Mary Anne sailing ship wide header with complete vessel, hull and waterline visible

Mary Anne Galapagos Cruise

A much-loved Galapagos sailing ship — currently not operating

A Galápagos Cruise on board the Mary Anne

11 Reviews

Premium

What we love about the Mary Anne

A rare three-masted barquentine with genuine sailing character.

Past guests loved the warm crew and memorable outdoor meals.

Historic East-West routes created an exceptional two-week voyage.

Mary Anne three-masted sailing ship underway off a Galapagos shoreline
mary anne deck plan
+11
Mary Anne Galapagos Cruise

Mary Anne is one of those Galapagos ships that past guests remember with unusual affection: a real three-masted sailing ship, rich in wood, deck space and old-world sea-travel atmosphere. She is not currently sailing and cannot be booked, but we keep this page because her character—and the experiences our travellers had on board—still deserve an honest record.

What made Mary Anne special was not hotel-style luxury. It was the moment the crew set sail when wind and operations allowed, the long views from the open deck, and the feeling of travelling with the islands rather than simply moving between them. Past guests repeatedly praised the warm crew, thoughtful guides, food and outdoor meals at the stern; one described her, perfectly, as a “real boat, not a floating lounge.”

Cabins were below the main deck, with portholes, private bathrooms, air conditioning, fans, storage and both 110V and 220V sockets. They were practical and characterful rather than spacious or glamorous. Historical sources disagree about the exact split between twin/double and single cabins, so we will reconfirm the post-refit layout before publishing cabin counts or solo-supplement promises again.

Her historic Western itinerary reached Fernandina and western Isabela, while the Eastern route brought Genovesa and Española into focus; combining both created an unusually deep two-week journey. If this sailing philosophy appeals to you, our Galapagos specialists will gladly compare the operating small ships that come closest to Mary Anne's spirit.

Amenities on board the Mary Anne

meal

All meals

transfer

Transfers to and from ship

snorkeling

Snorkel gear (free of charge)

air conditioning

Air conditioning & private bathroom

drinks

Water, Coffee, Tea & fresh juices

triple

Triple cabins

EN guide

English guides

-25% for children ≤ 12

Food & Drinks on board the Mary Anne

When Mary Anne was operating, past guests often singled out the food and the chance to dine outdoors at the stern when conditions allowed. The indoor dining room provided a comfortable fallback in stronger wind, and the galley mixed Ecuadorian and international dishes; Ceviche de Palometa was one remembered speciality. If the ship returns, we will reconfirm the current chef, meal format and dietary process before publishing them as present-day promises.

Sustainable Tourism

Mary Anne's environmental character was inseparable from her rig: when conditions allowed, sailing reduced engine use and brought guests closer to the rhythm of wind and sea. She was never emission-free—engines remained essential, and Galapagos visits followed National Park routes and guided landing limits. Because Mary Anne is currently not sailing, we will verify any refit, water and waste systems, and future operator commitments before describing them as current onboard practice.

Cabins categories on board the Mary Anne

Mary Anne Twin/Double
Twin/Double

Type:

Double/Matrimonial (convertible)

Max. occupancy:

2

More about this cabin

Single
Single Cabin

Type:

Single

Max. occupancy:

1

More about this cabin

Technical details of Mary Anne

Category
Premium
Type
Motor Sailboat
Length
172 feet (52.4 meters)
Gross tonnage
400 Tons
Cruising speed
8 knots (15 km/h)
Beam
25.9 feet (7.9 meters)
Draft
16.7 feet (5 meters)
Capacity
16

Reviews of Mary Anne

einhornresearch

Mary Anne Galapagos Cruise

Premium

Amazing Galapagos Cruise We just got back from an 8 day trip aboard the Mary Anne. The boat and crew were marvelous. They went above and beyond to accommodate the special needs of several passengers Great food! Our guide, Juan Carlos, was outstanding. Because of a medical emergency, our itinerary was changed. Everyone did their best to try and make the alterations worthwhile. Sorry we missed Fernandina, but give credit to all involved for making the best of an unfortunate situation. Would highly recommend this cruise to others. Also, the support of Galapatours in making everything come together for us. Source: TripAdvisor

Helene L.

Mary Anne Galapagos Cruise

Premium

Great from A to Z Everything was great from A to Z, fantastic crew, wonderful captain, awesome guide, amazing food! You can definitely recommend it, while not as luxury in the cabins than in probably other modern boats, we feel we are in a real boat, not a floating lounge. And the crew made cabins always clean and welcoming. And last but not least: Galapagos and all the birds, lézards, scenic...a new location each day, each one more amazing than another, after a comfortable sailing. Tx-:)!

Stephen More

Mary Anne Galapagos Cruise

Premium

Fabulous journey The Mary Anne was wonderful. All I could have hoped for. Excellent weather, food, company. I could not have improved on it. It was a memorable trip which I will recommend to everyone. I had always wanted to go on a cruise on a boat like that so the trip ticked several boxes and lived up to expectations completely. My room was a double with an en-suite bathroom. It was air conditioned and a welcome cool spot from the brilliant sun. Source: goo.gl/fQ3vbV

Kelley McDonald

Mary Anne Galapagos Cruise

Premium

Great family cruise The Mary Anne is a special way to see the Galapagos aboard a wonderful vessel with a warm and dedicated crew and our guide Desiree brought the entire trip to life because of her knowledge and especially because of her ability to connect warmly to our family. Everything was well coordinated with an equally competent and warm guide and the crews great hospitality worked well for our family members. I can highly recommend the Mary Anne for a family memory that will last a lifetime. Thanks Detour, The McDonald Family Source: goo.gl/ZMzpRv

John Franken

Mary Anne Galapagos Cruise

Premium

Top notch cruise The Mary Anne was everything we hoped she would be, and more so. What a beautiful boat! Whenever we came back from a land trip on the panga we could not believe our luck that we were staying on her, she looked so lovely rocking gently in the bay. And when they put all the sails up, that was just fabulous, we felt like Pirates of the Caribbean. I thought the crew were excellent, they all worked so hard, and the chef produced such yummy food, it was a highlight to eat out on deck so much - we were so lucky with the weather. Source: goo.gl/DEKamz

Karsten K

Mary Anne Galapagos Cruise

Premium

Truly a unforgettable cruise experience While on our flight to the islands we read in the Angermeyer booklet that we were going to have an experience of a lifetime. Although we know a bit about the islands already before we left home we thought that this was just the usual exaggeration marketing folks are famous for. However, now, back at home and back at work we feel strongly that this was indeed no exaggeration at all – for us this Galapagos trip aboard the Mary Anne was really the outstanding experience of our life and it will be very hard if not impossible to see anything what will come close to this. It’s not easy to describe all the detail, but really every piece of the trip was perfectly fitting and thus contributed to the exceptional value the sail had for us. Starting with the very smooth organization behind the scenes, the way we were welcomed at Baltra airport and the vessel, the luxury of the boat and cabins, the fine (and healthy) food served there, the organization of the trips which were so well balanced that one never felt exhausted or hurried and on the other hand never felt idling. I’m not able to describe the islands – one really has to see them. In fact one of the last paradises to experience, if not the last paradise on this planet. The geology, the marine life, the wildlife on the islands. The peace. Just amazing. At one point in time we would have liked to transform our selfs into sea lions just to be able to stay. As already state above Alejandro, or guide on the boat and the islands was also very exceptional in many kind of ways. For his knowledge about every aspect of the islands: history, flora, wildlife, conservation efforts and problems, for his ability to share his knowledge and to convey to us the value of the fragile life on these islands, for letting us feel how dear the islands are to him, for his humor and not at last for his charisma. Then of course the captain and the crew whom not only kept the ship going but catered all tastes behind the scenes with charm, warmth and friendliness. Very professional. And far beyond that one would expect – for example turning this big ship around completely shortly before sunset just to allow us to watch a bunch of lovely dolphins. Source: goo.gl/8svbiR