Cruises
Ships that Visit the Galápagos Islands
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by Don George
26-06-2024
Cruises
a
by Don George
26-06-2024
An extended voyage through the Galápagos Islands is the best way to see the sights.
The amount and kind of tourist boats that can operate within Galápagos National Park are regulated. People visit the Galápagos to see the incredible wildlife, but this helps keep the islands from becoming too crowded, protects the environment, and keeps the animals as healthy as possible. Several tourist boats in the vicinity provide all-inclusive itineraries ranging from five to seven days, which are closely controlled by officials from the national park. You should use caution when selecting a tour, as there are cruises that are operating unlawfully.
Whether you're looking for an intimate voyage or an expansive one, a jam-packed schedule or a relaxing meander around this secluded Pacific archipelago, we can assist you in finding the perfect cruise.
In the Galápagos Islands, the average passenger count is under twenty. While smaller ships may lack some of the plush services found on larger ones, they more than make up for it with attentive care, a more intimate atmosphere, and faster access to and from the ship.
Formerly owned by Grace Kelly was the 18-passenger M/Y Grace. You may now book a night in the Grace Kelly Suite, one of nine rooms on board, the very suite where she and Prince Rainier spent a portion of their honeymoon. Guests can enjoy a variety of water sports, including snorkeling, kayaking, trekking, and panga rides, on one of the three itineraries that last between eight and fifteen days.
When looking for a reasonably priced full-service motor yacht in the Galápagos, consider the M/Y Letty. With roomy cabins and first-rate service, this 20-passenger yacht is a safe bet. Dinner with the captain and a guide-to-guest ratio of 10 are two of the many perks of a cruise on the M/Y Letty. Two different seven-day itineraries are available to you, and both of them include snorkeling, hiking, and wildlife education with knowledgeable guides.
A floating boutique hotel, the M/V Origin can accommodate 20 guests. Guests can enjoy an open-bar policy and complimentary Wi-Fi while cruising this ship with all ten cabins located on the same deck. This ship is not just one of the Galápagos' most fuel-efficient, but it also has a distinctive hull design. Sailing two eight-day trips throughout the archipelago, Ecoventura's M/V Origin, similar to the M/Y Letty, offers many opportunities to get close to nature.
These medium-sized boats offer the best of both worlds, so you don't have to choose between a tiny ship and a huge vessel for your voyage. Because there will be more people, there will be more room for everyone, and there will be more activities and services available, so you may mix and mingle more.
Adriana Hoyos, an American furniture and interior designer famous for her work on high-end hotels across the continent, created the 32-passenger M/V Evolution. Modern boutique hotel style characterizes its cabins. A library, bar, and indoor/outdoor lounge are all on the premises. There are three distinct itineraries available to passengers, each spanning eight to fifteen days and offering a unique journey around the Galápagos.
On board the 48-passenger National Geographic Islander II, every cabin is equipped with windows, and a few even have their own patios. Deck hammocks, Wi-Fi, and meals prepared with products from Galápagos farms are all available on board. From seven to twelve days long, itineraries cover cultural activities, wildlife watching, and water sports.
These medium-sized boats offer the best of both worlds, so you don't have to choose between a tiny ship and a huge vessel for your voyage. Because there will be more people, there will be more room for everyone, and there will be more activities and services available, so you may mix and mingle more.
Adriana Hoyos, an American furniture and interior designer famous for her work on high-end hotels across the continent, created the 32-passenger M/V Evolution. Modern boutique hotel style characterizes its cabins. A library, bar, and indoor/outdoor lounge are all on the premises. There are three distinct itineraries available to passengers, each spanning eight to fifteen days and offering a unique journey around the Galápagos.
On board the 48-passenger National Geographic Islander II, every cabin is equipped with windows, and a few even have their own patios. Deck hammocks, Wi-Fi, and meals prepared with products from Galápagos farms are all available on board. From seven to twelve days long, itineraries cover cultural activities, wildlife watching, and water sports.
These are some of the largest ships in the archipelago, and officials from Galápagos National Park have established a maximum restriction of 100 people per vessel. Cruisegoers looking for more amenities, such an on-board doctor, and more room to move around on board may go for a ship with a greater capacity. The length of time it may take to execute zodiac transfers from the ship to land destinations is one drawback of traveling on a large ship. Furthermore, bigger ships may not be able to access all parts of the Galápagos.
The National Geographic Endeavor II is a 96-passenger ship that offers Wi-Fi, a spa, a doctor, stand-up paddleboards, a transparent zodiac, and a digital picture kiosk with complimentary iMacs. In the same vein as the Islander II, the Galápagos Islands take great care to prepare and package imported food so as to avoid the spread of exotic animals.
Celebrity Flora, a 100-passenger ship, has all the features, amenities, and services of her sister ships—and more—including the largest Galápagos Penthouse Suites at 1,288 square feet, stargazing sessions led by naturalists, and outdoor cabanas available for private glamping.
With staterooms ranging from 1,722 to 1,722 square feet, private verandas, butler service, espresso makers, minibars, and more, the 100-passenger Silver Origin is an all-suite ship. The pricing already includes tips. Two restaurants, a spa, a fitness facility, and a communal fire pit are all on board. One hundred different cruises are available, with some itineraries going on for up to eighteen days.
Because of their unusual hull design, which resembles a sled's two parallel runners, many people think catamarans are more stable when sailing.
One of the more opulent galápagos catamaran options is the 16-passenger Celebrity Xploration. Amenities such as room service, a pillow menu, personal refrigerators, binoculars, and eight suites and junior suites are available. Both the northern and southern itineraries are seven nights long and are sailed by the catamaran.
Two of the Anahi's eight rooms are large suites of 270 square feet each, allowing the ship to accommodate up to sixteen guests. Polished oak floors and portrait windows are some of the conventional boat design elements that guests can anticipate. The Galápagos are best explored by taking one of many various itineraries, each of which visits a different island. The cruises can be anywhere from four to fifteen days long.
The Cormorant II has nine staterooms, each with its own balcony, and can accommodate sixteen people. There are suites available with extras like Jacuzzi spas and walk-in closets. Cruises range from four to eight days and include activities like kayaking, snorkeling, and tours of the ocean floor via glass-bottom boats.
One option to consider is a live-aboard diving boat, which is ideal for qualified scuba divers. These vessels are custom-made for divers and their equipment, and they follow specified routes and schedules that stop at the best dive spots. Scuba divers in the Galápagos often see sunfish, spotted eagle rays, hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, and countless more marine species.
Both the M/V Humboldt Explorer and the M/V Tiburon Explorer are live-aboard vessels operated by Explorer Ventures. They can each hold sixteen passengers. The Humboldt's spacious dive deck makes donning and doffing your gear a breeze. There is a maximum of 19 dives on the eight-day vacation and up to 28 on the eleven-day excursion.
The 84-foot Nortada can accommodate eight passengers in her four cabins. The bridge, the galley, the dining room, and the lounge are all great places for passengers to mingle outside of their quarters. Scuba vacations can be seven or fourteen nights long, and divers can expect to go on as many as four dives each day.
Starting in 1993, the Galápagos Aggressor ships have been circumnavigating the Galápagos Islands. There is enough for sixteen people on the Aggressor III. Four dives per day and two shore excursions make up a weeklong charter.
