This post continues our earlier essay, The Truth About Galapagos Cruise Ship Size (Vol. I).
There are a lot of myths and supposed “insights” floating about which is better for visiting the Galapagos: a yacht or an expedition ship. Choosing what’s better and more critical in such an exciting region might be difficult when planning a trip to the Galapagos. Adventurers, do not be alarmed: we are here to debunk a few persistent myths and urban legends about the size of Galapagos cruise ships.
Some say:
Due to a large number of people on a cruise ship, activities are limited.
We say:
Our Galapagos cruises are designed with small groups and multiple guides to ensure that all guests enjoy a wide range of personalized and enriching activities, without overcrowding or compromise.
The reverse is true! Our ship and other medium-sized and larger expedition cruise ships can carry more people, which means more Naturalist Guides. With a larger Expedition Team, our tourists can participate in various activities. It’s essential to remember that you can only tour the Galapagos Islands with a Naturalist Guide. Therefore, more activities will be offered if there are more guides.
Therefore, our guests can choose to stay on the boat or go snorkeling. Depending on the day and timetable, guests can select from a variety of activities. Some of these activities include kayaking, snorkeling, panga (dinghy) rides around tourist sites, and relaxing on the boat. There are so many choices!

Some say:
Many cruise ships don’t offer sea kayaking.
We say:
The Santa Cruz II Galapagos Cruise includes sea kayaking as one of its many adventure activities, allowing guests to explore the islands’ coastlines up close and at their own pace.
This alternative makes it easier to describe Galapagos tours because it allows visitors to see the fantastic marine life swimming close under them while observing terrestrial animals (including some of the BIG15 emblematic species!) without getting wet! Of course, you can go kayaking on any of our boats. It’s an essential component of our three activities on our voyages, including the water!

Some say:
A larger Galapagos cruise ship size means the dining areas will be noisy.
We say:
Our dining areas aboard the Santa Cruz II are spacious, elegantly designed, and carefully managed to ensure a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, offering guests a comfortable and enjoyable dining experience at every meal.
An experience worth sharing should be had. We can say with certainty that everyone on a boat journey to the Galapagos Islands will express wonder and delight. This does not mean that it will be noisy; after spending the day admiring the captivating sights—among many new ones—guests will naturally feel worn out and may not want to make a lot of noise. Galapagos expedition cruises offer a more secluded and peaceful environment.
One benefit of being in a crowded place is that you are only sometimes forced to speak. You can find happiness in the little moments when you can relax, savor your meal, and hear other people’s stories while peacefully empathizing with their experiences.

Some say:
Forget about having spur-of-the-moment special culinary requests.
We ask:
Why not? Our culinary team on the Santa Cruz II is always ready to accommodate special dietary needs and spontaneous requests—just let us know, and we’ll make it happen with a smile.
We need to add that the chefs and cooks on Yacht La Pinta and Yacht Isabela II go above and beyond to satisfy every dietary request of our guests. So trust us when we say that we have you covered. Savor Our Gourmet Meals to Recharge. Did we mention how fantastic our chef and culinary crew are on board our ships? Read this blog to experience the cuisine on a Galapagos cruise.



