Your Galápagos Islands Cruise Specialist

Blue-footed Boobies on the Galápagos Islands

The Galápagos is one of the few places on earth where wildlife still has the right of way. Sea lions nap on the landing beaches, blue-footed boobies dance a few feet from the trail, and giant tortoises cross the road. Park rules cap every ship in the islands at 100 guests, so there are no mega-ships here, and the ship you choose shapes the whole trip. I can help you choose well.

I’m a certified advisor with Lindblad–National Geographic Expeditions and HX, a Silversea Platinum Advisor, and a CLIA Certified Cruise Counsellor. I match each traveler to the right ship, route and season.

Silversea – Silver Origin
Built in 2020 for the Galápagos, Silver Origin carries 100 guests in 51 ocean-view suites, every one with butler service. Seven-night voyages sail round trip from San Cristóbal on alternating routes, with 11-day versions that add Quito. Drinks, gratuities, Wi-Fi, guided excursions and snorkel gear are included. Zodiac landings launch from the ship’s Basecamp, and evenings end at the stargazing deck or a Hot Rocks dinner at The Grill. Silversea’s land extensions include the Amazon, Machu Picchu and Peru, Cotopaxi and the Andean cloud forest.

Celebrity Cruises – Celebrity Flora
Flora carries 100 guests in 50 suites, half of them with Infinite Verandas that open to the sea, and sails with nearly one crew member per guest. Seven-night Inner and Outer Loop voyages sail from Baltra, and 10- to 16-night packages add Quito, Lima and Machu Picchu. Packages include a Quito hotel and guided city tour, charter flights to the islands, drinks, gratuities, Wi-Fi and twice-daily outings in small groups led by park-certified naturalists.

Lindblad Expeditions–National Geographic
Lindblad pioneered expedition travel to the Galápagos in the 1960s and now sails four ships there. They range from the 96-guest National Geographic Endeavour II to the 48-guest Islander II and Gemini and the 16-guest catamaran Delfina, which also charters privately for families and groups. There is one naturalist for every 10 to 12 guests. A certified photo instructor sails on every departure, and most also carry an undersea specialist. Kayaks, paddleboards and a glass-bottom boat are aboard, and Gemini and Delfina reach landing sites on southwest Isabela that few other ships visit. The National Geographic Explorers-in-Training program makes Lindblad a standout for families. Voyages run from 7 to 18 days, with Quito, Mashpi Lodge, Machu Picchu and Amazon extensions.

HX – MS Santa Cruz II
Operated with Ecuador’s Metropolitan Touring, Santa Cruz II carries up to 90 guests in 50 outside cabins, including family cabins and solo cabins. It has a science center, a Sky Bar, two hot tubs, a glass-bottom boat and kayaks. The fare includes the park fee, gratuities and most drinks. The 2027–28 voyages are the 9-day Eastern Route, “In Darwin’s Footsteps,” with Santa Cruz, Española and San Cristóbal; the 11-day Northern & Western Route, “Nine of the Best Isles”; and 14- and 16-day versions that add Machu Picchu.

Choosing your route and season
The eastern and western islands show you different wildlife, which is why many travelers choose a longer voyage or sail two back-to-back loops. The warm season (December–May) brings calmer seas, warmer water and the best snorkeling. Sea turtles nest and hatch, and waved albatross return to Española in spring. The cool garúa season (June–November) brings nutrient-rich water and active wildlife: penguins in the west, blue-footed booby courtship, sea lion pups and humpback whales.

I’ll help you weigh it all and handle the details. That includes flights through Quito or Guayaquil, hotel stays before and after the cruise, and the $200 Galápagos National Park entry fee, which some lines include and others don’t. I also plan extensions to Machu Picchu, the Andes and the Amazon.

All of this comes with no planning fee, plus Tin Fish Travel’s Extra OBC Guarantee.