Galápagos Islands Expeditions: Comparing Sailings

It has been over 50 years since the first citizen-explorer voyage to the Galápagos Islands, led by Lindblad Expeditions founder, Lars-Eric Lindblad.

Today, Lindblad, along with Silversea and Celebrity Cruises are among the top travel providers venturing to the Galápagos, a landscape of awe-inspiring biodiversity.

An expedition cruise is the ideal way to visit the Galápagos, because it affords the opportunity to travel from island to island, ensuring your chance to see the full range of wildlife and plant species that have peacefully lived there for centuries.Small ships are perfect for navigating around the islands – and they provide options for kayaking, snorkeling and Zodiac rides to help you get closer to the many creatures who live there.

These cruise lines also make planning easy for you, putting together packages that include reduced airfare from North America as well as free or reduced airfare between Ecuador and the Galápagos, highly experienced and approachable experts who travel with you, meals and beverages, park permits and fees, and much more.

We can tell you about how each travel provider further differentiates itself with additional onboard services, and the levels of luxury and cuisine that you can expect.

Silversea Expeditions

Discover the wonders of the Galápagos combined with the comfort, convenience and value of an all-inclusive Silversea experience. Every facet of your journey is included.

Ship: Silver Galápagos
Capacity: 100 Guests

Ship: Silver Origin
Capacity: 100 Guests

The Silversea Galápagos experience includes onboard gratuities, alcohol, shore excursions, and reduced roundtrip airfare between the United States and Ecuador. Along with complimentary air between Ecuador and the Galápagos, pre-cruise hotel stay, transfers and a post-cruise hotel day room, you’re free to discover the wonders of the region, while Silversea handles the details.

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises invites you to immerse yourself in these islands, absorbing everything there is to see, learn, and do while you’re there. Your cruise is also optimized to practice the highest levels of environmental stewardship, in everything from fuel efficiency to the chocolates placed on your pillow, that are made by a local, eco-friendly company.

Ships: Celebrity Flora, Celebrity Xpedition and Celebrity XplorationCapacity: 100, 48 and 16, respectively

Ask us about exclusive saving on select Celebrity Galápagos vacations.

Lindblad Expeditions

In the 50 years Lindblad has been exploring the Galápagos, they’ve introduced generations of travelers to its magic and mystery. They’ve even raised millions of dollars, along with their guests, for its conservation. When you board one of their small ships, you travel in the company of a team of experts, passionate about the places and wildlife you encounter. Flexibility is built into each itinerary so that you can take advantage of spontaneous opportunities that arise, since that is the nature of being at home in the wild.

Ships: National Geographic Endeavour II and National Geographic Islander
Capacity: 96 and 48 guests, respectively

Their eight-day/seven-night cruise is enhanced with an overnight hotel stay in Guayaquil, at the Hotel Hilton Colón, prior to and after the voyage. Consider adding on an expedition to the Amazon.