Note 2 - Earnings Per Share - Schedule of Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Net (loss) income attributable to Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc.	$ (27,379)	$ 2,161	$ (68,973)	$ 17,822
Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock dividend	425	0	425	0
Non-cash deemed dividend to warrant holders	0	2,654	0	2,654
Undistributed (loss) earnings available to stockholders	$ (27,804)	$ (493)	$ (69,398)	$ 15,168
Weighted average shares outstanding
Total weighted average shares outstanding, basic (in shares)	49,779,525	48,863,506	49,715,663	46,704,634
Dilutive potential common shares (in shares)	0	0	0	252,279
Dilutive potential options (in shares)	0	0	0	66,105
Dilutive potential redeemable convertible preferred shares (in shares)	0	0	0	0
Dilutive potential warrants (in shares)	0	0	0	2,068,352
Total weighted average shares outstanding, diluted (in shares)	49,779,525	48,863,506	49,715,663	49,091,370
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.56)	$ (0.01)	$ (1.40)	$ 0.32
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.56)	$ (0.01)	$ (1.40)	$ 0.31