Receive a $2,000 per person air credit, deducted from cabin fare prior to any additional applicable savings, unlimited Wi-Fi, a $250 laundry credit, and a commemorative jacket and backpack on select departures of Cape to Cape: A Voyage from Cape Horn to Cape Town, and Islands of the Atlantic Ridge: Brazil to the Azores. Discovery Package must be communicated at time of booking and is available per person. Valid for new bookings only, subject to availability, may not be combined with other offers, and is not applicable on extensions. Call for details.
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The Expedition Experience
These expeditions enable you to take the God-view of a sweeping and fascinating geography or zoom down into a close-up. Explore rarely visited islands, isolated by expanses of ocean. In the Azores, linger amid towering basalt peaks, bubbling hot springs, nutrient-rich waters, emerald-green farmlands, and within a rich history. Experience the warmth and hospitality of the locals as they share a glimpse into their island life with traditional dishes, world-class wine and cheese tastings, fado music and the beauty of each destination.
New
Islands of the Atlantic Ridge: Brazil to the Azores
Duration
24 days
Apr
From
$29,390
Top Highlights
Enjoy a rich program of lectures by an expert team of naturalists, historians, and photographers; and take advantage of the ship’s state-of-the-art amenities from wellness programs and spa treatments to gourmet dining options and wine tastings
Explore rarely seen, remote islands with deep-seated cultures, unique cuisines, and seafaring traditions
Enjoy special access to the unspoiled islands of Fernando De Noronha, a World Heritage Site. Snorkel amid the rich marine life and see a rich population of spinner dolphins
Learn about the 18th century Atlantic Slave Trade at the Cape Verde Islands and walk through a UNESCO World Heritage-designated old town
Search for marine life, including dolphins and sperm whales, plus the possibility of Blue whales, orcas, and pilot whales
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
Apr
From
$9,940
Prices are per person
Highlights
Atlantic Isles
Europe & British Isles
New and Noteworthy
New
Islands of the Azores: Basalt Peaks to Volcanic Vineyards
Duration
10 days
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
Apr
From
$9,940
Top Highlights
Aboard National Geographic Endurance, take advantage of the ship’s state-of the-art amenities, from wellness programs and spa treatments to gourmet dining options as we travel to the more secluded and seldom-visited islands of the Azores Archipelago
April is one of the best months to see the many whales that pass through these waters on their annual migrations. With the help of some of the best whale spotters in the world, search for fin, blue, sei, and pilot whales, just to name a few
Discover the varied past and the stories of explorers, whalers, and conquerors who all had a part in weaving the tapestry of island history
Experience the commitment the locals have to sustainable growth and protecting the natural beauty and ecosystems of the archipelago
Immerse yourself in the theme of island exploration and make plenty of discoveries of your own: virgin wildness, world-class whale watching, gardens in bloom, birds, and ancient lore. Discover them through curated daily activities—in our decades of exploring we’ve found the best hikes to see wildlife, where whales come to feed, and the top cuisine and cultural sites. See terraced hillsides, verdant forests and craggy canyons, and receive a world-class welcome from the friendly locals everywhere you travel.
There’s no need to dress up, ever; life aboard is casual all the way. There’s no assigned seating in the dining room—whether you choose the dining room or one of your ship's more casual dining spaces. In fact, many tables accommodate uneven numbers, making for easy mingling and the fun of sharing breakfast, lunch, or dinner with different new friends, staff, or guest speakers.
The Whales of Cape Verde
About 250 humpback whales travel to the Cape Verde islands every year to breed and calve, filling the ocean with song.
Coming into the harbor or seeing the outline of an island on the horizon—the feeling of the sea and exploration is there, and it's amazing.
Alyssa S.
Explore with top expedition teams
See, do, and learn more by going with engaging experts who have been exploring this region for decades. Go with an expedition leader, naturalists, historians, and more.
Expedition Leader
Veteran expedition leaders are the orchestrators of your experience. Many have advanced degrees and have conducted research or taught for years. They have achieved expedition leader status because they possess the skills, the experience, and the depth of knowledge necessary to continually craft the best expedition possible for our guests.
Sail with a team of naturalists, each passionate about the geographies they explore (and return to regularly) and who illuminate each facet through their enthusiasm and knowledge. Choose to spend time with whoever shares your interests in birding, human history, flora and fauna, and so much more.
Video chroniclers accompany every expedition, shooting vivid HD footage—with no recycled footage ever—to provide you with a professionally edited and completely authentic memento of your expedition. Working during the day, and editing into the night, they have your DVD ready for preview prior to—and available to purchase at—disembarkation.
Today we visited Fogo, the famous, active volcano of the Cape Verde Islands. Fogo (“fire” in Portuguese) has been erupting episodically since at least 1500 and likely for centuries or millennia before that. Pirate William Dampier observed an eruption in 1632. We took our Zodiacs ashore into the small harbor and rode on local vans from the coastal town of São Felipe up into the mountains and into the caldera itself. We drove across lava from the 1951 eruption which breached the caldera rim, and we walked past the sign welcoming us to the National Park and past the blocky lava from the eruption. We then drove along the old road into the caldera. We soon encountered a detour necessitated by the fact that the most recent eruption in 2014 had covered the road with a lava flow that was about seven meters thick. The new road took us around the caldera wall to the little village of Cha das Caldeiras. The village was destroyed by lava in the 1995 eruption, rebuilt, and then destroyed again by the 2014 lava. Fresh lava is everywhere throughout the village, but residents are slowly rebuilding once again and have constructed a number of new houses, a new inn, and a new winery to continue the wine business that was flourishing before the most recent eruption. We were tremendously impressed by the persistence of the citizens of Cha das Caldeiras, who began rebuilding in 2015 while the lava was still glowing. After our inspiring visit to the caldera and the village of Cha, we returned to the harbor and once again took our Zodiacs back to National Geographic Explorer . We weighed anchor and continued our northward voyage to our next landing in the Canary Islands.
We could not see Cape Verde from where we started the morning given the mist and the Sahara dust floating in the air. But the amount of wildlife around the ship spoke of the nearby seabird colonies known to this group of islands, many of them endemic to Macaronesia. After lunch, we departed in different directions, some to have a look at the historical sites, the town, and its market and others to try finding some of the endemic birds that live here. All came back amazed by the color of the town and the beautiful people who inhabit this remote archipelago.
By first light, many of us were on deck as we sailed in the proximity of a sea mount. The expectancy was palpable. The skies were filled with dust from the Sahara, and this became more evident as the sun rose. The dust surrounding us is part of the harmattan winds, which blow from November to March each year and can carry the dust as far as Florida, the Caribbean Islands, and the Amazon. We were rewarded, of course, with good numbers of seabirds and two fleeting views of a small group of cetaceans, in all likelihood a species of beaked whale. We saw the dorsal fins twice and then all trace of these marine mammals was lost. There were two birds sighted that were unexpected: a species of dove and a small passerine that was greenish in color. The dove turned out to be a European turtle dove and was seen by many of us at different times throughout the day. These birds must have been blown out to sea and happened to come across the ship. The little greenish bird was never seen again, maybe ending up as a snack for the jaegers that were seen during the early morning. Like our other sea days, the day was filled with a wide range of activities that included galley tours, the final round of the GeoBee, navigation workshops, fun facts about the Atlantic, and two presentations. The first presentation was given by Carlos Garrandés Megía on, “Building a Whaleboat: Approaching Practice through Anticipation.” The second presentation, “The Transatlantic Slave Trade,” was masterfully presented by Andrew Evans. How important it is to be reminded, lest we forget, the horror of this atrocity. During the afternoon, persevering nature observers were rewarded with numerous seabird sightings as well as flying fish, pilot whales, and a couple of fleeting looks at sperm whales. We anticipate being on land once again tomorrow: Santiago Island in the Cape Verde archipelago.
One more day at sea in the last of the three long transits we have had on this exploration. We have entered the last third of the voyage, and today was our first full day in the Northern Hemisphere. The wind was warm, and the sea rolled calmly, pushing us forward on our journey to Cape Verde. We are all excited about the next destination, and at the same time, we are enjoying the process of getting there. Many guests walked around the decks, scouting for birds and whales. Others preferred to attend presentations in the lounge. Today’s presentations covered a wide range of topics, from whaling to 16th century explorers to the East India Company. As we cross these waters, learning about the people who crossed before us adds an extra layer of history to our journey.
On a sailor’s first crossing of the equator, it is imperative that they be initiated properly; for many, this is a long-awaited badge of honor. In the line crossing ceremony, one goes from being a lowly pollywog to a respected shellback, welcomed by King Neptune himself. We crossed the equator at 0900 on a glassy, beautiful morning and toasted with champagne on the bow. Then came the initiation. King Neptune, Queen Tethys, and their gang of rapscallion pirates collected the pollywogs and gave them a proper initiation on the sun deck, officially welcoming them to the northern hemisphere. In true maritime tradition, the details of the ceremony must not be revealed, but we can confidently say, we are a ship of shellbacks.
Days at sea are all about looking for wildlife. And we're constantly on the watch for fish, birds, mammals, and you never know what you’re going to see.