Isabela II Galápagos Cruise

Beluga

- Traditional-style luxury motor yacht - Triple berth family room available - Great sundeck - Range of itineraries that can combine Beluga is the epitome of the classic motor yacht. Her traditional lines give her stunning good looks, and yet she has been fitted with the best of modern equipment and convenience, including fin keels for additional stability and passenger comfort - perfect as a Galápagos cruise yacht. With a maximum of 16 guests at any one time, you are assured of the highest levels of service and attention, as her experienced crew look after your every need. As befits a vessel that takes you through a protected national park that's home to unique wildlife, Beluga has been awarded with the coveted SmartPlanet certification in recognition of her sustainable operations. Traditional comfort Beluga features delightful accommodation spread over lower or upper decks. The lower deck cabins are suitable for those who want to enjoy a Galápagos cruise but who are prone to motion sickness. Thanks to their lower position the movement of the yacht is less noticeable, but to ensure they remain light and airy they feature traditional portholes to let in the equatorial sun. Upper cabins have panoramic windows offering a unique dual aspect view over the sea and the islands, making you feel more connected to nature on your Galápagos cruise. One cabin has the ability to accommodate three, thanks to an upper bunk. This is perfect for family travel to the Galápagos, but because of this it can book up quickly. Contact one of our experts now to check on the availability of Cabin 1 for your chosen dates for a family Galápagos cruise. Cabins feature twin or double beds, and are decorated in bright neutral colors, as well as traditional wood fittings throughout. All feature private bathrooms, air conditioning, and ample storage space. Luxurious linens and designer eco-friendly toiletries are just some of the special touches you will enjoy on a Beluga cruise. Relax and dine in style Beluga offers all the features that you would expect from a premium first class yacht, and more. For your comfort, all the communal areas are fully air-conditioned, and the salon and dining room enjoy amazing views thanks to panoramic windows. Beautiful wood fixtures and fittings are set off with light neutral decor that gives the space a relaxed and airy feel. The salon features a flat screen TV and DVD player, and is also the place where your expert naturalist guide will brief you every day on your Galápagos cruise. The well-stocked bar features a wonderful communal couch for relaxing with your like-minded fellow guests. The dining area features one large communal table where you can enjoy superb local and international dishes and delightful wines while you swap stories about your Galápagos adventures so far. Outside, Beluga enjoys a large sundeck that's perfect for relaxing, sightseeing or sunbathing. Featuring both open and shaded areas, the sundeck runs the whole length of the ship's superstructure, meaning there's plenty of space to find your own peaceful corner and watch the islands drift by. Wildlife lover's paradise Beluga's operators have designed her Galápagos cruise itineraries in order to be able to offer you the option of four day, six day or eight day cruises. These each visit different sites that are unique, rich and varied. They give you the opportunity to have a truly intimate Galápagos experience thanks to the small number of guests on each trip. If you are looking for the ultimate experience, Beluga's itineraries can be combined into one amazing 15 day Galápagos adventure cruise that will give you a flavor of the whole archipelago. Our thoughts The Beluga is a lovely traditional motor yacht with a really superb crew - we have never heard anything but high praise for their service and superb attitude. There are lots of thoughtful touches about Beluga, including a reusable water bottle in your welcome pack, free snorkel gear, and even some walking poles for guests to use over the lava fields. When you combine all this with the wonderful sundeck and the lovely traditional decor you can see why a Beluga Galápagos cruise always gets rave reviews.

Santa Cruz II

- Purpose-built adventure vessel, perfect for Galápagos; - One of the most family-friendly cruises; - Cordon-Bleu trained chefs offer some of the best cuisine afloat; - Exclusive excursions - visit places other boats simply can’t. The Santa Cruz II is a large, modern and purpose-built ship for adventurous travel to remote places. With only 50 cabins spread over 5 decks she’s one of the top 5 vessels in the region for passenger space, and this means you can have all the modern amenities of a larger boat and yet still have an intimate and personal adventure. With a 3:2 guest to crew ratio and an enviable reputation for superb food, you’ll experience the very best levels of service on board. This also extends to your excursions, where the Santa Cruz II typically takes guests in groups of 11 or 12 per naturalist guide, rather than the Galápagos standard of 16. On Santa Cruz II you simply get more of everything. Modern Sophistication The Santa Cruz II is simply stunning. Her contemporary decor is heavily influenced by Scandinavian design - clean lines, light-colored woods, bright neutral fabrics can furnishings. Despite taking a maximum of only 90 guests, the Santa Cruz II looks and feels like the quality you’d expect from a full size cruise liner. The Panorama Bar and Lounge is filled with light from floor-to-ceiling windows along all sides allowing you to relax with a pre-dinner drink in comfort and still see everything the Islands offer. The Expedition Lounge and Library is an oasis of calm, with cozy leather sofas and rich decor for you to sink into. The beautiful teak-decked solarium features 2 superb Jacuzzi hot tubs and offers breathtaking views and a place to soak up the sun or gaze at the stars. Even the ship’s gym has stunning wood paneling and amazing views. Ultimate family friendly adventure If you want to travel as a family we don’t believe there’s any better choice than the Santa Cruz II. Every expedition hosts dedicated children’s events in an open multi-purpose room at the starboard side of the ship. Every young adventurer gets to join the “Pirates Aboard” program which includes their very own kit with multiple family-friendly activity ideas. The ship’s library contains several family games and puzzles, and child-sized meals are served to a kid-friendly schedule. But beyond that, Santa Cruz II offers the chance for younger explorers to get fully involved. Children have an opportunity to learn to snorkel thanks to the extra naturalist guide on board. The ship also lays on special panga rides just for the youngest adventurers. And for the best behaved, the Captain will give a guided tour of the bridge! Fine dining in fine surroundings Aboard the Santa Cruz II food is an experience, not just a fuel. Her dedicated Director of Gastronomy Byron Rivera (a graduate of the Cordon-Bleu school) guides the preparation of delicious and elegant Ecuadorian and international cuisine. The menus always feature fresh local fish and locally grown fruit and vegetables. As much of the food as possible is sourced locally, and where possible it’s organic. The chefs are all passionate about what they do, and that’s reflected in the beautiful presentation. You have the option of enjoying your meals indoors in the tasteful Beagle Dining Room or outside in the ocean air on the Panorama Deck. Activities and excursions for a lifetime of memories Santa Cruz II’s team of experienced Guides build fantastic itineraries to make sure that you always see the very best of the wildlife and local habitats. Snorkeling and sea kayaking are available, as are trips on the ship’s own glass-bottomed boat. Land excursions include some exclusive destinations not available to 99% of the other boats in the Galápagos fleet. Home away from home A range of cabins and suites are available, including single occupancy cabins. All feature picture windows, air conditioning, en suite bathroom with shower, hair dryers and Scandinavian-inspired decor. Family cabins are also available. Generous suites offer more space, double windows and luxurious fittings and furnishings, with extra touches like bathrobes and slippers for your comfort. Our comment The experienced crew is led by Captain Christian, who we discovered worked for many years in Germany previously. Looking after your every need will be hotel manager Macario, one of the most experienced in the Galápagos with over 10 years operating on cruises. Heading up the kitchen is chef Marco, from Austria, we leads a brigade of 7, including a dedicated pastry chef! Marco's team serve up delicious breakfast and lunch buffets, and for dinner you will have a choice of up to 4 options per course from the menu. You get lots of extra facilities on this vessel including two clothes dryers for guests to use and, unusually, internet connection is available for $46 per device - although worth noting that premium cabins include this service in their pricing. When we were there, they had just finished converting the sun deck into a beautiful and bright lounge area. One thing we did like is the fact that guide briefings are held in different languages, each with its own room. You can choose one in your language and not have to wait for everything to be translated 2 or 3 times as happens on other boats. A nice touch. For family adventuring, this is the ship to choose. Younger members of your party will be treated like princes and princesses and they will have plenty of space and activities to keep them happy all day. For couples or solo travelers, the Santa Cruz II offers unbeatable amenities, wonderful food, exclusive adventure excursions and superb service levels. Our favorite of the larger boats in Galápagos.

Legend

The Motor Vessel Galápagos Legend is a superb, 300 feet long, purpose built luxury expedition vessel. Offering the very best in boutique adventure cruises, your journey will bring you all the amenities you would expect from a luxury cruise liner, and yet affords an intimate and personal glimpse into the stunning wildlife and habitats of the Islands. Built in 2001 and fully refurbished to an exceptional standard in 2017, Legend boasts amongst the best facilities available on any vessel in the archipelago and is the only 100-passenger cruise ship in Galápagos that is 100% operated by an Ecuadorian company. With 5 decks of accommodation and communal space, yet a maximum of only 100 passengers Galápagos Legend provides room for you to relax and contemplate the sights and sounds of the Islands. Onboard facilities include a superb restaurant, beautifully appointed lounge, inside and outside bars, and uniquely a choice of sun, observation and star gazing decks. There’s also a swimming pool. If you need to burn a little more energy then the ship has a well-equipped gym. For those who prefer something less strenuous you can lie back in a hammock, relax in the special open lounge, watch for passing dolphins or soak your cares away in the jacuzzi. There are 57 cabins, with a variety of specifications to suit every requirement, however all are fully air conditioned with private en suite bathroom with hot water, and feature TVs and telephones for internal and international calling. The feature accommodation is the Legend Balcony Suite on the Moon deck. Featuring over 43 square metres of space, with a private balcony, a mini fridge and complimentary champagne. It can be configured as a twin or double and can take an additional bed if needed. There are a further 16 balcony suites with between 21 and 28sqm of space, 8 on Moon deck and 8 on Sky deck. All have a mini fridge with complimentary champagne and a private balcony. All can take an extra bed for triple occupancy. There are 28 junior suites, all on Earth deck and with between 12 and 21sqm of space, each with panoramic windows. There are twins and doubles, and all can take an extra bed. 4 of the junior suites can be made into quadruples - ideal for families or group travelling together. There are a further 7 Standard Plus cabins, 5 on Sea deck and 2 on Earth deck, all featuring skylights and 10 or 11 sqm of space. They can be configured as twins or doubles. Finally there are 3 Standard interior cabins of 11, 12 and 16 sqm respectively, all on Earth deck. The largest can take an extra bed for triple occupancy. Ideal for families because of its flexible cabin options, Galápagos Legend features a children’s corner with games and activities, and plenty of open spaces and areas to explore. Adults will appreciate the on board boutique, well-stocked library and 24 hour coffee centre! Perfect for non-swimmers or those who don’t wish to snorkel, Galápagos Legend boasts one of the few ship-carried glass-bottomed pangas (motorised dinghies) in the Islands, meaning everyone gets to marvel at the underwater habit. Service standards are excellent, with 80 plus crew and a maximum of 100 passengers. Qualified bilingual naturalist guides take only small groups on excursions, meaning everyone gets chance to ask questions and get up-close experiences. Quality of the food on board is frequently highlighted by guests as extremely good. New features include digital entertainment systems and massage chairs for extreme decadence! Despite her larger size and extra amenities, Galápagos Legend manages to retain an intimate and personal feel. The space means nowhere ever feels crowded and we like the additional thoughtful features like a pool, a gym and kids’ area. We LOVE the hammocks! Ideal for families or group travel, yet just as applicable to couples we think the Galápagos Legend has so much to offer - including a superb deck to lie back and star gaze. Oh, did we mention the hammocks?