M/V SANTA CRUZ II

M/V Santa Cruz II

General Description:

Conceived for operations in remote areas, our state-of-the-art expedition vessel affords the perfect infrastructure for Galapagos exploration. At just over 70 meters long, the generous, 5-deck craft holds 50 cabins for 90 guests and features ample, luxury-sized social areas indoors and out. This infrastructure and the crew’s heritage of decades of experience working in the islands allow guests to make the most of their Galapagos cruise experience. From top to bottom, the Santa Cruz II features ample, indulgent spaces. Modern, generous social areas laid out with choice contemporary materials feature prominently on four of its five decks. With an intelligent layout, including wide hallways and broad stairwells, guests will immediately know their way around. From dining areas indoors and out, the fitness room and Jacuzzis to the elegant bar and lounge, not to forget the well-stocked library, the ship is designed to please with sophisticated simplicity. Luxury ratios of crew and guides to passengers guarantee quality individual attention.

The Santa Cruz is the largest cruise ship operating in the Galapagos Islands and is renowned for top class service, excellent guides and nature lectures, fine dining, and an impressive array of onboard facilities. Cruise ships may not be to everyone’s taste but can offer greater stability compared to the smaller Galapagos yachts as well as a very polished level of service. It has recently added a specialist underwater naturalist guide to help swimmers and snorkelers, and they stacraz doubcabalso have an onboard hydrophone and splash cam allowing you to listen to the calls of dolphins and whales while filmingtheir graceful movements from the panga zodiac to watch on board later.

Key Features
- Small groups – average just 11 guests per guide
- 99% of visitor sites are not shared with other vessels - Glass-bottom boat, kayaks, snorkeling,
Swimming, panga coastal exploration (all aquatic activities authorized by the National Park)
- A 58% increase in Passenger Space Ratio (29.6)
- BBQ and al-fresco dining
- Separate lecture areas for simultaneous presentations
- 90% of all cabins include convertible beds and 72% (36) are interconnected cabins
- No cabins at sea level, near engines or generators
- A Cordon-Bleu gastronomy directsta Terrace BBQ 2
- A medical doctor on board, with a fully equipped infirmary, free of charge
- Sustainable cruise technology, including a waste- water treatment plant
- 31% reduction in fuel consumption compared with its predecessor resulting in a lower environmental footprint per guest.

Technical Characteristics:
Type: Motor Yacht
Length: 237 Feet
Beam: 39 Feet
Speed: 13 knots
Crew: 52
Level of guide: II or III
Capacity: 90 passengers
Cabins: There are 44 cabins; single cabins, double cabins, triple cabins and suites. Each cabin has its own private bathroom, warm water, telephone service and air conditioning
Snorkeling:Equipment included (mask, snorkel, and fins), wetsuits available for rent $15+tax (5 or 6 days) / $30+tax (8 days). Diving possible: no. sta sund

Facilities & Amenities:
Bar and Lounge, Restaurant, Outdoor terrace / BBQ, Gift shop, Fitness Room, Reading room and natural history library, Multiple purpose room, Hot tubs (2), Air conditioned throughout, Satellite telephone, IPod/MP3 docking, Hair dryer, PA system (intermittent/ low bandwidth connection), 24/7 coffee station (free coffee, tea, and water), Safe deposit box (in cabin), Snorkeling equipment, Wetsuit rental, Glass bottom boat, Kayaks, Pangas (inflatable dinghies for coastal exploration)

6Day Itinerary, Wednesday to Monday (Western Islands)

Wednesday: Baltra Island/North Seymour Island

North Seymour Island
Thursday: Punta Vicente Roca (Isabela Island) and Punta Espinoza (Fernandina Island)
Punta Espinoza (Fernandina Island)
Friday: Tagus Cove/Urbina Bay (Isabela Island)
Urbina Bay (Isabela Island) sta hot tub 1

Saturday: Puerto Ayora and the Charles Darwin Research Station (Santa Cruz Island)
Santa Cruz Island
Sunday: Post Office Bay / Champion Islet and Cormorant Point (Floreana Island)
Champion Islet and Cormorant Point (Floreana Island)
Monday: Baltra Island. We disembark at Baltra Island in order to transfer to the airport to take the flight back to the mainland.

Our Rates include:
Accommodation, All meals, Island sightseeing, Naturalist guides and lecture services in English/Spanish (guiding in other languages – French, Italian – is available upon request for groups larger than 10 guests and for German groups is a minimum of 4 guests), Snorkeling gear, Luggage handling, Medical care on board (not including the cost of medication), Transfers in the islands.
Shared transfers from main hotels in Quito (Casa Gangotena, Hilton Colon, Sheraton, Marriott, Dann Carlton) and in Guayaquil (Hilton Colon, Oro Verde, Hampton Inn, Sheraton) to airport for flights to/from Galapagos are included in sta Library these rates. To coordinate these transfers, we must have guests’ hotel contact information.
Fuel surcharge* Taxes. *Fuel surcharge is included on the cruise rate, however, restrictions may apply.

Our Rates don’t include:
Wetsuits: Available for rent, NET rate US$ 17 + VAT per guest for 5- or 6-day expeditions, Air transportation to / from Galapagos and airport taxes (subject to change without previous notice), Galapagos National Park entrance fee (US$ 100 subject to change without previous notice)*, Migration Control Card (US$ 20 subject to change without previous notice)* Alcoholic **- and nonalcoholic beverage, Internet / Wi-Fi ****, Gratuities, Gifts and additional items, Travel insurance.

Important notes:
For visits to the islands there are two types of disembarkation:
• Dry Landing: Guests pass from the panga to the pier or to the rocks.
• Wet landing: Panga approaches the beach and guests disembark with water up to 20 cm high and walk to the sand.

Please note: These itineraries are subject to variations due to weather conditions or Galapagos National Park Regulations.

For additional information, please contact us: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.