Built in the U.S., this small adventure ship cruises the waters off Central America, visiting many ports of call that are hard to reach in any other manner. She also does double duty accompanying the National Geographic
Sea Bird and
Sea Lion on Baja California cruises. This 354-ton, 170-ft, three-deck vessel comfortably carries 60 passengers. Her enthusiastic English-speaking crew of 22 hails from Central America.
The Lindblads, father (now deceased) and son, are pioneers in the expedition-style cruise business. Lars-Erik began trips to Antarctica over 40 years ago, and his son Sven-Olof has expanded the business beyond the polar regions to Europe, and North, Central and South America.
Most passengers are mature, well-heeled Americans with an adventurous yen for learning and an unfussy attitude to their surroundings. Children join in some active itineraries during the school holidays.
In the tradition of small eco-adventure ships, she shuns roulette and revues in favor of education and exotica as she journeys on roundtrip adventures from Costa Rica to Panama on the Pacific Ocean side to visit remote coastal parks, beaches and off-shore islands with bird watching, rainforest trips, native culture, snorkeling and diving among the highlights All excursions are included.
Trips begin or end with a transit of the Panama Canal. Naturalists share knowledge during excursions and evening lectures. If not in Central America, the Sea Voyager will also cruise Baja California for whale-watching and visits to remote islands.
Passengers are generally early to bed, early to rise, and most socializing is at the covered open-air bar on the top deck, which opens to a carpeted sun deck aft. High up on Bridge Deck is an air-conditioned lounge with a big-screen TV, VCR, stereo, board games, and coffee round the clock. A library and fitness center are located forward on the Upper Deck. Smoking is not allowed in air-conditioned areas.
An ample buffet breakfast and dinner are at one open sitting in the dining room, while the luncheon buffet is laid out in the dining room, on deck, or on shore. Meals are tasty but hardly gourmet.
A swimming platform, lightweight kayaks, snorkeling gear, skiffs for deep-sea fishing, and equipment for certified divers provide extra fun—especially since watersports are free. Laundry service is available twice weekly.
The ship has 31 windowed cabins and two cabins on Upper Deck have single beds for sole occupancy. Other sole occupancy cabins are available in categories 1 and 2. Shares can also be arranged in these two categories. These basic air-conditioned staterooms have baths with showers (basins outside baths), and racks instead of closets. Cabins are not wheelchair accessible. The ship carries a doctor. Additional equipment includes a hydrophone, Splash-cam, underwater video camera, and Zodiac landing craft.
The Sea Voyager is a fine small ship drawing mainly adventurous, outdoorsy North Americans, who like exploring remote subtropical regions. Cruise West’s 100-passenger Pacific Explorer would be the closest rival.
