Has anyone here ever been on a cruise to the Galapagos Islands? I'm just starting to do research into going on a cruise in mid-2002, and we're thinking about the Galapagos.

What we are looking for:
- A fairly "deluxe" cruise experience. We don't expect maximum opulence on a nature cruise, but we aren't looking for a freighter and we definitely aren't college students. Just a nice, quality ship where we have a decent private room for two people.
- Lots of pinniped viewing. I think this is probably featured on most Galapagos tours, but we definitely want to see both the sea lions and the fur seals that live in the Galapagos.
- We'd possibly consider a mix of nights onshore at a hotel and nights on the boat. But more likely, the whole time on the boat.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Experiences from your cruise?

We've been twice in the past 4 years. Once on an A&K package, and once our family chartered a boat for 18 of us.
General thoughts:
All groups, no matter what the size of the boat, never exceed 10 people to one naturalist. Boats are assigned their landing spots each day by the national park, so never to overload any one spot, or put stress on the ecology. You can expect to make 2-3 landings on any given day. Plan on going for at least 5 days, you'll go to most islands that they allow landings on, and you will see everything, really.
The Isabella 2 is a very good boat, 20 cabins, max 40 people. When we were on it, there were only 8 people - and it was nothing short of fantastic. The boat we chartered I would not recommend. I have a very close friend who is there right now, on a new boat - and if you like I'll send you a review when he returns.
A note on children: It's a great trip for kids.....but I wouldn't take them under 8, and really 10 would be the youngest.

Finally the animal encounters are incredible - there is no fear of humans - and the guides make sure that non of the two legged guests disrupt the animals. Having said that, you'll be walking on trails, and have to step around nesting birds, the occasional sea lion, and reptiles that only a mother could love. Have a great trip. It's magical! Hope this helped a little.

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Askworldtraveler, EXP,4 million AA miles+++

I recommend spending all your time on a boat. The only on-land location with a hotel is the most developed, and therefore the least interesting.

On another note, please, at all costs, avoid a boat called the "Free Enterprise". We travelled on it and the broken air conditioning, the lack of skills of the crew (we ran into another boat as we left anchor at 2AM), and the general feel of the boat left a lot to be desired.

I would recommend a small boat luxury cruise. Quasar Expeditions (http://www.galapagosexpeditions) is about the best in my experience. They have a naturalist on board and was very knowledgeable about the details of the habits of the wildlife and where to see them. They were very obliging of my birdwatching passion, so I'm sure they would take care of all the pinniped viewing you could handle. Plus treat you well with gourmet meals and personalized care. I really liked the small boat -- I got to know all the passengers individually.