The National Geographic Islander is a versatile 164-foot twin-hulled vessel with 24 spacious cabins comfortably accommodating 48 guests. She is a sturdy expedition ship, designed for year-round discovery and active exploration of the Galapagos and can reach places inaccessible to larger ships due to its small size.

Accessibility means freedom. Our captains have decades of sailing experience in the regions we explore. They know when and where to navigate so that you feel the places we visit are all ours. Thanks to our sturdy fleet of Zodiacs and virtually untippable kayaks, you can be off the ship and out exploring within a moment’s notice.

During your time with us, our expedition staff likes nothing better than to surprise and delight you by directing the ship toward alluring coves or bow-riding dolphins. Our seasoned crew consists of expert Zodiac drivers and considerate service providers. Their energy, enthusiasm and local field expertise are sure to enhance your experience. This is what expedition travel is all about: not just seeing wildness, but being out there, in it.

Stylish public areas for relaxing and learning

Islander's classically nautical interiors offer comfortable spaces to take in the scenery and relax after an active, but exhilarating, day ashore. You'll quickly know your way around, with the ship feeling like a friendly boutique hotel. With ample deck space and public rooms, however, you can choose to withdraw to a cozy corner by yourself or join others for an engaging conversation and refreshing drink.

Bridge:

You may come to consider the bridge another public room, as guests are encouraged to visit our officers whenever safe navigation permits. Learn about navigation from our officers, and share their enthusiasm for the extraordinary wildlife of Galapagos.

Lounge:

The lounge and bar are the main social hub of the ship, and where all the briefings, photography talks and guest speaker presentations take place. With sweeping windows over the stern and a skylight above, the room offers ample natural light and dramatic views.

The lounge is also the scene of convivial cocktail hour where you'll share your photos or stories with fellow guests. You'll gather here nightly for the Lindblad-National Geographic tradition of Recap where naturalists share stories and answer questions about the day's events. A variety of beverages are available for purchase including beer, cocktails, spirits, and wines by the glass or bottle. Sodas and juices are complimentary.

The bar is typically open from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and from 5 p.m. until closing. The lounge also offers 24-hour beverage service, including coffee, a variety of teas, sodas, water, ice, and cookies. Board games and puzzles are also available.

Library:

Comfortable armchairs line a side of the Islander's cozy library, and a dramatic wall of windows overlooks the sea. A limited collection of books includes fiction, regional guides, and reference books on Galapagos wildlife.

Wellness:

An uplifting aspect of your expedition The pure wildness of Galapagos is naturally uplifting. Add to that a variety of spa treatments available aboard, and you'll find your expedition relaxing as well as revitalizing. Massages, body treatments, facials, and hand and foot treatments inspired by the natural beauty of Galapagos, are all available in the spa.

Once aboard, you'll have the opportunity to sign up for a treatment at reception, or you can simply ask your wellness specialist.

Fitness center:

Our small but well-equipped fitness center contains a stationary bicycle, a step machine, a treadmill, hand weights and yoga mats. The wellness specialist offers morning stretches outside on the sundeck.

Spa:

Our professional wellness specialist offers nature-inspired treatments between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Massages, body treatments, natural facial treatments, and hand and foot treatments are all available. They'll offer a rejuvenating recharge after a strenuous hike or kayak.

Global market:

A celebration of the talent of local artisans, the global market showcases and sells items made by the people of Galapagos and Ecuador. You may find hand-carved wooden chess sets and masks, jewelry crafted from recycled glass beads, woven sun hats and locally made bags, locally grown coffee and avocado oil, plus books by some of your naturalists. The items in the global market evolve as we meet and work with talented locals.

A cozy and inviting home away from home

National Geographic Islander accommodates 48 guests in 24 cabins, including two suites. All accommodations have a window, and the eight cabins at the top of the ship have private, glassed-in terraces for exceptional views of the passing islands. All cabins have two single beds that can combine to create double- or queen-sized beds. Your preference is taken at booking.

Decorated in a rich, nautical design with bright work and mahogany trim, Islander’s cabins are cozy and well-appointed. After a morning spent adventuring with sea lions or negotiating your way around hundreds of marine iguanas ashore, your meticulously made up cabin will be an inviting home away from home. Eight of Islander’s cabins (categories 4 and 5) feature the comfort and extravagance of private terraces with seating. Perfect for early morning sunrise contemplations or a personal, daytime retreat, these coveted cabins are guest favorites. Our two spacious suites (category 5) feature a wraparound view forward over the bow and off to the side of the ship.

Comfort & convenience, standard in every room

Every cabin offers Wi-Fi access, ample closet space, and has a small table and chair. They also feature individual climate control and private facilities. There is ample room under the bed for storing smaller pieces of luggage, and hair dryers are stored in every cabin. The small, but well laid out, bathrooms have botanically inspired hair products and shower gel. A limited number of cabins can accommodate a third person.

A public address system will keep you updated throughout the day on all activities and any unexpected wildlife sightings. You’ll also have the option of turning on, or off, the expedition leader’s channel through the public address system. If selected, you’ll be able to hear lectures in the lounge or any early morning wake-up calls in case of spectacular wildlife sightings.

Comfort & convenience in every cabin

Air-conditioning

The ship is air-conditioned throughout. Each cabin has its own air flow regulator, allowing you to control the temperature level in your cabin.

Basic amenities

Botanically-inspired shampoo, shower gel, and lotion are all available in cabin bathrooms, as well as an Expedition Essential Kit. Hair dryers and bathrobes are available in each cabin.

Cabin keys

We do not issue keys to the cabins on this vessel. Cabin doors may be locked from the inside. Each cabin has a desk with a locking drawer.

Electrical current

There are both 110-volt outlets and 220-volt outlets in each cabin. These are appropriate for laptops, battery chargers, digital cameras, video cameras, hair dryers, and most other uses. In addition, there is a 110-volt outlet in the bathroom for shavers only (the 110-volt is the typical American two-slot design). Most outlets in public spaces are 220-volt.

Luggage storage

Your cabin has been designed so that luggage can be stored under your bed. There is ample space to hang and store clothing in your cabin. Due to space limitations, we cannot store your luggage in other areas on board the ship.

Smoking

Smoking is allowed only in designated outdoor areas. Smoking is not permitted in any interior space including guest cabins.

Wireless Internet

Your cabin offers Wi-Fi access. Connecting to the satellite Internet costs between $.40 and $.75 per minute, based on how many minutes you purchase.

Great food, welcoming spaces, health and harmony

You'll find that time aboard is relaxing and enlightening - the perfect respite between activities ashore. You'll stroll beaches, hike among abundant wildlife, kayak, and explore the undersea all from your floating basecamp and then return for insightful presentations, fine dining, and warm hospitality.

Dining

National Geographic Islander's elegant dining room wraps around the stern with large windows and accommodates the entire expedition community in a single seating. You are free to dine with whom you like and independent travelers will find a warm welcome on board. Dress is always casual and the general ambiance is relaxed and informal.

Every meal is a delight and often a discovery - a window, so to speak, on the region you're exploring. All food served aboard is fresh, local, and delicious; sourced from suppliers that share our values of sustainability whenever possible, and often inflected with regional flavors.

Breakfast is served buffet-style, with eggs and other dishes made to order. Enjoy freshly-baked pastries, and a bounty of fresh, tropical fruits and fresh-squeezed fruit juices. An early riser continental breakfast is also served each morning, and on warm tropical mornings, is often served on Islander's covered outdoor deck. Lunch is most often buffet, though occasionally served family style, and there is often an option of a light lunch served on deck. Dinners are plated and served in the dining room, except for the evening when an extravagant barbecue is held on Islander's open deck. Whether a meal is buffet-style or served, our gracious waitstaff is ever-present to attend to your every need.

During lunch and dinner your expedition leader, naturalists, and any guest speakers will join you for meals, and during breakfast they often sit together to plan the logistics of the exciting day ahead.

Public Areas:

Ship is fully air-conditioned. Covered deck with hammocks, chairs and tables; Doctor's Office; Fitness Center; Global Market; LEXspa; Library; Lounge with full-service bar and facilities for films, slide shows and presentations; and Sky Deck. Our Ecuadorian Captain and Officers welcome guests to the Bridge in accordance with our "Open Bridge" policy.

Meals:

Served in single seating with unassigned tables for an informal atmosphere and easy mingling. Menu is international with an Ecuadorian flair.

Expedition Equipment:

Hydrophone, kayaks, snorkeling gear, Splash-Cam, underwater video camera, video microscope, wet suits, and Zodiac landing craft.

Special Features:

Guest internet access, laundry service, LEXmarket, and Wellness Program. A ship's doctor, Undersea Specialist, and Video Chronicler are also onboard.

Discover and learn more with our suite of modern tools for exploration

National Geographic Islander is outfitted with cool tools for exploration that enable a deeper connection with the pure wildness of Galapagos.

Zodiacs

Key to our operation is our fleet of four Zodiacs, which we use to land on remote islands that would otherwise be inaccessible. With several of these boats used every time we disembark, we're able to transfer everyone off the ship quickly, so you can be out on adventures, not idly waiting. These sturdy inflatable craft are the same time-tested brand Jacques Cousteau used in his expeditions for over 30 years. They are widely recognized as the safest and most versatile small boats. The Zodiacs we use are 19 feet long, powered by four-stroke outboard engines, and are capable of carrying 12 to 14 people with ease.

Kayaks

A fleet of three single-person and five two-person kayaks allows you to paddle along scenic shores and explore water-level caves where Galapagos fur seals rest. Our naturalists will help novices with technique and prior kayaking experience is not necessary; many of our guests enjoy their first kayaking experience ever with inquisitive sea lions splashing nearby! Advanced kayakers will have the opportunity to explore further afield.

Underwater camera

Your undersea specialist will shoot video at snorkeling sights to share during Recap in Islander's lounge. This high-definition, Cousteau-like footage of colorful fish and curious marine life will help you better understand and appreciate the marine environment.

Video microscope

See the tiny flora and fauna that lives in the rich waters surrounding Galapagos and learn, in great detail, the difference between organic and in-organic sand on the islands. You'll be able to view this fascinating microscopic life on the high-definition screens in the lounge as your naturalist explains it.

Open bridge

You'll find our captains are engaged, knowledgeable members of your expedition who are eager to share their passion with you. Islander's bridge is open whenever safe navigation permits, and our Ecuadorian officers are pleased to share their career at sea and their enthusiasm for the Galapagos with you.

Snorkeling gear & wetsuits

On the first day of your expedition you'll be fitted with a mask, snorkel, fins, and wetsuit. These are yours to use for the duration of the expedition - so there's no need to pack and tote your own gear. The 3mm shorty wetsuits allow you to stay in the cool waters of Galapagos longer, and protect your skin from the equatorial sun. Guests who own masks with prescription lenses, or prefer to use thicker, full-length wetsuits, are welcome to bring their own gear.

Scuba diving

Scuba diving is available on select voyages at an additional cost. We'll arrange for a rendezvous with a local dive outfitter that will supply both gear and dive guides.