During a cruise to Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands, cruise guests venture out on hikes or Zodiac rides to spot massive sea lions lounging on island beaches, gigantic tortoises lumbering across the landscape or thousands of blue-footed boobies nesting in a remote cliffside rookery. The draw for snorkelers and scuba divers is an underwater world of colorful fish, dolphins and marine iguanas, the world’s only seafaring lizards.
Located some 600 miles off the South American coastline, these remote islands are within the Galapagos Marine Reserve, a 51,000-square-mile, highly protected eco-region. Regulations for exploring the isles are strict. Fortunately, luxury travelers including couples, small family groups and eco-affinity groups eager for adventure have some good options via an upscale cruise that meets the regulations. Here’s a look at some of the options.
Ultra-Luxury and Eco-Discovery
In 2024 and 2025, Silversea’s 100-passenger Silver Origin will sail a multitude of seven- and 14-night voyages roundtrip from the Galapagos’ San Cristobal. Guided by a skilled Silversea expedition team, guests will set out daily to explore, view dramatic scenery, learn about the isles’ geology, and spot wildlife. The intimate ship carries eight Zodiacs, and also has a watersports platform for snorkeling and swimming.
Among the many onboard perks of this ultra-luxury experience are the highest crew-to-guest ratio in the Galapagos, hefty onboard enrichment lectures and sumptuous all-suite accommodations with butler service. As for the ship’s public spaces, one nifty spot is Silver Origin’s Basecamp offering eco-materials and tools, easy access to the Zodiac deck, and direct access to the ship’s Marina.
During one day in the Galapagos islands, Silver Origin will typically anchor in front of Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz. It’s an island destination known for its humongous prickly pear cactus trees and the Charles Darwin Research Station. The station operates a breeding center for giant tortoises and land iguanas, and expert guides will interpret the center’s captive breeding and reintroduction programs for guests. Also, since Puerto Ayora is one of the few spots in the Galapagos considered “civilization” within the isles, Silversea’s guests can stroll through town, browse quaint art galleries operated by locals, or simply people-watch at cafés.
Top digs aboard Silver Origin? For a stay aboard that’s the apex of luxury, look to Deck 6’s 1,722-square-foot Owner’s Suite with a private veranda. But this intimate, luxurious ship also has other high-end suite categories, a plus for multi-generational groups seeking multiple, sumptuous suites. In fact, even the small ship’s Classic Veranda Suites are a roomy 335 square feet.
Sister line Celebrity Cruises operates the 100-passenger, upscale Celebrity Flora, which, like Silver Origin, boasts its own unique interior. Among the itinerary choices is a 10-night “Quito and Inner Galapagos Loop” itinerary operated on multiple dates in 2024 and 2025. One port visit, for example, is at Tagus Cove on Isabela Island. Historically serving as an anchorage for pirates and whalers, that cove offers breathtaking views of the island, its volcanoes and Darwin Lake. Along the shoreline, cruise guests often have opportunities to spot seabirds, sea lions, Galapagos penguins, sea turtles and nesting flightless cormorants.
Luxury Travel Advisor would suggest guests—perhaps the matriarch and patriarch of a multi-generational adult family group—book the Celebrity Flora’s luxurious Penthouse Suite with up to 1,288 total square feet of space, wraparound floor-to-ceiling windows, and an outward facing spa tub and shower. Other family members can travel in style too, though, by booking a Royal Suite with 559 square feet of space, including a separate living area, bedroom and private veranda. All of Celebrity Flora’s suites include ocean view balconies or Infinite Verandas.
In other news, Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic is acquiring two other Galapagos vessels operated by Celebrity—the 48-passenger Celebrity Xpedition and 16-passenger Celebrity Xploration. Each will receive a multimillion-dollar renovation before setting sail in 2025 as National Geographic Gemini and National Geographic Delfina, respectively. In particular, the intimate National Geographic Delfina catamaran, which has just eight accommodations, should have strong appeal for small affinity groups or multigenerational family groups. Look for details about the new Lindblad 2025 itineraries soon.
With more than half a century of expedition experience, Lindblad also currently operates two other Galapagos vessels—the 48-passenger National Geographic Islander II and the 96-passenger National Geographic Endeavor II. Among the line’s Galapagos itinerary offerings are a seven-day “Wild Galapagos Escape” on National Geographic Islander II and 10-day “Exploring Galapagos” aboard National Geographic Endeavor II.
On “Exploring Galapagos,” for instance, guests can explore via kayak, paddleboard, glass-bottom boat or Zodiac. During a day at Espanola, guests will likely see swallow-tailed gulls, Espanola mockingbirds, Nazca boobies, marine iguanas, sea lions and, seasonally, the world’s only population of waved albatross. Travelers can also snorkel offshore at Gardner Bay, and often can view swallow-tailed gulls, Española mockingbirds, Nazca boobies and, seasonally, the world’s only population of waved albatross at this bird paradise. It’s also home to vividly colored marine iguanas and sea lions hanging out on the beach.
Throughout its fleet, Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic welcomes many multi-generational families. It quips that as long as young children “have an adult in tow” the group can split up so that everyone gets to do what interests them most. Meals are informal, and kids and teens 18 and under can also participate in the line’s National Geographic Global Explorers program. During that program, they can earn a Zodiac “driver’s license,” record wildlife sightings in a field notebook, and tell their explorer stories through photos, videos, music, and drawings.
More Galapagos Options
Sailing the Galapagos Islands, Aqua Expeditions’ 16-passenger superyacht Aqua Mare has seven large, elegant suites, each with a king bed (convertible to two twins) as well as a deluxe bathroom with spacious walk-in shower with overhead rainshower. The top suite is the 861-square-foot Owner’s Suite
Aqua Mare’s public facilities include a sun deck, whirlpool and day beds, panoramic main lounge and an aft outdoor dining area. This sumptuous four-deck yacht has 30 percent more indoor space than most other yachts of the same size. The expedition company offers two naturalist guides for every 16 people.
In May 2024, Aqua Expeditions unveiled a new website with a revamped travel advisor portal. Advisors and guests can access a newly introduced “Aqua Experience” section, plus interactive deck plans with clickable pop-ups for each stateroom and social space. An interactive map zooms into Aqua Mare’s daily course in the Galapagos as the user clicks through the day-by-day itinerary.
Abercrombie & Kent has an enhanced 2025 Luxury Expedition Cruise portfolio. Headlining the lineup is the new “Ultimate Galápagos Expedition” aboard the small adventure yacht Theory from Ecoventura, now part of A&K Travel Group.
This new Galapagos option, delivers eco-enrichment ashore and Relais & Châteaux hospitality and dining aboard and runs from April through November. Cruising the region on the sleek Theory, guests will encounter the islands’ wildlife and learn about the various species from experts on A&K’s expedition team. Twenty guests will be served by three expedition team members and the ship’s crew of 10.
HX, the new brand name for the former Hurtigruten Expeditions, also offers sailings within the Galapagos via the intimate, 90-passenger Santa Cruz II. Among several Galapagos itinerary options, the expedition line offers seven-night “Galápagos Islands Nature and Wildlife Expedition Cruise (Northern Route)” on 43 different departures between July 2024 and March 2026; guests will visit multiple islands with myriad eco-activities.
On board Santa Cruz II, we’d head for the Expedition Lounge as it’s a comfortable interior spot from which to admire the beauty of the Galapagos islands. HX also operates an onboard Science and Education program, and the ship’s Science Corner is outfitted with everything from a microscope to a whale vertebrae clone.
Santa Cruz II was revitalized in 2021. Here, we’d opt for a 322-square-foot Darwin Suite, which can hold up to three guests and can connect an Explorer cabin.
Adventures by Disney also offers Disney Galapagos Islands expedition cruises on eight-night sailings aboard the boutique Galapagos Legend, operated by GO Galapagos-Ecuador. On excursions led by naturalists, family adventurers will head to view dramatic scenery and spot wildlife. They’ll snorkel and may be able to view sea lions, reef fish, and sea turtles. Guests can also hike across the islands’ diverse terrain and paddle in glass-bottom kayaks along secluded coves.
Families on this Disney adventure can learn about island culture by visiting a family coffee farm. They also can visit a local special needs school where the students create crafts and have their own bazaar so guests can purchase items and support the school. Additional suppliers including Tauck, Avalon Waterways and others also offer Galapagos sailings (using other suppliers’ vessels), plus yacht charter companies also offer journeys within the isles.
In 2025, Tauck has an eight-day “Galapagos: Wildlife Wonderland” itinerary from Quito to the Galapagos; it concludes in Guayaquil. This Tauck Bridges family adventure provides a four-night cruise on Santa Cruz II to Bartolome Island, Genovesa Island, Santa Cruz Island and Rabida Island.
Good to know: Viking offers a four-day “Wildlife of the Galapagos Overland” in the midst of its 48-night “Antarctica, Chile & the Americas” itinerary, departing February 20, 2025, from Buenos Aires, Argentina to Fort Lauderdale, FL.
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