Estrella de Mar

Estrella Del Mar offers an excellent option for those who want to cruise the Galápagos in comfort, but are prepared to sacrifice some top end luxury for excellent value. Built in 1990, Estrella uses her space cleverly, so that she never feels crowded. Limited to a maximum of 16 guests, you’ll have a great experience as you cruise between stunning sites of interest around the Galápagos.

Comfortable Cabins Estrella Del Mar has eight cabins, four on the lower deck, and four on the upper. All are set up as “twin bunk” type, and all feature en suite bathrooms and air conditioning for your comfort.

If you are prone to motion sickness, then we recommend one of the four lower deck cabins, where the ships movement is felt the least. Despite being on the lower deck, these are light and airy thanks to larger than usual porthole-style windows and the well-chosen decor, and a lovely place to rest after a day spent exploring the Galápagos.

The upper deck cabins feature larger windows offering lovely vistas when you wake in the morning. Whatever cabin you choose, the onboard housekeeper will make up your room several times a day as required, and as well as towels for use in your bathroom, all guests receive beach towels perfect for drying off after snorkeling and swimming as well as taking with you on beach excursions – a favorite part of any Galápagos cruise.

Space to be Social Estrella del Mar’s communal spaces are all about relaxed socialising. The lounge area features beautiful polished wood decor and panoramic windows, but the centrepiece is the huge horseshoe-shaped communal couch. This is a perfect area for relaxing in comfort in the evenings, as well as listening to the fascinating briefings on the Galápagos islands and wildlife given by your expert naturalist guide. You’ll also find a cosy bar here, offering local and imported beers, wines and spirits, as well as cocktails.

The dining area continues the beautiful wood theme, and is set up informally with comfortable tables each seating four guests. Food on board is a delicious mix of international and local dishes, served both buffet and menu style. The chef on board is consistently praised by guests, and uses only the freshest local ingredients to make sure you won’t go hungry during your memorable Estrella del Mar Galápagos cruise!

Outside there is a pleasant sundeck that offers a shaded area, as well as comfortable lounging in the full glare of the equatorial sun. This is a perfect place to watch the Galápagos islands slide by, or to come to at night and watch the amazing spectacle that is the stars coming out over the Galápagos.

Choice of stunning itineraries Estrella has a wide choice of seven day and ten day cruise itineraries, carefully chosen to allow you to experience the unspoilt wonder of many of the Galápagos islands and their wildlife.

Estrella’s cruise crew includes a highly-qualified bilingual Galápagos National Park naturalist, who will guide you on every excursion, and can answer any questions you have about the geology, geography, habitats and wildlife you will see.

Included in your Estrella cruise package is use of snorkeling gear on board, including complimentary wetsuit hire – an additional charge on most other vessels. Snorkeling and swimming with the Galápagos marine life are just some of the wonderful excursions you will enjoy, as well as wet and dry landings on some of the most unspoilt islands in the world.

Our thoughts Choosing a Galápagos cruise on board Estrella Del Mar is, in our view, selecting the perfect mix between comfort and value. With lots of communal space and bunk cabins, Estrella feels a lot bigger than she actually is. We love the sun deck – it’s the perfect place to absorb the sights and sounds of Galápagos, and we can’t praise the chef highly enough – we think his cooking is better than some much more expensive Galápagos cruise ships we’ve visited! For travellers who are budget-conscious but don’t want to sacrifice some creature comforts and great service, this is the perfect option.