This Expedition Cruise Line Is Launching European River Trips for the First Time

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions will launch European river cruises in 2026, with two different itineraries on the Rhine River that will visit iconic destinations including Amsterdam; Cologne, Germany; and Strasbourg, France.

While Lindblad has offered other river cruises in the past—on the Nile, for example—the new Europe trips will be the first of their kind for the nearly 60-year-old company, CEO Natalya Leahy told Travel + Leisure.

“Our guests want a European river-cruise experience, but they want to do it in our National Geographic, more in-depth, more authentic way,” Leahy said. “We don’t just take people to destinations, we show them how to see it with our team of experts, historians, and photographers.”

The company will offer two options, each with a specific focus. The first is a swing through Belgium and the Netherlands, with stops in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Ghent, Antwerp, and Brussels, among other cities. Activities include walking tours, cooking demonstrations, and visits to museums—including some that Lindblad guests will visit after hours and without crowds.

“We have a really intense destination experience,” Leahy explained. “We are designed for learners, for enrichment seekers, for people who are looking to have a really, truly deep authentic experience.”

The second option is an itinerary between Cologne, Germany and Basel, Switzerland, through what’s known as the Rhine Gorge, a dramatically scenic stretch of the river that’s recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Destinations on these trips include Cologne, Frankfurt, and Strasbourg. 

Lindblad will be operating these sails aboard the newly built, 60-cabin Connect, in partnership with Transcend Cruises, a charter specialist. The ship will accommodate 120 guests, with 54 staff and crew, with the choice of 210-square-foot cabins or 420-square-foot suites. The ship will have a main restaurant, as well as a top-deck grill, several lounges, a yoga studio, an outdoor cinema, a spa, and a fitness center. Bikes will be available for guests interested in pedaling independently.

Leahy told T+L that the smaller size of the ship will make it feel similar to other Lindblad vessels. “You will never feel like you’re with a bunch of tourists on a big bus,” she said. “You will feel part of a community.”

The 2026 European season for Lindblad will begin in April, with eight sailings, as the company ramps up in the years ahead.

“Our ambition is to expand,” Leahy said. “I really want to do the Christmas markets as well, that would be fantastic.”

Eight-day European river cruises with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions from $6,450 per person.