Humboldt Explorer Galápagos Diving Cruise

Galaxy Orion

Reina Silvia

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!

Estrella del Mar

- Great value option; - Comfortable accommodation; - Great reviews for the chef; - Wide range of itineraries. Estrella Del Mar offers an excellent option for those who want to cruise the Galápagos in comfort, but are prepared to sacrifice some top end luxury for excellent value. Built in 1990, Estrella uses her space cleverly, so that she never feels crowded. Limited to a maximum of 16 guests, you’ll have a great experience as you cruise between stunning sites of interest around the Galápagos. Comfortable Cabins Estrella Del Mar has eight cabins, four on the lower deck, and four on the upper. All are set up as “twin bunk” type, and all feature en suite bathrooms and air conditioning for your comfort. If you are prone to motion sickness, then we recommend one of the four lower deck cabins, where the ships movement is felt the least. Despite being on the lower deck, these are light and airy thanks to larger than usual porthole-style windows and the well-chosen decor, and a lovely place to rest after a day spent exploring the Galápagos. The upper deck cabins feature larger windows offering lovely vistas when you wake in the morning. Whatever cabin you choose, the onboard housekeeper will make up your room several times a day as required, and as well as towels for use in your bathroom, all guests receive beach towels perfect for drying off after snorkeling and swimming as well as taking with you on beach excursions - a favorite part of any Galápagos cruise. Space to be Social Estrella del Mar’s communal spaces are all about relaxed socialising. The lounge area features beautiful polished wood decor and panoramic windows, but the centrepiece is the huge horseshoe-shaped communal couch. This is a perfect area for relaxing in comfort in the evenings, as well as listening to the fascinating briefings on the Galápagos islands and wildlife given by your expert naturalist guide. You’ll also find a cosy bar here, offering local and imported beers, wines and spirits, as well as cocktails. The dining area continues the beautiful wood theme, and is set up informally with comfortable tables each seating four guests. Food on board is a delicious mix of international and local dishes, served both buffet and menu style. The chef on board is consistently praised by guests, and uses only the freshest local ingredients to make sure you won’t go hungry during your memorable Estrella del Mar Galápagos cruise! Outside there is a pleasant sundeck that offers a shaded area, as well as comfortable lounging in the full glare of the equatorial sun. This is a perfect place to watch the Galápagos islands slide by, or to come to at night and watch the amazing spectacle that is the stars coming out over the Galápagos. Choice of stunning itineraries Estrella has a wide choice of seven day and ten day cruise itineraries, carefully chosen to allow you to experience the unspoilt wonder of many of the Galápagos islands and their wildlife. Estrella’s cruise crew includes a highly-qualified bilingual Galápagos National Park naturalist, who will guide you on every excursion, and can answer any questions you have about the geology, geography, habitats and wildlife you will see. Included in your Estrella cruise package is use of snorkeling gear on board, including complimentary wetsuit hire - an additional charge on most other vessels. Snorkeling and swimming with the Galápagos marine life are just some of the wonderful excursions you will enjoy, as well as wet and dry landings on some of the most unspoilt islands in the world. Our thoughts Choosing a Galápagos cruise on board Estrella Del Mar is, in our view, selecting the perfect mix between comfort and value. With lots of communal space and bunk cabins, Estrella feels a lot bigger than she actually is. We love the sun deck - it’s the perfect place to absorb the sights and sounds of Galápagos, and we can’t praise the chef highly enough - we think his cooking is better than some much more expensive Galápagos cruise ships we’ve visited! For travellers who are budget-conscious but don’t want to sacrifice some creature comforts and great service, this is the perfect option.