Lindblad Expeditions
Also called: LEX
Parent company: Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: LIND)
PremiumSee how Lindblad Expeditions describes itself vs how we list it
What to say on a call
Best for
- 1Fares include meals, excursions in the itinerary, exploration gear (Zodiacs, kayaks, paddleboards, snorkel gear), park fees, port taxes, basic Wi-Fi, and beer, wine and spirits on most ships.
- 2Crew gratuities are included on National Geographic Endurance, Resolution, Explorer and Orion and several chartered ships, but not on Quest, Venture or the Galápagos ships.
- 3National Geographic partnership since 2004: expedition teams of naturalists and scientists, a staff-to-guest ratio of no more than 1 to 16, and National Geographic photographers on the larger ships.
- 422 owned and chartered vessels (Aug 2026), from 16-guest Galápagos catamarans to 148-guest polar ships, plus river ships on the Nile, Mekong, Amazon and in Europe.
Payments & cancellations
Final payment
Per cruise line120 days before departure
Final payment is due 120 days before departure.
Applies to: Payment terms effective January 1, 2024 (standard bookings)
Deposit
Per cruise line15% of the cabin fare at booking
An advance payment of 15% of the cabin fare is due at booking (credit card or check).
Applies to: Payment terms effective January 1, 2024 (standard bookings)
Group bookings (8+) have different deposit, payment and cancellation terms. The FAQ still says deposit amounts vary by destination and expedition.
Cancellation penalties
Per cruise lineSee details below
Per person, by days before the expedition starts: 120 or more days, no penalty, but the advance payment is NOT refunded in cash; it is credited as a Lindblad Expeditions Travel Certificate valid 12 months from cancellation, usable only toward final payment on a future booking. 119-90 days: 50% of trip cost. 89-0 days: 100% of trip cost. Trip cost is the total paid including extensions, charter airfare and other services. Changes of date or voyage inside the penalty period count as cancellations.
Applies to: Reservations made on or after May 1, 2023
Longer voyages, holiday departures and promotional fares can have different terms; the reservation invoice governs. Airline tickets follow each airline's rules.
Onboard extras & packages
Prices are approximate, per person per day unless noted. Always confirm the current price with the cruise line.
- Gratuities (standard rooms)
- Varies by ship. Included on National Geographic Endurance, Resolution, Explorer and Orion and on the chartered Sea Cloud II, Lord of the Glens, Oberoi Philae, Sun Goddess, The Jahan, Aqua Blu, Connect and Evolve. Not included (at the guest's discretion) on National Geographic Endeavour II, Islander II, Gemini, Delfina, Quest, Venture, Sea Bird and Sea Lion, and on Delfin II and III.Per cruise line
Sources differ
Lindblad's pages disagree on Greg Mortimer (chartered from 2027): the What's Included page lists it among ships with crew gratuities included; the Reservation Terms list its gratuities as not included. Confirm before quoting.What's Included Reservation Terms - Gratuities (suites)
- Varies by ship. Included on National Geographic Endurance, Resolution, Explorer and Orion and on the chartered Sea Cloud II, Lord of the Glens, Oberoi Philae, Sun Goddess, The Jahan, Aqua Blu, Connect and Evolve. Not included (at the guest's discretion) on National Geographic Endeavour II, Islander II, Gemini, Delfina, Quest, Venture, Sea Bird and Sea Lion, and on Delfin II and III.Per cruise line
Sources differ
Lindblad's pages disagree on Greg Mortimer (chartered from 2027): the What's Included page lists it among ships with crew gratuities included; the Reservation Terms list its gratuities as not included. Confirm before quoting.What's Included Reservation Terms - Drink package
- Included on most ships (beer, wine, cocktails, liquors and spirits). Exceptions: beer and wine only on Connect and Evolve; beer and wine with meals only on Oberoi Philae and Sun Goddess.Per cruise line
- Premium drink package
- Extra cost: premium wines and spirits sold on board (no package or price published)Per cruise line
- Soda package
- Included (nonalcoholic beverages, 24-hour access)Per cruise line
- Non-alcoholic package
- Included (premium coffees and teas, nonalcoholic beverages, filtered water)Per cruise line
- Wi-Fi (basic)
- Included (complimentary basic plan for email, messaging and social media; Starlink/Speedcast)Per cruise line
- Wi-Fi (premium)
- Extra cost: Enhanced and Premium plans sold on board, per day or per voyage (prices not published)
- Specialty dining package
- Included (all meals; no specialty-dining package sold)Per cruise line
- Specialty dining (avg per meal)
- Included (no extra-charge restaurants found)Per cruise line
- Fitness classes
- Included (morning stretch classes; daily yoga and stretching on ships with a yoga studio, e.g. National Geographic Endurance)Per cruise line
- Spa / thermal pass
- Spa treatments cost extra (LEXspa, by appointment); no spa or thermal pass price publishedPer cruise line
- Air program
- Air sold separately: Lindblad's Air Department books flights for a $50 per-person service fee; flights are included only where the itinerary says so (e.g. some charter flights)Per cruise line
- Other fees & perks
- Port taxes, park and site entrance fees and special access permits included. Extra: laundry (free for Suite Exclusives cabins and on the Nile ships), travel protection, passport/visa fees, scuba diving, VIKAND medical evaluation fees on select voyages. Fares in US dollars.Per cruise line
Accessibility & special needs
- How to tell the cruise line
- Tell Lindblad at booking about medical conditions and dietary needs; declare all mobility or medical equipment at least 30 days before sailing. Per cruise line
- Wheelchairs & scooters
- Guests in wheelchairs must move around independently or travel with someone who can push them; wheelchairs no wider than 24 in.; motorized wheelchairs and scooters not allowed; guests bring their own device. Zodiac/small-boat landings can't be guaranteed, and many landings have little or no infrastructure. Crew won't lift guests or give personal care. Per cruise line
- Medical equipment & pregnancy
- Onboard physicians and limited medical facilities; all ships have defibrillators, and Resolution, Endurance, Explorer and Orion have ventilators and ultrasound. Complex care is ashore; medevac insurance recommended. Guests may bring their own oxygen concentrators; no liquid oxygen or cylinders. Per cruise line
Not on the line's site (or not confirmed yet): blind / low vision, deaf / hard of hearing, service animals, guests of size. Ask the cruise line's accessibility team.
Never promise an accommodation. Send the request to the line and let them confirm. How to handle these calls → Premium
Upgrade & suite ladder
entryCabins (window cabins on lower categories; solo cabins on some ships)
Per cruise lineOutside cabins with windows (e.g. National Geographic Endurance Category 2: two large windows, twin beds convert to a queen, sofa, mini fridge). Solo cabins are offered on all expeditions; some ships have balcony solo cabins.
midBalcony cabins (e.g. National Geographic Endurance and Resolution Categories 4-5)
Per cruise linePrivate balcony with chairs and a hammock (Endurance), twin beds that convert to a queen, sofa bed. Balconies are mainly on the polar ships, Gemini and Delfina; many smaller ships have windows only.
luxurySuites with Suite Exclusives (Endurance, Resolution and Explorer Categories 6-7; Orion 4-6; Quest and Venture 5; Endeavour II Suites A-C; Gemini 5-7; Islander II Islander Suite)
Per cruise lineComplimentary laundry and priority access to one spa appointment per departure; on Endurance and Resolution also priority for one igloo night reservation; Orion adds special turn-down service. No butler service is described.
Loyalty program
Not yet verified
No loyalty reciprocity with sister brands (Natural Habitat Adventures, Off the Beaten Path, DuVine, Classic Journeys, Wineland-Thomson Adventures, White Desert) was found.
Military & veterans
We couldn't confirm a military rate on this line's official site. Don't promise one. If a guest asks, check with the line.
How military rates work → PremiumAirport transfers
Included: airport transfers for flights arriving and departing within Lindblad's recommended window (always included in Egypt, Vietnam, Cambodia, Ecuador and Peru). Private transfers cost extra.
What's offered changes by port and sailing. Check before you quote a price.
Cruise family
Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: LIND)
No sister cruise lines on this site.
Loyalty between brands: No loyalty program found, and no shared program across the Lindblad brands.
No official shared program found. Check with the cruise line before promising anything.
See the whole family →Good to know
Inclusions depend on the ship
Per cruise lineGratuities, drinks and laundry are included on some ships and not others. For example, crew tips are included on National Geographic Endurance, Resolution, Explorer and Orion but not on Quest, Venture or the Galápagos ships, and Connect and Evolve include only beer and wine. Check the ship before quoting 'all-inclusive'.
Excursions, park fees and arrival transfers are in the fare
Per cruise lineExcursions in the itinerary, kayaks, paddleboards and snorkel gear, park and site entrance fees and port taxes are included, as are airport transfers for flights arriving and departing within Lindblad's recommended window. Premium excursions on select voyages cost extra.
Minimum ages
Per cruise lineChildren travel with a parent or legal guardian. The minimum age is 6 months on most voyages, 4 years on Antarctica, Arctic, Greenland, Iceland and Svalbard voyages, 1 year on Connect, Evolve and Sea Cloud II, 5 on The Jahan and 7 on Delfin II, Delfin III and Oberoi Philae.
Pregnancy limit: 24 weeks
Per cruise lineGuests who have entered, or will enter during the trip, their 24th week of pregnancy are refused passage. A doctor's note or waiver is not accepted.
National Geographic photographers and kids' program
Per cruise lineEvery ship carries a Lindblad-certified photo instructor, and a National Geographic photographer sails on Endurance, Resolution, Explorer and Orion. The National Geographic Explorers-in-Training program for kids and teens runs on every Alaska, Baja California and Galápagos expedition and select Antarctica and Iceland voyages.
Polar parka included; groups and back-to-back savings
Per cruise lineA complimentary National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions parka or jacket is given on select Arctic and Antarctic voyages. Groups of 8 or more save 5% on voyage fares, and back-to-back voyages save 10% on voyage fares.
Fleet
- Ships
- 22 owned and chartered vessels (Aug 2026): 12 owned National Geographic ships (Endurance, Resolution, Explorer, Orion, Quest, Venture, Endeavour II, Islander II, Gemini, Delfina, Sea Bird, Sea Lion) plus long-term charters (e.g. Sea Cloud II, Lord of the Glens, Aqua Blu, The Jahan, Delfin II and III, Oberoi Philae, Sun Goddess, Connect, Evolve, Greg Mortimer)Per cruise line
Sources differ
Lindblad's pages give different fleet sizes. The Aug 10, 2026 press release says 22 owned and chartered vessels, which we show; the Ships page says 24 small expedition ships but lists 23 (including Sea Bird and Sea Lion, final season 2026, and Greg Mortimer, from 2027); the National Geographic campaign page says 12 expedition ships and ten chartered vessels.Press release (Aug 10, 2026) Ships page National Geographic campaign page - Newest ship
- Connect (chartered 120-guest European river ship, built 2025). Newest owned ships: National Geographic Gemini and National Geographic Delfina (former Galápagos ships, joined the fleet in 2025). Newest new-build: National Geographic Resolution, the second of two polar builds.Per cruise line
- Ship classes
- Polar-class expedition ships, PC5 with X-Bow (National Geographic Endurance, National Geographic Resolution; 138 guests), Ocean expedition ships (National Geographic Explorer, 148 guests; National Geographic Orion, 102 guests), Coastal expedition ships for the Americas (National Geographic Quest and Venture, 100 guests; Sea Bird and Sea Lion, 62 guests, final season 2026), Galápagos ships (National Geographic Endeavour II, Islander II, Gemini, and the 16-guest catamaran Delfina), Chartered ocean vessels (Greg Mortimer from 2027 in Alaska; the sailing ship Sea Cloud II; the yacht Aqua Blu in Indonesia; Lord of the Glens on Scotland's canals), Chartered river ships (Connect and Evolve in Europe; Delfin II and III on the Amazon; The Jahan on the Mekong; Oberoi Philae and Sun Goddess on the Nile)
Coming soon
All new ships- Evolve2027 · Danube Now sellingPer cruise line Preview
- Greg Mortimer (charter)2027 (Alaska) · Alaska Now sellingPer cruise line Preview
Where they sail
Learn these regions
Last full review: 6 Oct 2026·Last updated: 7 Oct 2026
A full review is when we re-check every fact on this page.
"Last updated" is the most recent check or change to any single fact.
Something wrong or missing?
"Per cruise line" = confirmed on the line's own site.
"Unofficial tip" = from an experienced travel professional; helpful, but not confirmed by the cruise line.