Cost & booking tips
Galapagos Islands

 

More ship-selection
tips & insights

Average
cruise cost

To give you an approximate idea of the cost of a Galapagos cruise, I list below the realistic average high-season, double-occupancy per-person rates for a ship's standard cabins. (For their low season rates, subtract roughly 10%.)

Tourist class boat - $200 per day
First class boat - $300 per day
Deluxe class boat - $400 per day
Luxury class boat - $500 per day

This means an 8-day (7-night) Galapagos cruise will set you back roughly $1,600 for tourist, $2,400 for first class, $3,200 for deluxe, and $4,000 for luxury level. Those figures include accommodations, meals and shore excursions. They normally do not include air transportation, park fees, port surcharges, tips, beverages, laundry, shopping, and communication charges.

Not the time
to skimp

Book the best Galapagos cruise you can afford. The $800 per week difference between deluxe and luxury (and between first class and deluxe) is not much when you consider the level of service and facilities you will enjoy - and the memories you will forever cherish.

You get what
you pay for

Quality cruise ships charge more because they pay more for the crew, naturalists, food, and the cost of constructing and furnishing the ship (which translates into a finer, more comfortable cruise). Low-quality yachts pay considerably less in these expense categories.

Tipping

Unless tipping is included in your fare, tipping is expected. The all-boat average is $25 to $30 per day per passenger. Give $10 of that figure to your naturalist, $5 to your maid, $5 to the dining room staff, and the remaining $10 to crew members collectively. The higher your fare and the greater your satisfaction, the more generous your tips should be. If tipping is included in your fare, it's customary to give thank-you money to the individual employees who went out of their way to make your vacation memorable.

Galapagos
package bookings

They are offered by travel agents, tour operators, and cruise lines - and are usually lower than what you would pay by booking the individual travel components yourself.

What's included
Galapagos package rates normally include the full cruise fare plus international air, domestic flights to and from the Galapagos Islands, and hotel layover costs. In a few cases, they also cover extras like beverages, tips, and park fees.
Another advantage of packages
You avoid the complications and sometimes futility of trying to book a confirmed reservation on flights to the Galapagos Islands from the Ecuador mainland that coincides with your ship's embarkation and debarkation time. Reason: Tour operators and cruise lines sometimes book seats in bulk ahead of time, leaving few if any for the independent traveler. If they find out they don't need those reservations, they normally don't release them back to the airlines to sell until the day before (or sometimes the day of) the flight.

Booking
a charter

If you're coming with a large family or a group of friends, consider chartering a yacht. It's a fine bonding opportunity - and you won't have to worry about strangers ruining the vacation.

Click to read my first Galapagos boat selection tips page.

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