Exploring British Columbia & The San Juan Islands

Purpose built to cruise coastal waters, shallow coves and fast-moving channels, the 100-guest National Geographic Quest is a state-of-the-art, expedition vessel designed for supreme comfort and enhanced wildlife viewing. Spacious cabins, open decks and specialty exploration tools make her the ideal small ship for sailing in the waters of Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, California, Baja, Costa Rica and Panama. 

Built in 2017 and designed with 50 years of expedition experience in mind, National Geographic Quest more than comfortably accommodates 100 guests in 50 cabins. Her twin expedition craft landing platform allows guests to get on and off the ship quickly to maximize on wildlife sightings. Created with a shallow draft, the Nat Geo Quest draws only nine feet of water, allowing her to sail into places where much larger ships cannot go. She joins her identical sister ship, the National Geographic Venture, in being among the most luxurious expedition ships to explore waterways worldwide.

Why Sail Aboard National Geographic Quest

Choose the National Geographic Quest to be immersed in nature and wildlife aboard one of the most purpose-built expedition ships in the world. Know you're traveling aboard an environmentally friendly ship, plus enjoy unique added features like better views from the bridge and windows made of premium glass with a straight tint to offer the clearest, most natural view possible. Plus, the experts and equipment on board provide the finest intellectual and educational experience of any small ship cruise. Find this ship among our vetted selection of luxury Alaska cruises, and trust her level of service extends to all her sailings worldwide.

AdventureSmith Explorations has been aboard the National Geographic Quest firsthand and can help you compare this expedition vessel to others offering Alaska small ship cruises, Costa Rica cruises, Panama small ship cruises, Pacific Northwest cruises, U.S. cruises, Canada small ship cruises and more. Read our dedicated National Geographic Quest Reviews written by two of our specialists, or consult this page further for a detailed description of the Nat Geo Quest, including the deck plan and a photo gallery of every cabin. Let us be your resource for finding small cruise ships worldwide.

Common Areas & Amenities Aboard National Geographic Quest

The Nat Geo Quest features a specially designed open bow and an observation deck for gathering to watch for wildlife or enjoying an evening cocktail. The open bridge on this ship is unique because it features comfortable spaces for guests to sit and enjoy a better vantage point than most bridges offer. Join the captain and officers while scanning the horizon with onboard binoculars or simply chat about sailing while sipping morning coffee.

The lounge has wraparound windows for an optimal view and features multiple high-definition screens for presentations. There is a small reference library with boardgames and cards. The sundeck has tables, chairs and lounge chairs. To ease the organization of embarkation and disembarkation for daily activities, there is a mud room with lockers to conveniently store boots and other gear. An elevator accesses all decks, and public restrooms are available on every deck. There is also a global market stocked with local artisan products. Special features aboard the National Geographic Quest include internet access and laundry service. A ship's doctor and video chronicler are also on board.

Nat Geo Quest 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. WiFi is satellite based and may not always be accessible in poor weather or extremely remote areas.

Dining Aboard National Geographic Quest

Meals are served in single seatings in the dining room with an informal atmosphere and easy mingling. When weather conditions allow, lighter fare may be served outside on the observation deck. During meals the expedition leader, naturalists and any guest speakers aboard will dine alongside guests. Food served aboard is fresh, local and sustainably sourced whenever possible. A variety of beverages are available for purchase including specialty wine by the bottle, cocktails and spirits. Next to the full-service bar is a 24-hour self-service beverage station with coffee, tea, soft drinks, beer, water, ice and snacks.

Activities Aboard National Geographic Quest

The National Geographic Quest carries expedition equipment including 8 landing crafts, 24 kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, a remotely operated vehicle, snorkeling gear and wetsuits, underwater video camera, video microscope and electronic charts. The 8 landing crafts were custom built by Zodiac Milpro and are the first and only Mark V Zodiacs constructed entirely in the USA. These boats are superior, military-grade construction, but customized with features like extra holds for passenger stability and topside treads to improve footing for stepping on and off. Guests will embark and disembark via custom-designed ladders to improve safety and ease of movement.

Also aboard the Nat Geo Quest is a wellness specialist, offering treatments in the LEXspa and leading morning stretches on the deck. There is also a unique floating massage platform for use in calm waters. The gym features an elliptical machine, treadmill, exercycle, handweights, machine weights and resistance bands.

Sustainability Aboard National Geographic Quest

The internal systems aboard the National Geographic Quest were built with the best available in the market. Advanced waste management and treatment systems exceed international standards. To lessen the need for fuel, she features a streamlined hull design and bulbous bow. Everything from the propellers to the engines have been specifically chosen to minimize vibration and improve fuel efficiency. Working in concert, these systems enable the vessel to use less fuel than many ships far smaller.

Cabins & Deck Plan Aboard National Geographic Quest

National Geographic Quest comfortably accommodates 100 guests in 50 outside-facing cabins. 22 of the cabins feature small balconies with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors that bring in the spectacular views and ample natural light. 12 cabins connect via internal doorway access allowing families to combine their rooms. Every cabin has two portholes, a large window or balcony, WiFi access and temperature controls. Bathrooms are modern and stocked with botanically inspired hair products, soap and shower gel, plus a hairdryer. Every cabin has standard outlets and USB outlets for charging your camera gear or electronics, space for luggage storage and an Expedition Essentials Kit.

National Geographic Venture is a state-of-the-art, purpose-built expedition vessel made for exploring remote locations in comfort. Spacious cabins, beautiful public spaces, open decks with a tiered system for optimal wildlife viewing and specialty tools for exploration make her the ideal ship for sailing in the remote areas of Alaska, Canada, Baja and the Pacific Northwest.

Designed with five decades of expedition experience, Nat Geo Venture more than comfortably accommodates 100 guests in 50 cabins. She joins her sister ship, the National Geographic Quest, in being among the most luxurious expedition small ships to explore Pacific waters.

Why Sail Aboard National Geographic Venture

Choose the Nat Geo Venture if you are an active and inquisitive traveler seeking to immerse yourself in nature and wildlife while enjoying the comfort of a custom newly-built expedition vessel. Travel knowing you're aboard an environmentally friendly ship with added features like a better view from the bridge and windows made of premium glass with a straight tint to offer the clearest, most natural view possible.

The experts and equipment on board provide one of the finest intellectual and educational experiences aboard any small ship. Because of this, it ranks among our top Alaska luxury cruise choices. If you are looking for one of the best expedition experiences out there, the National Geographic Venture is the ship for you.

Consult this page for a detailed description of this purpose-built expedition ship, including a deck plan and photo gallery. Our experts have cruised aboard the Nat Geo Venture firsthand. Read our National Geographic Venture reviews, then let us help you compare other ships and yachts offering Baja cruises, small ship Canada cruises, U.S. cruises, Pacific Northwest small ship cruises and small ship Alaska cruise itineraries. Or find other small expedition ships with our expertise.

Common Areas & Amenities Aboard Nat Geo Venture

The lounge is the heart of each expedition with cocktail hour, evening recaps, presentations, photography talks and guest speaker presentations. The lounge features wraparound windows made of premium glass, specially designed seating that takes advantage of optimal views, and multiple high-definition screens for slideshows and videos. Elevator access to all decks and public restrooms on every deck support every style of traveler. There is also a global market stocked with local artisan products.

A common constraint with wildlife viewing on a ship’s bow is that the anchoring gear takes up space and a single level allows only one row of guests to enjoy clean sightlines. To provide a superior viewing experience, the bow on the National Geographic Venture has been designed with the anchoring gear separated from guest space by a tiered viewing system. This enables multiple rows of guests to line the bow with an unobstructed view. Also, two stairways on either side of the bow lead to an expansive observation deck one level up for a unique perspective. All of these exterior viewing levels are accessible from the lounge. An open bridge policy paired with the uniquely designed bridge, featuring designated forward standing areas with clear views, a touchscreen for guests to learn about the ship's current position and navigational features, and settees set around the room's state-of-the-art equipment, ensures comfort and longer stays.

Guests on board National Geographic Venture can enjoy WiFi access offered at various 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. WiFi is satellite based, may be used on one device per guest at a time, and may not always be accessible in poor weather or extremely remote areas.

Dining Aboard National Geographic Venture

Food served aboard is fresh, local and sustainably sourced whenever possible. Meals are served in single seatings with unassigned tables in the dining room for an informal atmosphere and easy mingling. When weather conditions allow, lighter fare may be served outside on the observation deck. Expedition leaders, naturalists and any guest speakers aboard enjoy their meals with passengers in the dining room that features floor-to-ceiling wraparound windows. There is a full-service bar and a 24-hour self-service beverage station with coffee, tea, soft drinks, beer, water, ice and snacks.

Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes are always available and specialty diets can typically be accommodated with advance notice. Breakfast is a wide-selection buffet with items like toast, bagels, cereals, yogurts, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, potatoes, cut fruit, an omelet station, freshly made juice and coffee. Lunch and dinner consist of three plated courses (and bread): an appetizer soup or salad, an entrée and a dessert.

Activities Aboard National Geographic Venture

The National Geographic Venture is outfitted with a fleet of 24 two-person kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, snorkeling equipment and Zodiacs, as well as expedition technology including a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), hydrophone, Splash-Cam, underwater video camera and video microscope. There are also 8 landing crafts that were custom built by Zodiac Milpro and are the first and only Mark V Zodiacs constructed entirely in the USA. These boats are superior, military-grade construction, but customized with features like extra holds for passenger stability and topside treads to improve footing for stepping on and off. Guests will embark and disembark via custom-designed ladders to improve safety and ease of movement.

Unique to the National Geographic Venture and her sister ship National Geographic Quest is a mudroom for the storage of guest expedition gear. The room and rows of lockers enables guests to store boots, snorkeling equipment and other gear, making excursion preparation more efficient and leaving cabins cleaner and more comfortable. There is also a fitness center with an elliptical machine, excercycles, handweights, machine weights and resistance bands, in addition to a wellness specialist on board. Massages, body treatment, natural facial treatments and hand and foot treatments are available at the LEXspa (sign up once on board). 

Sustainability Aboard National Geographic Venture

Designed and built in the USA in 2018, this purpose-built expedition ship encompasses 50 years of sailing experience to create a sustainable and environmentally responsible vessel. Advanced waste management systems exceed international standards. A streamlined hull design, bulbous bow and the most suitable propulsion system available lessens the need for fuel. Everything from propellers to the engines have been specifically chosen to minimize vibrations and improve efficiency, which enable the vessel to use less fuel than many smaller ships.

Cabins & Deck Plan Aboard National Geographic Venture

National Geographic Venture accommodates guests in 50 outside-facing cabins, 22 of which offer step-out balconies and floor-to-ceiling sliding doors. Cabins are efficiently designed, with sizes ranging from the 136-square-foot Category 1 cabin to the 185-square-foot Category 5 suite. Twelve cabins connect via internal doorway access, allowing families to combine their rooms. Plus, all Category 5 suites can accommodate a third person on a convertible sofa bed.

Every cabin features two portholes, a large window or balcony, WiFi access and temperature controls. Bathrooms are modern and stocked with botanically inspired hair products, soap and shower gel, plus a hairdryer. Every room has two-pronged outlets and USB outlets for charging camera gear or electronics, space for luggage storage and an Expedition Essentials Kit.