CNH Tours - Cultural and Natural Heritage Tours
Tuesday October 28, 2025
How to choose your cruise?
HOW TO PLAN FOR A SHIP-BASED VISIT TO GALAPAGOS?
Thinking about a ship-based visit to the Galapagos islands? We firmly believe (along with just about all other people who have done both a ship-based and a land-based visit) that this is a much superior way to expose yourself to the best of what Galapagos is world famous for.
On-line searches for a good ship-based experience typically result in an overwhelming amount of conflicting and confusing results ("I'm absolutely overwhelmed" are typically among the first words we receive from people reaching out to us!). Before you start your search, we suggest you consider the following criteria. Try to identify your preferences, and with that in hand, you can start looking around, and compare options.
1) Your budget. Prices range from about $500 /person/day to $1,500/person per day (more if you absolutely must). You generally get what you pay for (on-board service, guide quality, food, space etc..), with some exceptions - but remember, while everyone likes luxury, Galapagos is about the off-ship experience. You can have just as wonderful an off-ship experience at $500 / day as you would at $1,500 / day. Something to consider.
2) Cruise length: How many days on board? A standard cruise is 7 nights / 8 days on board. That gives the ship ample time to carry out a more adventurous journey, straying further away from port / towns. Remember, an “8 day” itinerary consists of only 6 full days at sea. You typically embark early in the afternoon, giving you time for 1 activity on day 1, and disembark by 8 or 9AM on the last day. Some ships program activities early on the last day (before disembarkation at the airport), some don’t.
3) Itinerary quality: Is your longer itinerary interrupted by the ship having to return to port to pick up / drop off passengers on shorter segments, or is it uninterrupted, allowing the ship to venture further out? Does the itinerary have “filler” periods, with “whale watching” as an activity for an entire morning or afternoon as it sails to its next destination? Does it have you visiting towns too frequently (presuming you didn’t go on an expedition cruise to spend time in towns)? See our detailed article on how to identify a good Galapagos ship itinerary.
4) Time of year: Hot / sunny season is from Jan – April. Seas tend to be calmer, warmer, vegetation greens up due to occasional short-lived downpours. Can be oppressively hot for some – but getting in the water is more welcoming. Cooler / cloudier (garua) season: June – November. Seas can be choppier, they are cooler, and greater predominance of overcast skies with occasional fine mists, especially in the mornings / afternoons. Those not into hot temperatures may prefer. Wildlife is great all year long.
5) Ship size: Most ships carry 20 or fewer guests. These ships will make for a more intimate experience, not imposing themselves on the landscape, and being more versatile in getting guests off/on board, more easily making the best of unexpected situations. The largest allowable ships (100 guests – about 4-5 of them), will ride the chop better of course. They tend to be all in the luxury category.
6) Guide to Guest ratio: National Park rules require that no more than 16 guests accompany a certified naturalist guide. For this reason, many ships carry 16 guests, for a 16:1 guest to guide ratio. Of course, a smaller ratio means you'll have a more personalized / intimate / versatile relationship with your naturalist guides. For this reason, some ships will have 2 guides on a 16 passenger ship, for an 8:1 ratio of guests to guides, and 20 passenger ships will usually carry 2 guides, for a 10:1 guest to guide ratio. Smaller ships carrying 12 or 14 guests will typically have 1 guide, for 12:1 or 14:1 guest to guide ratio.
6) Ship reputation: While the overall quality of service has improved tremendously since we first started helping people organize their Galapagos trips 26 years ago, it’s still a good idea to carry out your due diligence before making a final decision on a ship. Ask around, consult this forum.
We hope this helps getting you started - we are here to help you along with you decision making.
Cultural & Natural Heritage Tours - Chart Your Path to Wonder
Galapagos / Arctic & Antarctica / Okavango-Kalahari / Madagascar / Easter Island / Provence / Pantanal