The twin-hulled, 48-guest National Geographic Islander allows you to experience the islands on an up-close, personal scale. A nimble, modern cruise ship, she offers an intimate environment and a friendly, convivial community quickly forms on board.
Yacht-scaled and trim, her mahogany and gleaming brass fittings create a gracious and welcoming environment. Designed for active exploration, she can visit areas larger vessels can’t, and guests often compare National Geographic Islander to being aboard a private yacht—one that’s as smart as she is lovely and dedicated to discovery.
Public Spaces
National Geographic 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.
Comfortable armchairs line a side of the National Geographic 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 Galápagos wildlife. An iMac station is available in the ship’s lounge for sorting and transferring your photos. You may come to consider the bridge another public room, as guests are encouraged to visit our officers whenever safe navigation permits.
A small but well-equipped fitness center contains a stationary bicycle, a step machine, a treadmill, hand weights, and yoga mats. The LEXSpa offers massages, body treatments, facials, and hand and foot treatments.
Each cabin and the lounge have Wi-Fi access (fee). For an additional charge, our ship’s professional laundry staff will handle personal laundry and pressing. A licensed doctor is on board and available 24 hours a day free of charge.
Tools for Exploration
National Geographic Islander is outfitted with cool tools for exploration that enable a deeper connection with the pure wildness of Galápagos. A fleet of four Zodiacs, sturdy inflatable craft are the same time-tested brand Jacques Cousteau used in his expeditions for over 30 years, are used to land on remote islands. A fleet of three single-person and five two-person kayaks allows you to paddle along scenic shores and explore water-level caves where Galápagos fur seals rest. Snorkeling gear & wetsuits are available and yours to use for the duration of the expedition. Scuba diving is available on select voyages at an additional cost. The undersea specialist will shoot video at snorkeling sights to share during Recap in the lounge.
Lounge & Bar
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. The lounge is also the scene of the 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. 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.
The bar is open mid-day and in the evening, offering beer, wine, cocktails and other fine spirits.
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. 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. 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 the open deck.
National Geographic Islander Details
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 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.
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.
| Category | Description | Photos |
|---|---|---|
| 05 | Cat 5 #401, 402 - These are the largest cabins aboard. They feature wraparound windows and two lower single beds that can convert to a queen bed. Both cabins have a desk, chairs, and a table. They also feature outside, glassed-in terraces with seating. |  |
| 04 | Cat 4 #403-408 - Spacious cabins feature two lower single beds which can convert to a queen bed. All cabins feature a window and outside glassed in terraces with seating. There are large windows in the top half of the terrace doors. |  |
| 03 | Cat 3 #303–306 - Conveniently located, these cabins feature a window and two lower single beds that can convert to a queen bed. Note: Cabins 305 and 306 can accommodate a third person. The ship's bridge is open 24 hours a day. You'll find books on the islands in the library, and the lounge is where Recap is held each night. |  |
| 02 | Cat 2 Bridge Deck #301-302; Main Deck #207-210 - Centrally located cabins feature a window and two lower single beds that can convert to a queen bed. |  |
| 01 | Cat 1 #201-206 - Cabins feature a window and two lower single beds that can convert to a queen bed. |  |
| Specification | Information |
|---|---|
| Built | 1995 at Chantiers Naval de Marseille (Marseille, France) |
| Last Refurbished | 2015 |
| Former Names | Lord of the Highlands, MV Islander, Rivage Guadeloupe |
| Guests | 48 |
| Cabins | 24 |
| Crew | 27 |
| Tonnage (gross tons) | 1021 |
| Length (feet) | 161 |
| Width (Beam) (feet) | 43 |
| Depth (Draft) (feet) | 19 |
| Speed (knots) | 14 |
| Registry | Ecuador |
| Elevator | No |
| Accessible Cabins | No |
