Lindblad Expeditions acquires pair of Galápagos ships for $17mLindblad Expeditions acquires pair of Galápagos ships for $17m

Lindblad Expeditions Holdings completed the acquisition of two small Galápagos ships that formerly sailed for Celebrity Cruises.

$17m deal

This was through the previously reported $17m acquisition of Torcatt Enterprises Limitada, the Ecuadorian holding company that owns interests in the 48-passenger and 16-passenger ships. They operated as Celebrity Xpedition and Celebrity Xploration, respectively.

Celebrity Xpedition will be renamed National Geographic Gemini, while the catamaran Celebrity Xploration will become National Geographic Delfina.

45% capacity increase

Following renovations in early 2025, the ships are scheduled for inaugural voyages on Feb. 14 and March 14, respectively.

They will increase Lindblad's Galápagos inventory by 45%, adding capacity for 3,000 travelers a year.

Lindblad's total capacity there will go up to some 206 berths, out of about only 600 berths as a whole in the Galápagos, according to Co-Chair Sven-Olof Lindblad.