Galapagos Cruise Review: My Experience Aboard the Galaxy Yacht

Planning a trip to the Galapagos Islands is a dream for many travelers—but turning that dream into reality often starts with a surprisingly tough question: which cruise should I choose?

Unlike other destinations, visitors to the Galapagos are highly regulated to protect the fragile ecosystem, so most travelers explore the islands via multi-day cruises on small ships ranging from 16 to 100 passengers. Even though there aren’t any megaships in the Galapagos, there are still a range of options to choose from. Your experience in the Galapagos will depend heavily on the ship you choose, the itinerary it follows, and the overall style of the cruise.

Before I get into my experience onboard the Galaxy Yacht, a mid-range, 16-passenger vessel, here are some of the main factors to consider when researching your own trip. Keep in mind that I’m happy to help you plan your trip to the Galapagos and choose the right ship for your tastes and budget.

• Price: Cruises in the Galapagos typically start around $3,500–$4,500 per person for a 5- or 6-day itinerary on a budget or mid-range ship. Luxury cruises can run $7,000–$10,000+ per person for 7- to 8-day trips, especially during high season or on newer yachts with upgraded amenities. Most cruise fares include accommodations, meals, guides, and excursions—but not always flights to the islands, park entrance fees, or tips.
• Size: Ships in the Galapagos are typically small by cruising standards, carrying between 12 and 100 passengers, with the vast majority falling into the 16-passenger yacht category (since that is the number of passengers per naturalist guide per regulations.) Many others hold 32-50 passengers. These small vessels offer an intimate and personalized experience, with more flexibility and quicker access to shore landings. Larger ships (90–100 passengers) offer more space and amenities—like larger common areas, jacuzzis, or even gyms—but they often have stricter schedules and take longer to disembark during excursions.
• Amenities: Amenities and accommodations vary by ship class and onboard features may include air-conditioned cabins with private bathrooms, sundecks, outdoor lounges, bar service, library areas, or even hot tubs and kayaks.
• Inclusions: All cruises offer naturalist-led excursions twice daily, but some ships go above and beyond with additional excursions, complimentary wetsuits, snorkeling gear, stand-up paddleboards, or even photography workshops or wellness options.

Galaxy Yacht Review: Galapagos Small-Ship Cruise

The Galapagos has long been a bucket list destination for me, but I had always assumed that a high price tag would make this goal unattainable. I’m also NOT a fan of giant cruise ships. But as I began to research options, I was excited to see that I didn’t need to drop 10 grand on a cruise, nor was I going to be surrounded by thousands of people.

After looking at the options from Galaxy Expeditions, I was very happy to find affordable, small ship options where I wouldn’t be lost in a crowd and I’d have the opportunity to meet and socialize with my fellow passengers. This was especially important since I decided to take this Galapagos trip solo,

Note: My trip on board the Galaxy Yacht was hosted by Galaxy Expeditions, but I paid for my international airfare and Galapagos entrance fee. All opinions are my own.

Given the size, features, and itinerary, the Galaxy Yacht ended up being the perfect choice for my trip. To see if it is right for you, I’ll break down the on-board amenities including the cabins, public spaces, food, and crew.

Getting to the Galapagos

To get to the Galapagos, I flew from Miami to Quito, Ecuador on American Airlines. Since most flights get into Quito late at night, I spent one night at the Wyndham Quito Airport, which was a great pick for an airport hotel with a 24-hour complimentary shuttle, free breakfast, and a convenient location. If you are going to head directly to the Galapagos to start your Ecuador trip, I’d recommend getting a direct flight to Guayaquil if you are able.

The next morning, I returned to the Quito airport for my flight to Baltra, in the Galapagos, with one stop in Guayaquil. Since Galaxy Expeditions included my intra-country flight as part of my package, I was met at the Quito airport by a representative, who walked me through the steps I needed to take before checking in for my flight. This included purchasing a tourist card (fee not included) and having my luggage inspected and sealed. It set the stage for the level of service that was offered on board the Galaxy Yacht and it was a relief to not have to navigate these steps alone.

The flight from Quito to the Galapagos took over three hours, but part of that included a stop in Guayaquil, where continuing passengers stayed onboard and new passengers boarded. Once we arrived at Seymour Airport (GPS) on Baltra Island, there was a long queue to pay the necessary $200 per person entrance fee to the Galapagos National Park (also not included in my package.) After collecting my baggage, I located the rest of the group for the Galaxy Yacht and we boarded a bus for a short 10-minute ride to the port, where we were greeted by friendly sea lions.

From here, I spied my first glimpse of the Galaxy Yacht, anchored out at sea. This was also our first opportunity to board the zodiac boat for the short ride to our mooring, something that we would soon become very familiar with on the many excursions each day.

Overview of the Galaxy Yacht

The Galaxy Yacht is a first-class, motor-powered expedition yacht with a capacity of just 16 passengers in eight spacious cabins. With eight crew members, plus our bilingual naturalist guide, we were well cared for with such a high crew to guest ratio.

The yacht has eight well-appointed cabins distributed across lower, main, and upper decks. They range between ~13–15  square meters, each with private bathrooms and air conditioning. Most also offer large windows to take in the views.

In addition, there is a roomy lounge with a TV/DVD and bar (drinks not included), a communal dining area, and a large sundeck with loungers for relaxing or taking in the scenery. In addition to free WiFi (which was adequate), there was a library of movies, games, and books to borrow and each day snacks were provided in the lounge throughout the day.

My package included meals, accommodations, guided excursions, transfers, snorkeling gear, kayaks, paddleboards, wetsuits, and intra-country flights. I needed to pay for my Transit Control Card, Galapagos Entrance fee, gratuities, alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, and my international flight.

Cabin 5 Review

Onboard the Galaxy Yacht there are four “matrimonial” cabins with double beds, three twin-bedded cabins, and one triple with a double bed and a sofa bed. The cabins aren’t large, but mine was certainly bigger than I had on board one of my barge cruises and the Maine Windjammer cruise that I’ve done. I stayed in Cabin 5 on the main deck and found it quite nice, although with two people it would have been a bit tight at times.

The double bed was situated against the outer wall, with a small nightstand on the side near the door. For storage, there was a small set of drawers and a rack for hanging clothes. If you did want to unpack, there was plenty of room under the bed to store your suitcase. There was also a small shelf that was perfect for placing my camera and other gear. What I really loved about the room was the large window, offering great views of the ocean and the islands.

The bathroom was larger than I expected, with a nice size shower, a small sink, a toilet and a very large space for your toiletries. On the Galaxy Yacht, and throughout Ecuador (and Peru and Chile too), toilet paper is thrown in the trash and not the toilet. However, the housekeeping crew comes in to clean and empty the bin 2-3 times a day.

To try to encourage conservation, guests are encouraged to limit their water intake and take short showers. However, I always found plenty of hot water, unless everyone was showering at once. But honestly a cool rinse didn’t feel too bad after a busy day of excursions!

I do want to note that you cannot drink the water from the tap, so everyone is urged to pack a refillable water bottle. There was a water cooler in the dining room to refill your bottle whenever you needed.

The other thing to keep in mind when choosing a smaller ship like the Galaxy Yacht is that you will feel the motion and hear the engines more than you might on a bigger boat. I didn’t have any issues with motion sickness during the day when we were at anchor, but it did bother me at night as we sailed from island to island.

I brought Dramamine and Sea Bands, as well as ginger candies, to help with this and it never got too bad. If you are prone to motion sickness, you may want to choose an itinerary that has shorter sailing times between islands.

Since it is a small boat, the engines are also quite loud. Luckily most nights we were just sailing for a few hours and then it was pretty quiet at anchor. But even still, unless you are a really sound sleeper, I’d suggest bringing ear plugs or a white noise machine to cover up the sound. A sleep aid wouldn’t hurt either, as long as it doesn’t leave you drowsy for early morning excursions.

My only complaint about my cabin was that the bed was extremely firm. Personally, I prefer a softer bed since I tend to be a side sleeper. I know I wasn’t the only one because I heard at least one other couple mentioning this as well. But otherwise the air conditioning kept the cabin cool and comfy.

Ship Amenities & Common Areas

On a small ship, you aren’t going to find the range of amenities that you typically find on ocean cruises and even river cruises. However, you are kept so busy with multiple excursions a day on the Galaxy Yacht that when you are back on board you are tired and not looking to be entertained.

On the top deck, there is a large sundeck with astroturf and a number of sun loungers (some shaded) for those rare opportunities to relax. The main deck also has some padded benches on the back deck that make a perfect spot to watch the islands go by as you are sailing from one point to another.

The main deck is also home to the lounge area. This is where the entire group meets each evening for a briefing about what you will be doing the next day. There is also a small bar in the lounge where people sometimes hang out at night. In the lounge, there is a library with books, toys, games, and DVDs (including documentaries on the Galapagos) that you can watch on the television.

Adjacent to the lounge is the dining room and self-service coffee bar. With such a small group, everyone eats around one long table like a big family. During my cruise, everyone kept the same seats for each meal, but seating was not assigned.

Dining on the Galaxy Yacht

You will not go hungry on the Galaxy Yacht. Not only will you be well-fed, but the food is prepared and served with pride and care. If you have dietary restrictions, be sure to let Galaxy Expeditions know in advance. I saw the staff go out of their way to accommodate known restrictions such as creating dairy-free options for each dish. However, they did need some reminding for those who were vegetarian but their needs were always accommodated.

Breakfast was served either after the first excursion or first thing in the morning (usually around 7:00 am). Usually this was a buffet, but sometimes the chef prepared made-to-order omelettes or they served plated pancakes. Otherwise, the buffet usually included eggs, breakfast meat, potatoes, fresh fruit, meats and cheeses, and toast.

Lunch was served mid-day and was typically a three-course plated meal but sometimes a buffet. Lunch and dinner usually started with soup, as is common in Ecuador. This was followed by a main entree or salad. One thing that I really enjoyed throughout my time in Ecuador was the availability of fresh fruit and vegetables. The salads were fantastic and I couldn’t get enough of the freshly-squeezed fruit juices. Dessert felt decadent at lunch, but given how busy we were throughout the day, I didn’t feel too guilty about enjoying the sweets.

At lunch each day, the waiter would come around to get our order for dinner, with a choice of one to three entree options. Dinner was similar to lunch and while we ate a good amount of fish (and ceviche), there were also some familiar favorites like pasta carbonara.

In addition to those three robust and delicious meals a day, the chef prepared tasty snacks and fresh juice or tea to enjoy after excursions at least once a day. This was on top of the packaged snacks in the lounge and the chocolates left on our pillow each night.

As a foodie, I was impressed with the quality and taste of the meals. It may not be high-end fine dining, but no one was looking for that after a busy day. Instead, the meals were a great introduction to Ecuadorian cuisine, highlighting local flavors and ingredients. And the chef is such a sweetheart who took so much pride and joy in her cuisine that I just wanted to hug her.

Crew & Naturalist Guide

There were nine crew members on board the Galaxy Yacht during my cruise, including the Captain. This included the chef, bartender, engineer, stewards, and deckhands/Zodiac operators. In addition to the crew, our Naturalist guide Gustavo was our main point person. He ran the briefings, guided our excursions, and answered our questions. The passengers on our cruise came from the United States, Germany, Spain, and Switzerland.

Gustavo offered all of our briefings and excursions in both English and Spanish. It did make the tours or instructions a little longer, but I really appreciated having a group of international passengers instead of just being surrounded by Americans and the English language.

I learned so much from Gustavo throughout the cruise about the wildlife and ecology of the Galapagos.

Pros & Cons of the Galaxy Yacht Experience

If you are still debating which Galapagos cruise is right for you, here are some clear pros and cons of the Galaxy Yacht:

• Pros:
  • 16-passengers means that you can leave the ship as one tour group with your naturalist guide, no need to wait to disembark or deal with crowds
  • The small size also means that you will have ample opportunity to get to know your fellow passengers. It made it much easier as a solo traveler to make connections and have conversations
  • The ship was comfortable but not overly fancy, offering a great value for the price point
  • Communication with Galaxy Expeditions was clear, making travel go smoothly
  • The crew was lovely and offered exceptional service
• Cons:
  • If you are prone to seasickness, a small ship might be a bit harder for you
  • If you are looking for luxury appointments like a hot tub, private balconies, and large staterooms, you should look at ships at a higher price point
  • If you don’t want to be busy throughout the day (two guided hikes plus one to two water activities), you may be better off opting for a land-based trip where you can do day trips and excursions at your own pace

Final Thoughts: Would I Recommend the Galaxy Yacht?

I’m not sure it is possible to have a bad trip to the Galapagos, but mine was certainly a bucket-list worthy adventure. If you love wildlife, like active vacations, enjoy being social, and don’t require ultra-luxe accommodations, I think you will enjoy a cruise on the Galaxy Yacht.

While I thought that five-nights on board was the perfect amount of time for a Galapagos cruise, I would consider returning with my family and trying one of the other itineraries that visited different islands. Just keep in mind that a Galapagos cruise is REALLY busy! This is not a trip for those seeking relaxation. It is also best for those who enjoy snorkeling and light hiking.

Read more about my day-to-day itinerary aboard the Galaxy Yacht!

Do you need help planning your trip? If you are feeling overwhelmed and don’t have the time or resources to wade through tons of information and question your decisions, I help clients plan a custom itinerary, tailored to your interests and travel style. Learn more about my Travel Advisor and trip planning services.

Read More

• What to expect on a 5-day Galapagos cruise
• Galapagos packing list
• Hacienda La Danesa: a perfect mainland pairing with the Galapagos
• One-week in Ecuador itinerary
• Mashpi Lodge review
• Hacienda Zuleta: authentic luxury in Ecuador’s Highlands

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