Is Lindblad Expeditions a good company to book an expedition cruise with?

No verdict of ours: the facts Lindblad Expeditions publishes on its own website, read 9 November 2026, topic by topic, each with a link to the page it came from.

Is Lindblad Expeditions a good company to book an expedition cruise with?

Lindblad Expeditions suits families and travellers who want National Geographic experts on board: it takes children from 6 months on most voyages, keeps a staff-to-guest ratio of no more than 1-to-16 and takes 15% of the cabin fare at reservation. It is not the fit if you want cash back for an early cancellation: it credits the advance payment to a future expedition instead.

What is Lindblad Expeditions?

Lindblad Expeditions sells and runs National Geographic-Lindblad expedition cruises under licence from National Geographic Partners, on ships it owns and on ships it operates on long-term charter; Sven Lindblad founded it in 1979. Source

Which ships does Lindblad Expeditions sail?

Lindblad Expeditions says it owns twelve National Geographic ships: Explorer, Orion, Endeavour II, Islander II, Gemini, Delfina, Sea Bird, Sea Lion, Venture, Quest, Resolution and Endurance. It also sails ships it operates on long-term charter, among them Greg Mortimer, Delfin II, Delfin III, Connect, Evolve, Sea Cloud II and Aqua Blu. Greg Mortimer is also sailed by Aurora Expeditions under its own name. Source

How many guests are on board?

Lindblad Expeditions carries 100 guests on National Geographic Venture; the chartered Connect takes 120 and the chartered riverboat Delfin III 42. Source

Where does Lindblad Expeditions sail?

Lindblad Expeditions sells named voyages to Antarctica and Patagonia, Antarctica by air across the Drake Passage, the Galápagos, Svalbard and the Norwegian fjords, Fiji and Tahiti and the Greek Isles; its terms also name Greenland, Iceland, Northwest Passage and South Georgia voyages; it says it sails on all seven continents. Source

What ice class are the ships?

Lindblad Expeditions says National Geographic Endurance is of the highest ice class (PC5 Category A); it calls National Geographic Resolution her sister ship without giving that ship's class. Source

Who leads the landings?

Lindblad Expeditions says its staff-to-guest ratio is no more than 1-to-16; the team includes naturalists, undersea specialists, certified photo instructors and historians; a National Geographic photographer sails on every Endurance, Resolution, Explorer and Orion departure. Source

What does the fare include?

Lindblad Expeditions' fares include meals, excursions, expedition staff, park fees and port taxes, plus alcoholic drinks, crew gratuities and basic Wi-Fi on listed ships; airfare is extra unless stated (it books flights for a $50 per-person fee), as are travel protection, spa, laundry and scuba diving. Source

What do solo travellers pay?

Lindblad Expeditions offers solo cabins on all expeditions, limited on some ships; solo guests willing to share pay the double-occupancy rate even if no roommate is found, on certain ships and categories; solo premiums start from 25% above current fares on a rotating selection of voyages or are waived on select departures. Source

How much is the deposit?

Lindblad Expeditions takes an advance payment of 15% of the cabin fare at reservation; final payment is due 120 days before departure. Source

What happens if you cancel?

Lindblad Expeditions charges no penalty 120 days or more before departure but keeps the advance payment as a Lindblad Travel Certificate valid 12 months; it charges 50% of trip cost from 119 to 90 days and 100% from 89 days; longer voyages, holiday departures and promotional bookings may differ. Source

Is your money protected?

Lindblad Expeditions says it gives a full refund to the original form of payment under the US Federal Maritime Commission passenger vessel financial responsibility rule (46 C.F.R. Part 540); it is registered California Seller of Travel #2151120 and Washington Seller of Travel #601134845 001 0001. Source

What insurance do you need?

Lindblad Expeditions recommends but does not require travel protection; its optional plan for US residents covers emergency evacuation and repatriation up to $100,000 and accident and sickness medical expense up to $50,000. Source

Can children come?

Lindblad Expeditions takes children from 6 months on most voyages and from 4 years on Antarctica, Northwest Passage and Canadian Arctic, Greenland, Iceland and Svalbard voyages; some chartered ships set their own age (7 on Delfin II and Delfin III); its National Geographic Explorers-in-Training programme runs on select voyages. Source

When is Lindblad Expeditions not the fit?

The limit below is published by Lindblad Expeditions on its own website.

• Lindblad Expeditions: not the fit if you want cash back for an early cancellation: cancelling 120 days or more ahead credits your advance payment to a future expedition rather than refunding it. Source

What do reviews say?

Its figures per platform, read 9 November 2026, each from a listing under the line's own name; a whole-company profile is marked. Figures are never added together.

• Lindblad Expeditions: Google: 4.6 out of 5 from 84 reviews; Trustpilot: 3.2 out of 5 from 6 reviews, newest 4 November 2026. Read 9 November 2026.

Lindblad Expeditions at a glance

Its card, as on every Uncompromised Travel expedition page: what it sells, why to choose it, what to ask for and the limits it publishes.

Which other lines sell the same voyages?

The lines that sell voyages to the same regions are compared on What are the best alternatives to Lindblad Expeditions in 2026?

Richard Jasinski · Uncompromised Travel · written from Valencia · first published 25 September 2026 · updated 11 November 2026