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Isabela II Galapagos Cruise

Isabela II Galápagos Cruise

The perfect luxury yacht for nature lovers

A Galápagos Cruise on board the Isabela II

14 Reviews

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Isabela II Galapagos Cruise
Isabela II Galapagos Cruise
Isabela II Galapagos Cruise
  • Superb amenities like internet, gym, boutique and library;
  • Only 40 guests maximum means you still enjoy an intimate experience;
  • Al fresco dining and superb sundeck with jacuzzi;
  • One of the most experienced crews in the islands.

With only 20 elegant cabins but 3 decks to explore, the luxury yacht Isabela II offers more amenities than smaller boats in the fleet yet retains an intimate and personal feel. Guests on board Isabela enjoy service from one of the most consistent crews in the islands - many of her 26 have been with her for years. This means amazing attention to detail and levels of knowledge that will make your trip very special indeed.

More amenities Fully renovated in 2014, Isabela II boasts many features you won’t find on any other ship. There’s a superb fully glazed fitness centre on the sundeck, providing an unparalleled view for your morning workout. The dedicated al fresco restaurant provides welcome shade whilst allowing you to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature with your superb meals.

The cosy salon with extensive bar is the perfect place to relax and socialize, and the reading room with dedicated natural history library is a haven of peace and knowledge. On board internet access with wifi connection means you can stay in touch and share your adventures with friends and family.

Elegant sophistication Air conditioned throughout, Isabela II is decorated in an elegant and timeless style. Natural woods, soft neutral fabrics and clean, crisp whites set the tone throughout the ship - a wonderful mix of modern style with classic maritime details. Cabins are bright and airy with large windows and plenty of natural illumination. Lighter woods, cream walls and crisp linens contrast with warm earthy tones on the fully-carpeted floors. All cabins have private en suite bathrooms with full size showers, hair dryers and full-height mirrors.

Outside spaces are beautifully laid to teak or ocean-blue finishes with stylish and comfortable seating and loungers. There’s a wonderful wood-clad jacuzzi tub in the centre of the sun deck - a perfect place to unwind after your amazing wildlife excursions.

An expert team Isabella II’s captain and senior crew are all top-ranking naval officers who know the waters of the archipelago intimately, with over 60 years experience between them. Isabella carries a fully qualified medical officer on board for complimentary guest consultations, available 24/7. Your fully bilingual naturalist guides give you fascinating presentations about the land and marine wildlife you will see, ask any of your questions, and lead you on some amazing excursions to land and sea.

The yacht carries her own snorkeling equipment for guests to enjoy (with wetsuits for hire if required) as well as a fleet of ocean-going kayaks. For those who don’t swim (or don’t wish to) there’s no need to miss out - Isabela II has her very own glass-bottomed boat. There are few better vessels to choose as your base for your Galápagos adventures.

Our comments Isabela II has all the benefits that a larger boat bring, but with only 20 cabins and 26 crew none of the impersonality. We love the al fresco dining room and we think she has one of the best bars in the islands. The fact that so many of her crew have been with her so long is proof she’s a well-run and happy ship, and we always find her guides can really get across the magic of the Galápagos.

This is a very experienced crew. Captain Richard tells us he's been skipper for over 10 years, and hotel manager Gerd has extensive hotel industry experience and speaks English, German, Spanish and French. Your chef is Alsibar, he beats both of them with over 20 years experience on board! Speaking of food, his kitchen serves wonderful Ecuadorian specialities, including suckling pig and ceviche. Very traditional and very delicious.

In terms of excursions and naturalist experience, this ship is very well-equipped. She has her own infrared camera which they use to show the temperature of cold-blooded animals, microscope and other scientific equipment used on excursions to let you really understand the nature of the islands.

Dates & Prices on board the Isabela II

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Amenities on board the Isabela II

transfer

Transfers to and from ship

gym

Gym on board

fish

Glass Bottom Boat

snorkeling

Snorkel gear (free of charge)

FR guide

French guide possible

footprint

Travel for good: Your Each booking contributes to Ventura’s Conservation Project.

scuba diving

Scuba outing possible

kayak

Kayaks on board

air conditioning

Air conditioning & private bathroom

children corner

Children's corner with activities

drinks

Water, Coffee, Tea & fresh juices

DE guide

German guide possible

triple

Triple cabins

EN guide

English guide

children

-25% for children ≤ 12

jacuzzi

Sundeck with jacuzzi

wifi

Internet/Wifi

meal

All meals

Food & Drinks on board the Isabela II

The food on our Galapágos Cruises is among the very best you will find in South America. Most of the on-board chefs are internationally trained and have prior experience working in the best hotels and restaurants in Ecuador and indeed around the world.

You can expect a first-class selection of food, including a good variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, locally sourced poultry and fish/seafood, rice and pasta dishes. Most boats will always include some typical Ecuadorian dishes on the menu during your cruise. If you have specific dietary requirements then these can usually be accommodated by the chef providing you have given advance notice. Please make sure you tell us about any allergies or dietary requirements you have at the time you book with us. If you leave it until you arrive at the dockside, then it may well be impossible to accommodate your needs.

Most boats serve a range of options at meal times in a relaxed buffet-style. At the first class and luxury end of the market, some boats have more formal dining where you will be served at your seat. However the atmosphere is always relaxed on board our cruises, and never stuffy or formal.

Sustainable Tourism

At Galapatours we love and respect the pristine ecosystems and fascinating wildlife of the Galápagos Islands. To protect the archipelago, all vessels in Galápagos must have sophisticated water filtration systems, modern, efficient engines, and strict maintenance schedules to minimize pollution. Furthermore, The Galápagos National Park authority defines exact cruising routes that dictate which ships can visit which highlights at what day and time, as well as limiting passenger numbers.

But at Galapatours we like to go even further: We voluntarily offset all the CO2 emissions of every cruise we sell - at no cost to you. You can also play your part by traveling responsibly and following our Eco Guidelines during your stay. Click here to find out more about these guidelines, our commitment to sustainable tourism, and the Galápagos National Park rules.

Cabins categories on board the Isabela II

Double twin
Standard Double

Type:

Matrimonial

Max. occupancy:

3

More about this cabin

Darwin`s Suite
Darwin`s Suite

Type:

Matrimonial

Max. occupancy:

2

More about this cabin

Technical details of Isabela II

Category
Premium
Type
Small Ship
Main Engines
2x Cummins KTA-38-M1,1000 HP
Length
56 m
Gross tonnage
1025 tons
Electricity
110 Volts
Cruising speed
10 noeuds
Beam
11.5 m
Capacity
40

Reviews of Isabela II

Lisa Daschofsky

Isabela II Galapagos Cruise

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Einmalig! Es war Einmalig! Besatzung und Guide haben stets ihr Bestes. Eine tolle Zeit. Quelle: https://goo.gl/McedHj

Lisa Daschofsky

Isabela II Galapagos Cruise

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Amazing! Amazing experience! Staff is great, naturalists are wonderful. Went with Tauck. Lovely time. Feedback from: https://goo.gl/McedHj

George Schaefer

Isabela II Galapagos Cruise

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Eine tolle Reise Wir hatten eine ganz tolle Reise auf der Isabella II und empfehlen das an zukünftige Passagiere weiter. Quelle: https://goo.gl/LsCTUz

George Schaefer

Isabela II Galapagos Cruise

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Amazing trip! We had an amazing trip on the Isabela ll and would highly recommend this trip Feedback from: https://goo.gl/LsCTUz

CruiseCritic

Isabela II Galapagos Cruise

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CruiseCritic Review of the Isabella II 40-passenger Isabella II is an expedition yacht offering year-round cruises in the Galapagos Islands. The former supply ship was built in 1979 and reconstructed for Metropolitan Touring in 1988. Like its sisters, the ship is regularly refreshed; the most recent dry-dock occurred in September 2012. Here's what you can expect aboard Isabella II Galapagos cruise: Cruise fare: what's included. The cost of the cruise includes excursions (island treks, snorkeling, kayaking, etc.), all meals and snacks, lectures and snorkeling equipment (masks, fins, snorkel). Three-millimeter "shortie" wetsuits, which are recommended during the June/July to December cool season, can be rented onboard. Wi-Fi, which is available in Isabella II's lounge and small library, and sodas/adult beverages are also extra. Expedition essentials. Passengers cruise with one expedition leader and two naturalist guides. Other expedition accouterments found on Isabella II include sit-on-top sea kayaks, a glass-bottom boat, and three "pangas," the omnipresent water taxis that facilitate ship-to-shore transportation in the Galapagos. A doctor is also stationed permanently onboard should passengers run into any minor issues with the equatorial sun, wasps or seasickness. Cabins. Isabella II features 18 139-square-foot inside cabins (Classic), one 128-square-foot inside cabin (Standard) and one 170-square-foot Master Suite Cabin with picture window. (These snug accommodations are par for the course in expedition cruising.) There is some variation in cabin configuration; the Classic cabins feature either fixed twin(ish) beds that run parallel or fixed twin(ish) and singles that form an "L." The one Standard features a twin-sized bed, and the Master Suite has a queen. Cabins amenities include hair dryers, telephones, safes and 110-volt, U.S.-style outlets. Dining. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served open seating at designated times in Isabella II's dining room. Breakfast and lunch are buffet-style while dinner is served course-by-course. The occasional meal is also served alfresco on a top-ship (covered) secondary venue. Post-excursion snacks (juice and pigs 'n blankets, say) are offered daily. Public spaces. The social hub of the yacht is the comb bar-lecture room, which is used for evening briefings, video presentations and as a destination before-and-after dinner drinks. An adjacent mini-library houses a pair of Web-ready computers and a collection of books about South America, the Galapagos and wildlife. (Wi-Fi is available in the library and bar/lecture room.) Isabella II's lobby features a small boutique selling logo hats, shirts and jackets, as well as a variety of travel essentials for forgetful passengers (sun block, aloe, sunglasses). An exercise room contains a bike, elliptical and treadmill. The yacht's sun deck features a smattering of wicker loungers and a jacuzzi with room to comfortably accommodate six passengers.

trailblazer119

Isabela II Galapagos Cruise

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Trip Report - Isabela II Galapagos - Amazing!!! The boat was really nice. It was a 40-passenger boat, but there were only 33 people on our trip, so we had a little extra space. The bottom floor had a bar / big lounge where we did our evening briefings about what we would see the next day. It also had the dining room, gift shop, and hospitality desk if you needed anything. There was wifi on board and it could be accessed on this floor. I believe it was $15 for the week (that could be wrong), but there was also a little computer lab if you didn't want to pay that and needed to get online. The second floor had all of our rooms. Although not huge, the room was actually a little bigger than I expected. We had two beds, a little couch, a desk, two small bedside tables, and a closet. There was an outlet under the desk and one in the bathroom which we used to charge our phones and cameras. The third floor had an open deck with another bar, a hot tub, workout room, and a place where you get all of your snorkeling equipment to use for the week (mask and flippers are free; wet suits can be rented for $15 for the week). Food: The food was really amazing on this boat. We had buffets for almost every meal, and there were several options for entrees (multiple types of meat, seafood, and vegetarian options). You could eat as much as you wanted and everything was very tasty. In between meals, they served hot appetizers when we came back from afternoon adventures and gave out free juice and water. Drinks from the bar were extra -- sodas were $2, beer was $3, wine was $8 a glass. You just tell them your room number and you settle up the tab at the end. Passengers: My friend and I (both mid-30s) were a little worried that we might be the youngest people on the boat. We weren't. We were actually pleasantly surprised by the nice mix of people on the boat. There were some older retired couples, a few families, other 30-somethings, teenagers, etc. We actually really enjoyed getting to know the fellow passengers on our boat and didn't have anyone annoying on board! Illness: I was really scared that I was going to get seasick on this boat. I've had experiences where I've been really ill on other boats, so part of why I chose this one is because they had a 24-hour doctor on board. I brought two packs of dramamine with me too. Didn't need any of it! The boat was very nice and I didn't feel sick at any point. Didn't even need to take the dramamine! Snorkeling: I was scared to death of snorkeling before coming on this boat too. They ask if anyone is new at snorkeling and helped me through everything. They fitted me for the equipment, helped me get a wetsuit, taught me how to clean the mask so it wouldn't fog up, and the guide let me stay close to him the entire time I was in the water. As it turns out, snorkeling is amazing. We saw tons of cool fish, sea lions, sharks, sting rays, etc. in the water. At the end of the trip, a sea lion swam up to my face and smiled at me before swimming underneath me and disappearing. I really appreciated the guides helping to teach me how to overcome my fear on this trip! I owe them a lot! The day-time adventures to the islands were really fun and we saw tons of animals. I made a 5-minute video of the animal footage I captured if you'd like to check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eadFvdBKiNs On the last night of the boat trip, they served us a farewell cocktail and showed us a slide show of our adventures. I believe they're going to post all of the pictures on Facebook, so you can download them later if you didn't bring a good camera with you. We also had a karaoke party on the last night and all of us sang and had a great time. This was probably the best vacation of my life. John, Carlos, and Mariuxi were amazing guides. I would highly recommend Isabela II to anyone I know.

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