Transform your family vacation into a hands-on learning journey with Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic. This article reveals how the Global Explorers Program sparks curiosity in kids and teens (ages 18 and under) through activities like Zodiac driving lessons, plankton observation, and wildlife photography. Discover how certified field educators turn destinations like Galápagos and Alaska into dynamic classrooms, fostering a lifelong love for exploration and conservation.
Discover Together: Unforgettable Small-Ship Expeditions
Something truly magical unfolds when you introduce a child to the wonders of the world. You can almost see their minds opening and new passions taking hold. Aboard the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic fleet, each day is brimming with exciting discoveries that spark curiosity and conversation. We meticulously handle every detail, ensuring you are free to appreciate these incredible moments and forge indelible memories with your family.
Immersive Exploration for Every Generation
Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic offers unforgettable family travel experiences designed for all ages, combining comfort with unparalleled opportunities for discovery.
Ships Built for Exploration and Comfort
The ships in the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic fleet serve as the perfect home base for families, featuring comfortable cabins and an informal ambiance. Small and nimble, each vessel is designed to navigate secluded coves, narrow fjords, and sheltered lagoons, allowing your family to reach remote shorelines and explore wild places together. The ships are well-equipped with a fleet of Zodiacs and kayaks, some also carrying snorkeling gear, paddleboards, and even a glass-bottomed boat, providing diverse tools to inspire exploration.
Suite Exclusives
For an elevated experience, the National Geographic Explorer debuted newly enhanced suites, each featuring its own “Command Center.” This in-cabin hub invites guests to explore from the comfort of their room with tools like a barometer and a National Geographic Atlas. Guests booking suites on any expedition ship also receive an exclusive amenities package, which includes an in-room espresso maker, priority booking for spa treatments and igloo stays (on select vessels), and complimentary laundry services.
Expeditions-National Geographic: A Team That Makes Learning Fun
Your expedition team is composed of dynamic experts eager to share their knowledge and passion for the natural world. This includes naturalists who interpret humpback whale behavior, undersea specialists who share images from beneath the water’s surface, and cultural historians who explain local customs and traditions. On voyages featuring the National Geographic Global Explorers program, naturalists specially trained as certified field educators join the team to lead enriching activities specifically for kids and teens.
Take Great Photos With the Pros
Each voyage includes a Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic certified photo instructor (CPI) who assists travelers of all ages with everything from camera settings to composition. Guests can learn alongside top photographers, master tricks of the trade, and return home with stunning photos. On select ships, travelers also have access to a complimentary OM System Photo Gear Locker, stocked with lenses, camera bodies, and other equipment to test in the field.
Our Exclusive National Geographic Global Explorers Program
One of the most rewarding sights on an expedition is witnessing the gleam of discovery in a child’s eyes. Whether they are walking among giant tortoises, gazing at the sculpted grooves of an iceberg, or watching a whale at water level during a Zodiac cruise, these moments are especially meaningful when complemented by the learning opportunities of our National Geographic Global Explorers program. This program is offered in naturally fun and fascinating places, including Alaska, Baja California, Galápagos, and on our Journey to Antarctica: The White Continent expedition.
Developed in conjunction with National Geographic Education, this hands-on, interactive program teaches kids and teens 18 and under how to explore like scientists and tell the stories of their surroundings. Your global explorers are led by National Geographic certified field educators who are experts at using the wild as a natural classroom.
Kids will hone their observation skills and learn to capture and share their experiences through photographs, videos, drawings, and more. With a range of activities, such as examining plankton under the ship’s microscope, making ice cream sundae glaciers, or earning a Zodiac “driver’s license,” this flexible program encourages young travelers to explore their own interests, whether it’s marine biology, geology, or photography.
National Geographic Global Explorer Program Highlights
The program offers a variety of engaging activities designed to foster curiosity and a love for exploration:
Wildlife Watching
Hop into a Zodiac, zip along the shore, and then hike in search of wildlife and fascinating plant life. Snap photos with your smartphone and jot notes in your official National Geographic Global Explorers Field Notebook.
Microscopic Exploration
Drop a net over the side of your Zodiac to collect plankton, then examine it under a video microscope to see how it looks and moves, revealing the hidden world beneath the waves.
Video Shoots
Meet your certified photo instructor in the lounge to get tips on creating impressive slow-motion and timelapse videos, then test out those new skills in the field, capturing your expedition memories.
License to Explore
Learn to operate a Zodiac and earn your “driver’s license.” (This exciting opportunity is exclusively for kids.)
Check Your List
Meet up in the lounge to review all the wildlife you saw and mark it down in your field notebook. Be sure to include creatures big and small—from a humpback whale in Alaska to tiny krill in Antarctica. Add the day’s points to your tally to track your progress toward becoming a certified National Geographic Global Explorer.
New Friends and Fun Adventures
Meet up with new friends for fun activities led by your Certified Field Educator. Depending on the day, it might be a pizza dinner, fun games in the lounge, a special National Geographic Global Explorers hike, or other surprises.
Night Sky
Head to the top deck to watch the stars emerge as the sun sets. Discover new constellations with the help of your naturalists and make notes of them, connecting with the vastness of the universe.
What to Expect: Expedition Cruising for Families
Expedition cruising is an excellent fit for families, whether you are parents traveling with grade-schoolers or grandparents bringing along the whole brood for a college graduation celebration. With activities that combine learning and fun, and a team of dynamic experts leading the way, each day is full of discoveries that awaken new passions, no matter your age.
Why are expedition cruises ideal for kids and families?
They offer an exhilarating combination of exploration and education, with each day full of hands-on learning both on board and on shore. The ship provides a casual and comfortable home base where your family can share the thrill of discovery and make lifelong friendships with other families who are enthusiastic about exploring.
What age groups would enjoy expedition cruising?
There is something for everyone, from the second grader fascinated by ship navigation to the teenager who loves the freedom of kayaking, to the grandparent who never misses a naturalist talk. Your family creates memories together, yet every generation can enjoy the experience in their own way.
Which destinations and seasons are best for families?
It depends on your family’s interests! Are you seeking glaciers or desert islands? Penguins or polar bears? Every voyage offers daily opportunities for hands-on exploration, and in certain destinations, kids can also take part in the National Geographic Global Explorers program. Families are welcome year-round, but there are more on board during school breaks and summertime.
What types of activities can children participate in?
Children can participate in any of our expert-led excursions, from snorkeling with sea turtles to zip-lining through a rainforest canopy. In the National Geographic Global Explorers program, they might collect specimens to view under a microscope or learn to identify wildlife on a naturalist-led hike.
Are there accommodation options for families?
Families often reserve adjacent rooms, and several of our ships have adjoining rooms that can be converted into a family suite, providing comfort and convenience.
What can kids do on the ship?
Kids love downtime on board: they are free to roam and explore their interests, but are never far from family. They can examine footage of sea creatures with an undersea specialist or visit the open bridge to see the captain demonstrate how navigation instruments work. They might read a book in the lounge or play a board game with new friends. They have just enough independence and plenty of ways to stay entertained under the care of our crew.
How far ahead of time should you book an expedition cruise for your family?
We recommend booking as far out as possible to ensure you have the flexibility to reserve the cabins and dates that best suit your family’s needs.
“As soon as my family dove in, we were surrounded by playful sea lions who were equally as captivated by us as we were by them. Some of the young pups tried to replicate our every move. Others floated and stared at us, as if they were mesmerized.”
Seamless Exploration: Stress-Free Family Travel
Lindblad Expeditions handles all the details of your trip for a seamless, stress-free experience. We assist with booking flights and transfers, ensure timely arrivals, and arrange land accommodations for before or after your expedition if you wish to arrive early or linger longer.
Once on board, you will find a comfortable home at sea. Unpack once and you are free to immerse yourself in the experience. You will enjoy choice and flexibility for the whole family, with multiple daily options to ensure multi-generational fun. Each day’s activities are published the prior evening, so the only decisions your family has to make are whether to go kayaking or hiking. As long as your young ones have an adult in tow, you can even split up so that everyone gets to do what interests them most.
Meals are informal and easy, with generous breakfast and lunch that will tempt even the pickiest palates, and dinner menus that suit a range of tastes. Our chefs draw on ingredients and cuisine from the ports we visit, giving your crew the chance to sample new flavors and local dishes. With snacks and beverages available on board, cravings can always be satisfied.
National Geographic Certified Field Educators: Handing Down Natural Knowledge
Wild places like Alaska and the Galápagos offer infinite learnings for young travelers who are nurturing new relationships with the natural world. The certified field educators leading the National Geographic Global Explorers program are experts at interpreting the fascinating stories of species and their habitats. Their goal is for kids and teens to return home inspired by the planet and primed to protect it. These mentors share what drives them to lead the next generation of explorers.
Tim Martin, Naturalist, Alaska
“You only get one opportunity to see a grizzly bear for the first time. After that first experience, the next best thing is to share in that moment with others. Fostering an explorer’s mindset with youth is an experience that is always rewarding.
We only protect what we care about. We only care about what we know. We only truly know about things we have experienced. My hope is that the experiences I share with young explorers on expeditions inspire them to care about these wild places and that they will become ambassadors to help protect and preserve them for future generations.”
Ramiro Adrian, Naturalist, Galápagos
“Kids and teens have the opportunity to create new ways of interacting with the world around us, and in the National Geographic Global Explorers program, we foster this by helping young travelers change their relationships with wild places. When we go snorkeling with underwater creatures or hiking to see species in their natural environments, kids are inspired to ask questions and connect ideas, and we as field educators share in this learning process. It is amazing to find answers to the kids’ questions in observable, real-world moments.”
Kimberly Baldwin, Naturalist, Alaska
“I deeply believe that fostering positive interactions between youth and nature is the way to motivate future citizens in awareness and passion for stewardship. The youth love the activities in the National Geographic Global Explorers program. They will always remember some of the big excursions, like driving the Zodiacs. Sometimes, a young explorer writes in their journal about a simple moment she and I shared just looking closely at a captured crab or flower. You never know what they will find profound in their experience.”
Small Tracks, Big Impacts: How One Young Explorer is Helping Galápagos
National Geographic Global Explorers program alumna Sophie came to the Galápagos at the age of seven to pursue her passion for wildlife. During a voyage brimming with incredible animal sightings, one particular encounter left a lasting impression—and inspired the young explorer to take action from her home halfway across the world.
Sophie Meets George
When Sophie and her family boarded National Geographic Endeavour II for a 10-day adventure in the legendary wilds of Galápagos, they never imagined that the most impactful moment of their journey would happen inside the walls of the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS). Sophie recounts, “When I saw the preserved ‘Lonesome George,’ I was very sad! He was the last giant tortoise from Pinta Island. I could not believe that all the Pinta giant tortoises are now extinct because of humans.”
“When I saw the preserved ‘Lonesome George,’ I was very sad! He was the last giant tortoise from Pinta Island. I could not believe that all the Pinta giant tortoises are now extinct because of humans.”
An Advocate for Animals
Sophie returned home to Switzerland prepared to make positive changes for the planet. She started with small fundraising initiatives—organizing a garage sale and asking for donations instead of presents for her birthday. In that first wave, she succeeded in raising $500.
Two years later, Sophie received the exciting news that she would return to Galápagos, so she stepped up her fundraising efforts for CDRS. She created a GoFundMe page, and by the time she left for Ecuador, Sophie had collected a total of $2,650.
A Very Special Delivery
When the team at CDRS heard about Sophie’s accomplishment, they invited her to deliver her donation in person and get a behind-the-scenes look at their work. Sophie was also presented with a certificate of donation and learned that her contributions would help tag and monitor Galápagos penguins and assess the health of giant tortoises.
Sophie is more determined than ever to help conserve this fragile environment. She asked her mom to start a nonprofit association—together they launched Tunememi Conservancy to help raise awareness for species preservation. Sophie wants to continue doing her own fundraising for the Charles Darwin Foundation and dreams of one day becoming a scientist.
Destinations Featuring Global Explorers Program
The National Geographic Global Explorers program is available on select voyages to some of the world’s most captivating regions, offering unparalleled educational adventures for families.
The Polar Regions: Antarctica & Arctic
Journey to the top or bottom of the world and discover icy waters populated by polar bears or penguins. Spot all kinds of whales, sail past icebergs that tower over our ship, and take on the challenge of a polar plunge.
- Journey To Antarctica: The White Continent
14 DAYS | FROM $15,840/PP
Come for the penguins, fall in love with the ice.
- A Circumnavigation of Iceland
10 DAYS | FROM $16,790/PP
Experience a wild land of geological extremes.
- Land of the Ice Bears: An In-Depth Exploration of Arctic Svalbard
10 DAYS | FROM $12,850/PP
One of the planet’s best places to spot polar bears.
- Wild Greenland Escape
6 DAYS | FROM $8,890/PP
A unique getaway among epic ice and Inuit culture.
North America: Alaska & Baja California
Get immersed in nature’s epic beauty in Alaska, where you can paddle into fjords, ride a Zodiac to the foot of a glacier, learn about the music and art of an ancient culture, and watch humpbacks bubble-net feeding. In Baja California, discover rich waters where gray whales come to breed each year. Hike desert islands dotted with barrel cactuses and kayak into secret coves; then head out by Zodiac to encounter whales, dolphins, and other marine life.
Alaska Expeditions:
- Exploring Alaska’s Coastal Wilderness
8 DAYS | FROM $7,560/PP
Sail into the wildest corners of the Inside Passage.
- Wild Alaska Escape: Haines, the Inian Islands & Tracy Arm Fjord
6 DAYS | FROM $4,800/PP
Hike, kayak, and raft along rugged, wildlife-rich coastlines.
- Wild Alaska Escape: LeConte Bay, Wrangell, and the Misty Fjords
6 DAYS | FROM $4,800/PP
Explore Alaska’s wildness and culture.
- The Glaciers of Prince William Sound
6 DAYS | FROM $4,950/PP
Venture to the isolated, glacier-ringed Prince William Sound.
Baja California Expeditions:
- Baja California: Among the Great Whales
8 DAYS | FROM $6,930/PP
Witness a remarkable spectacle of marine life.
- Wild Baja California Escape: The Whales of Magdalena Bay
6 DAYS | FROM $4,040/PP
Discover the magic of days spent among whales.
- Baja California Holiday Voyage: A Living Sea & Desert Isles
8 DAYS | FROM $7,240/PP
Discover whales, wildness, and wonder in a living sea.
South America: Galápagos & the Amazon
Venture to Galápagos for close encounters with incredible creatures like giant tortoises, sea lions, and blue-footed boobies. Or journey by riverboat through the Amazon, the world’s most biodiverse rainforest, and visit communities along the riverbank.
- Galápagos aboard National Geographic Endeavour II
10 DAYS | FROM $7,940/PP
Encounter legendary wildlife across land and sea.
- Wild Galápagos Escape (7- and 8-Day)
7 DAYS | FROM $6,795/PP
Sail aboard the new National Geographic Islander II departing Tuesdays, or enjoy our 8-day expedition departing Thursdays and Saturdays.
- Upper Amazon aboard Delfin II
10 DAYS | FROM $7,930/PP
Sail in style through the world’s most biodiverse rainforest.
Central America: Costa Rica, Guatemala & Belize
The tropics of Central America are home to smoldering volcanoes, colorful reefs, and the mysterious temples of lost civilizations. Go adventuring in Costa Rica, Guatemala, or Belize and explore these treasures by zip line, Zodiac, and more.
- Costa Rica & the Panama Canal
8 DAYS | FROM $6,820/PP
Transit the engineering marvel of the Panama Canal.
- Wild Costa Rica Escape: Exploring Guanacaste’s Natural Wonders
6 DAYS | FROM $4,190/PP
Venture to seldom-seen shores along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.
- Wild Belize Escape: Wildlife, Reefs, and Rivers
6 DAYS | FROM $4,460/PP
Explore the world’s second largest barrier reef.
Europe: British Isles & the Mediterranean
Gain new perspectives on timeless Europe, navigating ancient trade routes and exploring the continent’s most secluded corners. Sail to the front doors of grand medieval cities and quaint fishing harbors, approaching them in a time-honored way, and connect with cultures that shaped these celebrated places.
- Ancient Isles: England, Ireland, and Scotland
12 DAYS | FROM $11,887/PP
Encounter wild coastlines steeped in stone age history.
- Egypt, the Greek Isles, and the Suez Canal: Sailing Through Antiquity
12 DAYS | FROM $10,260/PP
Two of the world’s greatest civilizations unite in one compelling journey.
Inclusive Pricing & Special Offers
Lindblad Expeditions ensures a comprehensive and stress-free experience with inclusive pricing and various special offers.
Inclusive Pricing Details:
- Excursions, hotels, and airport transfers, as indicated in the itinerary.
- All meals as indicated in the itinerary, both aboard and on shore. Meals are inspired by regional cuisine and locally sourced where possible.
- Hors d’oeuvres inspired by regional cuisine and locally sourced where possible.
- 24-hour access to snacks, premium coffees and teas, non-alcoholic beverages, and filtered water where possible.
- Selection of exploration tools curated to your destination, such as Zodiacs and glass-bottom boats, stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, snorkeling equipment (including wetsuits, masks, and fins), and other state-of-the-art gear.
- Guidance and company of our leading expedition staff.
- Presentations on your destination by expedition staff and expert guest speakers.
- The services of a physician, physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner, or paramedic where available.
- Morning stretch classes and 24-hour access to exercise equipment where available.
- 24-hour access to lounges, observation decks, library stocked with regionally relevant literature, and other shared spaces.
- Complimentary Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic parka or jacket on select Arctic and Antarctic voyages.
- Complimentary reusable water bottle to fill at onboard water refill stations.
- Park and site entrance fees, special access permits, and port taxes.
About the Author: Lia Vincent
Lia Vincent is the Owner for Vincent Vacations and Travel Agent Pro, and serves as the official Signature Travel Network Liaison. With extensive experience in the luxury travel sector, Lia specializes in pairing discerning travelers with premium expedition and ocean cruise lines, including Seabourn, Silversea, and the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.