Estrella del Mar Galápagos Cruise+Flights

Eden

"Stylish" and "elegant" are the comments we most hear associated with Eden, and it's not hard to see why. Although she was only built in 1996 in Ecuador, she has the timeless lines of a classic luxury motor yacht. A 2002 total brought her even further up to date, and she now boasts a beautiful mix of traditional and contemporary features that make an Eden Galápagos cruise a real trip to paradise. What's even better is that our cruise packages on Eden now come with Galápagos flights included. - Purpose-built Galápagos motor yacht - Galápagos flights included in the price you pay - Snorkeling gear on board - Excellent choice of long and short itineraries Space to enjoy the islands Eden has something you don't find very often in this class of Galápagos cruise ship - space! This means that 5 of her 8 cabins feature standard twin or double beds, with only 3 having bunks. Every cabin, no matter its layout, enjoys a private bathroom and shower and is airconditioned for your complete comfort. Lower deck cabins are beautifully decorated with a light and airy feel and feature traditional portholes. Upper deck cabins enjoy panoramic windows for unbroken views of the sea and islands. Communal areas onboard Eden continue this theme of space and light. Her large saloon and dining area is tastefully decorated with traditional wood features and comfortable sofas, making it an ideal place to relax and swap your Galápagos stories with like-minded travelers. Outside, there's a huge sundeck at the sterns of the upper deck with uninterrupted views. At the bow, there's a more intimate sun area where you can find some peace and quiet if you wish. On the main deck, there's a shaded area where you can enjoy the Galápagos air without the heat of the equatorial sun. When it comes to food and drink, you'll be spoilt by your time on Eden. Most meals are served in a relaxed buffet style, giving you the chance to sample a wide range of delicious Ecuadorian and international dishes prepared by the ship's chef using fresh, local ingredients. Experience Galápagos on land and sea When it comes to itineraries, Eden has a fantastic range of options, including 3-day itineraries for those who are only able to visit the Galápagos for a short time but still want a real taste of what the islands have to offer, as well as the more usual 5- and 7-day options. Unlike many vessels in her class, Eden guests have use of complimentary snorkel equipment (with optional wetsuits available for hire if you wish) and there are plenty of opportunities to get in the water with rare endemic wildlife like Galápagos penguins, Galápagos sea lions, and marine iguanas. The ship's highly experienced naturalist guides are bilingual, and they take great pride in making your experience of the Galápagos even more special by sharing their vast knowledge of the flora, fauna and natural history of this magical archipelago. Our comments For us, Eden is that rare find - a fantastic mix of great value with superb facilities and excellent itineraries. Now she's even better value than ever because, for a short period, the price you pay includes flights to and from the mainland! Eden's classic motor yacht styling and spacious interior make her a superbly comfortable place from which to experience the magic of Galápagos. With flights now included, we don't think you'll find a better value Galápagos cruise at the moment.

Yolita II

- National flights + Hotels before cruise included; - Purpose-built for Galápagos; - Great choice of itineraries; Yolita II was built only 10 years ago, and was purpose-built to cruise Galápagos. This means that she offers really good value, with larger accommodation than similar ships in her class, and lovely communal spaces. A great choice of naturalist itineraries makes a trip on Yolita II a great way to see the natural wonders of the Galápagos. Spacious cabins Yolita enjoys some really spacious cabins, with twin or double beds. Large windows flood the rooms with light, and the pale wood finishes and neutral fabrics give a sense of airiness. Each cabin has individual air conditioning and 110V power for charging your devices, and all enjoy a private bathroom with hot showers and a clean, crisp design. If you are prone to motion sickness then you may prefer to choose a cabin on the lower deck for your Yolita cruise. This is because the ship’s motion is likely to be less pronounced on the lower decks, should you encounter some Galápagos swells. If you prefer an upper deck cabin of your cruise then you’ll find Yolita’s have large windows that offer stunning views over the sea and the islands. Relaxing communal areas The light, natural decor is continued into Yolita’s cosy communal areas. Her lounge is very spacious, with gorgeous large L-shaped leather couches to relax on. There’s also a library and a selection of board games, as well as a big screen TV and DVD player. This is a perfect place to swap stories each evening about your Yolita Galápagos cruise experience. The adjacent dining area is laid out with circular tables next to the panoramic windows - making this a wonderful place to eat with your like-minded fellow guests, enjoying splendid food from the galley. The chef cooks a great range of local specialities and international cuisine, usually served buffet style as part of the relaxed Yolita experience. This is also where you’ll find the well-stocked bar from which you can purchase a range of local and imported beers, wines and spirits. Outside, Yolita has the luxury of two sun decks. The lower one is fully shaded from the equatorial sun, and is the perfect place to enjoy a post-excursion snack and drink. The upper deck is fully open to the sky and features comfortable recliners - perfect for sun worshippers, and later on for star gazers. Taking in the stunning equatorial night sky is something everyone should do on a Galápagos cruise. Amazing wildlife encounters Yolita has her own expert naturalist guide to really bring your Galápagos cruise experience to life for you. As well as daily briefings in the comfortable lounge about the geology and nature of the archipelago, your guide accompanies you on every excursion, allowing you to enjoy their huge experience and local knowledge of the islands and the creatures who live there. Yolita has a range of Galápagos cruise itineraries available, including two different eight day itineraries, a five day, and four day versions. Each will allow you to experience a different side of the Galápagos, and the longer itineraries can even be combined to give you a remarkable 16 day adventure cruise experience. If you are unsure about which itinerary would be the best for you don’t hesitate to contact one of our Galápagos experts today. They know all the routes intimately so our Galapatours team will be able to advise you on which will give you the perfect cruise you are looking for. Our comments Yolita is a lovely mid-range ship with a very attentive crew. We really like her clean, fresh decor, and the big lounge is really comfortable - those couches are amazing! It’s also nice to see how big the cabins are compared to other Galápagos cruise ships in this class. You get a lot of bang for your buck with a cruise around the islands on Yolita II.

Xavier III

- National flights + Hotels before cruise included; - Excellent value ship; - More spacious than most in class; - Free snorkel and wetsuit hire; - Highly rated crew. Sometimes choosing a Galápagos cruise that is more towards the budget end means sacrificing some comforts and making some compromises like bunk beds or no private bathroom. The Xavier III bucks this trend by offering spacious, comfortable accommodation and really pleasant surroundings at a superb price point. When you combine this with a really friendly crew who consistently get great feedback from guests, you’ve got a fantastic option to see the best of Galápagos. Cosy cabins with twin beds No bunk beds here! The Xavier III has eight lovely cabins, all with proper twin beds. You have a choice of lower or upper decks. Upper deck cabins enjoy large windows providing a lovely view, but for those prone to motion sickness we recommend the lower deck cabins where the ship’s motion is not felt so much. You don’t have to worry about the lower deck cabins being dark on a Xavier III cruise as they have traditional portholes that let natural light in. Like all the cabins, they are also well decorated in light color shades and have a really airy feel. Every cabin enjoys a private bathroom with hot shower, and each is equipped with air conditioning for your comfort. They all have storage for your clothes and personal items. Relaxed, comfortable, communal The rest of the ship has a lovely relaxed feel. The main lounge is edged by comfortable communal couches, and is the perfect place to relax with a drink and relive your Galápagos adventures with fellow guests, or to listen to an inspiring talk from your expert naturalist guide about the Galápagos islands, their wildlife and habitats. Outside there are two sundecks, one shaded on the main deck, and one open to the full equatorial sun on the upper deck. This last is an absolutely perfect place to come as darkness falls, and simply lie on one of the comfortable loungers whilst watching the stars come out in the stunning Galápagos night sky - a “must do” on any Xavier III cruise! Eat, drink and be merry Xavier III’s chef cooks a wide range of tasty and filling local and international dishes, all freshly prepared using local ingredients. You can enjoy your meals in the dining room, filled with light from its panoramic windows, as well as enjoying snacks on the sundeck. You won’t go hungry on this Galápagos cruise! The lounge also houses the ship’s bar, which is well stocked with local and imported beers, wines and liquors. You can even enjoy a cocktail or two. Snorkel masks, fins and snorkels are yours to enjoy at no charge, as are wetsuits - usually an additional charge item on most vessels of this class in the Galápagos cruise fleet. The wonderful Galápagos Of course all this is a bonus when compared to seeing first hand the wonders of the Galápagos islands themselves. Xavier III offers a range of cruise itineraries, including five and eight day cruises, as well as the very popular extended 12 and 15 day options, for those who want to make the very most of their time cruising the Galápagos. Your on-board naturalist guide will give daily briefings about the next day’s locations, their history and geology, as well as the plants and animals you are likely to encounter on your Xavier cruise. The various itineraries take in different parts of the archipelago, so if you need help finding the perfect one for you, simply contact one of our Galápagos experts today and we’ll advise you. Our thoughts We have a soft spot for a cruise on Xavier III. We really like that she doesn’t force you to choose bunks for your budget-friendly Galápagos experience, and her lovely lounge is one of our favorites among all the ships in this class. Guests frequently comment on the great service they receive on board, and unlike other ships in this price range you have a really good choice of itineraries, showing you the very best of the Galápagos. Oh and they have free wetsuit hire - something most of the first class and luxury boats could learn from!

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 16 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 dishes, 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 sixteen 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 8 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.