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An Epic Galápagos Cruise on the National Geographic Endeavour II [In-depth Review]

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Table of Contents

An epic galápagos cruise, national geographic endeavour ii review, final thoughts.

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A Galápagos cruise has been on the top of my bucket list for years. I knew when I was able to finally make it happen that I wanted to book it with Lindblad/National Geographic Expeditions (those beautiful, glossy catalogs that they have been sending me for years worked, I guess).

In this post, I will take you on a tour of the ship I sailed on, the National Geographic Endeavour II, and tell you a bit about what I did on this trip. This was my first experience on such a small ship, so it was all new to me (I’ve only cruised on traditional large ships before).

If you’ve had your eye on a Galápagos cruise, I hope this post will give you an idea of what you can expect.

There are a couple of different Galápagos cruise itineraries offered by Lindblad/National Geographic. I booked the 10-day/9-night Galápagos cruise on the National Geographic Endeavour II .

I wish I could tell you that I redeemed points at an amazing 6 cents each in value, but I can’t. I booked this trip the old-fashioned way — with cash a credit card.

Unfortunately, the partnership between Lindblad and Hyatt ended on December 31, 2023, so it’s no longer possible to earn 4x points by paying for Lindblad trips with Hyatt credit cards.

Lindblad now has a partnership with World of Hyatt , but I booked this trip before that partnership was announced and wasn’t able to take advantage of any of the benefits (which bummed me out). I paid the initial deposit on my  Chase Sapphire Reserve ® to earn 3x Ultimate Rewards points. However, I was still able to earn a lot of World of Hyatt points in the process because I paid for the majority of the trip after the partnership was announced.

I paid for the balance of the trip using both of my World of Hyatt credit cards — The World of Hyatt Credit Card and the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card . I was even able to use the charges to help me hit the minimum spending requirement for the welcome bonus on the World of Hyatt Business card.

The good news is that Lindblad/National Geographic trips code as Hyatt purchases and therefore earn 4 points per $1 when you use either World of Hyatt credit card . This is separate from the 5 points per dollar you can earn booking through World of Hyatt , and you can earn the credit card points even if you don’t book through World of Hyatt.

Here’s a breakdown of what I spent:

Additionally, I earned a 75,000-point welcome bonus on the World of Hyatt Business card and these charges triggered the 2 $50 Hyatt credits on that card, as well.

So, in total, I was able to earn 129,856 World of Hyatt points and 4,500 Ultimate Rewards points from this trip!

Bottom Line: Lindblad/National Geographic Expeditions offers an incredible collection of bucket-list-worthy cruises and land excursions.

Why Book a Cruise?

There were a lot of reasons I booked a cruise to the Galápagos Islands instead of staying in hotels on land. The first reason is that Galápagos is an area where you’ll want to see lots of different locations, many of which are small, uninhabited islands, and a cruise is the best way to access those.

Also, most of these locations require visitors to be with a naturalist at all times , so these aren’t places you can just visit on your own. Plus, a cruise gives you easy access to all of the water activities you’ll want to try, such as snorkeling and kayaking.

Bottom Line: A small ship cruise is a great way to visit the Galápagos Islands because it gives you the best access to all of the places you’ll want to see and takes care of all of the regulations, like the required naturalists, so you can just enjoy your trip.

Getting to Ecuador

The Galápagos Islands are a part of Ecuador, so I flew from Columbus, Ohio (CMH) to Guayaquil, Ecuador (GYE), with a stop in Miami (MIA) as the first leg of this trip.

We stayed overnight at Hotel Oro Verde and had a day to explore Guayaquil. We flew in a day early because we didn’t want to get in late at night (the flight from Miami didn’t land until 10 p.m.) and then have to get on the ship the next day.

We stayed at Hotel Oro Verde for 2 nights before the cruise and 1 night after the cruise, and it was all arranged by Lindblad.

Lindblad/National Geographic required all passengers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and to provide a negative COVID-19 test result 3 to 5 days before the trip . We also had to take another test upon arrival in Ecuador.

Hot Tip: If you find yourself at Guayaquil José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport (GYE), be sure to check out the VIP Aeropuertos Club lounge.

Getting to the National Geographic Endeavour II

The next day, we flew on Avianca from Guayaquil to San Cristóbal Island (SCY) to board the National Geographic Endeavour II. After a short bus ride, we arrived at a small dock and hopped on a zodiac to get to the ship. It was there that I first saw what I discovered was a common sight in the Galápagos Islands — sea lions everywhere !

My Galápagos cruise visited many different islands and points of interest:

• Day 1: San Cristóbal Island
• Day 2: Española Island/Gardner Bay/Punta Suárez
• Day 3: Floreana Island
• Day 4: Santa Cruz Island
• Day 5: Dragon Hill/Guy Fawkes/Daphne Major
• Day 6: San Salvador Island/Bartolomé/Sombrero Chino
• Day 7: Genovesa Island
• Day 8: Baltra Island

Each day, we would usually stop in 2 different locations — 1 in the morning and 1 in the afternoon. There would be a variety of included activities available, ranging from hiking and snorkeling to photography tours and glass-bottom boat rides .

I sailed through the Galápagos Islands aboard the National Geographic Endeavour II . The ship carries 96 passengers in 52 cabins . It has 4 categories of cabins along with 3 categories of suites. Select rooms can accommodate solo travelers or groups of 3.

There are only 52 cabins on 3 deck levels on the National Geographic Endeavour II. I booked a Category 1 cabin — the least expensive option. There are only 2 examples of this cabin level on the ship — rooms 201 (mine) and 202.

The room itself was just a hair smaller than those in other room categories (excluding suites) and was more than sufficient for my husband and me. But there was a problem, and it was a big one, in my opinion. My room was located right above the anchor, and it was incredibly loud when it was raised or lowered.

Unfortunately, this happened most nights in the middle of the night as well as during the day on occasion. It sounded as though someone was in my room hitting a large metal pipe with a shovel — it was crazy loud! I was really surprised that this wasn’t disclosed at the time of booking, and I think it should have been.

My mom’s room was next to ours (a Category 2 solo room), and she was bothered by the noise every night as well.

I understand I booked the least expensive room, but it was by no means cheap, so this isn’t something that I would expect based on how much the room cost.

Bottom Line: There are only 52 cabins, including 4 suites, accommodating up to 96 passengers on the National Geographic Endeavour II. If you book a Category 1 or some Category 2 rooms, prepare to be woken up every night by the very loud anchor.

Category 1: Room 201

My room was small, but it was fine for my husband and me. This wasn’t the kind of trip where you spend a lot of time in your room, so we didn’t need more space.

There was a comfortable king-sized bed with a large window behind it that let in a lot of light. There were small bedside tables and lamps on either side of the bed.

There were plenty of plugs available by the bedside lights and within the headboard of the bed.

Opposite the bed was a small desk and chair. The desk had a drawer with a lock where you could store any valuables. There was also a pitcher that was filled with cold water each day by the housekeeping staff .

Next to the desk was a closet with 4 small drawers and space for hanging clothes. There was a laundry bag in the closet, as well as an extra blanket and 2 robes.

The entryway had hooks for hanging your life jacket and other essentials.

There was a cute do not disturb sign in case you didn’t want housekeeping services.

The bathroom was small but functional — which is all I expect on a cruise.

There was a toilet and sink with a few small shelves by the mirror.

The shower always had plenty of hot water and good pressure, which was a nice treat after adventuring every day.

There was shampoo, conditioner, and body wash available in large containers in the shower.

Unlocked Rooms

The cabins on the ship only locked from the inside.  Any time you left your cabin it would remain unlocked, so you never needed a key to enter. I found it strange the first time it was mentioned but it ended up being great. It was a small and intimate ship so I never had any worry that something would be stolen from my room.

The rooms could be locked from the inside so that you didn’t have to sleep or shower in an unlocked room.

The 3-Person Cabin

There were a few rooms on the ship that could accommodate a third person. My mother-in-law, father-in-law, and sister-in-law shared a room, so I was able to get a photo. It was definitely tight with the third bed, which folded out from the wall, but it was less expensive than having the additional person in a separate room.

Bottom Line: My cabin, 201, was small but functional. It had a comfortable king-sized bed with a large window, a desk, a closet, and a private bathroom.

There was hand sanitizer and filtered water available in the ship’s hallways. High-touch areas, such as railings, were cleaned multiple times a day.

Dining Room

There’s 1 dining room on the National Geographic Endeavour II. We had every meal there except 1 during our expedition.

Overall the food was great , and it exceeded my expectations. I had gone in assuming that since this was an activity-focused expedition, food may be an afterthought. It absolutely wasn’t. I appreciated that most of what was served had an Ecuadorian or South American flair and wasn’t “Americanized.” The one exception was a BBQ-themed dinner with ribs and hamburgers which ended up being my least favorite meal of the entire trip.

Breakfast Buffet

Breakfast was served buffet-style each morning, but coffee, tea, and fresh juice were served at the table. Pastries were available before breakfast in the lounge for early risers.

Each morning, there was a selection of cold items, such as cereal, yogurt, and fruit.

There was a featured fruit of the day in addition to common fruits that were served every day. These featured fruits were usually relatively obscure or tropical fruits that we don’t see often in the U.S., such as tree tomato, soursop, and dragonfruit.

There was also a hot buffet with typical breakfast fare, such as eggs, pancakes, and hash browns, as well as rotating items that included Ecuadorian dishes.

There was also an omelet station. After a day or 2 on the ship, the waitstaff seemed to know everyone’s names and where you were sitting in the dining room, so you could order your omelet and the staff would bring it to your table.

Bottom Line: Breakfast was served buffet-style each morning on the ship. There were also pastries available in the lounge before breakfast.

Lunch and Dinner

Lunch and dinner were served as sit-down meals each day. Each had a choice between 3 entrees — a meat option, a fish option, or a vegetarian option.

There was usually a soup or specialty salad each day in addition to the option of a green salad or Caesar salad.

Each meal concluded with dessert and/or a choice of ice cream. We had the same waiter for each meal and he got so used to the way my husband ordered his ice cream he ended up bringing it without even asking by the end of the trip.

The lounge was an important part of the ship because that’s where we met each evening for the day’s recap. It was bright and cozy, with plenty of seating and lots of windows .

There were also different lectures and seminars held in the lounge throughout the week.

There was a coffee machine that made regular coffee as well as specialty coffees, such as cappuccinos and mochaccinos, that was available at all times. There was also an ice machine and a selection of teas.

Plus, there were snacks available throughout the day — the locally-made plantain chips were my favorite.

There was a different fresh juice and flavored water available daily.

In addition, there was a mini fridge with sodas and local beers.

The bar was open during the evening recaps, and most drinks, except for some high-end liquors, were included.

Top-shelf liquor brands could be ordered for an additional charge.

Appetizers were served each evening during the recap and before dinner. There were different options each night, ranging from Caprese salad bites to mini pasta bowls to sushi.

There was also a specialty cocktail served each evening. The Santa Cruz was my favorite. I’m not a big drinker, so I ordered mine without rum, and it was very tasty.

The ship’s library is on Deck 4, and I found it to be a great place to sit and relax. It has lots of seating and floor-to-ceiling windows, making it easy to take in the stunning vistas around you.

Coffee and tea were available at any time in the library, just as they were in the lounge.

Plus, there was a computer station available for use.

Global Gallery (Gift Shop)

Next to the library is the Global Gallery, the ship’s gift shop. It was open each day after breakfast, after lunch, and before dinner.

It sold a variety of items made by local artists, along with a few toiletry essentials and Lindblad/National Geographic-branded expedition clothing.

There is a gym onboard the National Geographic Endeavour II, but I honestly don’t know how anyone could find the time to use it! It has large windows and fantastic views, but the trip was so packed with activities I can imagine it only got used by die-hard gym rats.

I’ll admit, I never stepped foot inside the gym except to take this photo!

There were 2 treadmills, 2 bikes, and an elliptical machine, along with some accessories, such as balance balls, yoga mats, and free weights.

Each morning, the ship’s wellness expert hosted a stretch class on the deck. I wanted to try it out but the times were just too early for me!

Guests could book massages with the ship’s wellness expert/masseuse in the spa room. I wanted to get a massage, but I didn’t want to miss out on any activities, so I skipped it. My mom got a massage, and she said it was excellent.

Massages are not included in the cost of the cruise .

Observation Deck

The top deck was open for guests to enjoy anytime. There were a few chairs set up, but I didn’t use them much because the shade was minimal.

There were also racks set up if you needed to dry off any clothing.

One evening before dinner there was a wine tasting event on the top deck that took place as the ship was circumnavigating Daphne Major Islet .

There were plenty of activities during my cruise through the Galápagos Islands, and everything was included in the cruise price .

The ship was well-equipped with kayaks, paddleboards, zodiacs, snorkeling equipment, wetsuits, walking sticks, and even a glass-bottom boat .

I snorkeled with sea lions, took hikes along rugged ocean cliffs, kayaked with sea turtles, and got to see animals up close , including blue- and red-footed boobies, Galápagos land iguanas, Galápagos tortoises, and much more.

Each time we went ashore, we went in small groups accompanied by a certified naturalist (this is required by law in many locations) who was able to educate us on the local flora and fauna we were seeing.

There were also photography-themed groups that went ashore with certified National Geographic photo instructors .

During normal times, the ship’s staff can arrange for guests to scuba dive (which I really wanted to do), but due to COVID-19, the cruise line still wasn’t allowing it. I was disappointed, but now, at least I have an excuse to go back!

Diving isn’t included in the price, so when it’s available there is an extra cost .

Bottom Line: All of the activities were included in my Galápagos cruise on the National Geographic Endeavour II, including snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, paddleboarding, zodiacs, and glass-bottom boat rides.

Open Bridge

The National Geographic Endeavour II had an open-bridge policy, so you could check it out at any time of day. And they really mean any time — they even gave my mother-in-law a wake-up call in the middle of the night so that she could be on the bridge while the ship crossed the equator.

There’s a nice observation deck at the front of the ship that can be accessed via the bridge.

The Wi-Fi on the ship was bad, plain and simple. However, I wasn’t sure I’d have any Wi-Fi at all, so I was happy with the little I got. It was just enough to send my daughter a quick text or to post a photo to Instagram. It usually only worked for a couple of minutes at a time, so you couldn’t do much more than that.

The nice thing was that the first 7 hours of internet use were free — and I don’t think I could have used that much if I tried!

Crew Workstation

This ship has a crew workstation that served as the central hub for signing up for activities, getting information about the day’s plans, signing up for spa treatments, and much more. This area also had a map that tracked where we cruised each day and a checklist of all of the wildlife we saw.

Staff and Crew

I can’t say enough about the staff and crew of the National Geographic Endeavour II. Everyone I came into contact with was simply fantastic.

From the expert naturalists and photo instructors to the waitstaff and zodiac drivers, the service was top-notch .

Housekeeping

Cabins were serviced 3 times per day ! It seemed like every time I came back to my room it was picked up, and I had fresh towels. In the evenings, we got the next day’s itinerary along with some local chocolates.

Gratuities weren’t included in the cruise fare. An amount of $200 per person for the 7-night cruise was suggested on board. This amount could be adjusted and added to your shipboard account.

COVID-19 Protocols

My trip was from April 28 to May 8, 2022, so there were extra COVID-19 considerations that we had to deal with in order to travel.

Lindblad/National Geographic Expeditions took its COVID-19 protocols very seriously. First, every guest had to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. We also had to take a PCR test 3 to 5 days before traveling. The Ecuadorian government wasn’t requiring this, but the cruise line did.

Then, we had to take another test once we got to the hotel the day before we departed on the cruise. Lindblad/National Geographic set this up, and the cost was included.

Once on the ship, masks were required in public areas and during embarkation and disembarkation on the zodiacs that took us ashore each day.

There was hand sanitizer widely available and there were yellow symptom cards that we had to turn in each day to confirm that no one in the cabin had experienced any COVID-19 symptoms.

Despite all of the effort, there ended up being 4 confirmed cases of COVID-19 during our cruise . The expedition leader was very open about this and disclosed the details to all of the guests. As it turned out, all 4 cases were from guests and staff that had participated in a pre-trip extension. The guests that were in close contact with those infected were tested on board as were all of the crew and staff.

Unfortunately, 2 of the photography experts who were traveling with us were among those infected, which was disappointing. Those infected were taken off of the ship and sent to a hotel.

Lindblad/National Geographic also administered the tests we needed to fly back to the U.S. after the cruise. Thankfully, there was no additional spread after the 4 who tested positive and everyone else got a negative test and was able to fly home as scheduled.

This Galápagos cruise on the National Geographic Endeavour II was indeed a bucket-list trip for me and one that I highly recommend if you enjoy active vacations, incredible scenery, and unique wildlife.

I loved that everything was included — I didn’t have to pay extra for any activities, and this trip was jam-packed with things to do, such as snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, and paddleboarding.

I’ll definitely consider booking through Lindblad/National Geographic again — especially since there’s now a partnership with World of Hyatt that allows you to earn or use World of Hyatt points on these expeditions!

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National Geographic Quest  Overview

The National Geographic Quest is the perfect ship to explore from the northern reaches of Alaska’s Inside Passage. Built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, the National Geographic Quest is the first expedition ship of its kind to be made entirely in the U.S.

In addition, National Geographic Quest achieves some other notable firsts. She is the first ship in Lindblad Expeditions’ fleet voyaging in these geographies with step-out balconies (available in 22 of the 50 spacious cabins), plus 6 sets of connecting cabins for families and groups; and a designated mudroom for expedition gear.

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Tour Review: National Geographic Expeditions Holland and Belgium in Springtime by River Cruise

Sightseeing and spring blooms make the perfect pair on this only-in-spring tour through holland and belgium..

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• I went on National Geographic Expeditions’ Holland and Belgium in Springtime by River Cruise, a moderately active tour offered at the height of tulip season in spring.
• Here’s what it was like, and what I think is important to know before you book this deep-dive into the history and culture of The Netherlands and Holland.
• The 2024 cruise tour is from April 15 to 22.

I sailed on National Geographic Expeditions’ Holland and Belgium in Springtime by River Cruise , a group tour that brings the history and culture of The Netherlands and Belgium to life. The moderately active eight-day tour is only offered once per year, at the height of tulip season. Along with sailing down canals and rivers on an AmaWaterways river cruise ship, the itinerary is filled with other pretty fantastic activities like visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site of Kinderdijk, learning about how Delft pottery is made, walking around Antwerp and trying some local delicacies like chocolate and beer, and venturing back in time to see 13th-century architecture in Brugge. 

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National Geographic Expeditions trips are often centered around the history and culture of a destination. Because of this, National Geographic experts travel with each tour to give lectures and answer questions about the cities and towns that are highlighted on the itinerary. What makes river cruising with National Geographic Expeditions stand out among competitors is the unique opportunity to learn from a National Geographic expert and a National Geographic photographer, both of whom travel with the group throughout the voyage. 

Things to Know About National Geographic Expeditions’ Holland and Belgium in Springtime by River Cruise Tour

• The river cruise boat that the tour uses is operated by AmaWaterways. It’s a luxury river cruise with a dedicated staff, upscale dining, and a cruise manager that can assist you with any questions about a city or tour. 
• Even though the trip’s activity level is listed as light to moderate, some daily excursions are more physically demanding than others (for instance, the Ghent and Brugge all-day walking tour). Everyone should be able to walk at least one mile at a moderate pace, get into and off of coach buses, and stand for extended periods. 
• The walking tours offered on this trip often don’t go into buildings, so if you want to see inside a church or other significant structure you may need to purchase tickets in advance or ask the AmaWaterways cruise director for assistance. 
• Every river cruise has one National Geographic Expert and one National Geographic Expert Photographer onboard to give lectures and answer questions. During free time, the experts may also host one-on-one sessions or chat with cruisers about topics of interest.
• Before the trip, every traveler gets a box of goodies from National Geographic Expeditions. This box includes a backpack, reusable water bottle, luggage straps, name tags, and a National Geographic Expedition pin. If you only bring one thing with you on the trip, be sure to bring your name tag to wear on the first day of the river cruise. 
• Most meals are included in the tour price. Those that are not included are often because a tour is scheduled for an entire day. Guests who take full-day tours can ask the cruise director prior to leaving the ship about where to eat in town, or ask the local guides who lead each tour about recommended dining options. 
• Because of the nature of river cruising, the itinerary may shuffle depending on port availability and other factors. Even if the day of a visit to a certain city changes, the activities that are offered will stay the same. 
• The joy of river cruising compared to a National Geographic Expedition land-based adventure is that you only have to unpack once onboard the river cruise boat. I appreciated that this made some of the logistics of the trip a lot easier to manage. 

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Important Details About National Geographic Expeditions’ Holland and Belgium in Springtime by River Cruise

Itinerary Overview

The tour starts in the bustling city of Amsterdam, where guests will travel from a pre-night hotel or the airport to the AmaWaterways river cruise. Day one is where everyone will meet the National Geographic experts and enjoy a welcome reception hosted by the cruise director and captain. 

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This is a full day of touring around Amsterdam. The morning starts with a few options of excursions including a canal cruise or heading to the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. The afternoon and evening are spent cruising and enjoying lectures by the National Geographic Experts. This is one of the most leisurely days of the cruise. 

The morning starts with a walk, boat ride, or bike ride around the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kinderdijk. Then, in the afternoon, guests get the chance to explore Rotterdam with a walking tour. Other afternoon activities include a visit to Pilgrim Father’s Church, a bike tour of Rotterdam, or visiting a porcelain factory to learn about Delft pottery. This day has a lot of walking involved, so take the free time between the two cities to sit back and relax. 

Day 4 

On day four, the group docks in Antwerp, Belgium, the second country on this exciting expedition. The city is known for a juxtaposition that combines high fashion and diamonds with medieval architecture. In the morning, you can take a walking tour of the city, enjoy a bike tour, or enjoy the Rubens House museum. 

After lunch, there are a few excursion options that will please almost everyone. The first is a foodie tour of the city with stops at a local restaurant for waffles, then into a chocolate shop to learn about the art of Belgian chocolates, then to a local bar to sample craft beer. Alternatively, guests can head to the Groot-Bijgaarden Castle for the annual flower show. For those who are interested in flowers, just know the end of the trip includes a visit to the Keukenhof Gardens, so you may want to select the food tour. 

Day 5 

Day five is the most active day of the tour with visits to Ghent and Brugge. Guests can choose from a few different tours; including a day in Ghent, which includes a walking tour to see the Belfry, the Castle of the Counts, and the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb altarpiece. You can also spend the entire day in Brugge, where the morning is filled with a historic walking tour and the afternoon is on your own to explore the town. 

Those who want a taste of both cities can do a full-day tour, where the morning is spent in Brugge, during which travelers can take a walking tour and have lunch at a local restaurant; then make their way to Ghent to take a brief tour of the city. When it’s time for lunch in Brugge, be sure to ask your local guide about the best spots in town. The evening cruise will take everyone back to the Netherlands for the rest of the trip.

After disembarking the ship, everyone will get to see Middelburg, Netherlands. During the morning guests can pick one of three tours: a walking tour, a bike ride through the countryside, or a visit to the Delta Works, the latter of which is an engineering marvel that helps to prevent flooding in the region.

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In the afternoon, everyone boards the AmaWaterways ship for an afternoon cruise to Amsterdam. During the time on the ship, there is a lecture by one of the National Geographic Experts. Dinner is a true highlight with a meal crafted by the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, which is a gastronomic society that was established in Paris in 1950. 

Day seven is the last full day of the trip. The morning starts in Hoorn, where travelers can head to a tulip farm, explore the city by bike, take a guided walking tour, or enjoy a visit to the Westfries Museum. For those who choose the walking tour, know that there is time at the end of the tour to explore on your own and the small shops that line the main square are filled with artisanal snacks, cheeses, and meats that can be brought back home with you. 

The afternoon is spent at the Keukenhof Gardens, which is one of the most popular gardens in the world, with over seven million flowers. After a brief overview of the gardens with a local guide, guests can explore on their own. Be sure to make your way over to the windmill for a great photo opportunity. There are also small pop-up food stalls tucked around the garden, so be sure to try some of the local treats like stroopwafels and frites with mayo. 

Route Notes

National Geographic Expeditions’ Holland and Belgium in Springtime by River Cruise has a number of bus rides on busy streets to get from the river cruise boat to the center of town. For many people, these bus rides were calm, but if you do get motion sick, be sure to pack Bonine or Dramamine . The majority of the travel time is on the river cruise boat, which mainly stays in calmer waters, though one night of my trip there was some rough water for a few hours due to a nearby storm. 

Some of the days are particularly long and include a lot of walking and standing around depending on what tour each guest picked. The longest day was Ghent and Brugge, where the all-day tour started around 9:00 a.m. and went until about 5:30 p.m. with a large group of other travelers in crowded cities. 

The activity level for the National Geographic Expeditions Holland and Belgium in Springtime by River Cruise is listed as light to moderate, and I would agree with that. The majority of the travelers on my trip were over 50, and some were in their late 70s or early 80s, but everyone completed their tours with smiles on their faces, even if they were tired. There are walking tours, food tastings, bike rides, and plenty of free time to do as you wish. 

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The ease of getting around and having expert local guides lead the way made the activities easy for most of the guests on this trip. For those who are nervous about the walking tour pace, know that AmaWaterways and National Geographic Expeditions offer a standard pace and a gentle, or slower, pace. The slower pace got more popular as the trip went on since many folks realized how much walking they would be doing in each city. 

Dining 

On most days, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included with the tour and take place on the river cruise ship. Breakfast and lunch can be enjoyed either in the dining room or in the main lounge The menus for both areas are similar, though the dining room does have a larger selection of available times. Dinner is only served in the main dining room. 

There were a few times when you could go off of the ship for lunch, or lunch was on your own during a scheduled time on a group excursion. During these on your own meals, guests are in charge of paying for the meal, though the local guides leading tours did give nice suggestions about where to go to eat. 

Amenities Along the Way

The AmaWaterways cruise ship offers select amenities. The upper deck does have a heated pool, though the weather on my trip was too cold to use the pool. There are also onboard happy hours every night, wellness activities led by a wellness director, and tea time each afternoon. 

Tour Highlights

• The canal cruise through Amsterdam to see all of the architecture and pass by famous landmarks like the Anne Frank House.
• Walking along the windmill-lined lanes of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Kinderdijk.
• Waffles, beer, and chocolate tour in Antwerp, which gives a great intro to the culinary prowess of the city.
• Strolling the Keukenhof gardens and seeing seven million flowers in brilliant colors.

Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Go on the National Geographic Expeditions Holland and Belgium in Springtime by River Cruise Tour

Adults traveling together, whether as a couple, parents and adult children, siblings, or friends will enjoy this trip the most. The tour has a good mix of activities that immerse guests in the culture of the Netherlands and Belgium, along with downtime to enjoy the ship, get to know other travelers, or explore cities on their own. The real highlight for most guests on this tour is that they are traveling with a National Geographic Expert and National Geographic Expert Photographer, who both bring rich storytelling and deep cultural knowledge to the overall trip. 

Anyone who is worried about long travel days, lengthy walks, or crowded cities may struggle. But the payoff to see medieval cities, try local food and drinks, and see thousands of blooms is a good reward for pushing yourself. 

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Journey on the Columbia & Snake Rivers

• Get inspired by the possibilities.
• Build your ideal trip.
• Bike or walk along the Columbia River Gorge
• Zodiac or kayak the Palouse River and visit the cascading falls
• Jet boat the Snake River through Hells Canyon
• Explore the Lewis and Clark Wildlife Refuge
• Wine Tasting
• River Cruises
• Columbia River
• North America
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• Columbia River Gorge

Full Itinerary

Day 1: portland, oregon | embark.

• Accommodation

Day 2: Astoria

• 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Day 3-4: Columbia River Gorge and Hood River

• 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners

Day 5: Cruising

Day 6: exploring the palouse river, day 7: clarkston, day 8: clarkston, washington | disembark.

• 1 Breakfast

National Geographic Quest

Dates & prices, my preferred start date.

Initial deposit is 15% of cabin fare and may vary by program, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.

Final payment is due 130 days prior to departure by Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AmEx, or check

See our general terms and conditions:

• Adventure Life Terms & Conditions

We are an agent for one or more providers on this trip with specific cancellation policies and terms:

• Lindblad Expeditions - Reservation Terms & Conditions - Lindblad Expeditions

For full cancellation policy details, please contact us for a quote.

• 7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 7 Dinners
• 7 Nights Accommodations
• Accommodations as listed
• Ground transportation as listed
• Activities as listed
• Meals as listed
• Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
• Assistance by the onboard National Geographic Photography Expert
• Access to the OM System Photo Gear Locker with the latest gear to try out on loan (aboard Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic fleet) 
• Beer, wine, cocktails, and spirits are available aboard the ship. Additionally, a selection of super premium wines and liquors is offered for purchase.
• Complimentary Starlink-enabled Wi-Fi internet is available to all guests aboard Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic fleet, enabling email, messaging, and social media.
• Park and site entrance fees, special access permits, and port taxes
• Excursions, hotels, and airport transfers, as indicated in the itinerary 
• 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 leading expedition staff
• All meals as indicated in the itinerary, both aboard and onshore. 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
• Presentations on your destination by expedition staff and expert guest speakers
• Complimentary reusable water bottle to fill at onboard water refill stations
• 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 
• Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic certified photo instructor
• Travel Insurance
• Personal Expenses
• Additional excursions during free time
• Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
• Crew gratuities
• Laundry, spa treatments, scuba diving, Wi-Fi and phone services (except when indicated as included)
• We strongly recommend our guests to take Travel Protection Plan. A Plan with comprehensive coverage to protect you from cancellation fees, costs incurred due to trip delays/interruption, damaged or lost baggage, medical assistance, and evacuation during your travels
• Airfare (except flights when indicated as included), pre- and post-expedition extensions, additional hotel nights, and private transfers (except when indicated as included)
• Travel protection plans and passport, visa, and immigration fees 
• Enhanced and premium Wi-Fi plans, which may enable video chat, web browsing, and streaming (connectivity permitting)

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