National Geographic Islander II

{{Short description|German cruise ship}} {{update|date=June 2023}}{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2019}} {{Infobox ship |display_title = ital |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image=Crystal Esprit.jpg |image_caption = }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header = |name = *1989-1991: ''Lady Diana'' *1991-1994: ''Aurora I'' *1994-2015: ''MegaStar Taurus'' *2015-2021: ''Crystal Esprit'' *2021-present: ''National Geographic Islander II'' |namesake = |operator = *Windsor Lines (1989–1994) *Star Cruises (1994–2015) *Crystal Cruises (2015–2021) *Lindblad Expeditions (2021-present) |registry = *Nassau, {{flag|Bahamas|civil}} |ordered = |awarded = |builder = Flender Werft |yard_number = 647 |laid_down = February 8, 1988 |launched = February 24, 1989<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/lady_d_1991.htm| title= M/S LADY D.|access-date=July 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925113458/http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/lady_d_1991.htm |archive-date=September 25, 2022}}</ref> |sponsor = |christened = |status = In service |completed = December 1, 1991 |in_service = |out_of_service = |identification = *Call sign: C6CL7 *{{IMO Number|8705266}} *{{MMSI|354264000}} |notes = <ref name="dnv">{{csr|register=DNV|id=23183|shipname=|access-date=January 7, 2016}}</ref> }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header = |header_caption = |class = |tonnage = {{GT|3,370}} |displacement = |length = 85 m (280 feet) |beam =  |height = |draught =  |power =  |propulsion =  |speed =  |capacity = 62 passengers |crew = 93 crew |decks = 5 decks |notes = <ref name=knego>{{cite web|last1=Knego|first1=Peter|title=CRYSTAL ESPRIT Christened|url=http://maritimematters.com/2015/12/crystal-espirit-christened/|website=Maritime Matters|access-date=January 7, 2016|date=December 21, 2015|archive-date=December 31, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231001805/http://maritimematters.com/2015/12/crystal-espirit-christened/}}</ref><ref name=dnv/> }} }}

'''''National Geographic Islander II''''' is a cruise ship currently operated by Lindblad Expeditions. Built by Flender Werft in Lübeck, Germany, she was laid down in 1988 and floated out as ''Lady Diana'' in 1989. She was completed in December 1991 as ''Aurora I.'' She and sister ship ''Aurora II'' were purchased by Star Cruises in 1994. ''Aurora I'' was renamed ''Megastar Taurus'' and served from 1994 until being laid up in 2008.<ref name="dnv"/><ref name=knego/>

In July 2015, Crystal Cruises announced that she would join its fleet as ''Crystal Esprit'',<ref>{{cite news|last1=Machan|first1=Teresa|title=Submarines and underwater weddings: cruising for the mega-rich has arrived|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/11750564/Submarines-and-underwater-weddings-cruising-for-the-mega-rich-has-arrived.html|access-date=January 7, 2016|work=The Daily Telegraph (London)|date=July 20, 2015}}</ref> and on December 20, 2015, she was rechristened at Eden Island Marina in Mahé, Seychelles, by Lady Gaenor Anne Meakes (fiancée of yachtsman Mark Richards).<ref name=knego/>

In September 2021, Crystal announced that they had sold the all-suite ship following a review of its post-pandemic offering.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kalosh |first1=Anne |title=Crystal sells its all-suite yacht, Crystal Esprit |url=https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/ship-operations/crystal-sells-its-all-suite-yacht-crystal-esprit |access-date=November 2, 2021 |work=Seatrade Cruise News |date=September 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909055653/https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/ship-operations/crystal-sells-its-all-suite-yacht-crystal-esprit |archive-date=September 9, 2021}}</ref> The new owner is Lindblad Expeditions, which has renamed her ''National Geographic Islander II'' and intends to base her in the Galapagos Islands, replacing its current {{ship||National Geographic Islander}}, in its the alliance with National Geographic Travel.<ref name="dnv" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Jainchill |first1=Johanna |title=Crystal Esprit's new owner, Lindblad, will deploy yacht in the Galapagos |url=https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Crystal-Esprit-buyer-Lindblad-Expeditions-operating-ship-Galapagos |access-date=November 2, 2021 |work=Travel Weekly |date=September 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019173638/https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Crystal-Esprit-buyer-Lindblad-Expeditions-operating-ship-Galapagos |archive-date=October 19, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=National Geographic Expeditions Buys Tour Operator to Enter Land Vacation Market |url=https://skift.com/2017/05/05/national-geographic-expeditions-buys-tour-operator-to-enter-land-vacation-market/ |access-date=April 16, 2022 |work=Skift |date=May 5, 2017}}</ref> The ship was christened in October 2022.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://world.expeditions.com/about/press-room/lindblad-expeditions-national-geographic-officially-names-newest-vessel-national-geographic-islander-ii/ | title=Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Officially Names Newest Vessel, National Geographic Islander II|date=October 27, 2022|publisher=Lindblad Expeditions |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028140419/https://world.expeditions.com/about/press-room/lindblad-expeditions-national-geographic-officially-names-newest-vessel-national-geographic-islander-ii/ |archive-date=October 28, 2022}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{commons}} * [https://www.expeditions.com/ships/national-geographic-islander-ii ''National Geographic Islander II'' – Lindblad Expeditions]

{{Lindblad Expedition Ships}} Category:Ships of Lindblad Expeditions Category:1989 ships Category:Cruise ships Category:Ships built in Lübeck