Xavier III Galápagos Cruise+Flights

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.

Fragata

This 75ft motor yacht is one of the few owner-operated vessels in the Galápagos fleet, and that means there’s a relaxed and family feel to cruises on Fragata. Although the islands and their wildlife are always the stars of the show, the crew make sure that you’ll have a wonderful time on board. Fragata’s crew take pride in their vessel, and this is reflected in her lovely bright and comfortable decor. The communal areas feature plenty of beautiful honey-colored natural wood blended with bright and fresh soft furnishing and fabrics. The main lounge area is made for socializing with three sides taken up with a huge, plush sofa - a perfect place to relax with a drink from the yacht’s bar, or to listen to wonderful talks from the yacht’s bilingual naturalist guide. There’s a large TV with DVD player and a music system for everyone to enjoy. The dining room is also designed to reflect this boat’s friendly ambiance, with two large oval tables meaning meals with new friends are the perfect way to share your day’s adventures. Cabins on Fragata are placed over two of the 4 decks and provide a choice of twin and double accommodation. All cabins have individual air conditioning, a private en suite bathroom with full-size shower, and are fitted with beautiful wood floors and fittings, and bright and airy wall finishes and fabrics. Sun-worshippers and wildlife spotters will appreciate Fragata’s full size upper sun-deck with comfortable loungers that you can place under the ample shade canopy or lie back in the full sun. Snorkeling in Galápagos is a must-do activity, and Fragata carries full snorkeling equipment for you to enjoy, with wet suit hire on request. She also benefits from a diving platform at the rear, which makes entering and leaving the water easy for everyone, and makes another perfect spot for relaxing and watching the world go by. With a maximum of 16 guests at any one time on board, Fragata’s 8 person crew gives everyone great levels of service. Her dedicated bilingual naturalist guide will take you on a fantastic variety of excursions on land and in the water and is on hand at all times to answer your questions and to provide expert insights into the marine and land ecology of Galápagos Fragata is a beautifully maintained owner-run yacht with one of the more experienced crews in the Galápagos with over 20 years experience. The boat always has a really friendly and relaxed feel and the crew always seem to go out of their way to make sure you have a great experience on board and during excursions. We think Fragata is a great value-for-money Galápagos cruise experience.

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.