Galapagos Islands

boat mistakes
how to avoid selecting the wrong one

Which is the
best boat for your
Galapagos Islands cruise?

You have a choice of about 100 cruise yachts in the Galapagos Islands. No boat suits everyone's needs. The right ship for you depends mainly on your means and desires. The below insights help you determine the ideal yacht for your needs.

Boat size?

Ships can be classified in the Galapagos Islands as small (12 to 24 passengers, see photo), mid-sized (25 to 49) and large (50 to 100 or so). Size matters:

Small boat advantages:

More intimate

Greater sense of adventure

Can enter shallower waters

Usually smaller land excursion groups

Has less regimented on-board activities

Mid-sized boat advantages

A compromise between what small and large boats do and do not offer.

Large boat advantages:

More comfortable

Larger cabins and public areas

Roomier cabins, dining areas and public spaces and deck areas

More stable (less affected by waves)

More likely to have a decent library, among other amenities

Sailing
or motorized
the Galapagos Islands?

Sailing yachts have their advantages over motorized yachts, and vice versa.

Nautical mood

Sailing is more romantic and adventuresome (though most sailing yachts rely on their motors as much as their sails).

Creature comforts

Motorized yachts usually have larger cabins and public spaces - and higher ceilings - and larger decks - and greater likelihood that they will have private bathrooms. - and better navigating ability - and better wave stability (except for the catamaran style sailing yacht).

Quality?

Cruise boats range in quality from so-so to superb - and you usually get what you pay for. The better the boat, the greater the chance that you will have:

A better qualified guide

All Galapagos Islands guides are licensed and rated by the government on three levels. Higher priced boats hire the highest rated guides, budget boats get the lower rated guides.

A better crew

The staff will likely be more experienced and more eager to please on a higher priced boat.

Greater comfort

Higher priced cruise boats usually have larger cabins and public spaces - and their cabins almost always have private bathrooms. Boat furnishings will be more esthetic and comfortable.

Other benefits

You can expect msny other aspects to be better. This includes the food - and those small amenities that add up, making your cruise memorable.

Cost

Average cost

To give you in an approximate idea of costs, I list below the realistic average high-season, double-occupancy per-person rates of responsible cruise operators. (For their low season rates, subtract roughly 10%.)

Economy - $250 per day

First class - $350 per day

Luxury - $450 per day

What the above averages mean

An eight day (7 night) cruise will set a couple back roughly $4,000 for economy, $5,600 for first class, and $7,200 for luxury level. Those figures do not include air transportation to islands and on-board extras like tips, drinks and laundry.

Not the time to skimp

Book the best cruise you can afford. A Galapagos Islands cruise will be one of your most treasured lifetime experiences. The better your experience, the more rewarding and lasting your post-cruise memories will be.

Package bookings

Their prices are usually lower than what you could secure by booking the individual components yourself. Don't confuse them with mass-market bookings (most are not). You can explore and purchase them through travel agents and on-line booking services. They normally include your air, cruise, onboard meals, and hotel layover costs.

Other mistakes to avoid

Click the buttons below to learn from the mistakes made by numerous travelers before you

I hope your Galapagos Islands travel dreams come true - and that this travel page

on avoiding boat-selection mistakes helps you enjoy your vacation, tour or trip

©2008 HQP / Hillman Quality Publications