Galapagos Cruises
& Boats
A
Galapagos cruise is a once-in-a-lifetime
experience for most tourists and does not come cheap. Make
sure your
Galapagos cruise boat, itinerary and guide will do justice to
this very special
holiday.
A
detailed cruise itinerary from your travel agent, before you book, is
vital to
ensure that your Galapagos cruise takes in your preferred islands and
the wildlife you want to see.
Check the itinerary against a map of the islands for an idea
of the
distances involved and how long you will spend travelling between
islands. The cheaper cruise boats generally cannot travel as
fast as the luxury ships.
Galapagos
cruise ships and boats and the
facilities they offer vary widely - get a written description of the
boat.
In particular make sure that
the deck
offers some shade. Check if drinking water will be included
in
the cost - it is extortionately priced on some boats. Also
ask your travel agent about the level of tips
expected - this
can be a substantial amount of money, although some agents may include
it in the tour price. Vegetarians
and vegans should make
careful
enquiries before booking to ensure the cruise operator can meet their
dietary requirements.
Most
Galapagos tour guides are very knowledgeable and speak at least two
languages. Their level of experience varies with the more
expensive boats usually having better guides. Check that
your cruise package includes a guide who speaks your language,
especially if you are booking a cruise at the last minute in Quito or
in the islands -
fascinating information about the Galapagos wildlife may not be too
accessible to English speakers if delivered only in fluent Japanese and
Italian.
Your
choice of boat will depend on
various factors. Large cruise ships are more stable but
embarking and disembarking takes longer with more passengers,
so you will have less time actually seeing the Galapagos
wildlife. Smaller boats offer a more intimate cruise
experience and more time with the wildlife, but are less stable if the
sea is rough and sharing a small space can be awkward if you don't get
along with your fellow cruise passengers. Catamarans are
generally more stable than monohulls, both at anchor and while
cruising, and tend to use less fuel, which is better for the
environment.
Galapagos
cruise boats, ships, yachts and catamarans are divided into various
categories:
economy, tourist, tourist superior, first class and luxury.
Take this with a pinch of salt as you sometimes see the same
boat listed in different categories on different sites. Even
the most expensive cruise ships need a motor and it
will make a noise. Just because a boat has air-conditioning
does not
necessarily mean it will be functioning... As a very rough
guide, prices per day
are up to around $200 on an economy cruise boat, and over $400 a day on
a luxury ship or yacht, with first class boats charging around $300 to
$400. Note that this is per day and most cruises are either
4, 5
or 8 days.
Some
cruise operators are certified under the SmartVoyager sustainable
tourism certification scheme,
a "green" award indicating that they comply with strict conservation
standards to protect the Galapagos
wildlife and environment. As a responsible tourist you may
want to pick an environmentally-responsible sustainable cruise
operator.
According to the SmartVoyager website, certified cruise boats
in the Galapagos Islands are:
Daphne, Beagle, Sky Dancer, Tip Top II, Tip Top III, the
Ecoventura boats Eric, Flamingo & Letty,
Eclipse, Monserrat, Santa Cruz, Isabela II, Mary Anne and
Sagitta.
The
Galapagos climate and the time of year will also have a major
impact on your cruise experience and the wildlife you will see.
Check the Galapagos
Weather Calendar and Wildlife
Activity
pages before deciding
when
is best to visit the islands, bearing in mind that last-minute
Galapagos cruise discounts are a risk if your time in the
islands is limited.
Useful
Spanish Vocabulary for a Galapagos cruise:
mapa de las islas galápagos: map of the Galapagos Islands
itinerario:
itinerary
crucero: cruise
yate: yacht
barco: boat
Galapagos
Cruises & Boats
Cruise tips and itinerary notes, Galapagos ship and boat information,
Galapagos Islands map, sustainable cruises
in the Galapagos
Islands
Website www.ecuadortravelsite.org, text and photos by Sarah Clifford.
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