Equinox Galápagos Cruise

Monserrat

Built in 2004 and fully refurbished in 2023, Monserrat is a charming, larger than average Galápagos cruise yacht. Because the Galápagos National Park limit the number of guests that can be taken into the park at 16 per qualified guide, Monserrat’s maximum of 20 guests enjoy a more intimate experience. Her two guides mean that you will receive a more personal introduction to the wonders of Galápagos, and after a day of remarkable adventures you can enjoy cruising to your next destination in her comfortable surroundings. When it comes to motor yachts, size does matter. Because of this, Monserrat is able to enjoy larger than average cabin sizes, which means you never feel crowded. Her ten delightful staterooms are all double berths and are beautifully decorated in a clean and fresh modern style. Cabins also feature 100V outlets to allow you to charge your devices while you cruise around the Galápagos Islands. All cabins have individual air conditioning, ample closet space, and thoughtful extras such as a hairdryer. You’ll enjoy the great quality bed linens and towels, and the private bathroom with complimentary biodegradable toiletries and a delightful shower. For those prone to motion sickness, Monserrat’s lower deck cabins offer the most comfortable option, as the ship’s movements are minimized in this location. Although below the deck line, these cabins are still light and airy thanks to larger than average porthole windows that let the equatorial sun flood in. Upper deck cabins can enjoy lovely views through the large picture windows that have been fitted. Thanks to her extra size, Monserrat boasts some of the largest communal spaces of all Galápagos cruise vessels in her class. The main saloon lounge spans the full width of the boat, and has wonderfully comfortable social couches to each side beneath the panoramic windows. This is a delightful place to relax and chat about your Monserrat cruise adventures with fellow guests, or to listen to your highly experienced naturalist guide deliver amazing briefings about the flora, fauna and geography of the Galápagos. As well as a large screen TV and DVD player, there is a small reading library and a collection of board games for you to enjoy. This deck also plays host to the ship’s bar, and a comfortable dining room. Here you will enjoy a wide range of delicious local and international dishes, freshly prepared by the chef. Most meals are served in a relaxed buffet style, enabling you to help yourself to a selection of tasty dishes. Outside you are spoiled, with three different sun decks available, including the larger upper solarium, with both shaded and unshaded areas. Perfect for soaking up the sun or watching the stunning Galápagos stars appear in the night sky during your Monserrat cruise. Monserrat's operators have designed great itineraries ranging from 4 to 15 days, allowing you to choose a Galápagos cruise that fits your exact needs. The expert naturalist guides are there to show you the best of the archipelago, and they will make the habitats and wildlife of these wonderful islands really come to life. The itineraries feature an excellent mix of dry and wet landings, snorkeling, swimming and beach excursions, and both daytime and nighttime sailing, giving you ample opportunities to both explore the Galápagos and enjoy a relaxing cruise experience on board Monserrat. We’re so impressed by how this ship of twenty passengers feels somehow more intimate than most of the sixteen berth boats in the Galápagos cruise fleet! When you add to the mix the increased speed and stability of her bigger hull, and the tiny group's size of only 10 guests per guide, this adds up to a superb adventure cruise experience. The crew are consistently well reviewed, and we love the fresh decor and the great sense of light and space on board. With a big choice in itineraries, call one of our Galápagos experts today and let us help you choose the perfect Monserrat cruise for you.

Humboldt Explorer

The Humboldt Explorer is a specialist Galápagos dive vessel that believes that divers should enjoy a touch of luxury! Her 8 air-conditioned cabins are located on the main and lower decks for maximum stability. Each of them has a private bathroom, flat screen TV and panoramic windows that provide stunning ocean views. Most rooms can be converted to either one queen bed or two twin beds. Communal spaces are equally delightful, and highlights include a partially shaded sun deck with a Jacuzzi and ample comfortable seating, and an extremely comfortable salon area with dining, bar and entertainment area. The large dive deck is extremely well-equipped and features include a bathroom, a large camera table with charging station, individual storage areas, and rinse bins for cameras and another for gear. All diving operations are conducted from two large pangas (tenders), easily boarded from the dive deck, and conducted by one of 8 specialist dive guides who work on board in rotation. The Humboldt may be luxurious, but she's definitely a dive ship first, and her dives are often at an advanced level, against currents, challenging and therefore more rewarding than many on offer in the archipelago. Because of this, guests will need to be certified as open water scuba divers by an internationally recognized and certified organization and should be experienced (they recommend that you have more than 100 logged dives) and must have logged at least one dive within the 6 months prior to boarding the vessel. Our Comments Captains Carlos and Jorge are very experienced sailors and they lead an expert crew, including great naturalist divers. Roberto, the chef produces a really varied menu, and there's something different at every meal. Unusually, local beers are included in your package, but the bar has a good variety of other drinks to suit all tastes. We really like the combination of serious dive boat and luxury cruise vessel - usually you have to choose from one or the other, but in our opinion the Humboldt Explorer is the best of both worlds, and it's a fantastic place to relax after a day of incredible diving.

Aggressor III

Galápagos is one of the most exciting destinations in the world. Guests will have the opportunity to dive with playful Sea Lions, travel to the famous Darwin and Wolf for thrilling diving to see Hammerhead Sharks, Whale Sharks, clouds of Tuna and much more on their Galápagos Islands liveaboard scuba diving trip. The scenic view of the Darwin Arch is as picturesque as you can imagine. The GALAPAGOS AGGRESSOR® liveaboard departs from Baltra every Thursday afternoon. In 2016, Ecuador created a marine sanctuary in the area of Darwin and Wolf that includes 15,000 square miles as off limits to all fishing to conserve the sharks that congregate there and the ecosystem on which they rely. 32% of the waters around the Galápagos islands will now be protected from fishing. Our goal is to provide you with the ultimate Galápagos Islands liveaboard scuba diving experience. The GALAPAGOS AGGRESSOR® offers a brand new itinerary in compliance with the Galápagos National Park regulations which requires companies with permits to follow the exact itinerary below. A maximum of four dives will be offered daily; two in the morning and two in the afternoon. In addition, two night dives and two land excursions per week will be offered. The new diving areas added to the itinerary are: Bartolome Punta, Cousins Rock and Cabo Douglas. The Galápagos National Park grants approval for normal itineraries and accepts requests for special itineraries.

Grand Daphne

A Galápagos cruise on board the Grand Daphne proves that you don’t have to have a huge budget to see the best the Galápagos has to offer in comfort. Built in 1979 and fully refitted in 2015, Grand Daphne and her crew pride themselves on offering a 1st Class service and experience at a superb price. **Traditional Motor Yacht** Grand Daphne is a traditional motor yacht design, and she’s proud of this heritage. Yet despite this, she offers comfortable accommodation with some features you wouldn’t necessarily expect on a cruise vessel this class. Cabins are located on the upper or lower decks, with communal areas on the main deck between. Guests who are prone to motion sickness will appreciate the cabins on the lower decks, as they will have less movement. These are laid out as twin bunk beds, although the lower bunks are big enough for a cozy couple if you prefer! All the rooms feature traditional porthole style windows, wood finishes, en suite bathroom with complimentary toiletries, and individual air conditioning for your comfort. Upper deck cabins are a mix of twin bunk and traditional beds, and they offer lovely panoramic windows, giving you stunning views of the Galápagos Islands and the sea. All the cabins feature 110V outlets for charging your devices, as well as reading lights and plenty of storage. **Eat, Drink and Relax** Grand Daphne’s main deck hosts her dining room and salon. These areas feature a stunning polished teak floor, and lots of other beautiful real wood fixtures and fittings. Two dining tables set for eight people each ensures a delightful, sociable mealtime experience, allowing you to share the memories of your day exploring Galápagos with like-minded travelers while you enjoy the view from the huge picture windows. Delicious local and international dishes are served her, and the chef uses only the freshest local ingredients, so you can enjoy three wonderful meals as well as plenty of tasty snacks throughout the day. Also located here is the ship’s well-stocked bar, which can serve you a variety of local and imported beers, wines and spirits. Water, tea, and coffee are always available, 24 hours, free of charge to all our cruise guests. The lounge features a wonderful U-shaped couch, which again sums up the social focus of this relaxed boat. Here you can chat, unwind with a drink, or watch a movie on the flat screen TV with DVD player. This is also where your expert bilingual naturalist guide will give you amazing briefings about the islands and their unique flora and fauna, and outline the next day’s activities on your Galápagos adventure. Outside, you can climb the stairway up to the stunning sundeck. This runs the whole length of the boat and offers wonderful views. There is plenty of seating and comfortable loungers up here, and for those who don’t want to get too much sun, there’s a shaded area to cool off in. If you’re looking for a little more privacy, Galápagos Grand Daphne has a small shaded terrace at the stern end of the main deck with comfortable seating for three or four. **Fantastic Itineraries** Grand Daphne’s expert Galápagos naturalist guide will really make your trip come to life, thanks to their knowledge of the islands and the best places to see what the archipelago has to offer. Grand Daphne has a choice of two eight day itineraries and two shorter for or five day itineraries. Each of Grand Daphne’s cruise itineraries have been carefully planned to give you a real flavor of a key area of the Galápagos archipelago. For the ultimate experience, why not join the two eight day itineraries into a complete Galápagos experience - this would make a fabulous trip of a lifetime at a really superb price. As well as island excursions by “panga” (inflatable boat) you will also go snorkeling with sea lions and turtles thanks to the complimentary snorkel gear carried on board Grand Daphne. For guests who wish to hire a wetsuit, these are available for only $5 per day. **Our comments** Experiencing the Galápagos aboard the yacht Grand Daphne is a superb option for those who are looking to enjoy an amazing Galápagos experience on a budget, but would like to enjoy more space and comfort than is usually available on a budget class boat. Grand Daphne’s crew are consistently highly rated - they go above and beyond to make sure you have an amazing time. We really like her itineraries, they have been cleverly put together - but if you can stretch to it, joining the two eight-day trips would make for a remarkable “special occasion” trip of a lifetime.