National Geographic Explorer

An authentic expedition ship, purpose-engineered for blue water and polar exploration

Overview

Originally constructed for service along Norway’s coast as part of the famed Hurtigruten, or Coastal Express, she ferried passengers among the fjords of this iconic coast in conditions that could deteriorate into heavy seas in a matter of minutes. She had to be able to handle deep swells and towering waves—and have a high degree of maneuverability. Those traits, and an ideal size, made her a natural choice for addition to the Lindblad fleet. 

 

The plans to completely rebuild her drew on 50 years of pioneering expedition history and expertise. National Geographic Explorer was equipped with an ice-strengthened hull and advanced navigation equipment for polar expeditions; a roster of tools for exploration; and a well-appointed interior with vast expanses of glass for an unprecedented connection to the environment. Her interior and exterior design embodied the Lindblad expedition ethos—the privilege of wildness and the luxury of comfort.

 

For many guests she remains their paradigm of an expedition ship. She is devoted to exploration—from her Welcoming Bridge, and the Chart Room below it where you can tuck in to warm up with a hot chocolate, to her high-perched Observation deck with its aqueous light and compelling 24/7 views. Even the art on the walls—from the Hurley prints of Shackleton’s expedition to the stunning National Geographic photos— tells an uber-narrative of globe-spanning travel and a dedication to curiosity and wonder.

(23) National Geographic Explorer Itineraries

NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins.  Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged. More details. 

Arctic

Iceland

A Circumnavigation of Iceland

Special Offers

Duration

11 days
  1. Jul
  2. Aug

From

$12,280

Prices are per person

Special Offers (1)
Highlights

Arctic

Iceland

A Circumnavigation of Iceland

Duration

11 days
  1. Jul
  2. Aug

From

$12,280

Top Highlights

  • Experience all of Iceland’s geological manifestations: glaciers, geysers, thundering waterfalls, immense cliffs, geothermal springs, boiling mud pots, and lava-scapes of unearthly beauty
  • Meet local Icelandic experts ranging from economists to filmmakers and enjoy exclusive music performances.
  • Explore Iceland’s wild western coast; Siglufjörður in the north; the rarely visited rugged east coast; and the Westman islands in the south, among the planet’s youngest archipelagos
  • Actively explore by taking Zodiacs into fjords and serene bays
  • Customize your experience by taking an expedition extension

Special Offers

CHILDREN TRAVEL FREE

Europe & British Isles

Ancient Isles: England, Ireland, and Scotland

Special Offers

Duration

16 days
  1. Jun
  2. Jul

From

$17,770

Prices are per person

Special Offers (1)
Highlights

Europe & British Isles

Ancient Isles: England, Ireland, and Scotland

Duration

16 days
  1. Jun
  2. Jul

From

$17,770

Top Highlights

  • Trace a maritime thread around the isles, exploring the wild and beautiful places where Celtic and Viking influences still thrive in local languages and customs
  • Sail around magical Skellig Michael, which is crowned with a seventh-century beehive monastery
  • See the stunning 12th-century Iona Abbey, and Zodiac into Fingal’s Cave in Scotland
  • Explore wild, windswept outer isles; search for whales, dolphins, and seals; and see vast, important seabird nesting sites
  • Extend your voyage: discover the seaport town of Bergen on a pre-voyage extension, and explore London or the Scottish Highlands on a post-voyage extension

Special Offers

COMBINE & SAVE 10% PLUS SHIPBOARD AMENITIES

Antarctica

Patagonia

Antarctica and Patagonia: Legendary Ice and Epic Fjords

Duration

20 days
  1. Feb
  2. Mar
  3. Nov
  4. Dec

From

$22,090

Prices are per person

Highlights

Antarctica

Patagonia

Antarctica and Patagonia: Legendary Ice and Epic Fjords

Duration

20 days
  1. Feb
  2. Mar
  3. Nov
  4. Dec

From

$22,090

Top Highlights

  • Seek out Antarctica’s iconic wildlife—including penguins, seals, and killer whales—and marvel at incandescent icebergs using our fleet of kayaks and Zodiacs
  • Navigate Chile’s coastal fjords and explore spectacular Glacier Alley, where monumental glaciers calve into the sea
  • Hike among the snowcapped “horns” of Torres del Paine National Park and enjoy special access to Karukinka Natural Park, the largest protected land area in Tierra del Fuego
  • Cruise the waters of Francisco Coloane Marine Park, searching for the humpback whales and dolphins that inhabit this vast marine reserve

Antarctica

Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands

Special Offers

Duration

24 days
  1. Feb
  2. Mar
  3. Nov

From

$27,200

Prices are per person

Special Offers (2)
Highlights

Antarctica

Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands

Duration

24 days
  1. Feb
  2. Mar
  3. Nov

From

$27,200

Top Highlights

  • Trace the story of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s fateful journey in 1914 aboard Endurance, and toast his gravesite in South Georgia
  • See three distinct regions and benefit from our 50 years of experience here
  • Early November departures on all ships offer the possibility to cross-country ski and showshoe across the frozen sea ice, conditions permitting
  • Create incredible images of the ice and vast penguin colonies with help from a National Geographic photographer

Special Offers

  • TRAVEL TO BOTH POLES AND SAVE 20% OFF YOUR SECOND VOYAGE
  • AIR INCLUDED UP TO $5,000

Europe & British Isles

New and Noteworthy

New Barcelona to Basque Country: Tracing History & Culture on the Iberian Peninsula

Duration

13 days
Apr

From

$22,701

Prices are per person

Highlights

Europe & British Isles

New and Noteworthy

New Barcelona to Basque Country: Tracing History & Culture on the Iberian Peninsula

Duration

13 days
Apr

From

$22,701

Top Highlights

  • Encounter an array of architectural marvels, from the Alhambra in Granada to Lisbon’s 16th-century Jerónimos Monastery, and Frank Gehry’s titanium-clad Guggenheim in Bilbao, and capture your best photos alongside a National Geographic photography expert
  • Explore seven UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Seville’s Alcázar palace, Santiago de Compostela in Spain, the Tower of Belém in Lisbon, and Porto’s old city
  • Learn how cork oak is harvested in the orchards of the Algarve, and collect mussels with local fisherman in Galicia
  • Experience Basque country in the music and culture of northern Spain and the markets of southwest France
  • Discover the works of renowned artists including Mark Rothko, Jeff Koons, and Richard Serra on a private tour of the Guggenheim in Bilbao

Patagonia

Best of Chilean Patagonia: From Torres del Paine to Cape Horn

Special Offers

Duration

16 days
  1. Mar
  2. Nov

From

$20,790

Prices are per person

Special Offers (1)
Highlights

Patagonia

Best of Chilean Patagonia: From Torres del Paine to Cape Horn

Duration

16 days
  1. Mar
  2. Nov

From

$20,790

Top Highlights

  • Venture inland to explore the wildlife-rich, iconic landscapes of Torres del Paine, Patagonia’s jewel, with either the Tierra Patagonia Hotel or the Explora Patagonia Hotel as your base camp
  • Explore wild, windswept Isla de los Estados (Staten Island), located at the extreme end of South America and largely off limits to travelers since 1923
  • Transit the legendary Beagle Channel and see storied Cape Horn
  • Venture through wildlife reserves not easily accessible to the public, including Karukinka Natural Park in Tierra del Fuego
  • Zodiac cruise and kayak through the breathtaking Chilean fjords

Special Offers

SOLO TRAVELER SAVINGS

Atlantic Isles

New and Noteworthy

New Cape to Cape: A Voyage from Cape Horn to Cape Town

Special Offers

Duration

20 days
Mar

From

$22,850

Prices are per person

Special Offers (2)
Highlights

Atlantic Isles

New and Noteworthy

New Cape to Cape: A Voyage from Cape Horn to Cape Town

Duration

20 days
Mar

From

$22,850

Top Highlights

  • Visit the vast king penguin colonies on South Georgia—hundreds of thousands on a single beach
  • See rockhopper penguins and albatrosses on remote Tristan da Cunha Island, and meet some of its 260 human residents
  • Enjoy a rich program of lectures by an expert team of Naturalists, Historians, and Certified Photography Instructors; and take advantage of the ship’s many amenities, from wellness programs and spa treatments to gourmet dining and wine tastings
  • Spend a day in one of the world’s most beautifully situated cities, Cape Town, traveling to the top of Table Mountain for sweeping views and admiring the unusual flora at the renowned Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden
  • Spot rare birds and other wildlife on the uninhabited and seldom-visited Nightingale and Inaccessible islands

Special Offers

  • DISCOVERY PACKAGE INCLUDING $2,000 AIR CREDIT
  • 25% SOLO TRAVELER SAVINGS

Europe & British Isles

New and Noteworthy

New Coastal Powers of the North Sea: Medieval Capitals and Vibrant Cultures

Duration

11 days
Jul

From

$10,990

Prices are per person

Highlights

Europe & British Isles

New and Noteworthy

New Coastal Powers of the North Sea: Medieval Capitals and Vibrant Cultures

Duration

11 days
Jul

From

$10,990

Top Highlights

  • Dive into the multi-layered pasts of countries bordering the North Sea: Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France—and learn how these independent nations have been linked over time through trade, economics, culture, and politics
  • Capture your best photographs alongside a National Geographic photography expert as you explore UNESCO-designated Old Towns including Bryggen, Speicherstadt, and Lübeck
  • Venture out of Amsterdam to the Delta Works project of Neeltje Jans to witness the incredible feat of engineering of the storm surge barrier protecting the Low Countries
  • With the knowledge of our historians, naturalists, and local experts, experience life in major cities and coastal towns, taste culinary specialties, and see some of this region’s biodiversity

Europe & British Isles

New and Noteworthy

New Crossroads of the Mediterranean: A Voyage Through Greece, Malta, and Sicily

Duration

12 days
Apr

From

$13,484

Prices are per person

Highlights

Europe & British Isles

New and Noteworthy

New Crossroads of the Mediterranean: A Voyage Through Greece, Malta, and Sicily

Duration

12 days
Apr

From

$13,484

Top Highlights

  • Walk amidst iconic classical ruins like the Parthenon, Palace of Knossos, and the Valley of the Temples on this fascinating four-country voyage
  • Explore vestiges of Greek, Roman, Ottoman, Talayotic, and Minoan civilizations alongside expert historians and archaeologists
  • Marvel at the transparent blue waters of Malta and the stunning natural beauty of Crete’s Gorge of Samaria
  • Discover the Sardinian island of Isola di San Pietro, whose population's unique history personifies the blending of cultures across the Mediterranean
  • Sample regional specialties like Marsala wine, Greek cheese, and tuna and sardines from Sardinia

Europe & British Isles

Africa

New Egypt, the Greek Isles, and the Suez Canal: Sailing Through Antiquity

Duration

12 days
Apr

From

$10,260

Prices are per person

Highlights

Europe & British Isles

Africa

New Egypt, the Greek Isles, and the Suez Canal: Sailing Through Antiquity

Duration

12 days
Apr

From

$10,260

Top Highlights

  • Explore the greatest sights of antiquity: The Pyramids, the Sphinx, the Valley of the Kings, the Bibliotheca Alexandria, and the Minoan city of Phaestos on Crete 
  • Navigate the Suez Canal, an engineering marvel and major trade corridor cut through expansive desert landscapes 
  • Discover the mesmerizing beauty of four Greek islands including stunning Santorini 
  • Observe the exciting underwater realm of the Red Sea in Hurghada 
  • Experience local culture as you explore fishing villages, souks, and wineries 

Europe & British Isles

New Emerald Isle Expedition: Ireland’s Rugged Coastlines and Celtic Traditions

Duration

11 days
May

From

$12,825

Prices are per person

Highlights

Europe & British Isles

New Emerald Isle Expedition: Ireland’s Rugged Coastlines and Celtic Traditions

Duration

11 days
May

From

$12,825

Top Highlights

  • Experience the contrasts between cosmopolitan cities like Dublin and small villages like Killybegs as you visit the four traditional Irish provinces: Leinster, Ulster, Munster, and Connacht
  • Spot Ireland’s most critically endangered birds, corncrakes, on Tory Island as well as large populations of nesting seabirds including guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, and fulmars. On wild Rathlin island, encounter a colony of puffins among other seabirds
  • Spend a day on the Isle of Man, a Crown Dependency nicknamed the Gem of the Irish Sea and known for having the world’s longest-standing parliament
  • In Northern Ireland, learn about the Troubles while exploring the capital city of Belfast, and gain a deeper understanding of life on both sides of the north and south divide as you stroll Londonderry’s ancient city walls
  • Marvel at the natural beauty along the shores of the Emerald Isle—from the otherworldly landscape of Giant’s Causeway to the striking geology of the uninhabited Blasket Islands

Africa

New and Noteworthy

New Exploring East Africa and Madagascar: Wildlife and Wonders

Special Offers

Duration

18 days
Mar

From

$21,156

Prices are per person

Special Offers (2)
Highlights

Africa

New and Noteworthy

New Exploring East Africa and Madagascar: Wildlife and Wonders

Duration

18 days
Mar

From

$21,156

Top Highlights

  • Go on safari in South Africa’s renowned Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve, watching for the “big five”: lion, leopard, elephant, Cape buffalo, and rhinoceros
  • Get acquainted with intriguing cultures, from South Africa’s Zulu people to the rich mix of people drawn to bustling Zanzibar
  • Explore the unique flora and fauna of Madagascar in three different regions, encountering lemurs, ancient baobab trees, chameleons and rare birds
  • Visit UNESCO World Heritage sites from South Africa’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park to Stone Town on the island of Zanzibar
  • Capture your best images alongside a National Geographic Photography Expert

Special Offers

  • 25% SOLO TRAVELER SAVINGS
  • DISCOVERY PACKAGE INCLUDING $2,000 AIR CREDIT

Talk to an experience specialist

1-800-397-3348

Make a reservation

Book Now

View or order a brochure

View brochure

Talk to an experience specialist

1-800-397-3348

Make a reservation

Book Now

View or order a brochure

View brochure