National Geographic Antarctica Direct

The National Geographic Explorer is a polar expedition vessel that holds 148 guests in 81 outside cabins. Her design and equipment is the result of almost 200 years of collective expedition experience. She is equipped with an ice-strengthened hull and advanced navigation equipment for polar expeditions and is perfectly maneuverable for polar passages while providing exceptional comfort. She carries kayaks and a fleet of Zodiac landing crafts. And an undersea specialist operates a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and sophisticated video equipment, extending access to the underwater world.

National Geographic Explorer - In Detail:
Our Review
Common Areas & Amenities
Activities Aboard
Dining & Cuisine
Cabins & Suites & Deck Plan

National Geographic Explorer Review

AdventureSmith Explorations’ National Geographic Explorer review includes a detailed description of the small ship including deck plans and a photo gallery. Our experts have sailed aboard the National Geographic Explorer firsthand in Antarctica. Please read our National Geographic Explorer review below then contact our small cruise ship experts to compare the National Geographic Explorer with other Antarctica ships and polar expedition ships and yachts.

The National Geographic Explorer is one of the finest expedition ships in the world operating Antarctica cruises, Antarctica air cruise itineraries, Greenland cruises, Patagonia cruises, Arctic cruises, Iceland cruises, small ship cruises in Northern Europe and Canada small ship cruises. She is equipped for true expeditions to the farthest reaches of our planet in safety and comfort. At 148 guests and 356 feet, she is larger than many other expeditions ships but her size adds stability and endurance for longer voyages. She is still small enough to access remote locations favored by small ship expeditions. 

Choose the National Geographic Explorer if you are an active and inquisitive traveler seeking one of the finest ships combined with the best onboard experts from National Geographic. The expert guides and equipment on board this next-generation ship provide the finest intellectual and educational experience of any expedition cruise. If you are seeking an upscale expedition ship, with top guides synonymous with Nat Geo cruises, the National Geographic Explorer is the right expedition ship for you.

Common Areas & Amenities Aboard Nat Geo Explorer

Guests aboard the Explorer enjoy a Bistro Bar; forward-located Chart Room; restaurant; Global Gallery featuring practical items, regional handicrafts and art; library; lounge with full-service bar and state-of-the-art facilities for films, slideshows and presentations; mud room with lockers for expedition gear; and an observation lounge. An "Open Bridge" provides guests an opportunity to meet Explorer's officers and captain and learn about navigation.

A full-time doctor, Internet cafe and laundry are also available. The vessel is staffed by two Wellness Specialists and features a glass-enclosed Fitness Center, outdoor stretching area, two LEXSpa treatment rooms and Swedish sauna, perfect for quick warm-ups after polar plunges or as a relaxing way to end the day. The fitness center with its expansive floor-to-ceiling windows and 180-degree vista offers a “million-dollar view” along with exercise bikes, elliptical machines and treadmills, free weights, yoga mats and exercise balls. From early-morning yoga or stretching on deck or in the lounge to massages and face, hand or body treatments inspired by the location, the onboard wellness specialists help guests achieve a more relaxed and revitalized state of being, great for days spent at sea.

Nat Geo Explorer also offers internet access (one device at a time) via three tiers: time-limited complimentary "basic" internet, for app messaging, email and simple social media; time-limited "enhanced" internet, adding general web browsing and video conferencing capabilities; and "premium" internet, for unlimited access to all features under the "enhanced" plan. Please note: WiFi is satellite based and may be compromised by inclement weather or remote locations.

Activities Aboard National Geographic Explorer

National Geographic Explorer carries a full fleet of 15 Zodiac landing crafts, allowing guides to get the entire expedition community off ship and engaged in activities quickly, comfortably and safely. Widely regarded as the most robust watercraft available, these Zodiacs can push through pack ice and run up on sandy shores. Also on board are 36 two-person AIRE inflatable kayaks, a fleet large enough to ensure everyone who wants to can paddle at every opportunity. Specifically chosen because of their inherent stability and suitability for polar waters, AIREs are virtually untippable. Consequently, prior kayaking experience is not necessary; many guests aboard National Geographic Explorer have had their first kayaking experience in extraordinary locations. Kayakers are usually free to explore where they want within boundaries set by the undersea specialist and officer of the watch.

Unique in-ship Zodiac boarding stations, designed by VP-Marine Operations Captain Leif Skog, allow guests to step into Zodiacs and kayaks safely—and dry—from a secure platform inside the ship rather than a ladder dangling outside. With two possible embarkation gates, the Explorer unloads her guests into Zodiacs more quickly, meaning you’ll have more time ashore and less time waiting. Adjacent these boarding stations is the mudroom and lockers for guests, where expedition gear can be stored separate from cabins. On warm-weather itineraries where there will be snorkeling, a mask, snorkel, fins and wetsuit are provided for the duration of the expedition. On select cold-weather itineraries, cross-country ski gear may be available.

Additional tools for exploration aboard National Geographic Explorer include:

Underwater Camera

An undersea specialist will dive almost every day of Explorer’s expeditions, even in Antarctica or the Arctic, with almost 200 pounds of gear, to shoot high-definition, Cousteau-like footage of the deep. Colorful nudibranchs, plant-like crinoids and mysterious fish with antifreeze blood that thrive in the frigid sea will give you an entirely new appreciation of the marine environment.

Remotely Operated Vehicle

Capable of reaching 1,000 feet, far beyond the range of any scuba diver, the ROV allows guests to literally view parts of the undersea that are as unexplored as the moon. By sharing videos of potentially new species with scientists, such as a large worm an onboard specialist captured in the Weddell Sea, each expedition actively contributes to science and may fundamentally change how the ocean is viewed.

Video Microscope

Naturalists will use the video microscope to help explain all elements of the environment, including tiny organisms that are the building block of the marine ecosystem. Spellbinding images of a krill’s body, at 80x magnification, fills the plasma screens in the lounge with vivid detail, and fills every onlooker with a sense of wonder at the importance of an otherwise unobservable creature.

Crow’s Nest Camera

Perched high atop the vessel on the ship’s mast, this camera provides a continual view on the outside world that can be seen on in-room cabin TVs. From zooming in on a distant polar bear to simply watching the bow crush through ice flows, each guest gets a unique perspective of their surroundings. The extra height from the camera also aids the captain by allowing him to peer at ice conditions farther ahead.

Hydrophones

These underwater microphones are deployed to listen to the vocalizations of marine mammals. Real-time transmissions of their eerie, haunting sounds can be broadcast through the ship or recorded for later playback.

Dining Aboard National Geographic Explorer

Meals are served in the ship's elegant dining room and the adjacent, more intimate Bistro Bar. Seating is open, allowing you to choose where to dine, and table sizes range from 2 to 12. The style is relaxed and casual—there’s never a need to dress up, and there will be opportunities to chat with the onboard naturalists and guest speakers over a meal. Each evening, a ship’s officer, National Geographic staff or a naturalist hosts small tables in the chart room.

All food prepared aboard National Geographic Explorer is sourced locally whenever possible from sustainable providers, with special attention to all seafood being sustainably caught or raised. Breakfast is usually served buffet-style in the dining room and consists of a selection of fruit, eggs to order, cereal, yogurts, cheese and cold meats, plus specially prepared daily dishes, fresh coffee and tea. An early-riser continental breakfast is served in the bistro as well, and many guests choose to take their coffee and morning pastries to the bridge or out on deck. Lunch is also served buffet-style in the dining room and Bistro Bar, with salads and both hot and cold buffet choices available. Most days a light-lunch option is held in the observation lounge at the very top of the ship. When weather conditions permit, the light-lunch is held outdoors on the aft sundeck, offering a stunning backdrop. Depending on the day’s activities, an afternoon tea with cookies, or occasionally, cakes and pastries, is served buffet-style in the Bistro Bar. Dinners are served in the dining room and bistro and feature plated service.

Cabins & Deck Plan Aboard National Geographic Explorer

Soothingly decorated in quiet earth tones, National Geographic Explorer’s 81 spacious cabins each offer a large desk, ample drawer space, signature feather duvets, crisp cotton sheets and generously sized bathrooms with roomy glass-walled shower stalls, hair dryers, bathrobes and botanically-inspired shampoo, shower gel and lotion, as well as an Expedition Essential Kit. Most cabins offer a comfortable armchair for reading, as well as individual reading lamps above the bed. 

Cabins also feature individual climate control for heating and air-conditioning; National Geographic Atlas; plenty of drawers, hooks and under-bed storage space for luggage; public address system; and a flat-panel TV with several channels for movies, National Geographic documentaries, lounge lectures and presentations, views from the Crow’s Nest camera and displays of the electronic chart system with the ship’s current position. Ethernet jacks are available for in-cabin Internet access and there are both 110-volt and 220-volt outlets. Cabin doors lock, but it’s recommended to leave jewelry and other valuables at home. The Explorer is not equipped with safety deposit boxes.

National Geographic Orion is a state-of-the-art expedition ship, designed to safely explore the remote regions of the planet. Orion carries 102 guests in 53 cabins, nine of them with balconies. She is equipped with a full complement of tools to explore the environment, including kayaks, Zodiacs, an ROV and the capacity to accommodate scuba divers. Her size and nimbleness offer the perfect combination of safety and the ability to go to the out-of-the-way islands and other places where large cruise ships cannot go.

National Geographic Orion Review

AdventureSmith Explorations’ National Geographic Orion review includes a detailed description of the small ship including deck plans and a photo gallery. Our experts have been aboard the Orion firsthand. Please read our National Geographic Orion review below then contact our experts to compare the National Geographic Orion with other with other small cruise ships, expedition ships offering Antarctica cruises, Greece small ship cruises, Mediterranean small ship cruises, Italy small ship cruises and Patagonia Cruises.

Designed and purpose-built in Germany in 2003 specifically for expedition travel, Orion is a modern, elegant ship with an intimate ambiance. In 2013, expedition cruise pioneers National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions purchased Orion Expeditions and rechristened the Orion as the National Geographic Orion. The ship itself remained the same with new cabin categories and the added benefit of onboard experts from National Geographic. The National Geographic Orion has since maintained the high standards of quality and service that the vessel has always been known for, while adding a special focus on education. Food & Wine magazine sets sail with National Geographic Orion, curating an unforgettable culinary adventure at sea. Food & Wine magazine's wine experts have curated an extensive wine list featuring over 40 regional varietals, perfectly complementing the journey with nightly onboard tastings. Choose the National Geographic Orion if you are seeking an upscale exploration with outstanding service and programs. 

Design & Technology Aboard National Geographic Orion

National Geographic Orion was created from the outset to explore the far corners of the Earth in complete self-sufficiency. Engineered for maximum comfort and safety, Orion is equipped with the latest technology including large retractable stabilizers, sonar, radar and an ice-strengthened hull. A shallow draft plus bow and stern thrusters provide the convenience of being able to maneuver close to shore. Ten Zodiacs ensure quick disembarkation and offer the ideal transport for up-close exploration. National Geographic Orion meets strict specifications for environmental protection and the onboard waste management systems meet the stringent polar operational standards enabling travel to the most pristine environments. A host of advanced design features and technology ensures sustainable marine environmental practices.

Common Areas Aboard National Geographic Orion

Orion's public rooms include a dramatic window-lined main lounge/cocktail bar and library, as well as an observation lounge perched at the very top of the ship. The spacious lounge is the heart of the vessel's expedition community, and is suited for spirited cocktail hours, informative presentations and the nightly tradition of Recap. In addition, a dedicated state-of-the-art theater with surround sound provides a unique setting for specialist presentations or films and slideshows.

While Orion interiors are elegant, life aboard is always casual, with no need for formal clothing. And you’ll find shipboard services like laundry, in-room cabled internet and public-area WiFi make packing and traveling more convenient. In addition there is an outdoor bar; a mud room; a glass elevator; a sundeck with padded chairs and a Jacuzzi spa; a gym with a step machine, treadmill, cross trainer, two bicycles, free weights and exercise mats; and a health spa with a unisex dry sauna.

In the library, a wide range of books run the gamut from fiction to regional guides and reference books on the wildlife and region you’re exploring, as well as board games and cards. A laptop with internet access is available. An onboard Wellness Program offers everything from early morning guided yoga to massages and body treatments.

Dining Aboard National Geographic Orion

Both the main dining room and outside buffet easily accommodate all guests at once for open seating dining. On selected nights, weather permitting, the dining room menu is also available on the outside deck.

After your day exploring, unwind in Orion's Galaxy or Leda Lounge. Share stories with fellow adventurers over a curated wine tasting, a classic cocktail, or a refreshing drink. Then, settle in for another evening of exquisite dining.

Seating is open, allowing you to choose where to dine, and table sizes range from 2 to 12. More than opportunities to eat well, mealtimes are also opportunities to engage in the diversity of the expedition community—to join or be joined by naturalists, guest speakers, ship’s officers and fellow guests for stimulating and entertaining conversation.

Breakfasts are designed to set you up for a day of physical and mental activity: hearty and healthy, with a seasonal selection of fruit and yogurts, freshly baked breads and pastries, cheeses, cold cuts, and freshly made omelets to order. An early riser continental breakfast is served as well, and many guests choose to take their coffee and morning pastries out on deck. Lunch is a favorite on-deck experience, perhaps accompanied by a beer or glass of wine, perfect for a more relaxed afternoon, and is usually served buffet-style on the outside deck (weather permitting), with salads and both hot and cold buffet choices available. Depending on the day’s activities, an afternoon tea with cookies, cakes or pastries, is served buffet-style in the lounge.

With the entire expedition team dedicated to delivering the best expedition possible, meal times are always flexible. If a pod of dolphins is sighted shortly before lunch, the crew is adept at quickly changing meal times so you don’t miss a moment, and the quality of lunch is uncompromised.

Activities Aboard National Geographic Orion

The National Geographic Orion is purpose-built for exploration, outfitted with kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and a fleet of Zodiacs. Additionally, this ship features a custom-designed swim and kayak launch platform, secured between two Zodiac boats, to create a stable base for swimmers and kayakers. Outside of polar regions, Nat Geo Orion's on-shore activities are limited to group sizes of 15 guests or less.

Crew & Guides Aboard National Geographic Orion

Accompanying every departure is an undersea specialist, a National Geographic-Lindblad-certified photography instructor, a National Geographic Photography Expert, a wellness specialist and a full-time medical professional.

Cabins & Deck Plan Aboard National Geographic Orion

All accommodations have external doors and most cabins feature oversized picture windows. Double occupancy cabins come in a variety of configurations. Soothingly decorated in elegant tones, National Geographic Orion’s spacious cabins all offer beds cossetted in duvets and crisp cotton sheeting; an armchair; reading lamps; generous desk space; Ethernet jacks for in-cabin Internet access; personal safe; mini-refrigerator; individual climate controls; ample room to hang parkas and plenty of drawers, hooks and under-bed storage space; a public address system; and a flat-screen TV with several channels for movies, documentaries, lounge presentations, the Crow's Nest camera and the ship's electronic chart system displaying the ship’s current position. Generously sized marble bathrooms feature a spacious shower stall with a glass door and are stocked with environmentally inspired bath products and shower gel, hair dryer, cotton towels and cozy white robes.