Nat Geo-Lindblad Adds River Cruises, Second Ship Coming

Published on Nov 5, 2025, 12:18 pm CST

4 min read

Key points

National Geographic-Lindblad will begin European river cruises on the Rhine in April 2026 using the 120-guest Connect
A second chartered ship, Evolve, joins in 2027-28 to operate Christmas-market and holiday voyages
The river program complements existing expeditions on the Brahmaputra, Mekong and Nile with Charaidew II, The Jahan and Oberoi Philae
Connect was built in 2025 and is chartered from Transcend Cruises, expanding the brand's small-ship portfolio
Early itineraries include Amsterdam to Brussels and Cologne to Basel with expert-led programming

Impact

Booking Window: Expect 2026 Rhine departures to open early with limited 120-guest capacity
Itineraries: Eight-day Rhine routes anchor the launch, with winter Christmas-market cruises added in 2027-28
Fleet: Connect sails spring and summer while Evolve extends the season into winter
Who Benefits: Travelers who value expert-led, small-ship experiences and shoulder-season Europe
What To Do: Join waitlists, compare cabin categories, and watch for charter-ship deck plans and inclusions

Beginning in April 2026, National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions will enter European river cruising on the Rhine with the new, 120-guest Connect, a 2025-built vessel chartered from Transcend Cruises. The company says the launch takes its hallmark expert-led, small-ship approach inland, with eight-day Rhine itineraries designed around culture, history, and culinary stops. Then, in the 2027-28 season, a second chartered sister ship, Evolve, will join to operate three Christmas-market and one holiday voyage, extending the program into winter for the first time. These additions sit alongside the brand's existing river expeditions in India, Vietnam and Cambodia, and Egypt.

Connect, the 2026 Rhine platform

Connect is a contemporary 120-guest river ship with 60 cabins and a set of public spaces aimed at immersive programming, including a two-story Forum amphitheater, a wellness area, a restaurant and bistro, and a lounge. Built in 2025 and chartered from Transcend Cruises, it will host National Geographic experts, expedition leaders, and field staff who anchor the line's educational style. Early announced routes include eight-day Rhine sailings from Amsterdam to Brussels and from Cologne to Basel, pairing classic castles and museums with private tastings and curated cultural access.

Latest developments

For 2027-28, the company is expanding capacity and seasonality. Sister ship Evolve will add three dedicated Christmas-market voyages and a holiday cruise, shifting the river program beyond spring and summer into a winter footprint that focuses on festive markets and illuminated old towns. The update, published November 4, 2025, positions Europe's Christmas season as a new pillar of the brand's river portfolio. Trade coverage the following day corroborates the two-ship plan and 2026 start on Connect.

How it fits the wider river portfolio

The Europe launch complements three established National Geographic-Lindblad river programs outside Europe. In India, the 34-guest Charaidew II explores the Brahmaputra with shallow-draft access to wildlife and riverbank communities. In Southeast Asia, The Jahan carries guests along the Mekong between Vietnam and Cambodia. On the Nile, Oberoi Philae pairs classic sites with small-ship comfort. Together they illustrate the company's model, small ships, expert teams, and deep cultural interpretation, now extended to Europe's most traveled waterway.

Analysis

For travelers, two things stand out. First, scale. A 120-guest capacity is modest in river terms, and with National Geographic experts and curated access built in, early sailings can sell out quickly. Joining a waitlist and locking in cabin categories early, especially for balcony staterooms near the mid-ship lounge, will be prudent. Second, seasonality. Many river lines reduce frequency in late fall, so the addition of Evolve's winter Christmas-market program in 2027-28 provides new options for travelers who prefer cooler weather, festive ambience, and lighter crowd levels in cities like Cologne, Strasbourg, and Basel.

Background, river charters explained: Lindblad does not operate a dedicated European river fleet. Instead, it charters modern vessels such as Connect and Evolve from specialist owner-operators like Transcend, then delivers its own expedition staff and programming. This model lets the company enter new regions quickly without multi-year newbuild timelines, while maintaining consistency in onboard education and field leadership.

Practical tips: review deck plans for elevator access and lounge proximity if mobility or noise is a consideration; compare inclusions, for example, guided tours, beverages, and gratuities, across Lindblad's program and competitors; and if Christmas-market voyages are the goal, plan for layered clothing and flexible timing for weather-affected shore calls. Finally, if you prefer Asia or Egypt, the Brahmaputra, Mekong, and Nile programs remain available now, with date patterns that often pair well with land extensions.

Final thoughts

National Geographic-Lindblad's 2026 debut on the Rhine, followed by a second ship and winter sailings in 2027-28, broadens its expedition playbook to Europe's rivers. Travelers who value small ships, strong guiding, and cultural depth will find a familiar format on Connect and Evolve, with festive season options to match.