National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions will introduce its first European river offerings in April 2026 with two 8-day Rhine voyages that will operate aboard Connect, a purpose-built 120-guest river vessel completed in 2025 and equipped with wrap-around picture windows and advanced navigation systems designed for European waterways.
“We’re delighted to bring National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions’ bold new vision of European river expeditions to our guests,” said Natalya Leahy, CEO, Lindblad Expeditions, in a press statement. “These new itineraries are crafted with the same pioneering spirit that defines our expeditions around the world, delivering deeply immersive, authentic and all-inclusive experiences of these destinations. Guided by veteran expedition leaders and National Geographic experts, enriched by exclusive experiences ashore and aboard a brand-new, state-of-the-art river vessel, these voyages are proof that ‘how you see it matters.’”
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions’ New Itineraries
The 8-day Rhine River Castles, Culture and Culinary Delights tracks the Rhine from Amsterdam to Brussels and from Cologne to Basel, passing through the Rhine Gorge—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and rolling vineyard landscapes. Ports of call include Mainz, Frankfurt and Heidelberg in Germany, then Strasbourg and Colmar in France’s Alsace region. Onboard Field Staff and a National Geographic Expert will lead private visits to Rheinstein Castle, where guests attend an evening reception hosted by the castle’s steward. Wine aficionados will sample Rieslings at St. Hildegard Abbey and historic vintages at Cave Historique des Hospices de Strasbourg. In Frankfurt, a private tour explores Goethe’s birthplace, and in Heidelberg, guests dine with university students to observe campus life at one of Germany’s oldest institutions.
Also eight days long, the Holland and Belgium Medieval History and Scenic Waterways itinerary links the Rhine with Holland’s canals and Belgium’s waterways, heading through Amsterdam, Antwerp and Delft. Seasonal blooms at Keukenhof unfold across more than seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths. Exclusive, after-hours access at the Kroller-Müller and Mauritshuis Museums highlights works by Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Rubens and Vermeer. Culinary programming ranges from a progressive Belgian food tour in Antwerp to locally inspired dinners aboard Connect.
Each departure of the new National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions’ itineraries is led by a veteran Expedition Leader supported by expert Field Staff and at least one National Geographic Expert, ensuring access to private tours, tastings and curated encounters aligned with the co-brand’s standards. This expansion brings the co-branded fleet to 23 mission-built vessels operating worldwide, from the Peruvian Amazon to the Nile, and marks Lindblad’s first river expedition in Europe.
For more information, visit expeditions.com.
