galapagos cruise guide
Galapagos cruise ship and boat tipsWhich is better, large or small?
Both sizes have their advantages and disadvantages (though, overall, large wins).
About Galapagos ship categories
There is no official Galapagos ship classification. I use the luxury, deluxe, first class, tourist superior class, and tourist class category system.
Be forewarned that many Galapagos cruise-agent websites loosely define the term "luxury", awarding that classification to numerous ships to boost sales.
Also be aware that many Galapagos cruise-agent websites list only the ships they represent. For example, the vast majority of cruise-agent websites do not list the top three luxury cruise ships (Celebrity Xpedition and the National Geographic's Endeavor and Islander). Reason: They are not official agents for those vessels. To take the place of those ships, some cruise agents add boats to the "luxury" category that most seasoned cruisers would rate "deluxe" or even "first class".
Luxury cruise ship advantages
Facilities
They have roomier, more comfortable, and visually pleasing cabins and public spaces (dining room, lounge, and decks).
Storage
Cabins have considerably more storage space.
More stable
Cruise ships rock significantly less in the water than do other cruise vessels.
Cruisemates
They will likely be better educated and well-traveled.
Naturalists
You will have top-grade (level 3) naturalists.
Crew
The crew in general will be more professional, accommodating, and fluent in English.
Landings
Large cruise ships often offer their passengers a choice of activities and trail intensities during a single landing (on many small ships there is no alternative activity - everybody does the same activity).
Sleep
You sleep deeper and longer on a large cruise ship. This means you will likely be more alert and be in better physical condition to enjoy the next morning's shore excursion.
Amenities
Luxury cruise ships offer dozens of vacation-enriching amenities unavailable on small crafts. Enjoy them. After all, isn't this supposed to be your vacation?
Problems with small yachts
Small yachts carry 8 to 25 passengers, with 16 being the average.
Many vacation-planners get carried away with a mistaken romantic notion of what cruising on a small yacht in the Galapagos entails.
Rocking
Small yachts rock noticeably more than large cruise ships - both when moored and when traveling on the open sea between islands. This could make you seasick, which would spoil your vacation.
Catamarans
Although catamaran yachts rock less than conventional yachts, they rock appreciably more than Galapagos cruise ships.
Cramped
Cabins and public spaces are cramped, beds are narrow, bunks are a possibility, bathrooms are tiny, and toilets might have to be shared, and loss of electricity and hot water are not uncommon.
Storage
Cabin storage space is typically minuscule.
Deck
Open deck space for sunbathing or sitting and relaxing is minimal.
Slow
The typical small yacht is relatively slow. So traveling between islands may take you much longer than you would like.
Hot
Some small yachts are not air-conditioned. This can be uncomfortable during the hot months of January to May.
Zodiacs
Some yachts have such small Zodiacs that they must make two ferrying trips to land a single shore excursion group.
Cruisemates
You risk being trapped in a small boat with strangers who rub you the wrong way for an entire week without any chance of escaping them. On a spacious cruise ship, you can physically avoid such cruisemates.
Naturalist
Chances are you won't have one of the top-rated naturalists (the luxury cruise ships hire them). This means your naturalist's English may not be good enough for you to clearly understand him all the time.
Language
And some crew members may not speak English (or, at least, not sufficiently).
Food
If you have an educated palate, the meals may seem boring, not stimulating.
Noise and vibrations
Most Galapagos boats travel between islands at night. Because cabins on small vessels are usually close to the engines, the noise and vibrations could disrupt your sleep, which your body craves after actively hiking and snorkeling during the day.
Islands
You may not be able to visit the acclaimed western Galapagos Islands of Isabela and Fernandina because they will likely be beyond the range of your small yacht. (On the other hand, small yachts can visit some small sites where larger ships cannot go.)
When a small yacht makes sense
Focus
You want to focus on diving (dive boats are never large).
Priority
Your priority is snorkeling, not land wildlife viewing. Although most Galapagos ships and yachts provide frequent snorkeling opportunities (and sometimes the snorkeling gear), some small yachts focus most of their time on snorkeling.
Other advantages
Small boats create more of a sense of adventure. They can enter shallower waters. They usually (but not always) have fewer people in a shore excursion group. Their onboard activities are less regimented.
Cost
Most small yachts are considerably cheaper than cruise ships. If you can only afford their fares, go ahead and book one of those boats despite the disadvantages. It's better to experience the marvelous Galapagos Islands than never at all.
Sailing boats are not quite as romantic as they may seem
Design
They are narrow beamed by design. These means they rock easily. And cabins and public spaces (including outdoor decks) are small and cramped.
Wind
The Galapagos Islands are not sail friendly because it's normally not windy enough. Sails are used more for show than sailing - and sometimes they are unfurled only on the first day as you leave port. The propeller does the real work.
Don't be misled by what some small Galapagos yacht owners and captains say about luxury cruise ships
They pooh pooh Galapagos cruise ships to make their passengers "feel fortunate" for being aboard a small vessel. For instance, they paint the picture that being on a Galapagos cruise ship is akin to vacationing on a megaship.
There's no comparison:
Passenger count
Megaships accommodate 2,000 passengers, Galapagos cruise ships host no more than about 100.
Type of cruiser
Megaships cater to mainstream travelers, Galapagos cruise ships to sophisticated travelers.
Activity orientation
Megaships are onboard entertainment oriented, Galapagos cruise ships offer minimal entertainment. Their focus is nature.
