National Geographic Islander II

National Geographic Islander II is a small, all-suite expedition cruise ship currently operated by Lindblad Expeditions. The vessel is associated with the operator's Galápagos program and with its alliance with National Geographic Travel. Rather than representing a conventional consumer brand, the name identifies a specific passenger vessel whose commercial identity has changed several times during its service life. The ship was built by Flender Werft in Lübeck, Germany. Construction began in 1988, and the vessel was floated out in 1989 under the name Lady Diana. It was completed in December 1991 as Aurora I. In 1994, Star Cruises acquired Aurora I together with its sister vessel Aurora II. Under Star Cruises, Aurora I was renamed Megastar Taurus and remained in service until it was laid up in 2008. The vessel later returned to the cruise market through Crystal Cruises. In July 2015, Crystal announced that the ship would join its fleet as Crystal Esprit. The ship was formally rechristened on December 20, 2015, at Eden Island Marina in Mahé, Seychelles. Its all-suite configuration and relatively intimate scale suited Crystal's luxury-yacht positioning, while its size enabled itineraries in destinations less accessible to large cruise ships. In September 2021, Crystal announced that it had sold the ship as part of a review of its post-pandemic fleet and product offering. Lindblad Expeditions became the new owner and renamed the vessel National Geographic Islander II. The company planned to deploy it in the Galápagos Islands, where it would replace the earlier National Geographic Islander. The vessel was christened under its new name in October 2022. National Geographic Islander II is therefore best understood as a named maritime product and expedition platform rather than a standalone corporate brand. Its current proposition combines small-ship cruising, all-suite accommodation, expedition travel, and access to the Galápagos under Lindblad Expeditions' National Geographic-linked positioning. The available reference material does not establish a separate headquarters, founder, public listing, or independently reported financial results for the vessel.

National Geographic Islander II is a cruise ship with a service history spanning several owners, names, and market segments. It was constructed by Flender Werft in Lübeck, Germany. The vessel was laid down in 1988 and floated out in 1989 under the name Lady Diana. Completion took place in December 1991, when it entered service as Aurora I. In 1994, Star Cruises purchased Aurora I and its sister ship Aurora II. The vessel was renamed Megastar Taurus and operated under that identity until it was laid up in 2008. The available reference material does not specify the ship's itineraries or commercial role during each phase of Star Cruises ownership, but the period represents its first major transition from its original identity into a larger cruise-group fleet. The ship returned to active commercial attention in 2015, when Crystal Cruises announced plans to add it to the company's fleet as Crystal Esprit. It was subsequently rechristened at Eden Island Marina in Mahé, Seychelles, on December 20, 2015. Under Crystal, the ship was presented as an all-suite vessel, a format consistent with a premium small-ship and yacht-style cruise experience. Its relatively compact scale differentiated it from large resort-style cruise ships and made it suitable for destination-focused itineraries. Crystal later reassessed its fleet and post-pandemic product strategy. In September 2021, the company announced that the all-suite ship had been sold. Lindblad Expeditions acquired the vessel and renamed it National Geographic Islander II. Lindblad intended to base the ship in the Galápagos Islands, where it would replace the operator's existing National Geographic Islander. The new deployment connected the vessel's small-scale accommodation model with Lindblad's expedition-oriented approach and its alliance with National Geographic Travel. The vessel was christened under the National Geographic Islander II name in October 2022. Its current identity is tied to Galápagos expedition cruising, nature interpretation, and premium small-ship travel. The ship's history illustrates how a single vessel can be repositioned through successive names and operators: from Lady Diana to Aurora I, Megastar Taurus, Crystal Esprit, and finally National Geographic Islander II. The source material does not provide detailed technical specifications, passenger capacity, cabin count, route schedules, financial information, or named executives, so those fields are left unspecified.

1. 2022Christened as National Geographic Islander II

   The ship was christened under its current name in October 2022 for planned Galápagos operations.

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2. 2021Transferred to Lindblad Expeditions

   Following Crystal's post-pandemic fleet review, the vessel was sold to Lindblad Expeditions and renamed National Geographic Islander II.

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3. 2015Introduced as Crystal Esprit

   Crystal Cruises announced that the ship would join its fleet as Crystal Esprit, and the vessel was rechristened in December.

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4. 2008Laid up as Megastar Taurus

   The vessel remained in service under the Megastar Taurus name until it was laid up in 2008.

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5. 1994Acquired by Star Cruises

   Star Cruises purchased Aurora I and its sister ship Aurora II. Aurora I was renamed Megastar Taurus.

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6. 1991Completed as Aurora I

   The vessel was completed in December 1991 under the name Aurora I.

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7. 1989Floated out as Lady Diana

   The ship was floated out under its first recorded name, Lady Diana.

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8. 1988Construction begins

   The vessel was laid down at Flender Werft in Lübeck, Germany.

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An intimate, all-suite expedition vessel positioned for premium nature and wildlife travel in the Galápagos Islands, operated by Lindblad Expeditions in association with National Geographic Travel.

• National Geographic Islander II expedition cruisesExpedition cruising2022

  The vessel's current commercial offering consists of small-ship expedition travel associated with Lindblad Expeditions' Galápagos program. The experience is designed around access to a nature-focused destination rather than the amenities and scale of a mass-market cruise resort. The ship's all-suite format supports premium accommodation, while its compact size is suited to an intimate expedition environment. The available source does not specify individual itineraries, voyage lengths, or inclusions.

• Crystal EspritLuxury small-ship cruising2015

  Crystal Esprit was the vessel's identity under Crystal Cruises from 2015 until its sale in 2021. It was described as an all-suite ship and represented a luxury, yacht-style product within Crystal's fleet. The vessel's relatively small scale distinguished it from larger conventional cruise ships and allowed Crystal to use it for a more intimate style of premium cruising.

• 2021Lindblad Expeditions acquires the shipM&A

  Crystal Cruises reviewed its post-pandemic offering and decided to sell the all-suite vessel.

  What changed. Lindblad Expeditions purchased the ship, renamed it National Geographic Islander II, and planned to base it in the Galápagos Islands.

  Aftermath. The vessel was positioned to replace Lindblad's existing National Geographic Islander and became part of the operator's National Geographic-linked expedition proposition.

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• 2015Crystal Cruises launches the Crystal Esprit identityProduct launch

  Crystal Cruises announced that the ship would join its fleet after operating under the Megastar Taurus name.

  What changed. Crystal Cruises renamed the vessel Crystal Esprit and formally rechristened it in the Seychelles on December 20, 2015.

  Aftermath. The ship operated as an all-suite luxury small-ship product under Crystal Cruises until it was sold in 2021.

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• 2022National Geographic Islander II is christened for Galápagos service

  The renamed vessel was christened in October 2022 as part of its transition into Lindblad Expeditions' Galápagos operation.

  Product launchProduct generation
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• 2021Lindblad Expeditions acquires and renames the vessel

  Crystal announced that the all-suite ship had been sold following a review of its post-pandemic offering. Lindblad Expeditions became the new owner and selected the name National Geographic Islander II.

  M&A
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• 2015Crystal Cruises announces Crystal Esprit will join its fleet

  Crystal Cruises announced that the vessel, then known as Megastar Taurus, would enter its fleet under the name Crystal Esprit.

  M&AOther
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• 2015Crystal Esprit is rechristened in the Seychelles

  The ship was rechristened Crystal Esprit on December 20, 2015, at Eden Island Marina in Mahé, Seychelles.

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1. National Geographic Islander II
2. Lindblad Expeditions