National Geographic Venture

Intimate ship Bliss scored

The 100-passenger expedition ship National Geographic Venture features 50 cabins and 22 staterooms with step-out balconies.

100guests
2,920gross tons
15cruises now
$3,753fares from

At a glance

National Geographic Venture is an intimate-size cruise ship operated by Lindblad Expeditions, in service since 2018. It carries 100 guests and 52 crew (1.9 guests per crew member) at 2,920 gross tons. It ties with 1 other ship as the 5th largest of 19 Lindblad Expeditions ships by guest capacity. On Cruiseable's Bliss scale it scores highest for active and adventure & nature (10/10) and lowest for dining, entertainment, party and spa & fitness (5/10). It has 15 cruises on sale, with lead fares from $3,753 to $11,000.

Builder's plate

Specs

Guests: 100
Crew: 52
Gross tons: 2,920
Length: 239 ft
Beam: 46 ft
Maiden voyage: 2018
Space ratio: 1.9; Gross tons per guest
Guests per crew: 1.9
IMO: 9799044

Bliss scores

What National Geographic Venture is best at

Ten dimensions scored by our editors on a 10-point scale. The Cruiseable app ranks every cruise against the mix you care about.

Active 10.0
Adventure and nature 10.0
Cultural 7.0
Dining 5.0
Entertainment 5.0
Family friendly 6.0
Party 5.0
Romantic 7.0
Spa and fitness 5.0
Staterooms 6.0

Our review

National Geographic Venture offers intimate sailings to Alaska

Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic operates the $48 million built-in-the-USA ship National Geographic Quest with itineraries in Alaska and throughout the hemisphere and now they've introduced a nearly identical sister ship, National Geographic Venture.

The 100-passenger Venture features 50 cabins, 22 with step-out balconies, and six sets of connecting cabins for families and groups. The expedition ship is outfitted with a fleet of 24 sea kayaks, paddle boards, snorkeling equipment and Zodiacs, all of which are geared to get guests out and into the wild, as well as state-of-the-art expedition technology, including a remotely operated vehicle, video microscope, a hydrophone and underwater cameras.

Where National Geographic Venture sails

National Geographic Venture sails to Alaska's Inside Passage and Coastal Wilderness, British Columbia and Washington state's San Juan Islands.

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Equipped for active exploration

Accommodating 100 passengers, Venture is the same size as Quest and larger than the 62-guest Sea Bird or Sea Lion, but she has the same shallow draft depth, allowing travelers to navigate the fast-moving channels and shallow coves of Alaska. She has two expedition craft landing platforms, letting guests rapidly get on and off the ship to take advantage of wildlife sightings and to make explorations more efficient.

Designed with decades of expedition experience in the Great Northwest, the purpose-built vessel also features open decks, generous windows, and specialty tools for exploring both the Pacific Northwest and the tropical waterways of Central America during the winter season. The ship features sea kayaks and warm- and cold-weather snorkel gear, as well as new goodies like underwater and bow cameras.

Public spaces

Like Quest, public spaces on Venture provide maximum viewing opportunities with easy, quick access to the decks for sightings. Public areas include a lounge with a full-service bar and facilities for film, slide shows and presentations; a dining room; an observation deck; a partially covered sun deck with chairs; a global gallery; and a spa. There will be an outdoor walkway around the entire sun deck, which will feature an al fresco bar and grill, in addition to the main restaurant and a bar and lounge area that will host presentations. All meals are served in a single seating with unassigned tables for an informal atmosphere and easy mingling.

Staterooms & extras

Venture features step-out balconies (available in 22 of the 50 spacious cabins), plus six sets of connecting cabins for families and groups. It also has a designated mudroom for expedition gear as well as a Sun Deck bar (try to Mudslide).