National Geographic Islander II

With the ship coming from the luxury cruise line Crystal, many of the gorgeous touches in suites have remained. Particularly spectacular are the expansive marble bathrooms with dual vanities and rainfall showers, stocked with local bath amenities. Suites also have two large picture windows, a free minibar stocked with beer and soft drinks, a carafe of ice water refilled on demand (plastic bottles are a non-starter onboard), and a Nespresso machine.

There’s also in-room WiFi (an hour per day is included in the cruise fare), flat screen televisions with pre-recorded and international programming (as well as a digital copy of the all-important daily expedition schedule to replace paper copies), and plush 600 thread-count linens.

It should be noted that suite doors cannot be locked from outside, so doors remain unlocked unless there’s a passenger inside. This is for safety reasons, and to minimize waste (key cards are easily lost on excursions in the environmentally sensitive Galápagos). Parents can request key cards for rooms occupied by their children for added security.

There are four solo suites which are identical to the 18 double occupancy suites. Their layouts are identical, but the solo suites are customarily reserved for solo travelers.

Although the ship is an all-suites ship, there are four larger suites available. These suites have a large sitting areas and large bathrooms with bathtubs in addition to the glassed-in rainfall shower. Each suite is named for an island in the Galápagos, and they’re decorated with artwork depicting the suite’s namesake island.

The ship is not accessible for passengers with limited mobility. There are no elevators onboard —only stairs—and from the moment passengers first step aboard to the last time they disembark, all boardings will be via zodiac in sometimes rough seas. Passengers with limited mobility are generally not accommodated.

For hiking excursions, Lindblad’s minimum requirements are that guests must be able to enter a zodiac, move .25 miles or more, carry their gear, follow verbal and non-verbal commands by expedition staff, all on their own or with the assistance of a companion.

cereals, juices, bread and pastries, hot items, and eggs or omelets cooked to order. Ecuadorian-salsas, empanadas, and cheese croquettes are also found here. Lunches are plated and cooked-to-order. There’s always a starter, main, and dessert with local, fresh ingredients, and Ecuadorian flavors and cooking techniques. There’s a choice of three mains: a meat, a fish, or a plant-based option, and plant-based alternatives are available for each course.

Dinners are taken in the plush Yacht Club Restaurant amidships, with a similar format to lunches, but with more generous portions and similarly sophisticated flavors and plating. Sustainability-conscious passengers can sign up for their main dish in advance to help the kitchen staff minimize food waste. There’s a buffet-style Ecuadorian barbecue night in the Patio Café once per voyage that many cruisers count as a highlight.

Snacks, beers, water, coffee, tea, soft drinks, and light snacks are stocked 24/7 in the Library and the Cove Lounge.

National Geographic Islander II has one bar—the Cove Lounge, just forward of the Yacht Club Restaurant. It opens in the afternoons and remains open until the last guest goes to bed, but closes during dinner when the bar staff shift their service to the Yacht Club. Beer, wine, and well spirits are complimentary in addition to soft drinks, water, coffee, tea, and juice. Premium wines and spirits are available for an additional charge. Bar staff are mixologists who can create cocktails with local botanicals that are often made onboard.

There is also a selection of mocktails available for non-drinkers. The bar staff also open a bar on the Sun Deck, Deck 5, for specific events like the sail-away wine and cheese tasting, and the farewell cocktail party.

The main source of entertainment on a Galápagos expedition is the twice-daily excursions, included in the expedition price. Depending on the local area and the conditions, excursions included naturalist-guided hikes, snorkeling, kayaking, glass-bottom kayaking, or beach days. Lindblad provides wetsuits and snorkel gear, and guests take inflatable zodiac motor launches to and from shore or snorkeling sites. When hikes are offered, there are generally long and short versions to accommodate travelers of different abilities. Snorkeling can also be offered in “beginner” and “expert” flavors.

A longstanding tradition on Lindblad Expeditions is the evening recap. Held nightly in the Cove Lounge, the onboard naturalists will recap the day’s expeditions and provide a rundown of the activities and times planned for the next day’s stop. If activities are offered that require sign-up, they’ll have sheets available. This all happens while the bar staff offer beverages and dining room staff pass hot and cold hors d’oeuvres.

The Cove is also the space for periodic lectures on Galápagos topics ranging from the history of Charles Darwin’s exploration of the islands, to tips on photographing wildlife. These lectures are typically offered after lunch, between the morning and afternoon excursions.

The ship carries a wellness expert who doubles as the spa attendant. Spa services like massages are offered at an additional cost, but the wellness expert also conducts free yoga and stretching sessions in the mornings—sometimes onboard, sometimes on shore. Afternoon sessions are also offered onshore in select locations.

There’s also a small swimming pool on the sun deck, and plenty of convivial seating, although the space is generally lightly used unless a scheduled activity is taking place. The bar area is marked by three hammocks, which are good for outdoor siestas in between expeditions. There’s a small co-ed sauna available near the pool, right next to the well-equipped fitness center, which has free weights (in kilos) a treadmill, stair climber, and adjustable tension weight machine. Guests can also find yoga mats here. The wellness expert can be consulted for advice on workouts or using equipment.