Best Five Luxury Galapagos Cruises for Seniors in 2024

The Galapagos archipelago located more than 650 miles from Ecuador’s coastline is one of the world’s last untouched natural paradises. A visit to these remote Pacific islands offers an insight into a secluded world dominated by weird animals and strange landscapes found nowhere else on our planet. The abundance of wildlife affords an opportunity like no other to experience mother nature at her finest. To immerse yourself in this world where animals are unphased by human contact is bewildering yet magical. Nazca boobies proudly exhibit their newly born chicks; sea-lions lounge in the sun with their young; giant tortoises graze on endemic cacti; sea turtles swim effortlessly alongside you. Cruise the islands in comfort aboard one of our luxury ocean going yachts, as we reveal our best five luxury Galapagos cruises for seniors in 2024.

Endemic

The first on our list of the best five luxury Galapagos cruises for seniors in 2024 is the M/C Endemic. Launching on its maiden voyage in July 2018, the Endemic is one of the newest Catamarans cruising the Galapagos. With a capacity of 16 passengers and 11 crew members, this luxury yacht offers one of the best guest to crew ratios in the Galapagos, ensuring the best level of service. The advanced double hull design of the Endemic offers a smoother more stable navigation across open seas. The main-deck and upper-deck feature 4 double/twin cabins each. For solo travelers, there is a rare option of a single cabin. Cabins offer a King-size bed convertible to two twin-size beds, sliding glass doors and private balconies. Upper-deck accommodations are interconnecting, perfect for traveling with children and grandchildren. The light-colored contemporary décor of the Endemic is stylish and comfortable, offering a luxurious yet uncomplicated feel. The Sky Deck offers al-fresco dining, an outdoor bar, a BBQ area and a whirlpool. With six varied itineraries, ranging from 3 to 7 nights in length the Endemic can satisfy most visitor’s requirements. The M/C Endemic s is highly recommended and is a firm favorite for our best five luxury Galapagos cruises for seniors.

Cormorant II

Due to be inaugurated in August, the Cormorant II will define new standards for luxury travel in the Galapagos and firmly fits in our list of the best five luxury Galapagos cruises for seniors. From its inception this mega-catamaran was designed with the finest on-board cruise experience in mind. A light-weight advanced twin-hull design permits fast and smooth navigation whilst eliminating almost all vibration and noise. Nine large luxury cabins situated over two-decks offer all the modern amenities that you would expect from a vessel in this class. The Sand Double Suites (x2) located on the upper deck include private whirlpools set on panoramic balconies. Common areas and cabins feature floor to ceiling windows and the lounge and dining area offering 180° panoramic views. Other amenities aboard the Cormorant II include indoor and outdoor bars, a sundeck, al-fresco dining, whirlpool, and a gymnasium. Top ranked naturalist guides lead four eclectic itineraries, which navigate an excellent selection of varied attractions across the islands. The eight-day itinerary ‘B’ includes visits to Santa Cruz, Isabela, Fernandina, Santiago, Genovesa and North Seymour affording the opportunity to view giant tortoise, land and marine iguanas, penguins, blue-footed boobies, terns, Nazca boobies, sea lions, sea turtles to name a few.

Elite

A 123 feet (37.5 meter) long luxury mega-catamaran, the Elite first sailed the azure waters of the Galapagos archipelago in mid-June 2019. Designed specifically to cruise the Galapagos, the Elite was engineered to offer plenty of space with large indoor and outdoor common areas and spacious cabins. Eight cabins are named after different Galapagos Islands. Each is well-appointed and includes a King Bed (convertible to Twins) and a large sofa bed. Cabins feature floor to ceiling panoramic sliding doors leading to private balconies. Guests can expect first rate services on board. A dedicated crew of 10, plus a cruise director and two expert naturalist guides attend to the needs of guests. Their years of combined experience and knowledge make your time in the Galapagos one of the finest available. Four excellent cruise itineraries varying in length from three, four and seven nights navigate to some of the most remote visitor points. The longer seven-day cruise itinerary ‘A’ loops a full circle from east west around the archipelago encompassing the islands of Isabela, Fernandina, Rabida, Santiago and San Cristobal.  The route will allow you to intimately observe varied landscapes, the famous Darwin finch, pintail ducks, giant tortoise, the Galapagos sea lion and much more.

Ocean Spray

Constructed November 2011, the Ocean Spray was one of the first mega-catamarans to navigate the Galapagos Islands. Since May 2021, it returned to the Galapagos with a newly re-furbished and elegant interior, reemerging once again as one of the finest cruise experiences in the Galapagos. With a top speed of 15 knots and the yachts twin hull design with just four feet of draft, allows the Ocean Spray to effortlessly and smoothly glide across the water. The eight King (convertible to twin) Staterooms are modern and well-appointed, and each come with A/C, large bathrooms, and private balconies. Adjoining cabins are available on both upper and lower decks, great for traveling with family. Unlike many boats in its class, the spacious design allows for a fully covered al-fresco dining area, where breakfast, lunch and dinner can be served. The Ocean Spray offers six different cruise itineraries, from short three-night cruises to longer seven-night or even 15-night journeys. There is also the rare option of two five-night itineraries, which allow enough time to fully appreciate the Galapagos, but still maintaining a reasonable budget. The five-night itinerary ‘B’ explores the central and south-easterly islands, and includes many popular visitor points on Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Santa Fé, Española and Floreana.

Infinity

Constructed in 2018 specifically to cruise the Galapagos, the 20-passenger Infinity Yacht is one of the most modern boats to navigate the islands. At 161 feet (49 meters) in length, this sleek single hull luxury motor yacht easily features in our recommended best five luxury Galapagos cruises for seniors. There is a choice of 10 elegant cabins; 4 located on the main-deck and 6 on the upper-deck. Cabins offer two over-sized twin beds or a single king bed. They also incorporate panoramic sliding doors, a private balcony and large bathrooms. Passengers looking for additional comfort should consider a Suite Cabin located on the upper deck, which offers an additional 107 sq ft (10 sq mt) of space and includes a sitting area. The Infinity Yacht has 4 itineraries to choose from, each diverse in island visits and wildlife observing opportunities. The rarely visited Genovesa Island, a remote cliff-lined caldera in the far north-east of the Galapagos is featured in the shorter 3 nights itinerary. The longer 8-days ‘B’ Itinerary is a good option for a comprehensive east to west overview of the Galapagos. It includes visits to Urbina Bay to see land iguanas, Moreno Point for flamingos and white-tip reef sharks, and North Seymour Island to see the magnificent frigatebird. The outdoor bar located at the stern of the yacht, offers a great way to relax after a day of exploration.

Travel to the Galapagos Islands and Covid-19

Ecuador’s government was quick to react to the covid-19 pandemic. Although cases were initially high across the country, a swift vaccination program was implemented which quickly reduced infection rates. Today, 56% of Ecuador’s mainland population is fully vaccinated, which has helped keep infection rates remarkably low for more than 14 months. In the Galapagos an astonishing 85% of residence are fully vaccinated. International flights to Ecuador resumed on June 15, 2020, and foreign visitors to Ecuador are permitted enter without quarantine when presenting a vaccination card (with all doses administered more than 14 days prior to travel). Visitors travelling to the Galapagos islands are required to show evidence of a negative RT-PCR test taken 72 hours prior to boarding their flight. For your confidence, all crew members and guides aboard our Galapagos cruises are fully vaccinated. Strict cleanliness protocols have been implemented and daily passenger temperature and health checks are standard. With this in-mind, we are sure that any one of the above best five luxury Galapagos cruises for seniors will offer you a safe and healthy way to visit this remarkable destination.

Important Note:

All Galapagos cruise itineraries are subject to change without notice due to season, weather and at the discretion of the Galapagos National Park Authority. All information included in this page and that regarding Covid-19 is for reference only and subject to change.

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