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 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.

Just got back from a 5-day cruise aboard the Galapagos Explorer II.

http://www.galapagosexplorer.com/pagina-en/index.html

It was a Make-A-Wish trip for our son Sam, who is now off-treatment for leukemia. It was a great trip. First cruise for any of us. I'll try to cover the important stuff.

Cabin -- we got upgraded to the Premium cabins on the Marco Polo deck -- average of 235 Sq. ft. Nice cabins, with a fair amount of room. Set up either as twins (kids' room), or with beds together in a pseudo-king. Good sized bathrooms, with substantial room in the shower. Our room steward was great -- kept it clean, fresh towels when we wanted, and never obtrusive (but we were out on excursions so often they had plenty of time).

On-board activities. GE II is probably the biggest boat in the Galapagos, with 100 passengers. A lot of daily activities on board, in between excursions and meals. But the only ones we went to were the briefings for the next island visits, and the receptions and parties. (Our kids were King and Queen Neptune for the Crossing the Equator party.) All activities were well organized, but some of the parties were sparsely attended -- everyone was tired from a couple of hikes and a snorkel each day.

Meals. I thought the food was very well done (with the minor exception that they seemed unable to produce decent pancakes or waffles in the morning for breakfast). However, breakfasts were otherwise good - lots of fresh fruit, and fresh squeezed juices, omelettes, breads and muffins, etc. Lunch was a buffet each day, with multiple choices (typically fish, chicken, several vegetables and starches, various salads, fruit, desserts, etc.) Good attentive service at lunch. Dinners were generally terrific -- choice of a couple of appetizers, soups, entrees, and desserts (chosen and ordered earlier when at breakfast or lunch). They had good vegetarian options for my daughter most days, and got us special order items when we requested. The bar staff was very good -- excellent drinks, and not gouging us was appreciated. $1.50 for a beer, and $3.25 for a mixed drink. Reasonable wine selections.

On-shore excursions were obviously the highlight of the trip, and the GE II did not disappoint there. They got us into the Zodiacs and onto the islands quickly, with reasonable spacing between groups (each with their own naturalist). We saw and experienced all the wildlife and natural vistas that the islands offered. Typical day was first excursion at 8 a.m., for a 2-2 1/2 hour hike, followed by an hour or hour and a half of snorkeling. Back on board for lunch, then the boat traveled to the next island or site, and another 2 - 2 1/2 hour hike at the next site in the afternoon. Ecuador and the national park tightly controls how long each group from each boat can stay on a site or island, so being on a smaller boat would not have made much difference, as I understand it. Our naturalists were generally great -- a lot of terrific information, knowledge about where to see things, and good descriptive information of each of the types of plants, animals, etc.

Overall, we thought the cruise was terrific. My wife and daughter got a bit queasy from the rocking of the boat, and pitching on a few of the longer ocean traverses between islands, so we were kinda glad we were on a 300+ ft. ship, and not on one of the smaller boats.

It's like being in another world for a few days. One of the great travel experiences of our lives.

I went with 15 family members on the Parranda. (Guilty as Charged)
We loved it. The Parranda recently burned and sank, so we booked a return on the MS Grace. It mysteriously became "unavailable" only three weeks before our trip. We went on safari in South Africa instead. Geo Expeditions arranged both trips. They are superb.

Chartering a small yacht for just your group plus a naturalist or two is the only way to go, if you're a group who enjoys one another. Hard to beat a trip like this. (Except maybe an African safari!)

We've been to the Gal�pagos a couple of times - once on a naturalist trip, once on a combined naturalist - dive trip (mostly diving, with a visit to Darwin and Wolf, spectacular diving with hundreds of Hammerheads and other sharks.)

As others have mentioned, one naturalist guide per ten passengers, and guides vary between "licensed" and University trained. Ships' visits are governed by the authorities, and larger ships, though perhaps more comfortable, go to the more worn and used areas - a good small boat with a university-trained naturalist guide, one visiting the westernmost islands, a seven or ten day trip, is the best. Avoid large ships, and those who do a three day trip and four day trip (to the same places) and market a "seven day trip."

Also recognize the Ecuadorian government is far away - 600 miles - and regulations of all kinds (protection, safety, fishing) are ignored with impunity. Safety is up to the boat owner - there is no Coast Guard here to inspect ships; too many have burned and sank, or had other problems. Select carefully or join a US or UK based tour operator known for reliability and excellent trips.

I also highly recommend purchasing A Traveler's Guide to the Galapagos Islands by agency owner Barry Boyce. Even though he runs an agency specializing in this destination, he is unbiased and shares an amazing amount of useful and crucial information for those planning a trip here.

Buy it from Amazon, or directly from Barry at Galapagos Travel in Del Mar, CA. This is a $20 investment in your safety as well as selecting the right trip for you (birder, naturalist, diver, luxury market traveler, etc.)

In fact, Barry offers 11 day trips with naturalist guides AND headed up by a Your Leader / Biologist, so you can learn much more.

I also recommend care in Quito or Guayaquil - theft from baggage is quite common (check Youtube for excellent films on how one can easily open a zipped shut bag without leaving evidence) , and when transiting I usually have expensive dive gear - wrapped in clothing and wetsuit and in old surplus Army duffel bags, with a big lock. The assumption is I am just another island immigrant heading home with stuff and it has worked so far.

If you are at all prone to motion sickness, the islands are at the confluence of five major currents - it can occasionally get "bumpy." Take your favorite "mall de mer" medications, whether the Transderm Scop, Dramamine,, Meclezine or even (works well) ginger in its various forms. Take plenty of strong, waterproof sunscreen - even on foggy "gar�a" days, you can get fried. A good insect repellent can be your friend - try non-DEET to protect your synthetic clothes, plastic camera and devices, and the environment. Take a poncho in case, and shoes that can 1) take sharp lava and very uneven surfaces, and 2) dry out quickly after the "wet" landings.

Take a decent pair of binoculars, and I advise investing in a book or two - Michael Jackson's (not El Whacko) , Andy Swash's, Julian Fitter's checklist, Paul Humann and Ned DeLoach's guide to fish, as you prefer.

If you dive, be sure to be very selective about your trip and assure your gear is up to snuff - these currents can be tricky, and there is no Coast Guard or helicopter for assistance. If you get bent or lost at sea, well, adios.

Great writeup, JDiver. I see that the guidebook is dated 2004. I wonder if Barry is planning an update anytime soon?

Has anyone been on the La Pinta? It's a relatively new ship, having just started last year. It's owned by Metropolitan Touring, who I think own a few of the other ships cruising the Galapagos.

Thanks!

I was looking at the same ship Buster. Hopefully someone has a yay or Nay.

No opinion on the boat itself, but on my way back from Easter Island a couple of weeks ago, I happened to be seated next to a gentleman who was one of the top people at Metropolitan Tours. He had been a naturalist in the Galapagos for 20 years before moving to the "executive" side of things on the mainland (had a daughter that had reached school age). I got the impression that he catered to a very high-end crowd, but then tried to convince me that if I wanted to cruise the Galapagos in May of next year (when I plan to be down in S. Am on business again), he could get me on one of his ships at under $1000/pp for a week. Anyway, take from this what you will... I have his card and do plan on giving him a call in about 6 months.

Hi there,

I wonder if the OP ever took their cruise to Galapagos ...

Last summer I took my family on the Celebrity Xpedition 7 day cruise to the Galapagos. It was a trip I had wanted to take for years, and a vacation of a lifetime, for sure. In response to JDiver, this ship does NOT do alternate 3 & 4day cruises, only a dedicated one week cruise.

The Xpedition is one of the larger ships in the Galapagos (92 pax) but it certainly redefines "cruise ship." It's actually more like an overgrown yacht ... there's no casino, nightly entertainment, etc. The evening activity consists of a talk by the head Naturalist on the next day's islands. I highly recommend this ship. The facilities onboard were first class, and everything many extras (such as alcoholic drinks and shore excursions) are included.

Even a year later, we still talk about the trip and the incredible experience to walk amongst creatures that have no natural fear of humans.

Next on my list is Australia!

We went on a Galapagos cruise in September 2008; Metropolitan Tours was the tour operator. We booked through Columbus Travel. Details provided below were copied from an email I sent to someone who was interested.

Last August, I realized that I would have about a week of time off from work in mid-to-late September; I wanted to visit someplace new. The Galapagos Islands was on my to-do list, but trips that I had read about seemed to be fairly expensive.

We have tons of AA miles so I searched for availability and found that flights were available from DFW to Guayaquil via Miami for most days in September; flights to Quito were not available.

I then searched for cruises and found one that met most of my requirements. I did not want to spend more than $2,000 per person. I preferred a ship that held between 35 to 100 passengers. I had never been on a cruise and really did not know what to expect. I like to plan trips and do things independently, but realized that I should at least try to contact a travel agency to help me get the best deal.

The cruise that I found was on the M/V Santa Cruz; I read reviews of the trip and found nothing negative. They offered a five day cruise, a four day cruise, and a combination of both. The prices for just the five day (four night) cruise ranged from $2,481 to $1,988 per person for just the cruise. I contacted Columbus Travel in Quito and asked about availability (I read reviews of Columbus Travel on the internet and found positive data). I contacted them because they advertised discounted rates.

Elena at Columbus Travel responded that they had cabins available for the dates that we wanted. She offered a promotional rate of $1,150 per person. The rate included accomodations, three meals per day, excursions, and transfers in the Galapagos. The rate did not include flights from Guayaquil (or Quito) to the Galapagos, the $100 Galapagos National Park fee, the migratory control card, and a fuel surcharge.

Elena offered to book our flights from Guayaquil to the Galapagos in conjunction with our cruise. The total cost for two people was $3,148. This amount included the cruise, flights to and from Guayaquil to the Galapagos, a fuel surcharge, and the migratory control cards.

They accept credit cards (through paypal). We paid via a wire transfer to their Miami bank. I was concerned about this type of transaction but it was the cheapest and easiest way to pay.

We booked award seats on AA from DFW to Guayaquil at a cost of 30,000 miles and around $30 for taxes. We had to fly DFW to New Orleans to Miami to Guayaquil on the outbound flights but just Guayaquil to MIA to DFW on the return.

Elena offered to book a hotel for us in Guayaquil but I had already reserved the Hampton Inn. She did arrange to have our documents delivered to the hotel and scheduled our pick-up from and to the hotel before and after the cruise. We had booked a promotional rate that was cheaper than the rate she quoted so we stayed with our reservation.

We flew to Guayaquil on Saturday; our cruise left on Monday so we had all day Sunday in Guayaquil; our flight got in late on Saturday night. We took a taxi to the hotel at a cost of about $5. The US dollar is the currency of Ecuador. Our room was much nicer than your typical Hampton Inn; breakfast was included in the rate. The hotel was located in the downtown area close to the riverfront. On Sunday, we explored the downtown area and felt very safe. Our Spanish is minimal and English was spoken at the hotel but not too much at other places in Guayaquil. Our travel documents and instructions were waiting for us at the hotel.

On Monday morning, we were picked up at the hotel (along with about fifteen other people) and transported to the airport. A representative obtained our boarding passes, checked our bags, and escorted us to the gate. Another representative was on our flight and he assisted us with paperwork and escorted us through the airport (where we paid our $100 park fees) and to the bus that took us to the pier. On the flight, we received free wine and lunch. There was no first class; the seats were OK. Carry-on bags were limited to a small backpack or tote. We flew from Guayaquil to Baltra; most of the people on our cruise flew from Quito to Guayaquil.

We boarded the ship via zodiac type boats. Sea lions greeted us at the pier. We always had to wear a life vest on the zodiacs. On the ship, we were greeted with a welcome drink (fruit drink or alcoholic beverage). We arrived a little late because our flight was late. After dropping our stuff off at the cabin and doing the life boat drill, we were served lunch while the ship travelled to our first stop. Lunches were buffets with a variety of salads, entrees, vegetables, and desserts.

Our cabin was nice with two twin beds (storage underneath), a desk/table with a telephone, closet, and bathroom (shower, sink, and toilet). We were only in the cabin to sleep and bathe. We did not have the cheapest cabin; we were upgraded to the upper deck so we had a nice view.

The ship had a hot tub, bar, lounge chairs and viewing area on the top deck. Aside from the restaurant, there was a large lounge area where we were briefed before and after each adventure. There was also a library with two computers with satellite internet service. A bar was also available.

We had two excursions every day. We were awoken around 6:00 each morning. Breakfast was served buffet style. We were briefed about what we would be doing, how we should dress, and what to bring. We travelled to shore via zodiacs. The first day, we were divided into groups of ten or less based on language. Our group was a mother/daughter from California, a mother/father/son from D.C., a father/son from Tennessee, a mother/daughter from Texas, and a single man from London. We had the best guide; other people kept trying to sneak into our group because he was so wonderful. He grew up on the Galapagos and was a naturalist/researcher. We were ususally the last group back to the ship everytime because our guide allowed us to explore and to take more time.

The first day we visited Cerro Dragon on Baltra Island and saw flamingos, iguanas, and other wildlife. Dinner was served on the ship with open seating. Waiters served the food; a choice of entrees was always provided. Food was quite good; servings were smaller than those served in American restaurants. The desserts were yummy.

We visited Bartolome Island on day two and saw penguins mating, pelicans, sea lions, and other wild life; we had a snorkeling opportunity that morning. I brought a wetsuit with me; flippers, masks, and snorkels were provided; wetsuits could be rented for a small fee. I did not need my wetsuit for snorkeling.

After lunch we visited St. James Island. We saw whales in the distance, seals, sea lions, sea turtles, blue-footed boobies, and other wild life. We watched marine iguanas swim from the ocean and then travel up the beach.

Day three we travelled to Jervis Island and Puerto Ayora. We were just amazed at all of the animals we saw. We even saw manta rays breaching!!! We watched a baby sea lion nursing. Another snorkeling opportunity was available - either from the beach or in much deeper water (sharks were spotted). We saw more iguanas that afternoon and lots of blue footed boobies.

On day four, we travelled by bus to see giant tortoises. Lunch was at a lovely restaurant in the jungle.

On the last day, we visited San Cristobel Island. Our flight departed that afternoon. We were served lunch on the flight and free wine. We were met at the airport and transported to our hotel.

We had heard horror stories about cruises where passengers were expected to tip large amounts to the crew. We actually tipped more than the recommended amounts and still thought that we should tip more. I think the recommended tips were $5 per day per person for the crew and $5 to $10 for our guide.

We had booked a special rate at the Hampton Inn on our second stay that was supposed to provide a city tour, a boat trip, and a free dinner. Due to elections, the city tour was cancelled. To make up for this, the Hampton Inn hired a taxi for us and sent us to the Parque Historico Guayaquil for the morning. They comped our lunch and dinner that day. We took a river cruise at sunset (it was free also).

We took the hotel shuttle to the airport on Sunday, checked in with AA, paid our departure tax, and tried to visit the lounge (we were denied even though as Platinums we should have been allowed in). We had a long layover in Miami (spent at the Admirals Club where they welcomed us).

I hope this helps. I have more information and tons of photos. We were able to get the promotional rate because we booked less than a month before departure. Other people that we met on our cruise had booked months in advance. We went in late September; the weather was wonderful. It was warm but not too hot We had cloudy days but only rain one afternoon when we were visiting the giant tortoises.

I plan to go back to Ecuador and travel to places that we were unable to visit. Most of the people on our cruise flew to Quito and then to the Galapagos via Guayaquil (short stopover of about an hour).

I also wanted to visit the coastal areas of Ecuador where humpback whales congregate for mating and birthing (like they do in Maui).

We did see some of the smaller yachts that cuise among the islands; most have between 12 to 20 passengers. We shared beaches and excursions with some of the people from the smaller ships; they raved about their experiences.

When we were in San Cristobal, we saw lots of small hotels and places that offered day trips. You cannot visit most of the islands without an authorized guide. You can fly on your own to San Cristobol and then book day trips or even join one of the smalled cruises. We may try this option the next time.

is there a time of year that is best to go?

Because the Galapagos is on the equator, temperatures vary little. The main seasonal differences are wet vs. dry, or by what critters are there (i.e., albatross mating or chick season). Wet is slightly cooler, with lower water temperatures, the coldest of which is November, but that also brings the greatest variety of sea life in. Warmest water temperature is March. Albatross generally are starting to mate in late April and leave around November. Other birthing/mating seasons vary throughout the year.