Estrella del Mar Galápagos Cruise+Flights

Grand Daphne

A Galápagos cruise on board the Grand Daphne proves that you don’t have to have a huge budget to see the best the Galápagos has to offer in comfort. Built in 1979 and fully refitted in 2015, Grand Daphne and her crew pride themselves on offering a 1st Class service and experience at a superb price. **Traditional Motor Yacht** Grand Daphne is a traditional motor yacht design, and she’s proud of this heritage. Yet despite this, she offers comfortable accommodation with some features you wouldn’t necessarily expect on a cruise vessel this class. Cabins are located on the upper or lower decks, with communal areas on the main deck between. Guests who are prone to motion sickness will appreciate the cabins on the lower decks, as they will have less movement. These are laid out as twin bunk beds, although the lower bunks are big enough for a cozy couple if you prefer! All the rooms feature traditional porthole style windows, wood finishes, en suite bathroom with complimentary toiletries, and individual air conditioning for your comfort. Upper deck cabins are a mix of twin bunk and traditional beds, and they offer lovely panoramic windows, giving you stunning views of the Galápagos Islands and the sea. All the cabins feature 110V outlets for charging your devices, as well as reading lights and plenty of storage. **Eat, Drink and Relax** Grand Daphne’s main deck hosts her dining room and salon. These areas feature a stunning polished teak floor, and lots of other beautiful real wood fixtures and fittings. Two dining tables set for eight people each ensures a delightful, sociable mealtime experience, allowing you to share the memories of your day exploring Galápagos with like-minded travelers while you enjoy the view from the huge picture windows. Delicious local and international dishes are served her, and the chef uses only the freshest local ingredients, so you can enjoy three wonderful meals as well as plenty of tasty snacks throughout the day. Also located here is the ship’s well-stocked bar, which can serve you a variety of local and imported beers, wines and spirits. Water, tea, and coffee are always available, 24 hours, free of charge to all our cruise guests. The lounge features a wonderful U-shaped couch, which again sums up the social focus of this relaxed boat. Here you can chat, unwind with a drink, or watch a movie on the flat screen TV with DVD player. This is also where your expert bilingual naturalist guide will give you amazing briefings about the islands and their unique flora and fauna, and outline the next day’s activities on your Galápagos adventure. Outside, you can climb the stairway up to the stunning sundeck. This runs the whole length of the boat and offers wonderful views. There is plenty of seating and comfortable loungers up here, and for those who don’t want to get too much sun, there’s a shaded area to cool off in. If you’re looking for a little more privacy, Galápagos Grand Daphne has a small shaded terrace at the stern end of the main deck with comfortable seating for three or four. **Fantastic Itineraries** Grand Daphne’s expert Galápagos naturalist guide will really make your trip come to life, thanks to their knowledge of the islands and the best places to see what the archipelago has to offer. Grand Daphne has a choice of two eight day itineraries and two shorter for or five day itineraries. Each of Grand Daphne’s cruise itineraries have been carefully planned to give you a real flavor of a key area of the Galápagos archipelago. For the ultimate experience, why not join the two eight day itineraries into a complete Galápagos experience - this would make a fabulous trip of a lifetime at a really superb price. As well as island excursions by “panga” (inflatable boat) you will also go snorkeling with sea lions and turtles thanks to the complimentary snorkel gear carried on board Grand Daphne. For guests who wish to hire a wetsuit, these are available for only $5 per day. **Our comments** Experiencing the Galápagos aboard the yacht Grand Daphne is a superb option for those who are looking to enjoy an amazing Galápagos experience on a budget, but would like to enjoy more space and comfort than is usually available on a budget class boat. Grand Daphne’s crew are consistently highly rated - they go above and beyond to make sure you have an amazing time. We really like her itineraries, they have been cleverly put together - but if you can stretch to it, joining the two eight-day trips would make for a remarkable “special occasion” trip of a lifetime.

Equinox

\- Brand new refit for 2019; \- Great food buffets; \- All cabins have ocean view Equinox is an 88ft expedition Yacht, formerly known as "Galaven" that has just undergone a superb refit ready for the 2019 season. The beautiful yacht is a prime example of a mid-range vessel and represents excellent value for money. In fact, when still operating as "Galaven", the Equinox was our absolute bestseller! **Single traveler friendly **Equinox features 11 lovely double cabins, each with a private en suite bathroom and airconditioning. Unusually for a mid-range vessel, the layout of Equinox means that every cabin has an ocean view and is filled with natural light. Also, there are multiple cabins for single travelers! The decor throughout is timeless “ocean steamer” style and we always feel at home when we come on board, as you will. The communal areas on Equinox are excellent. The large, open-plan lounge and dining areas are charming and make relaxed socialising easy, and the traditional long bar is a focal point. There is good space outside, with a lovely covered sun deck - or for those seeking the sun or the stars you can move up to the open foredeck and drink in the endless skies. **Relaxed eating** The food on Equinox is delicious and plentiful! Served in an “all-you-can-eat” buffet style this really promotes the friendly onboard atmosphere and after a tough day snorkeling or walking it’s great to be able to load up with delicious food and eat in a more relaxed ambiance. Lots of typical Ecuadorian food is available, and always plenty of fruits, juices and vegetarian options. The crew will meet you back on board after excursions with light snacks and drinks, which is always very welcome. **Great guides and crew **With 11 crew for 20 guests you’re always well looked after. There are always 2 bilingual National Park guides on board to give you the benefit of their combined years of experience and they make good use of the large-screen projector on board to give excellent briefs about your trip and excursions. Snorkelling trips are a particular highlight, and Equinox can supply snorkel gear if you are unable to bring your own. **Our comments **The small groups are fantastic and make the Equinox one of our favourite mid-range vessels, even more now, after her 2017 refit. We love the decor with it’s clean yet romantic “days of steam” look. We always enjoy the relaxed atmosphere aboard and the large and comfortable lounge spaces make our trips very sociable.

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.