by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 9:20 AM ET, Wed November 5, 2025
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions will launch its first river cruises in Europe in 2026, with sailings on one ship the Rhine. Then, during the 2027-28 season, the brand plans to expand its footprint by adding a second ship to Europe’s waterways.
“Our river journeys invite guests to see the world in a more intentional way—unhurried, intimate and deeply connected to place,” says Natalya Leahy, chief executive officer of Lindblad Expeditions. “How you see the world matters, and that’s what makes our river collection so special.”
In Europe, National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions’ first river cruises will be offered aboard the new 120-guest ship, Connect. The brand is chartering the vessel, which was built in 2025, from Transcend Cruises.
In 2027-28, Connect will continue sailing in Europe in the spring and summer. But she will be joined by sister ship Evolve, which will offer three new Christmas and one holiday voyage exploring Europe’s Christmas markets. Evolve, also a charter from Transcend Cruises, will expand capacity and extend the line’s European river program into winter for the first time.
Guests can also sail aboard Charaidew II on India’s Brahmaputra River, The Jahan on the Mekong River in Vietnam and Oberoi Philae on the Nile.
“Across our fleet—from rivers to open seas—we’re continuing to reimagine how people experience the world,” Leahy says. “For us, exploration isn’t just about where we travel, but how deeply we connect—with places, with cultures and with one another.”
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