The all-suite Galapagos Explorer II is the most elegant vessel to ever ply the archipelago made famous by Charles Darwin. Cruises can be taken for a full 7-day, or split as individual 3-day and 4-day trips. Different islands are visited on each of the shorter cruises to accommodate those only wanting a taste of the Galapagos. However, an increasing number of passengers are booking the ship for the full-week trips. Though many guide books refer to the Galapagos Explorer II as a 100-passenger vessel, that occupancy often increases during summer months when schools are out because more families are taking their children along for an educational-adventure experience. The spacious cabins (really suites) easily accommodate two children. There is always a doctor onboard.
Prior to getting her new name in 1998, the all-suite M/V Galapagos Explorer II began her sea life in 1990 for Renaissance Cruises as the Renaissance III. The ship has received extensive refurbishing and even some slight layout changes to better accommodate her repetitive 'specific destination' schedule. Despite such changes she retains much of her original elegance. Photographs are quite deceiving since the 4,077-ton, 293-ft-long ship's height and classic profile make her appear much larger. The ship is registered in Ecuador.
Better than 60% of passengers are South American at peak times of the year. Most North Americans aboard are generally above age 30, except for occasional younger honeymooners and families with children.
The itinerary for this ship is the fabled Galapagos archipelago, 600 miles off the Ecuadorian coast. On full 7-day trips passengers will be aware of the marked differences of each island. For example, the newer islands of the West exhibit more volcanic lava flows (dry and safe) and are the home for land and marine iguanas, sea lions, penguins, the famous blue-footed booby, and other animals who have adapted to the environment. The older islands have drifted closer to the mainland and each is more lush than the previous. Different animal life marks each, such as giant tortoises, hawks, and myriad bird species. The schedule of islands offered changes from time to time to comply with Galapagos National Park occupancy rules governing how many ships can visit at one time.
All shore excursions are free in small groups of up to 16 people each and escorted by one of six certified, bilingual, Naturalist Guides who dispense volumes of interesting information. The evening before each day’s landfall, the guides detail exactly what can be expected to be seen be on the trek’s agenda. Trips are grouped as easy, moderate or rigorous depending on how much walking or climbing is involved. There are generally two landfalls to different sites each day, one early in the morning and the second after lunch. Another activity takes passengers on two glass-bottom boats, for those who don’t snorkel or dive.
All shipboard announcements are in English and Spanish plus other additional languages if requested by a group.
The Piano Bar and its lounge are popular, cozy and quite comfortable. The gift shop is adequate for a vessel this size. The selection of books in the library is fair to adequate. The whirlpool is next to the pool and outdoor bar. The main lounge (where entertainment and the evening lectures are done) is adequate.
The diversity and quality of the food is generally agreeable. Breakfast and dinner are open, single-sitting and informal, and the restaurant is smoke-free. International and traditional Ecuadorian cuisine, as well as special diets, are served. Lunches are mostly buffets on deck. The decor and ambience of the so-so dining room is nothing to write home about.
The cabins, all outside, are spacious. Furnishings appear to be upgraded or refurbished almost every year during annual dry-docking. Such attention to all accommodations earns this ship high marks with passengers. Staterooms are on average 250 sq ft. Offered in queen- or twin-bed configurations, they are air-conditioned, richly paneled, and proffer full-length wardrobes, marble baths, TVs with VCRs, refrigerator-bars, phones, and 110-volt electric outlets.
The Galapagos Explorer II is very, very eco-conscious. The ship produces its own fresh water. All soaps, detergents and shampoo are biodegradable. Residual water, under aerobic decomposition, is filtered and purified with ozone before being discharged into open waters, as is biodegradable waste which is ground into fine particles. The ship is equipped with a special sewage treatment system that minimizes environmental disturbance. Chlorine is not used on board. Paper and non-toxic solids are incinerated. Metal cans are compacted for recycling and, together with non-biodegradable trash, returned to port.
The Galapagos Explorer II wins high marks from its passengers for comfortable, well-maintained accommodations, attention to the local ecology, and the remarkable and unique island habitats to which it provides close-up access.
