Humboldt Explorer Galápagos Diving Cruise

Fragata

This 75ft motor yacht is one of the few owner-operated vessels in the Galápagos fleet, and that means there’s a relaxed and family feel to cruises on Fragata. Although the islands and their wildlife are always the stars of the show, the crew make sure that you’ll have a wonderful time on board. Fragata’s crew take pride in their vessel, and this is reflected in her lovely bright and comfortable decor. The communal areas feature plenty of beautiful honey-colored natural wood blended with bright and fresh soft furnishing and fabrics. The main lounge area is made for socializing with three sides taken up with a huge, plush sofa - a perfect place to relax with a drink from the yacht’s bar, or to listen to wonderful talks from the yacht’s bilingual naturalist guide. There’s a large TV with DVD player and a music system for everyone to enjoy. The dining room is also designed to reflect this boat’s friendly ambiance, with two large oval tables meaning meals with new friends are the perfect way to share your day’s adventures. Cabins on Fragata are placed over two of the 4 decks and provide a choice of twin and double accommodation. All cabins have individual air conditioning, a private en suite bathroom with full-size shower, and are fitted with beautiful wood floors and fittings, and bright and airy wall finishes and fabrics. Sun-worshippers and wildlife spotters will appreciate Fragata’s full size upper sun-deck with comfortable loungers that you can place under the ample shade canopy or lie back in the full sun. Snorkeling in Galápagos is a must-do activity, and Fragata carries full snorkeling equipment for you to enjoy, with wet suit hire on request. She also benefits from a diving platform at the rear, which makes entering and leaving the water easy for everyone, and makes another perfect spot for relaxing and watching the world go by. With a maximum of 16 guests at any one time on board, Fragata’s 8 person crew gives everyone great levels of service. Her dedicated bilingual naturalist guide will take you on a fantastic variety of excursions on land and in the water and is on hand at all times to answer your questions and to provide expert insights into the marine and land ecology of Galápagos Fragata is a beautifully maintained owner-run yacht with one of the more experienced crews in the Galápagos with over 20 years experience. The boat always has a really friendly and relaxed feel and the crew always seem to go out of their way to make sure you have a great experience on board and during excursions. We think Fragata is a great value-for-money Galápagos cruise experience.

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.

Bonita

Bonita is one of our favorite yachts in the Galápagos fleet, because it was among the first to be custom-designed for cruising the amazing Galápagos Islands. Because Bonita features accommodation for a maximum of 16 guests, she carries 1 qualified naturalist guide. This means you will get a much smaller guest to guide ratio than most other ships in the fleet. The operator of Bonita refurbishes the yacht every year. This is exceptional, and it means you are always assured of enjoying one of the best-presented yachts in its class. The passenger accommodation is fitted out in the traditional nautical style, with beautiful handcrafted teak fixtures and polished brass fittings. Every cabin features an outside view, and is equipped with either a double bed or twin beds. Each is fully air-conditioned and has a private bathroom with shower. Luxury biodegradable cosmetics are supplied, and additional features includes a hairdryer, plenty of closet and drawer storage, and an intercom. Meals are taken in the cozy dining room. You'll be served a sumptuous selection of international and local dishes, cooked using the freshest local ingredients by your highly skilled chef. There's also a lounge and conference area where the naturalist guides will brief you on some of the amazing sites you will be seeing, and you can relax here and watch TV or choose a book from the library while the islands glide past the panoramic windows. Bonita features a wonderful sundeck. It's the perfect place to catch some equatorial rays while you sip a cocktail, or to come up at night and watch the spectacle as the stars are revealed in the clear Galápagos skies above. Your bilingual naturalist guides know the islands, the habitats, and the wildlife intimately. They will lead you on a variety of incredible expeditions including shore landings, kayaking adventures, snorkeling, beach visits, and more. Snorkel gear, wetsuits, and stand-up paddle boards are also available for guests to use free of charge. Bonita is a truly remarkable ship! The owners lavish such care and attention on the ship that she always look as good as new. We love the fact that Bonita includes complimentary wetsuits and SUPs. For families with young teenagers, this could be the perfect option, and the chefs on board will always provide a kid-friendly menu option if you don't have adventurous eaters.

Galaxy Orion

Reina Silvia