Stella Maris Galápagos Charter

• Exclusive and intimate (only 14 passengers max);
• 24 hour food and drink service;
• Wonderful gastronomic experience - this vessel’s speciality;
• Open sun deck with hot tub for amazing star gazing.

Exclusive Luxury Charter Stella Maris is a stunning motor yacht that would not look out of place in the harbor at Monaco or Cannes. Fully refitted in 2014, this is without doubt THE most glamorous vessel in the Galápagos Islands. Unlike most yachts of this class for charter, Stella Maris only accepts a maximum of 14 passengers, giving you a more intimate and exclusive experience. Her crew of 8 means service that’s second to none. From her beautiful teak decks and central staircase to her marvellous sun-deck hot tub, the Stella Maris has had no expense spared to give you a Galápagos cruise to remember.

Beautiful ambiance The lavish Stella Maris features 4 beautifully-appointed staterooms, 2 opulent VIP staterooms and a wonderfully extravagant master suite on the bridge deck with it’s own access to an outdoor lounge area. All the accommodations are fully air-conditioned and each has its own private en-suite bathroom. The decor is clean and contemporary, and staterooms have been carefully designed to enjoy plenty of natural light and provide a beautiful place to wake up every morning.

Communal areas on board include a light and luxurious lounge or saloon area where guests can relax with a book, play games or watch movies. It’s here where you’ll also receive your wonderfully informative briefings from our onboard naturalist guide. There’s also a delightful al fresco lounge on the bridge deck with an outside bar and dining tables for informal lunches. Completing the outdoor spaces, a climb up to the sun deck will reward you with a fantastic open-air space complete with hot tub - a perfect area for relaxing after an excursion, for soaking up the sun during the day or marveling at the stars above during crystal-clear Galápagos nights.

Fine Dining The dining room is stunning, with a warm, inviting decor that promises a special experience. This is an area where Stella Maris outdoes herself. Our chefs delight in surprising guests with authentic Ecuadorian flavors using only the best locally sourced ingredients. Of course the amazing local seafood features extensively, but all preferences are catered for and there’s always a superb vegetarian menu available. A wonderful barbecue meal is served once or twice during each cruise and is always exceptional.

The owner of the Stella Maris is a wine connoisseur, and the boat’s cellar boasts some carefully chosen South American delights from some of the best vineyards. The bar is well stocked with almost every premium drink that you can think of and cocktails are also available - why not, you’re on the trip of a lifetime!

24 hour service Uniquely the Stella Maris offer its guests a true 24/7 experience. A full drinks and food service is available at all times of day and night. The Stella Maris fits herself to your schedule, not the other way around - the bar and kitchen are never closed for guests. Similarly, staterooms are thoroughly cleaned and beautifully re-dressed several times a day whilst you are on excursion or relaxing on the upper decks. It’s these details that make the onboard experience of Stella Maris something everyone should experience at least once in a lifetime.

Advanced Provisioning Allowance (A.P.A.) When chartering a crewed yacht under MYBA terms, you will be required to make a deposit in advance of the charter, which is separate to the charter or booking fee. This deposit is called the "advance provisioning allowance" or APA. The APA amount is used to cover expenses incurred during the course of the charter such as fuel, food, beverages, mooring fees, visa fees, harbour fees, park fees, taxes, Guide and other expenses not included in the Charter Fee. Please inquire with us for further details.

Our Comments As a member of the MYBA, the Worldwide Yachting Association, whose Members are involved at all levels within the Superyacht Industry, the Stella Maris truly is one of the world's finest yachts and offers the premiere luxury experience in the Galápagos. The master suite is simply amazing for those looking for the ultimate in opulence and style, but all the staterooms are beautifully appointed. Every passenger is made to feel special and the 24 hour guest service is delightfully decadent. We particularly love the food on board, and Stella Maris always has the best local chefs and uses the best local ingredients. A wonderful cruising experience.

At Galapatours we love and respect the pristine ecosystems and fascinating wildlife of the Galápagos Islands, and we insist that our cruise partners do too. To protect the archipelago all our cruise vessels must have sophisticated water filtration systems, modern efficient engines, and strict maintenance schedules to minimize pollution.

The Galápagos National Park authority also defines exact cruising routes that dictate which ships can visit highlights at specific times, as well as limiting passenger numbers. These measures ensure that animals and habitats are not disturbed by too many visitors.

But at Galapatours we like to go even further. We voluntarily offset all the CO2 emissions of every cruise we sell - at no cost to you. And you can also play your part by traveling responsibly and following our Eco Guidelines during your stay. Click here to find out more about these guidelines, our commitment to sustainable tourism, and the Galápagos National Park rules.

The food on our Galapágos Cruises is among the very best you will find in South America. Most of the on-board chefs are internationally trained and have prior experience working in the best hotels and restaurants in Ecuador and indeed around the world.

You can expect a first-class selection of food, including a good variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, locally sourced poultry and fish/seafood, rice and pasta dishes. Most boats will always include some typical Ecuadorian dishes on the menu during your cruise. If you have specific dietary requirements then these can usually be accommodated by the chef providing you have given advance notice. Please make sure you tell us about any allergies or dietary requirements you have at the time you book with us. If you leave it until you arrive at the dockside, then it may well be impossible to accommodate your needs.

Most boats serve a range of options at meal times in a relaxed buffet-style. At the first class and luxury end of the market, some boats have more formal dining where you will be served at your seat. However the atmosphere is always relaxed on board our cruises, and never stuffy or formal.