Fragata Galápagos Cruise

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 20 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 in a relaxed buffet style, 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 twenty 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 10 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.

Humboldt Explorer

The Humboldt Explorer is a specialist Galápagos dive vessel that believes that divers should enjoy a touch of luxury! Her 8 air-conditioned cabins are located on the main and lower decks for maximum stability. Each of them has a private bathroom, flat screen TV and panoramic windows that provide stunning ocean views. Most rooms can be converted to either one queen bed or two twin beds. Communal spaces are equally delightful, and highlights include a partially shaded sun deck with a Jacuzzi and ample comfortable seating, and an extremely comfortable salon area with dining, bar and entertainment area. The large dive deck is extremely well-equipped and features include a bathroom, a large camera table with charging station, individual storage areas, and rinse bins for cameras and another for gear. All diving operations are conducted from two large pangas (tenders), easily boarded from the dive deck, and conducted by one of 8 specialist dive guides who work on board in rotation. The Humboldt may be luxurious, but she's definitely a dive ship first, and her dives are often at an advanced level, against currents, challenging and therefore more rewarding than many on offer in the archipelago. Because of this, guests will need to be certified as open water scuba divers by an internationally recognized and certified organization and should be experienced (they recommend that you have more than 100 logged dives) and must have logged at least one dive within the 6 months prior to boarding the vessel. Our Comments Captains Carlos and Jorge are very experienced sailors and they lead an expert crew, including great naturalist divers. Roberto, the chef produces a really varied menu, and there's something different at every meal. Unusually, local beers are included in your package, but the bar has a good variety of other drinks to suit all tastes. We really like the combination of serious dive boat and luxury cruise vessel - usually you have to choose from one or the other, but in our opinion the Humboldt Explorer is the best of both worlds, and it's a fantastic place to relax after a day of incredible diving.

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.