I spent $7,000 on an 8-day luxury cruise with just 100 passengers on board. I can't recommend it enough.

• I went on an eight-day Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic cruise.
• The $7,000 cruise included snorkeling with sea lions, hiking, and close encounters with gray whales.
• The all-inclusive trip ended up being a great value and I'd gladly do it again.

In February, I went on a Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic cruise that was unlike any other trip I'd ever been on before.

I snorkeled next to sea lions, swam with exotic fish, and came so close to a gray whale that I could've reached out and touched it.

Although $7,000 per person for an eight-day, seven-night journey isn't cheap, my trip came with a lot of perks — and I didn't spend any additional money on board.

Here's why this bucket-list experience was worth every penny.

Getting to the boat was easy, and the staterooms were comfortable

My son and I flew nonstop from Los Angeles to Loreto, Mexico, where Lindblad's team greeted us. Comfy coaches whisked us to our temporary floating home, the National Geographic Venture.

The luxurious ship had outdoor decks, an indoor lounge with seating for all passengers, and numerous practical amenities, such as a fitness center.

The Venture has 50 cabins for 100 guests. We shared a stateroom with Scandinavian-style furniture, including two single beds, a foldout couch, and a desk.

Our room's large windows allowed us to watch the scenery float by.

Experts aboard the ship ensured we made the most of our adventure

As soon as we unpacked, passengers and crew got acquainted at an introductory meeting.

Our captain mapped out the route: We'd start in Loreto on the Sea of Cortez and loop around the Baja Peninsula to the Pacific Ocean. We would disembark in San Carlos, where a coach would escort us back to the Loreto airport.

The ship's team of naturalists, educators, and photography instructors introduced themselves and shared their enthusiasm from the start.

There was never a dull moment on this trip

One standout part of the Venture was its fleet of Zodiacs. These sturdy, inflatable boats hold a dozen passengers and would allow us to access places larger vessels can't, ferrying us to remote locations for up-close observations and interactions with marine life.

Accompanied by a naturalist, we'd board the Zodiacs early in the morning and go on adventures every day.

We got to experience the striking landscape of red volcanic ash and fossilized sand dunes on remote Puerto Gato. There, we chose which activity to partake in: I snorkeled and kayaked while my son balanced on a paddleboard.

Together, we also hiked the dry riverbed with a naturalist who pointed out exotic desert vegetation.

While in Los Islotes, we encountered dozens of playful sea lions as they sunbathed on rocks and frolicked in the sea.

At Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park, we snorkeled around coral reefs filled with colorful fish.

I've snorkeled in many parts of the world, but being in Cabo Pulmo made it clear to me why oceanographer Jacques Cousteau once referred to Baja as "the world's aquarium."

Of course, we saw many whales during the trip. After all, our itinerary was called Baja California: Among the Great Whales .

February is Baja's prime whale-watching season , so the calendar was in our favor.

In Puerto Lopez Mateos, we boarded small boats and observed gray whales, which travel from their Arctic feeding grounds to breed and raise their calves in these sheltered waters. I got so close to these majestic mammals that I nearly touched one.

Cultural experiences were also woven into the trip.

We spent an afternoon watching a folkloric dance performance, visited an organic cattle farm, and sampled authentic local cuisine at several Baja restaurants.

There was also plenty to do on the ship

We spent a lot of each day off of the ship, but we had fun on it.

While on board, life revolved around spotting humpback whales on deck, attending lectures with the naturalists, trying hands-on photography clinics, and partaking in a daily sunrise exercise class.

The onboard lounge was a guest magnet. Bartenders mixed cocktails, and the lounge steward made sure there was always plenty of hot coffee available — even for an early bird like me who craves caffeine at 6 a.m.

The scenery around us was stunning, and the ship offered great views every time of day.

Food was abundant and satisfying

The onboard meals were delicious. Breakfast was a buffet with made-to-order eggs. Lunch and dinner were multi-course, plated meals with five or six different main dishes featuring locally caught fish.

The daily cocktail hour and a morning snack for early risers kept us well-fed.

Above all, the all-inclusive pricing ensured there weren't any surprise expenses

I really appreciated Lindblad's all-inclusive pricing. Once I paid the $7,000 per person, I never opened my wallet again.

The cost of the trip included all activities, equipment (like wetsuits and loaner cameras), food, beverages, and airport transfers. I also got access to satellite internet, which allowed me to check my email and send text messages.

Service was attentive right up to the very end of the trip when the staff prepared boxed lunches for us to eat as we waited for our flights home.

It was an unforgettable experience that I'd book again in a heartbeat.