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Shepherding us throughout the expedition, Lindblad’s team of enthusiastic guides regaled us with their abundant knowledge of the flora, fauna, geology and history of the destination. In tandem, the ship’s Ecuadorean staff were warm, engaging and dedicated to keeping the ship clean and guests welcome and well-served at meal times. A pre- and post-cruise stay at the Hilton Colon hotel near Guayaquil's Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport is included for all National Geographic Endeavour II expeditions. Passengers who book their international airfare through Lindblad Expeditions are entitled to complimentary transfers to the hotel; otherwise, a shuttle can be called from the Hilton. The use of taxis, private or public, in Guayaquil is discouraged due to security incidents relating to kidnapping and robbery.
Medium Galápagos Ships
Return by air to Guayaquil, and enjoy dayrooms at the Hotel del Parque before flights home—or continue to Quito for an optional two-night extension. Gratuities ($180 recommended per person, per week) and onboard bar and gift shop purchases are tallied at the end of the voyage and can be paid in cash, by credit card or with personal checks if drawn from a U.S. bank. Expedition gear is common during the daytime, and shorts and T-shirts are perfectly acceptable during the evenings, though many cruisers will clean up a little for the evening recap briefings, cocktail hour and dinner.
More about National Geographic Endeavour II
This wasn’t the kind of trip where you spend a lot of time in your room, so we didn’t need more space. I understand I booked the least expensive room, but it was by no means cheap, so this isn’t something that I would expect based on how much the room cost. We stayed at Hotel Oro Verde for 2 nights before the cruise and 1 night after the cruise, and it was all arranged by Lindblad. The Galápagos Islands are a part of Ecuador, so I flew from Columbus, Ohio (CMH) to Guayaquil, Ecuador (GYE), with a stop in Miami (MIA) as the first leg of this trip. See the world from a new perspective with a veteran expedition team by your side and leading the way.
Explorer Ventures Humboldt Explorer and Tiburon Explorer
Onboard, you'll find everything from Wi-Fi internet access to laundry service, and fun toys for exploration that include kayaks, a fleet of inflatable landing craft and even a glass-bottom boat. The 16-passenger Celebrity Xploration is arguably the most luxurious catamaran in the Galápagos. Its eight suites and junior suites feature extras like binoculars, personal refrigerators, a pillow menu, and room service. The catamaran cruises two routes, a northern route and a southern route, both lasting seven nights. The 100-passenger Celebrity Flora features all of the design elements, amenities, and services of its sibling ships and then some. It has two 1,288-square-foot penthouse suites (the largest in the Galápagos), naturalist-guided stargazing sessions, and outdoor cabanas that you can reserve for a unique glamping experience.
Home to swallow-tailed gulls, Española mockingbirds, Nazca boobies and seasonally, the world’s only population of waved albatross at Punta Suarez. Airfare to and from Guayaquil, Ecuador must be purchased at an additional cost, along with internal flights from Guayaquil to the Galapagos. Internal airfares must be ticketed through Lindblad Expeditions and start from $520 per person for adults and $260 for children. In 2019, Lindblad will begin including alcoholic beverages (except for premium brands) aboard National Geographic Endeavour II, along with an hour of free Wi-Fi internet access. The ship's crew hail primarily from Ecuador and are eager to show off their country to their passengers.
Building theworld’s premierexpedition fleet
The ship offers deck hammocks, Wi-Fi, and food made with ingredients sourced from farms in the Galápagos whenever possible. Itineraries range from seven to 12 days and include cultural experiences in addition to wildlife viewing and water sports. To achieve this, ships in the Lindblad fleet are designed by the people who will use them. The veteran expedition leader who designed Zodiac loading platforms to get guests off the ship and exploring twice as quickly. The undersea specialists and divemasters who dive and launch ROVs on your behalf to capture video in polar sites and outfit guests for exploring tropical coral reefs. The chefs who create incredible meals as the ship sails to remote regions far from replenishment.
The eight-day excursion includes up to 19 dives and the 11-day excursion includes up to 28. If you’re a certified scuba diver, a live-aboard dive boat might be for you. These boats are built to accommodate the specific needs (and gear) of divers, and they navigate special routes and itineraries that include top dive sites. The Galápagos is home to whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, spotted eagle rays, manta rays, sunfish, and many other marine creatures. Also, most of these locations require visitors to be with a naturalist at all times, so these aren’t places you can just visit on your own. Plus, a cruise gives you easy access to all of the water activities you’ll want to try, such as snorkeling and kayaking.
Galapagos cruises are the best way to experience the collection of remote, mostly uninhabited islands about 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador. But cruises in the Galapagos Islands aren’t like cruises anyplace else. The ships here are smaller, with some carrying as few as 16 passengers. There are no water slides, elaborate Broadway shows, casinos, or wild nightclubs.
See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Take a virtual tour of our newest expedition ship, the National Geographic Islander II. From the vessel's Zodiac landing platform, all the way to its upper deck pool, get to know our luxurious new home in the Galápagos Islands. Purpose built to accommodate expedition-style travel, National Geographic Endeavour II is equipped with state-of-the-art tools for up-close and personal explorations. If you have more time, join an exclusive pre-voyage photo extension to Yasuní National Park starting Jan. 5, 2025.
In the evenings, we got the next day’s itinerary along with some local chocolates. However, I wasn’t sure I’d have any Wi-Fi at all, so I was happy with the little I got. It was just enough to send my daughter a quick text or to post a photo to Instagram.
This region may be better known for its landscapes and wildlife, but the Galapagos Islands are also an excellent place for stargazing. And there’s no better Galapagos cruise ship for stargazing than the Celebrity Flora. The 100-passenger vessel feels more like a luxury yacht than an expedition ship. It has a stargazing platform on its top deck and provides binoculars to help guests spot constellations as the ship cruises along the equator. The modern expedition ship also offers a glamping experience that includes a naturalist-guided stargazing session and a luxurious night of glamping under the stars. Have dinner under the stars at the ship’s restaurant before heading back to your suite.
The entire trip was excellent; a lot of different activity options everyday - hiking, snorkeling, swimming, lectures, zodiac rides - something for everyone. Lindblad was one of the most expensive trips we could choose from to see the Galapagos and it was worth EVERY penny. The quality of the naturalists and staff could not have been better, and I think the quality of this trip comes down to the quality of those leaders. Also, the Islander was the perfect combination of comfort and casual.
In the morning we cruised through the narrow Princess Royal and Glenville Channels, enjoying the incredible misty mountains of the glacially-carved coastline. Along the way we got glimpses at numerous seabirds, as well as the occasional harbor seal and Steller sea lion. A real highlight of the day was a fantastic presentation by National Geographic photographer Chris Rainier, who spoke about his work documenting Indigenous peoples around the world.
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The Celebrity Flora’s Galapagos itineraries range from seven to 16 nights. Near the end of that hike, we watched from the edge of a sea cliff as a blow hole rhythmically gushed forth like a giant geyser. There’s no more luxurious way to sail the Galapagos Islands than on Silversea's Silver Origin, a ship custom-built for cruising these islands. Silver Origin is Silversea’s first destination-specific ship and includes several features meant to minimize its environmental impact.
The all-suite ship can carry up to 100 passengers, is all-inclusive down to the premium spirits in your stateroom's minibar, and includes the luxury cruise line’s signature butler service. There’s also a salon and fitness center on board, a rarity for ships sailing in this region. Most itineraries on the Silver Origin are seven nights, but longer cruises are typically scheduled around winter holidays.
Every expedition in the Galápagos is led by a team of naturalists, a videographer and expedition leader, providing a multitude of resources for a rich and unmatched understanding of all the sights and sounds. Plus, each ship’s unique exploration-based family program, National Geographic Global Explorers, caters to kids and teens, making each an excellent option for Galapagos family cruises. With pleasant temperatures all year long, the best time to visit the Galapagos Islands is whenever you’re ready to go.
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