Galapagos Cruises 2015

FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN SELECTING A GALAPAGOS CRUISE Today there is so much information on Galapagos Islands cruises available on the Internet to make your head spin. This can be very advantageous and helpful for the reader as information is readily available ...everything from island descriptions, weather details, island maps, wildlife details and cruise options.

The main factors to consider are the following:

Cruise rates generally include the following (unless otherwise specified):

• Transfers in Galapagos (Galapagos airport to yacht and visa versa) *for standard cruise flights;
• All meals during the cruise;
• Tea, coffee & purified drinking water;
• Accommodation in double cabin;
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) naturalist guided excursion (as per the specific cruise itinerary);
• Snorkel equipment (*not always included in all cruise rates);

• Round trip Galapagos airline ticket (but this is booked in conjunction with any given cruise);
• Galapagos National Park entrance fee (US $100.00 per person);
• INGALA Tourist Control Card [TCT] ($20.00 per person);
• Alcoholic beverages & soft drinks;
• Tips/gratuities to naturalist guide(s) and crew;
• Wet suits (on most boats these can be rented directly on-board);

CLASSIFICATION OF GALAPAGOS CRUISES
Important note about the classification of Galapagos vessels/boats:

The Galapagos National Park (Parque Nacional Galapagos) is the only entity that officially classifies the numerous boats in Galapagos. However, this official classification system is not used by the tourist industry as it really does not help people distinguish one boat from another! Why? 66 boats are technically classified as class "A", 6 boats as class "B", 5 boats as class "C" and 5 boats classified as class "C - Daily Tour".

For this reason, you may find discrepancies from source to source that use the following widely accepted unofficial classification system:

• Economic/tourist
• Tourist Superior
• First
• Deluxe/luxury

When the tourist operation is performed with luxury boats, equipped with individual cabins and air conditioning, private bathroom and with the necessary specifications for the complete comfort of the tourists during the cruise.

NAVIGABLE CRUISE TOUR B (6 BOATS)

In this category the tourist operation is performed with semi luxury boats, equipped with similar characteristics as the type A cruiser, except air conditioning.

NAVIGABLE CRUISE TOUR C (5 BOATS)

The tourist operation of these cruises are done with boats without individual cabins, private bathrooms or air conditioning, and only standard facilities for navigation.

The operation is assigned a daily tour itinerary with up to 14 visitor sites per week, with two sites per day and one site per turn.