards the bow of the ship, with a large marble bar; a variety of tables, couches, and chairs; panoramic windows; and TV screens.
This is where we met every night for our daily recap and briefing on the following day’s activities, as well special events, like lectures about Charles Darwin by the naturalists, performances by a local band and dancers, and even a showing of Kung Fu Panda 4 for the kiddos.
The daily recap and briefing doubled as cocktail hour, with a cocktail of the day (including one that was delivered smoking!) and an amuse-bouche. Both the cocktails and the hors d’œuvres were consistently delicious and made these sessions feel a bit more fun and relaxed.
I really liked the set-up of the lounge. Previously, expedition cruises that we’ve been on have always had their briefings in an auditorium, where all of the guests are facing the same direction and looking at one large screen. Comparatively, the briefings on the Islander II felt more social and interactive, with people sitting around tables and multiple screens throughout the room, so everyone can comfortably see, regardless of where they were sitting.
It’s worth mentioning here that wine, beer, and standard alcoholic beverages were included and offered at lunch, dinner, and in the evenings or you can order more premium wines or spirits for an additional charge.
There were also fully stocked fridges in the lounge (as well as near the reception desk), with sodas and Ecuadorian beers in them. Justin and I love a good cocktail, but, to be honest, we were always so pooped from the day’s activities that we usually only partook in the “cocktail of the day” or a glass of wine with dinner—no time or energy for shenanigans in the Galapagos!
Amenities
For being an intimate ship, the Islander II has a LOT going for it, including:
- Well-equipped fitness center, plus a light yoga class almost every morning
- Library with books about the Galapagos that you’re free to borrow
- Sauna
- Small pool
- Plentiful places on the observation deck to relax, like couches, chaise lounges, and even four Ecuadorian-made hammocks on the aft
- Spa that offered services like massages and facials
- Doctor’s office, which is a complimentary service while you’re onboard
- Science Hub, which is an area meant for kids, with board games, instruments, and computers
- Automatic espresso machines and grab-n-go snacks near the reception desk and in the lounge
- Thoughtful touches, like a clothes spinner to help you dry your clothes by the pool and in the marina area (i.e., where you get back aboard the ship after snorkeling outings); refrigerators with wet hand towels to cool down; and outdoor showers.
They’ve really thought through everything that would make your experience onboard more comfortable and enjoyable and designed the ship accordingly. Other than making the onboard pool a bit deeper and maybe adding a hot tub for the cooler seasons (when we visited in March, it was WAY too hot during our visit to use one!), I honestly can’t really think of any kind of amenity that would improve our time aboard the ship at all.
Service
In addition to the 48 passengers aboard the Islander II, there’s actually 57 crew and staff, ranging from naturalists to the engine team and the stewards.
Every crew member that we interfaced with on the ship, from the people we ran into scrubbing the decks to our steward and the waitstaff in the restaurants, went above and beyond to provide passengers with exceptional service.
For example, many of the waitstaff memorized our names and our dietary preferences by the second day and bent over backwards to make sure our preferences were accommodated. Our cabin was serviced three times a day and it always smelled vaguely of an upscale spa.
In short, the service across the board was absolutely fantastic.
Wifi
As owners of an online business, having access to the internet is extremely important to us—so we were a bit nervous about being on the ship for five days. Cell service and even wifi on the inhabited Galapagos Islands is absolutely terrible in our experience—so what was it possibly going to be like being on a ship, floating next to a remote island only inhabited by iguanas?
Turns out, pretty great!! All passengers are given a basic Wifi package that allows them to surf the web and check social media and email. We sprung for the premium package, which allows you to use teleconferencing apps, like Zoom, or streaming. We needed to upload a large amount of media, as well as make a few business video calls, while we were on the ship and the internet worked like a charm!
I do have one tiny nitpicky thing about the internet—each passenger can only use one device with each internet account, meaning your phone or laptop can be connected to the internet at any given time. That’s standard for most cruises we’ve been on, but you must log out of a device before you’re allowed to log in to another device, meaning if you forget to log out of the internet on your laptop that’s in your room, you won’t be able to log in on your phone while you’re somewhere else on the ship. This happened to me several times throughout our cruise and, while it’s obviously not a huge deal, it would be preferable if you could just force log out another connected device.
Otherwise, though, our experience with the internet onboard was flawless!
Would we recommend a National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions Galapagos cruise?
So, would I recommend choosing Lindblad for this kind of cruise?
Absolutely, especially if you’re looking for a more adventure-forward cruise where you do and see as much as possible in the Galápagos Islands, while still getting an upscale onboard experience.
Your days will be spent hiking across volcanic islands to spot unique birds and lizards or snorkeling with sea lions and sharks—and once your activity is completed, you’ll get to go back onboard an incredibly comfortable ship, with steamy waterfall showers, delicious foods, and plenty of lounge chairs and hammocks to soak up the equatorial sun waiting for you.
If you’re, instead, primarily interested in relaxing onboard, you may get more bang-for-your buck with another operator—or, really, another destination entirely (the Galapagos is kind of a place you need to get out and explore)!
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