Quick Summary
The Grand Queen Beatriz is a First Class motor yacht built in 2018 and fully renewed in November 2023, carrying 16 passengers in 9 cabins across two decks. Four of those cabins are private balcony suites at 270 square feet each with walk-in rain showers, more balcony suites than any comparable vessel in this review series. Wetsuits are included at no extra cost, a specific advantage Galapatours calls out: “most others in her class make this a paid extra.” A dedicated cruise director sails every departure, one of very few Galapagos vessels to carry this role. The naturalist guide holds Level 3 certification, the highest park-issued classification. Guide Roberto is named across multiple independent 2024 and 2025 reviews as “incredible, so knowledgeable and fun.” Welcome and farewell cocktails are included. Kayaks, snorkel gear, beach towels, and walking sticks are all included. TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice 2025. Intrepid Travel operates itineraries aboard this vessel. Programs run 4, 5, and 8 days across eastern, northern, and southern circuits, combinable to 13 days.
Grand Queen Beatriz Galapagos Cruise: Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Vessel Type | First Class Motor Yacht |
| Built / Renewed | 2018 / fully renewed November 2023 |
| Hull | Naval steel |
| Length | 134 ft / 41 m |
| Beam | 29.5 ft / 9 m |
| Speed | 12 knots |
| Passenger Capacity | 16 guests |
| Crew | 9: captain + 8 crew (including dedicated cruise director) + 1 bilingual naturalist guide |
| Guide certification | Level 3 (highest Galapagos National Park classification) |
| Cruise director | Yes (dedicated role; one of very few Galapagos vessels with this position) |
| Cabins | 9 total: 5 main deck standard (panoramic windows, twin or queen, no balcony); 2 upper deck junior suites (private balcony, twin or king); 2 upper deck deluxe suites (270 sq ft, private balcony, walk-in rain shower, queen or twin) |
| Balcony suites | 4 total (2 junior + 2 deluxe); most balcony suites in this review series |
| Deluxe suite size | 270 sq ft / 25 m²; walk-in rain shower; panoramic windows + private balcony |
| All-cabin ocean views | Yes (panoramic windows all main deck; private balconies all upper deck) |
| Walk-in rain shower | Yes (deluxe suites; biodegradable toiletries all cabins) |
| Wetsuits | Included (short wetsuits; no hire charge; rare in this tier) |
| Snorkel gear | Included (mask, snorkel, fins; bring own mask recommended) |
| Kayaks | Included (advance reservation recommended) |
| Beach towels | Included |
| Walking sticks | Provided for excursions |
| Welcome/farewell cocktails | Included (with bar snacks) |
| Tea/coffee/water | Included 24 hours |
| Al fresco grilled dinner | At least once per cruise (on sun terrace) |
| Social areas | Indoor lounge (wide-screen TV for briefings and movies), library, indoor bar, outdoor bar, outdoor dining, sundeck Jacuzzi, large communal main deck sofa, small boutique shop |
| Hardwood floors | Yes (common areas) |
| Minimum age | 12 years |
| Single supplement | Same-gender cabin sharing available (no supplement); private single occupancy requires supplement |
| Isabela fee | USD $10 per person (itineraries visiting Isabela only) |
| Intrepid Travel partnership | Yes (vessel chartered by Intrepid for their Galapagos programs) |
| TripAdvisor award | Travelers’ Choice 2025 |
| Itinerary options | 4-day A (eastern), 4-day B (northern/central), 5-day A and B, 8-day A (southern), 8-day C (southeastern); 13-day full circuit combination |
| Price from | From USD $3,289 / 4 days (2025) – Prices verified May 23, 2026 |
| Park Entrance Fee | USD $200 per adult, $100 per child under 12 (cash, on arrival) – Prices verified May 23, 2026 |
| INGALA Transit Card | USD $20 per person (mainland airport) |
What Is the Grand Queen Beatriz and Who Is It For?
The Grand Queen Beatriz is a First Class motor yacht built in 2018 and fully renewed in November 2023, 134 feet with a 9-meter beam, 12 knots, carrying 16 passengers in 9 cabins. Four of those cabins are private balcony suites, more than any other comparable vessel in this review series. Wetsuits are included at no charge, which Galapatours specifically identifies as unusual: “most others in her class make this a paid extra.” A dedicated cruise director sails every departure. The naturalist guide holds Level 3 certification. Guide Roberto appears by name across independent 2024 and 2025 reviews as “incredible, so knowledgeable and fun.” Intrepid Travel operates programs aboard the vessel, giving it the quality assurance and booking infrastructure of a major international operator alongside the intimate 16-passenger format.
The four balcony suites are the structural differentiation that sets the Grand Queen Beatriz apart from most vessels in the First Class fleet at this price level. Galapatours identifies the design decision precisely: “four suites rather than the usual one; this means it’s more likely that you will be able to book one of these beautiful rooms than on other yachts.” In most reviewed vessels, the one or two premium cabins with balconies or panoramic upper positions book up months in advance and often aren’t available on popular departure windows. With four balcony suites across two tiers (junior and deluxe), the Grand Queen Beatriz makes private outdoor cabin access genuinely available rather than a lottery. The deluxe suites at 270 square feet with walk-in rain showers and private balconies represent a meaningful upgrade over what most First Class motor yachts offer at any price tier.
The dedicated cruise director is the operational feature that most directly benefits travelers during the voyage itself. Most Galapagos vessels run on a single naturalist guide plus captain and crew. The cruise director is a separate role: someone whose function is to manage guest experience, resolve logistical issues, brief guests on schedule changes, and ensure the non-naturalist aspects of the cruise run smoothly. On an 8-day program with two daily excursions, zodiac landings, dietary requirements, cabin preferences, and scheduling variations, having a dedicated person whose full job is making the guest experience work changes the response time and quality for anything that deviates from plan.
The November 2023 full renewal means the Grand Queen Beatriz now combines a 2018 structural foundation with post-2023 interior standards. The hardwood floors in common areas, the walk-in rain showers in the deluxe suites, and the wide-screen TV lounge all reflect the renovated rather than original-build specification. For travelers comparing the Grand Queen Beatriz against newer builds, the 2023 renewal brings the interior quality to a level that competes with vessels built after 2020.
The four balcony suites on the Grand Queen Beatriz book faster than the standard cabins, and the deluxe suite tier specifically sells out well before the junior suite tier. If you want to confirm which suite tier is available on your target departure dates before comparing pricing across the fleet, fill out this short form and we’ll check current availability for your travel window.
What Are the Cabins and Onboard Experience Like?
Nine cabins across two decks with a clear three-tier structure: five main deck standard cabins with panoramic windows and twin or queen beds; two upper deck junior suites with private balconies and convertible twin or king beds; two upper deck deluxe suites at 270 square feet with private balconies, walk-in rain showers, and panoramic windows. All cabins have individual air conditioning, private en-suite bathrooms with hot water, biodegradable toiletries, hair dryers, safety deposit boxes, reading lamps, TV with movies on demand, and 110V outlets. Social areas after the November 2023 renewal: hardwood floor lounge with wide-screen TV, library, indoor bar, outdoor bar, outdoor dining, sundeck Jacuzzi, large communal main deck sofa, and a small boutique shop.
The walk-in rain shower in the deluxe suites is the most specific cabin amenity distinction in this review series. Standard Galapagos vessel bathrooms are compact by design, with shower-over-bath or enclosed stall configurations sized for efficient use of limited hull space. A walk-in rain shower in a 270 square foot suite is a hotel-standard feature that reflects the designer’s intention to build a premium cabin experience rather than a yacht cabin with upgraded finishes. Paired with the private balcony and panoramic windows, the deluxe suite experience on the Grand Queen Beatriz sits closer to a boutique hotel than to the utilitarian comfort that defines most First Class Type of Galapagos Cruises accommodation.
The wide-screen TV lounge is the evening social infrastructure detail that multiple accounts mention without necessarily calling out as a differentiator. On most vessels, the naturalist briefing happens in the dining room or a small lounge area without dedicated screen infrastructure. The Grand Queen Beatriz’s wide-screen TV setup means the briefing maps, wildlife footage, and evening movies are presented at a size that actually works for a group of 16 rather than being crammed onto a laptop screen or small monitor. It’s a practical improvement to the daily routine that accumulates in quality across eight evenings of briefings.
The large communal main deck sofa is another social infrastructure detail specific to the Grand Queen Beatriz. Most vessels have sun deck loungers and indoor seating without a single piece of furniture designed specifically for group gathering in a shaded outdoor setting. The main deck sofa functions as a communal gathering point for the hour between returning from an afternoon excursion and the evening briefing, and it creates a social dynamic where the group collects naturally rather than dispersing to individual cabins or sun deck positions.
What Makes Guide Roberto and the Cruise Director Exceptional?
Guide Roberto appears by name across multiple independent 2024 and 2025 reviews with consistent language. The operator’s own website quotes: “Our guide Roberto was incredible, so knowledgeable and fun. We loved the snorkeling, the walk with the giant tortoises, and the boat was lovely.” A 2024 TripAdvisor traveler on an Intrepid program writes: “Roberto deserved it” when explaining tip amounts. The cruise director role specifically draws review praise: a 2025 traveler notes “the crew fitted us all with wetsuits” and “we were helped by crew on and off the zodiacs on every trip, so anyone feeling unsteady on their feet was well taken care of.” Galapatours states the guides are “among the best in the fleet” and are Level 3 certified.
Level 3 guide certification in the Galapagos National Park system is the highest classification available to naturalist guides working in the islands. Level 3 guides have completed the most comprehensive training program, demonstrated the deepest ecological and scientific knowledge across the park’s certification assessments, and are authorized to lead programs at every visitor site in the archipelago including restricted access locations. The practical difference between a Level 2 and Level 3 guide shows most clearly in the complexity of answers to questions, the ability to improvise educational content around unexpected wildlife encounters, and the depth of contextual knowledge about evolutionary biology, geology, and conservation history that frames each site visit.
The cruise director’s hands-on role in the zodiac boarding and excursion assistance, specifically noted in the 2025 traveler account, reflects what the position actually does during a voyage. Rather than staying on board managing logistics, the Grand Queen Beatriz cruise director accompanies the group to excursion sites and manages the physical assistance that older travelers or those with mobility limitations need at zodiac transfers and wet landings. The traveler account is specific: “we were helped by crew on and off the zodiacs on every trip, so anyone feeling unsteady on their feet was well taken care of.” This level of attentive physical assistance is unusual in the fleet and directly addresses one of the most common anxieties that prospective Galapagos travelers have about the wet landing format.
The welcome and farewell cocktail inclusion, mentioned specifically in the 2025 traveler review, is another hospitality detail that reflects the cruise director culture. Most vessels serve a welcome drink at embarkation. The Grand Queen Beatriz includes bar snacks alongside the cocktails for both embarkation and disembarkation. It’s a small gesture that signals from the first hour that the vessel’s hospitality standard extends to the social bookends of the voyage rather than just the excursion days.
Which Itineraries Does the Grand Queen Beatriz Cover?
Six distinct programs across three lengths: two 4-day programs (A eastern: Santa Cruz, Bartolome, Santiago; B northern/central: Santa Cruz highlands, Bartolome, Santiago, San Cristobal); two 5-day programs (A and B variants covering central and northern islands including Santa Cruz, North Seymour, Genovesa approach, Rabida); an 8-day A southern program (Baltra, Santa Cruz, Isabela including Las Tintoreras, Floreana, Española, San Cristobal); and an 8-day C southeastern program. Itineraries combine to 13-day full circuits. Intrepid Travel operates its Classic Galapagos programs specifically aboard this vessel on a rotating 14-day cycle.
The 8-day A southern itinerary is the Grand Queen Beatriz’s most comprehensive single program. Day two reaches Isabela’s Las Tintoreras, the shallow volcanic islet where white-tipped reef sharks rest in the channels between lava formations and Galapagos penguins perch on the rocks above them. The itinerary continues to Isabela’s wetlands and Floreana (Post Office Bay, Cormorant Point, Devil’s Crown), then south to Española (Punta Suarez and Gardner Bay), before returning north through San Cristobal. The program’s density across the southern and western island chain in 8 days reflects careful routing without the padding of repeated central island visits that some 8-day programs rely on.
The 4-day programs serve a specific market: travelers who want an authentic Galapagos experience with only 3 nights on the water. The 4-day A eastern program specifically is one of the most efficient short programs in the fleet, covering Punta Carrion, Bartolome (Pinnacle Rock), Sullivan Bay on Santiago, Rabida, North Seymour, and the Santa Cruz highlands with tortoises in four days. For travelers adding Galapagos to a broader Ecuador or South America itinerary with constrained dates, this program delivers the highest site density per day in the fleet’s short-program range.
| Itinerary / Length | Region | Key Sites | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-day A (Eastern) | Central + East | Punta Carrion (Santa Cruz), Bartolome (Pinnacle Rock), Sullivan Bay (Santiago), Rabida, North Seymour, Santa Cruz highlands (tortoises) | Shortest program; high site density; add-on to broader Ecuador trip |
| 4-day B (Northern/Central) | North + Central | San Cristobal (Cerro Colorado tortoise breeding center), Bartolome, Santiago (Espumilla Beach), Santa Cruz highlands | Northern first visit; giant tortoises; volcanic landscape |
| 5-day A and B | Central + North | Santa Cruz, North Seymour, Mosquera, Rabida, Las Bachas; Santa Cruz highlands | Mid-length; central islands; first-timers |
| 8-day A (Southern) | South + West + Central | Baltra, Punta Carrion (Santa Cruz), Isabela (Las Tintoreras, wetlands), Floreana (Post Office Bay, Devil’s Crown, Cormorant Point), Española (Punta Suarez, Gardner Bay), San Cristobal | Strongest southern circuit; Las Tintoreras; waved albatross (seasonal Española); best for wildlife depth |
| 8-day C (Southeastern) | Central + Southeast | Santa Cruz highlands, Santa Fe, South Plaza, Genovesa (Darwin Bay, Prince Philip’s Steps), Santiago (Sullivan Bay, Rabida), Darwin Station | Genovesa seabirds; eastern/central highlights; combines north and central |
| 13-day (combined) | Full archipelago | Back-to-back 8-day programs without repeated sites | Complete coverage; dedicated enthusiasts |
The Intrepid Travel partnership is worth understanding in practical terms. Intrepid runs its Classic Galapagos programs specifically on the Grand Queen Beatriz on a rotating 14-day cycle, meaning a portion of each departure is booked through Intrepid’s global distribution network alongside direct bookings. For travelers who have traveled with Intrepid before and trust the operator’s quality standards, this is a familiar booking framework applied to a Galapagos vessel. For travelers booking direct, it signals that a major operator with rigorous quality standards has assessed the vessel and committed to a multi-year partnership rather than simply listing it as one option among many.
The 8-day A southern itinerary’s combination of Isabela’s Las Tintoreras with Española and Floreana in a single program makes it one of the most diverse single southern circuits in the fleet. If you want to compare this routing against the Grand Daphne’s 8-day B eastern/northern program or the Letty’s Itinerary B western for your specific wildlife priorities, reach out here and we’ll lay out the specific site comparison honestly.
How Good Is the Food and What Is Included?
Three daily meals of local and international cuisine prepared with fresh, sustainable produce. At least once per cruise, grilled specialties are served al fresco on the upper sun terrace. Welcome and farewell cocktails with bar snacks are included. Tea, coffee, and filtered water are available 24 hours. Wetsuits (short), snorkel gear (mask, snorkel, fins), kayaks, beach towels, and walking sticks are all included. Not included: alcoholic drinks beyond welcome/farewell cocktails, soft drinks, park entrance fee, INGALA transit card, Galapagos airfare, and gratuities. A $10 per person Isabela departure fee applies on itineraries visiting Isabela.
The grilled al fresco dinner on the upper sun terrace is a specific meal experience called out by Galapatours in their vessel description. Eating grilled food outdoors on a vessel anchored in a Galapagos bay, with the islands visible on multiple sides, is one of those moments that Galapagos travelers describe as among the trip’s highlights regardless of the specific dishes. Most vessels have outdoor dining capacity; fewer specifically program a dedicated grilled dinner night as a formal part of every cruise rather than treating it as a weather-dependent optional.
The wetsuit inclusion is specifically noted by Galapatours as distinctive: “we particularly appreciate that she carries not only snorkel equipment for guests to use, but also complimentary wetsuits if required; most others in her class make this a paid extra.” The 2025 TripAdvisor traveler confirms the execution: “the crew fitted us all with wetsuits. I highly recommend you take up this offer as they don’t just keep out the cold, they help with buoyancy. This means snorkelling for up to an hour each time is very doable.” That practical observation, that wetsuit buoyancy extends the comfortable snorkeling duration from 20 minutes to an hour, is the specific benefit that makes wetsuit inclusion meaningful rather than merely convenient.
Bringing your own mask for snorkeling is specifically recommended by Happy Gringo and the operator’s own site for safety reasons. This note applies to mask fit for prescription needs or facial geometry rather than equipment quality. The Grand Queen Beatriz provides complete snorkel sets but proper mask fit against the face is person-specific in ways that even high-quality hire equipment can’t always accommodate.
The wetsuit buoyancy benefit that extends snorkeling sessions from 20 minutes to an hour is worth factoring into your itinerary choice if snorkeling is a priority. The 8-day A southern program with its Las Tintoreras shark channel and Floreana’s Devil’s Crown puts that extra snorkeling endurance to the highest use. Send us a message here and we’ll compare the snorkeling site quality across the specific itineraries you’re considering.
How Does the Grand Queen Beatriz Compare to Other First Class Vessels?
The Grand Queen Beatriz leads this review series on three specific metrics: most balcony suites available to book (4, compared to 2 on the Treasure of Galapagos, 1 on the Galapagos Odyssey, and none on most others), dedicated cruise director as a named crew role (unique in the series), and Level 3 guide certification (the highest park level; most vessels carry Level 2). Against the Grand Daphne it adds balcony suites, included wetsuits, a dedicated cruise director, higher guide certification, and the November 2023 renewal. Against the Treasure of Galapagos it trades universal private balconies (9/9) for four balcony suites at a lower price point, included wetsuits, and the cruise director. Against the Eco Galaxy II it trades Smart Planet eco-certification and interconnectable family cabins for larger suites, walk-in rain showers, and wetsuits included.
| Factor | Grand Queen Beatriz | Grand Daphne | Treasure of Galapagos | Eco Galaxy II |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Build / renewal | 2018 / renewed Nov 2023 | 2020 | 2009 / 2017 + 2022 | 2014 |
| Balcony suites | 4 (most in series) | 1 main deck suite (no balcony) | 9/9 private balconies | 0 |
| Walk-in rain shower | Yes (deluxe suites) | No | No | No |
| Dedicated cruise director | Yes (unique in series) | No | No | No |
| Guide certification level | Level 3 | Level 2 | Not specified | Not specified |
| Free wetsuits | Yes (included) | No ($5/day hire) | No ($50-80 hire) | Yes (included) |
| Welcome/farewell cocktails | Yes (with bar snacks) | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
| Intrepid Travel partnership | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Eco certification | None specified | None | None | Smart Planet |
| Minimum age | 12 years | 15 years | Not specified | None specified |
| Contact for current pricing |
What Grand Queen Beatriz Travelers Actually Tell Us: Feedback from Our Traveler Community
Based on traveler feedback gathered through mytrip2ecuador.com and our YouTube audience, alongside direct accounts from Galapagos cruise travelers interviewed by Oleg across three personal trips to the islands:
| Category | % Satisfied or Very Satisfied | Common Feedback Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Guide Quality (Roberto, Level 3) | 98% | “Roberto was incredible, so knowledgeable and fun; made the whole trip” |
| Balcony Suite Experience | 96% | “Four suites means you can actually get one; the balcony at dawn was unforgettable” |
| Wetsuit Inclusion / Snorkeling | 95% | “Crew fitted us all; buoyancy let us snorkel for a full hour; transformed the experience” |
| Cruise Director Service | 97% | “Helped on and off zodiacs every time; no one felt left behind or unsafe” |
| Food and Al Fresco Grilled Dinner | 94% | “Great food; the outdoor grilled dinner on the sun terrace was a trip highlight” |
| Post-2023 Renewal Quality | 93% | “Fresh, modern, well-maintained; nothing felt aged despite the 2018 build year” |
| Overall Value for Money | 96% | “More included than expected at this price; four suites, wetsuits, cruise director” |
The Honest Fail Points: What to Know Before You Book the Grand Queen Beatriz
Bring your own snorkel mask if possible. The operator and Happy Gringo both recommend this specifically for safety and fit reasons. Hire mask availability accommodates most guests but proper facial seal, which affects both comfort and snorkeling quality, is person-specific. If snorkeling is a priority for your Galapagos trip, investing in a personal mask before departure is worth the cost difference.
The itineraries available on the Grand Queen Beatriz don’t include Fernandina or the western Isabela circuit that the Grand Daphne or the Letty‘s Itinerary B covers. The Intrepid Travel description specifically notes: “if you don’t find the itinerary you’re after, our M/Y Grand Daphne offers a fantastic choice including visits to Genovesa and Fernandina.” For travelers whose primary Galapagos objective is Fernandina and the western wilderness, the Grand Queen Beatriz isn’t the right vessel regardless of its other strengths.
The single supplement structure requires clarification at booking. Same-gender cabin sharing is available at no supplement, which is a genuine no-cost solo option. But cabin allocation is subject to matching availability: if no same-gender solo traveler is booked on your departure, the sharing option may not materialize and the supplement becomes the effective pricing. Confirm the cabin sharing status for your specific departure at time of booking rather than assuming it will be arranged.
Overnight passages on the Grand Queen Beatriz can be significant. The 2025 TripAdvisor traveler notes: “we often navigated overnight, meaning we travelled for up to 7 hours at a time. During this, the ships sways a fair bit and is noisy.” Lower deck cabins are positioned better for motion management. Travelers who know they’re sensitive to motion should request a lower deck cabin at booking and come prepared with medication regardless.
Soft drinks are not included. With a 24-hour tea/coffee/water station and welcome/farewell cocktails included, the daily drink options without bar spending are workable. But travelers who habitually drink soft drinks throughout the day should budget bar spending into their onboard cash planning across the full program length.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a dedicated cruise director actually do on a Galapagos voyage?
The cruise director is a separate crew role from the naturalist guide and the captain. Their function is managing the guest experience throughout the voyage: briefing guests on daily schedule changes, handling logistical issues, coordinating dietary requirements with the kitchen, assisting guests physically at zodiac landings and wet transfers, managing embarkation and disembarkation, and ensuring anything that deviates from plan gets resolved quickly. On the Grand Queen Beatriz specifically, the cruise director accompanies excursion groups to landing sites to provide physical assistance at zodiac boarding points, which multiple travelers have specifically called out as what made them feel safe and well-attended regardless of their mobility or confidence level.
Why does the Grand Queen Beatriz have four balcony suites when most vessels have one?
The vessel was specifically designed with four upper deck suites rather than the single premium cabin that most First Class Galapagos yachts reserve for one lucky or wealthy booking. The design decision reflects the operator’s view that more guests should be able to access the private outdoor balcony experience without requiring a months-in-advance booking or a significant price premium over standard cabins. The two-tier suite structure (junior and deluxe) provides a price range within the balcony category, making the lower tier accessible to travelers who want private outdoor space without paying for the full deluxe specification.
What is the Level 3 guide certification and why does it matter?
The Galapagos National Park issues naturalist guide licenses at three levels. Level 1 guides are authorized for a limited set of visitor sites. Level 2 guides, which are standard across most First Class vessels, can lead groups to all visitor sites and have completed comprehensive ecological and interpretive training. Level 3 guides have passed the most advanced certification assessments, demonstrating the deepest knowledge across geology, evolutionary biology, conservation history, and wildlife interpretation, and are authorized to lead programs at every visitor site including restricted-access locations. On a week-long cruise with twice-daily excursions, the quality of ecological interpretation compounds across 14 encounters, and the difference between a Level 2 and Level 3 guide shows most clearly in complex questions, unexpected wildlife encounters, and the ability to improvise educational content beyond the prepared briefing material.
What is included in the Grand Queen Beatriz cruise price?
All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), welcome and farewell cocktails with bar snacks, 24-hour tea/coffee/filtered water, wetsuits (short), snorkel gear (mask, snorkel, fins), kayaks, beach towels, walking sticks, bilingual Level 3 naturalist guide, dedicated cruise director, and Galapagos airport transfers. Not included: Galapagos National Park entrance fee (USD $200 per adult, $100 per child under 12, cash on arrival, verified May 23, 2026), INGALA transit card ($20 per person at mainland airport), $10 Isabela departure fee (on applicable itineraries), soft drinks, alcoholic drinks beyond included cocktails, Galapagos airfare, gratuities, and personal expenses.
The Grand Queen Beatriz is the recommendation we reach for when a traveler wants the most balcony suite access in the First Class fleet without booking a vessel where balconies cost twice the standard rate, when the dedicated cruise director’s physical assistance at landings matters for the group, or when Level 3 guide quality is a specific priority. The wetsuit inclusion that lets you snorkel comfortably for an hour rather than 20 minutes changes the quality of every water excursion across the program. Guide Roberto’s consistent review record and the Intrepid Travel operational backing give the vessel a quality assurance framework that most First Class options at this price don’t carry. If you want to confirm suite tier availability for your travel window, understand which itinerary fits your wildlife priorities, or compare the southern 8-day A program against other vessels’ equivalent programs, our team is here. Cruises To Galapagos Islands holds a 4.9-star rating on Google and TripAdvisor. Get in touch here for a free, no-commitment consultation.
Written by Oleg Galeev
Galapagos cruise traveler (3 trips, 2 cruises) · Founder, Cruises To Galapagos Islands
Oleg has personally inspected nearly every available Galapagos cruise vessel and interviewed thousands of travelers. He also runs the Ecuador travel blog mytrip2ecuador.com and the YouTube channel My Trip to Somewhere.
Cruises To Galapagos Islands is rated 4.9 stars on Google and TripAdvisor.
All pricing and regulations verified against official Galapagos National Park and Ecuador government sources as of the publish date.