Beluga Galápagos Cruise

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?

Isabela II

- 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.