Majestic Galapagos Diving Cruise

Fantastic Majestic

We just returned from a 9 day excursion on the Majestic (Galapatours) and it was fabulous. If you are looking for sitting on the deck and watching the Islands while sipping a drink type cruise, look elsewhere. If, on the other hand, you want an intimate look at the Galapagos, and want to combine hiking, snorkeling, and exploring with an experienced guide (sprinkled liberally with excellent food), then look no further, Benno Schmidt organized our tour and provided transfers, transportation and guidance throughout. The crew of the Majestic were seasoned sailors and could not have been kinder or more efficient. You could barely leave the room, without having the bed re-made and room freshened. Safety was a huge concern for the crew and all aspects were covered. The lynchpin of the trip was the guide, Roberto Quintana King. As with all guides, he is contracted, but if you can request him, do so. He was a former high school teacher, has a background in biology and zoology and is a native of the Islands. He was energetic, knowledgeable and an excellent host. You will not need dress clothing for meals, as all are casual. It is difficult to explain the sensation of walking within meters of large iguanas, giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies and sea lions in their habitats in this protected and secluded place. We had sixteen (16) guests on our ship with nine (9) crew which gives you an idea of service you will receive. The captain was friendly, available and there to greet us each tie we came back from an excursion.

Rebecca, Indianapolis, 12th January 2018

Great Cruise Experience

I was on the Majestic in February with my cousin, and it was a wonderful cruise. Our guide Harry was fantastic. He was so knowledgeable, extremely friendly, and he made us laugh a lot too. It seems to me that the Majestic contracts some of the best guides in the islands. My cousin and I both agree that the little extra we paid for the Majestic was well worth it, and if you are indeed looking for a more high-end posh cruise, the Majestic is my recommendation without a doubt.

Jeremy M., 2nd April 2017

Trip Report - 8 Days On The Majestic

We just returned home from an 8-day trip to the Galapagos on the Majestic. We started planning and booking in January because I'm impatient and I love to plan vacations. Also, once I decided on the Majestic, I wanted to be sure to reserve the cabin I wanted. And planning so far in advance allowed us to find airline seats that were upgradeable using miles and points -- not so easy to do these days.

I didn't realize there was such a thing as a land-based trip to the Galapagos. All I was familiar with were cruises. So I looked for the type of cruise I wanted: 8 days at sea, small boat, newish boat. There are so many different boats that all seemed similar after reading for a while, and there are positive reviews here about most of them. I didn't find any one outstanding boat in the Trip Advisor forums. The Majestic had giant windows in some of its cabins, and that's ultimately what persuaded me to choose it. And, quite luckily, there was a promotional discount rate on some of its November sailings. Perfect!

The morning of departure for the islands we were driven to the airport (insanely long drive, as everyone here can confirm) and immediately met by a representative of the Majestic who took us straight to the front of the line. She already had our boarding passes in hand. Couldn't have been easier.

Pleasant flights to San Cristobal. Same plane, but you touch down in Guayaquil for some more passengers, then continue on to the islands. In San Cristobal, our guide/naturalist from the Majestic met all 16 passengers, put us on a bus, and drove us to the pier where zodiac boats took us to the ship.

The Majestic experience was fantastic. I've never spent such a long time on potentially rough water, so I brought some scopolamine patches with me just in case. Despite lots of rocking and swaying, I never needed any medication.

Our cabin (#9) was very large. King sized bed. Room to keep both our suitcases open on the floor. Nice large shower with a giant window for watching the scenery go by while showering. The large windows were just as nice as seen in the pictures online. The boat has plenty of room to mix with the other passengers, or to be alone. The food was really tasty, with many options at each meal. The quantity was large. 3 large meals daily, including desserts. And each time we'd return from an excursion, there were tropical juices and baked goods waiting for us.

The staff were fantastic, from the men who drove the zodiacs, to Ivan who was in charge of the service staff, to the chefs who magically produced these meals from someplace below deck. Our naturalist, Fatima, was excellent. She knew everything about everything. She made sure to include everyone when she was talking. Her nightly presentations advised us on what to look out for the next day, and broke down what we'd be doing, where we'd be going, what we'd need to bring for the day. We did the Majestic's Itinerary B which included some of the western islands not always visited by cruises. Our small boat allowed us to anchor fairly close to each island, requiring short zodiac rides to shore. I enjoyed every island, though North Seymour stands out for being so barren of plants, yet so teeming with animal life. I loved the pace of getting out early for a hike or snorkeling, then returning to the ship for lunch, then resting before going out again in the afternoon. The hiking and snorkeling are not very strenuous, but it's still nice to have break times for reading or napping.

Some of our passengers skipped staying in Quito before the cruise, starting instead in Guayaquil. I'm glad we had our time in Quito. The Old Town was charming and pretty, and surely worth seeing. Our last night was spent in Guayaquil. Can't say much based on only 5 hours, but it seemed much noisier and faster-paced than Quito.

Seeing things I've never seen before is what makes a trip so memorable. Our trip to the Galapagos was filled with one new experience after another. If I ever return I'd consider spending some time on land, if only to experience something not found on a boat tour, but I really did love being on a boat for so long!

Philipp S., Philadelphia, 23rd February 2017