How to pick your cruise
Type of boat
In deciding the type of boat you should think about how many fellow passengers you would like to be with, a small intimate group of up to twelve or a big ship with a cosmopolitan crowd? On the larger vessels the passengers are split into smaller groups of up to 16 per naturalist guide. From the range of boats you should also decide whether you prefer the romance of sail or the latest high-tech motor yacht. Note the sailing yachts all have motors and due to the lack of winds on the Equator, rarely go under sail only.
Itinerary
The itinerary is also worth looking at. It is not possible to visit all the sites in a week but some yachts go further than others, however for those prone to seasickness, you might want to go on a boat that travels less or go on a bigger vessel.
Comfort
We can recommend some of the boats that combine a good itinerary with high quality of service, usually in the First and Luxury categories. We should point out that what goes for luxury in a place as remote as the Galapagos, is not quite what one would expect in the Caribbean or Meditteranean. Though having sampled the excellent meals and high quality of guides we think the service has improved enormously over the last two decades. At one time the meals were canned and the showers a bucket of sea water!
Trip duration
The length of cruise is usually a week. There are 4 and 5 day trips, but having gone all the way out to such a special place we feel it justifies a week. There are occasionally 10 or 12 day cruises and two-week ones. Don't forget that half the first day and most of the last day is spent travelling to and from the islands.
Why book through us?
We will give you sound advice on your choice of boat and itinerary, and can arrange your flights, both national and international, as well as carefully planned extensions to the Andes, Amazon rainforest, cloud-forest, or other Latin American destinations such as Peru.
We offer an unrivalled range of cruise boats, dealing directly with the owners to obtain the best value for our clients. You may find that you can book some of the components yourself, but as we are an ATOL licenced operator, your money is safe.
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