By
Kasturi Datta |
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions has sailed its first European river cruise, as part of its multiyear deal with Transcend Cruises.
The 120-guest vessel Connect departed from Belgium on 15 August 2026 and will sail along the Rhine and rivers in the Netherlands and Belgium as part of the ‘Holland and Belgium: Medieval history & scenic waterways’ itinerary. The voyage will offer shoreside excursions, including private tours, at cities including Antwerp and Delft in the Netherlands.
“It is an honour to welcome our first guests aboard this inaugural European river expedition, marking an exciting milestone as we bring our experience and expertise to Europe’s waterways,” said Trey Byus, chief expedition officer at Lindblad Expeditions. “This voyage is just the beginning of our expansion in the region, and we look forward to creating even more opportunities for travellers to experience the region through our immersive lens.”
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions will continue its expansion into the European river market with the new ‘Rhine Rivers: castles, culture & culinary delights’ itinerary in September, departing from Cologne in Germany and ending in Basel, Switzerland. This voyage will include calls at Mainz, Frankfurt and Heidelberg in Germany; and Strasbourg and Colmar in the Alsace region of France.
Connect has been uniquely designed for travel down narrow waterways in cities such as Strasbourg, France, where it will sail in September 2026 (Image: Sutterstock/National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions)
The partnership will operate a series of Christmas market itineraries with Connect’s sister ship Evolve in 2027 to double its offerings in the European region.