Lindblad Charters Greg Mortimer for Alaska 2027

Published on Dec 14, 2025, 2:17 pm CST

6 min read

Key points

Lindblad will expand Alaska sailings in 2027 by chartering the 154 guest Greg Mortimer for three years
National Geographic Sea Bird and National Geographic Sea Lion will operate their final season in 2026
The Greg Mortimer is designed for polar style operations, including an inverted X BOW and multiple Zodiac launch platforms
The change increases per voyage capacity versus the two 62 guest ships it replaces and may reshape cabin availability and pricing
Travelers targeting 2026 farewell sailings should expect tighter inventory, while 2027 buyers should watch for new itineraries

Impact

Where Impacts Are Most Likely: Availability will tighten first on peak summer Alaska weeks and on cabin categories with balconies and mid ship locations
Best Times To Travel: Shoulder season departures in May and September typically have more cabin choice than mid June through early August peaks
Connections And Misconnect Risk: If your itinerary includes flights to Alaska gateways, keep buffers because expedition embarkation windows are less flexible than mass market cruises
What Travelers Should Do Now: Decide whether you want the smaller farewell ships in 2026 or the newer platform in 2027, then place a refundable hold or deposit as soon as dates drop
Cabin And Space Strategy: If you value private outdoor space, prioritize balcony categories early on Greg Mortimer since that feature is not universal on older small ships

Greg Mortimer Alaska cruises 2027 will expand Lindblad's small ship capacity in Alaska after the company confirmed a three year charter of the 154 guest expedition vessel. The shift matters most for travelers who prefer expedition style Alaska, including Zodiac landings, naturalist led days, and smaller waterways that big ships cannot use. If you are aiming for the final Alaska season of National Geographic Sea Bird or National Geographic Sea Lion in 2026, plan for tighter inventory and earlier decision points, and if you are looking at 2027, watch for new itineraries, and book early once sailings open.

The Greg Mortimer Alaska cruises 2027 change means Lindblad will retire two older, smaller ships from Alaska after 2026, and replace that capacity with a newer platform designed for more challenging seas and frequent Zodiac operations.

What Changed For Alaska Sailings In 2027

On December 11, 2025, Lindblad said it will expand its Alaska program beginning in 2027 by chartering the Greg Mortimer for a three year period. The company also said National Geographic Sea Bird and National Geographic Sea Lion will operate their final season in Alaska in 2026, positioning that year as a farewell season for two long running expedition staples.

From a traveler planning standpoint, the practical implication is not just that "a new ship is coming." It is that the product mix shifts toward a larger, newer expedition vessel with more modern common spaces, more private space in many cabins, and an operational design built around frequent small boat deployment. That can change what sells out first, how much variety you see across cabin categories, and how realistic it is to find late availability for peak summer weeks.

If you are following the broader Alaska ramp up across lines, this announcement fits into a larger 2027 story where multiple brands are opening inventory earlier and building more land add ons. For context, Adept has covered the 2027 Alaska sales cycle and capacity experimentation in pieces like New Alaska Cruise Lines Test Ports And Capacity and Alaska 2027 Denali Cruisetour Lodge And Dining Upgrades.

Why The Greg Mortimer Matters For On Water Experience

Lindblad is positioning the Greg Mortimer as a purpose built expedition ship originally designed for polar regions, and it is leaning hard on features that translate into day to day Alaska experience. The ship's inverted Ulstein X BOW design is meant to improve seakeeping in rougher water, which can matter on exposed crossings where wave action can shut down outdoor decks and make Zodiac operations less comfortable. The vessel also has multiple Zodiac launch platforms and expedition focused viewing and observation areas, which, in practice, can reduce bottlenecks around landings, and help more guests get off the ship efficiently when conditions allow.

The onboard configuration is also part of the story. Lindblad highlights modern learning spaces for briefings and recaps, plus wellness amenities such as saunas and Jacuzzis, and a range of cabin categories where many rooms include balconies. For Alaska, that can be a real value add for travelers who prefer wildlife watching from their own outdoor space during long scenic transits, or who want a quieter alternative to crowded outer decks.

One detail travelers should keep in mind is that "expedition ship" does not automatically mean "tiny." National Geographic Sea Bird and National Geographic Sea Lion each carry 62 guests, while Lindblad markets the Greg Mortimer at 154 guests. That is a meaningful jump in onboard population, even if it remains far below mainstream Alaska ships.

Background: Chartering, Retiring, And Capacity Math

A charter is different from a new build purchase. In a charter arrangement, the operator secures access to a ship for a defined period and deploys it on specific seasons, which can be a faster way to add capacity and refresh product without waiting years for construction. For travelers, the key takeaway is that charter decisions tend to be schedule driven, and they can also reshape where a ship sails across the calendar, which can affect repeat guests who follow the vessel rather than the destination.

Lindblad's Alaska swap is also a straightforward capacity story. Sea Bird plus Sea Lion equals 124 guests per voyage, while Greg Mortimer is marketed at 154. That is an increase of 30 guests per voyage, which can ease scarcity somewhat at the margin, but can also change the on shore feel at popular landing sites if multiple groups rotate through the same beach, trail, or skiff route.

At the same time, the farewell framing for 2026 is not just marketing. Older, smaller expedition ships often have cabin layouts and communal spaces that longtime guests love, but that can feel dated compared to newer builds with more private space and updated mechanical systems. Travelers who care about the classic, intimate feel should treat 2026 as a real last chance window for those specific ships in Alaska.

If you need a plain language explainer of what "expedition cruise" usually means in terms of daily rhythm, landings, and onboard programming, see Adept's evergreen overview at Expedition Cruise.

What Travelers Should Do Next

If you are choosing between 2026 and 2027, your decision is mostly about ship style, not Alaska itself. The 2026 farewell season is likely to appeal to repeat Lindblad guests who want one more run on Sea Bird or Sea Lion, and to travelers who prioritize the smallest possible guest count. The 2027 season is likely to appeal to travelers who want newer hardware, more balcony options, and more contemporary onboard spaces while still keeping expedition style operations.

Either way, treat the booking cycle like peak demand inventory. For Alaska expedition sailings, the cabins that tend to disappear first are often those with private outdoor space, plus mid ship cabins that are preferred by guests sensitive to motion. If Lindblad releases new 2027 itineraries that lean into narrower channels or remote anchorages, expect the first wave of demand to concentrate on those "new route" departures.

Finally, keep your logistics realistic. Expedition ships run tight operational schedules around tides, wildlife, and weather, and that means embarkation and debarkation windows can be less forgiving than mainstream cruises. If your trip requires flights into Alaska gateways, plan buffers and avoid separate tickets where possible, especially if you are connecting onward the same day.

In short, Greg Mortimer Alaska cruises 2027 are a capacity and product refresh move that will likely expand availability and modernize the onboard experience, while 2026 becomes the clear farewell season for two smaller legacy ships. Travelers who want Sea Bird or Sea Lion should plan early for 2026. Travelers who want the new platform should watch for 2027 dates, then move quickly once bookings open.