Celebrity Xploration was a small luxury catamaran that carried just 16 guests on Galapagos expedition cruises for Celebrity Cruises, one of the most intimate vessels the line ever operated. Her twin-hulled design gave her stability and a shallow draft well suited to the sheltered waters and remote landing sites of the archipelago, and her tiny guest count made for a highly personal, exclusive style of expedition travel focused on the islands' extraordinary endemic wildlife.
The ship earned a notable place in Galapagos history in August 2017, when Nathaly Alban took command and Xploration became the first Galapagos cruise vessel to be captained by a woman. Registered in Ecuador and homeported at San Cristobal Island, she operated under the Galapagos National Park's strict access rules, with naturalist guides leading her small complement of guests on daily excursions.
As Celebrity refreshed its Galapagos fleet, Xploration's time with the line drew to an end. In 2024 Celebrity sold the catamaran to Lindblad Expeditions, folding her into that operator's expedition portfolio.
Renamed National Geographic Delfina, she began revenue operations under her new owner in January 2025 and no longer sails for Celebrity Cruises. The sale placed the little catamaran within Lindblad's long-running partnership with the National Geographic Society, a fitting berth for an intimate expedition vessel. Under the Lindblad flag she continues to carry small groups of expedition travelers through the same Galapagos waters she served for Celebrity, a rare 16-guest platform in a destination where access is strictly limited.
Specifications
| Status | Retired |
|---|---|
| Entered service | 2008 |
| Retired | 2025 |
| Cruise line | Celebrity Cruises |
| Class | Galapagos class |
| Gross tonnage | 2,400 GT |
| Guests (double occupancy) | 16 |
| Guests (maximum) | 19 |
| Crew | 10 |
| Length | 30 m (98 ft) |
| Beam | 11 m (36 ft) moulded |
| Decks | 4 |
| Staterooms | 8 |
| Shipyard | Botto Astilleros (Guayaquil, Ecuador) |
| Flag | Ecuador |
| Port of registry | Ecuador |
| IMO number | 9455882 |
| Home port | San Cristobal Island, Galapagos |
| Region | Galapagos Islands |
About the Galapagos class class
Small expedition vessels purpose-built for the Galápagos Islands, including the all-suite Celebrity Flora.
Ownership & loyalty
Part of Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL).
Sister brands: Royal Caribbean International, Silversea Cruises, TUI Cruises, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.
Loyalty status match - members keep an equivalent tier across the group's brands:
- Crown & Anchor Society (Royal Caribbean International) ↔ Captain's Club (Celebrity Cruises)
One-for-one tier status match across Royal Caribbean Group brands: Gold <-> Classic, Platinum/Emerald <-> Select, Diamond <-> Elite, Diamond Plus <-> Elite Plus, Pinnacle Club <-> Zenith. - Crown & Anchor Society (Royal Caribbean International) ↔ Venetian Society (Silversea Cruises)
One-for-one status match with Silversea Venetian Society: Gold <-> 1 day, Platinum/Emerald <-> 100 days, Diamond <-> 250 days, Diamond Plus <-> 350 days, Pinnacle Club <-> 500 days.