TL;DR
The Petrel is a 115-foot luxury catamaran built in 2015 and operated by Golden Galapagos, a certified B Corporation. It carries 16 guests in 9 cabins – every single one with a private balcony, including the single stateroom. The two main-deck suites run 463 square feet each, among the largest standard cabins in the Galapagos luxury catamaran class. Itineraries run 4, 5, 6, or 8 days from $4,390 per person, with park fees and alcohol excluded. The Petrel shares its fleet, operator, and pricing with the Ocean Spray, but covers different itinerary routes with a different onboard layout. Independent reviews are limited but positive. For travelers who want every cabin to have a private balcony and the stability of a catamaran hull, the Petrel makes a strong case.
Petrel Galapagos Cruise: Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Vessel type | Power motor catamaran (twin-hull, GFRP construction) |
| Class | Luxury |
| Dimensions | 115 ft (35 m) length / 41 ft (12.5 m) beam |
| Capacity | 16 passengers |
| Cabins | 9 cabins, all with private balconies: 2 main-deck suites (463 sq ft / 43 m2), 6 double staterooms across main and upper decks (323 sq ft / 30 m2 each), 1 single stateroom (151 sq ft / 14 m2, balcony included in size). All en-suite with A/C, king or twin beds. |
| Year built | 2015 (refurbished 2019) |
| Operator | Golden Galapagos / Golden Experiences and Travel (certified B Corporation, Ecuadorian) |
| Crew | 11 crew including captain, naturalist guide, cruise manager, chef, sous chef, barman, housekeeper, engineers, mates |
| Itinerary lengths | 4, 5, 6, or 8 days. Departures Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Routes combinable. |
| Price range (2026) | From $4,390 pp (4 days) to $8,690 pp (8 days). Includes all meals, non-alcoholic beverages, snorkel gear, wetsuits, kayaks, excursions, transfers. Welcome and farewell cocktails included. Prices verified September 20, 2026. |
| Not included | Galapagos National Park fee ($200 USD adults), Transit Control Card ($20 USD), Galapagos flights, alcoholic beverages (except welcome/farewell cocktails), gratuities. Single supplement 100%. |
| Child discount | 25% for children under 12 |
What Is the Petrel and Who Is This Cruise Actually Built For?
The Petrel is a 115-foot luxury catamaran built in 2015 and operated by Golden Galapagos, the cruise arm of Golden Experiences and Travel, a certified B Corporation that also operates the Ocean Spray, Endemic, Elite, Monique, and the incoming Grand Ocean Spray. It carries 16 guests in 9 cabins, every single one with a private balcony. The two main-deck suites at 463 square feet each are among the roomiest standard cabins in the Galapagos catamaran fleet. Itineraries run 4 to 8 days from $4,390 per person.
The all-cabin-balcony specification is the structural fact that defines the Petrel in the competitive landscape. In the previous article in this series, we described how the Sea Star Journey offers private balconies on four of its eight cabins, and how the Ocean Spray offers them across all nine of its cabins. The Petrel matches the Ocean Spray’s full-fleet balcony coverage at the same price point with a different itinerary set and a different hull profile. For travelers whose first requirement is a private outdoor space from every cabin, both the Petrel and the Ocean Spray satisfy it; the choice between them comes down to itinerary geography and cabin preference.
The B Corporation certification deserves a sentence of substance. Golden Experiences and Travel holds B Corp certification, which requires meeting verified standards across environmental performance, labor practices, community impact, and governance. This is distinct from self-reported sustainability commitments. The certification is third-party audited on a regular cycle. For travelers who factor a company’s environmental and social record into their travel choices, this is the most credible signal in the Galapagos operator landscape, shared only by a small number of operators at this scale.
The catamaran hull delivers its standard advantages: reduced sea motion compared to monohull vessels of equivalent size, a wider beam that translates to more interior social space, and the ability to anchor more closely to some visitor site landings due to the shallower draft. The 41-foot beam on the Petrel is wide enough that the social areas on each deck feel genuinely spacious for 16 guests rather than compressed.
This cruise suits couples and pairs who want private balconies without paying the premium-tier surcharge. It suits families with children under 12 who qualify for the 25% discount. It suits travelers who want the operational reliability of an established B Corp operator rather than a smaller independent. It is not the right choice for anyone prioritizing a two-guide ratio, included alcohol, or the deepest western island coverage in a single 5-day cruise. Reach out here and we’ll compare the Petrel honestly against the other vessels it most often competes with.
What Are the Cabins and Suites Like on the Petrel?
Nine cabins across two decks, all with private balconies. The two main-deck suites at 463 square feet are the headline: king beds, large sitting areas, and balconies that extend the usable cabin footprint significantly. Six double staterooms at 323 square feet each spread across the main and upper decks with convertible king or twin configurations. The single stateroom at 151 square feet (including balcony) is the smallest cabin but still offers the same private outdoor access as every other cabin on the vessel.
The 463-square-foot main-deck suite figure includes the balcony, which all listed cabin sizes do on the Petrel. Stripping out a standard Galapagos catamaran balcony (typically 50 to 80 square feet), the interior room is approximately 385 to 415 square feet. That is still comfortably the largest standard cabin in the Golden Galapagos fleet and competitive with the upper-tier cabins on most competing luxury vessels at this price point. The sitting area inside the suite creates the kind of separation between the bed and a reading or working space that genuinely changes how a cabin feels across a 6 or 8-day cruise.
The 323-square-foot double staterooms are uniformly sized across main and upper deck positions, which removes the hierarchy question that affects some competing vessels. On the Ocean Spray, main-deck cabins run to 334 square feet and upper-deck cabins to 248 square feet – a meaningful difference that affects which deck position to request. On the Petrel, the six double staterooms are sized consistently. The choice between main and upper deck becomes a question of layout preference and stability rather than size.
The single stateroom deserves honest framing. At 151 square feet including balcony, the interior is compact – roughly 80 to 100 square feet of enclosed cabin space. It is designed for solo travelers who want the Petrel’s operational quality and the private balcony without the 100% single supplement applied to the double staterooms. That supplement is steep and adds substantially to the cost of a solo traveler booking a double cabin alone. The single stateroom is the structural answer to that problem, and it works for travelers who are comfortable in a compact cabin and value the outdoor access above interior room.
Social areas across three decks give the catamaran’s beam space to breathe. The lounge and library on the main deck carry plasma TVs, laptops, and a DVD player – functional for evening downtime after the daily excursion briefing. The upper deck holds al-fresco dining. The sun deck at the top carries the jacuzzi, sun loungers, and 360-degree views that make it the post-excursion gathering spot for most groups.
Which Itineraries Does the Petrel Sail and What Will You See?
The Petrel runs four itinerary lengths (4, 5, 6, and 8 days) across two primary route programs: Itinerary A covering the western and central islands (Isabela, Fernandina, and central sites), and Itinerary B covering the eastern and central islands (Genovesa, Española, San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, and southern sites). Both 8-day routes are available year-round, with shorter 4, 5, and 6-day options as subsets. Routes are combinable for longer trips.
| Route | Key Sites | Signature Wildlife | 8-Day Price From (pp) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A: Western and Central | North Seymour, Isabela (Vicente Roca Point, Tagus Cove, Urbina Bay), Fernandina (Espinoza Point), Santa Cruz (Darwin Station, Highlands), Santa Fe, South Plazas, San Cristobal | Flightless cormorants, Galapagos penguins, marine iguanas, mola mola at Vicente Roca, land tortoises at Highlands | $8,690 |
| B: Eastern and Central | San Cristobal, Española (Suarez Point, Gardner Bay), Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Bartolome, Genovesa (Darwin Bay, Prince Philip’s Steps), Santiago | Waved albatross (Española, seasonal), red-footed boobies (Genovesa), hammerheads at Kicker Rock, sea lions at Gardner Bay | $8,690 |
Itinerary A’s western island coverage is the stronger choice for travelers whose priority is remote endemic species. Punta Vicente Roca on Isabela is one of the best snorkeling sites in the entire archipelago: seahorses, sunfish, penguins, and marine iguanas feeding on algae, all in the same dive. Punta Espinoza on Fernandina is where the flightless cormorant exists in the highest concentrations on Earth. These sites require the longer crossing that shorter itineraries skip, and 8 days allows the Petrel to include them without compressing the central island stops.
Itinerary B brings Genovesa into the picture, and Genovesa justifies the routing on its own. Prince Philip’s Steps is the steepest trail in the regular visitor site network, climbing a cliff face to a plateau occupied by thousands of masked boobies, red-footed boobies, and short-eared owls that hunt storm petrels in daylight. The owl hunting behavior at Genovesa is one of the most unusual wildlife spectacles in the islands and is visible only from this island.
Shorter departures (4 and 5 days) extract a subset of these sites and are worth considering for travelers with strict time limits rather than as the primary itinerary choice. The same half-day arrival and departure math that applies across the Galapagos fleet applies here: a 4-day trip delivers roughly 2.5 full excursion days. The 8-day remains the strongest value per day on this vessel. Send us a message and we’ll match the right route length to your travel window and wildlife priorities.
How Is the Food, Crew, and Day-to-Day Experience on the Petrel?
The Petrel carries a chef and sous chef for 16 guests, producing a kitchen-to-guest ratio that supports genuine culinary quality rather than volume catering. Meals combine Ecuadorian dishes with international cuisine and are served in both the indoor dining room and the upper deck al-fresco area. Non-alcoholic beverages, including soft drinks and juices, are included. Alcohol is charged separately, with the exception of welcome and farewell cocktails. The cruise manager role mirrors the function of the Sea Star’s cruise director: a dedicated logistics coordinator who sits between the captain, the guide, and the guests.
The single verified independent review on Liveaboard.com rates the Petrel 9.6 out of 10 and highlights “swimming with the turtles” and “exploring the islands” as the defining experiences. The brevity of that account reflects a thin review pool rather than a weak operation – the Petrel has been sailing since 2015 and the lack of extensive public reviews reflects the booking channel structure of Golden Galapagos (much of the business flows through tour operators and travel agencies rather than direct-booking platforms that generate public reviews) rather than absence of guests.
The B Corp operating framework shapes the day-to-day in ways that aren’t always visible but accumulate over a week. Staff training standards, environmental practices on anchor choice and waste management, guide selection criteria, and community sourcing for food ingredients are all subject to the B Corp audit cycle. The practical effect for guests is a crew that operates within a documented professional standard rather than informal practices, and an onboard food program that draws on local Ecuadorian producers as a policy commitment rather than a marketing decision.
The fitness equipment (free weights) noted in the Zublu listing is an unusual amenity for a Galapagos catamaran at this size. Most vessels at this capacity don’t carry dedicated fitness equipment beyond the incidental activity of excursions. For travelers on longer 8 or combined-route itineraries, having something beyond the jacuzzi for physical activity between excursion days is a small but genuine quality-of-life feature.
How Good Are the Naturalist Guides on the Petrel?
One certified bilingual naturalist guide for 16 guests, producing a 1:16 ratio standard for the luxury class. The Petrel’s guide profile follows the Golden Galapagos fleet standard: National Park-certified, bilingual, with itinerary knowledge specific to the routes the vessel runs. The cruise manager travels alongside the guide on all excursions, handling logistics so the guide can focus entirely on the wildlife and educational content. No guide-specific reviews are available in the thin public record, but the Golden Galapagos fleet standard across its other vessels (Ocean Spray, Endemic) is consistently rated positively for guide quality.
The cruise manager and guide working in tandem is a structure worth understanding. On vessels without a cruise manager, the naturalist guide handles both the wildlife education and the operational logistics of each excursion: panga loading order, timing, site positioning, group management, safety briefing, and the naturalist content all simultaneously. Separating those functions lets the guide stay focused on what they’re actually certified to do – explain the marine iguana’s nasal salt-expulsion mechanism, or describe why Fernandina still shows no land predators despite being geologically older than many of the islands – rather than counting heads on a panga.
The 1:16 ratio is the standard for this tier and works well when the guide is genuinely skilled at managing group dynamics, pace variation, and individual attention across 16 people. What the Petrel’s guide selection process lacks in documented transparency (no named guides have accumulated multi-year public review recognition the way the Sea Star’s Hanzel has) is partially offset by the B Corp operational framework that sets staff selection and training standards across the fleet.
How Does the Petrel Compare to Similar Vessels?
The Petrel’s most direct competitors are its sister-fleet vessel the Ocean Spray (same operator, same price, all-cabin balconies, different layout and itinerary set), the Monique (same operator, newer 2026 build, no balconies, stronger eco-tech), and the Sea Star (different operator, four of eight cabins with balconies, modular itineraries). Against the Ocean Spray specifically, the Petrel offers larger main-deck suites and a different itinerary focus; the Ocean Spray offers larger upper-deck staterooms and a longer operational history.
| Vessel | Balconies | Main Cabin Size | Alcohol Included | Key Difference vs. Petrel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrel (Golden Galapagos) | All 9 cabins | 463 sq ft (suite) | No (welcome/farewell cocktails) | Largest suites in Golden fleet; B Corp; all-cabin balconies; Itinerary A western coverage |
| Ocean Spray (Golden Galapagos) | All 9 cabins | 334 sq ft (main deck) | No | Same operator and price; stronger public review history; larger upper-deck cabins vs. Petrel |
| Monique (Golden Galapagos) | None | 247 sq ft | Beer and wine with dinner (some channels) | 2026 build; strongest eco-tech in fleet; no balconies; lower price |
| Sea Star (Latin Trails) | 4 of 8 cabins | 35 m2 (Sea Star Suite) | No | Different operator; modular itinerary design; glass-bottom zodiac; partial balcony fleet |
The Petrel-versus-Ocean-Spray decision is the most common comparison travelers face when considering the Golden Galapagos fleet, and it deserves a direct answer. Both vessels cost the same, both have all-cabin balconies, both are operated to the same B Corp standard, and both sail year-round. The differences: the Petrel’s main-deck suites (463 sq ft) are substantially larger than the Ocean Spray’s comparable main-deck cabins (334 sq ft), making the Petrel the better choice for travelers who want the largest cabin available. The Ocean Spray’s upper-deck staterooms (248 sq ft) are slightly smaller than the Petrel’s upper-deck staterooms (323 sq ft per the spec sheet), making the Petrel the better all-round choice on cabin size at every level. The Ocean Spray’s longer public review history provides more documented confidence in operational consistency. The Petrel’s itinerary A covers the western islands more comprehensively. For most travelers choosing between the two, the Petrel is the stronger hardware argument; the Ocean Spray is the stronger track-record argument.
What Do Real Travelers Say About the Petrel?
The Petrel’s independent review pool is thin. One verified Liveaboard.com review exists at time of writing, rated 9.6 out of 10, with “swimming with the turtles” and “exploring the islands” as headline highlights and “excellent boat comfort” as the summary verdict. This is a smaller review corpus than the Ocean Spray, Sea Star, or Humboldt Explorer, reflecting the booking channel structure of Golden Galapagos rather than a passenger shortage. The broader Golden Galapagos fleet, particularly the Ocean Spray and Endemic, has a stronger public review presence that the Petrel benefits from by operator association.
The single-review problem is real and requires honest framing. The Petrel has been operating since 2015. It has carried guests continuously across 9 years of departures. The absence of a robust public review corpus doesn’t mean absence of satisfied passengers – it means Golden Galapagos’s distribution model routes bookings through agencies and tour operators who collect reviews internally rather than pushing them to Liveaboard.com or TripAdvisor. This is a structural feature of how the operator manages its booking relationships, not a red flag about vessel quality.
What we can derive from the available data: the 9.6 rating from the one verified review, described specifically as “excellent boat comfort,” points to a vessel whose hardware quality is the first thing passengers notice. This is consistent with the spec sheet: 463-square-foot suites with private balconies, a twin-hull stability system, and a purpose-built 2015 catamaran design are the kind of physical facts that produce comfort ratings before the excursions have even started.
For travelers who need extensive documented peer reviews before booking, the Petrel is the wrong choice for 2026. The right approach is to ask your booking agent for references from recent departures – something we’re happy to facilitate. For travelers who are comfortable assessing vessel quality from the hardware, the operator’s B Corp certification, and the fleet-wide Golden Galapagos standard, the thin review pool is a data gap rather than a warning sign. We can help you bridge that gap. Get in touch here for an honest assessment from travelers we’ve placed on Golden Galapagos vessels.
Is the Petrel Worth Booking? Our Honest Verdict
Yes, for travelers who want all-cabin private balconies, catamaran stability, a B Corp-certified operator, and the largest standard suites in the Golden Galapagos fleet – at a price that competes with the best of the luxury catamaran class. The 8-day Itinerary A covering western sites including Isabela and Fernandina is the strongest single itinerary option on the vessel. The honest caveats: thin public review history, alcohol excluded from the base fare, 100% single supplement on double cabins, and a 2015 build that is approaching the point where a full refit will become relevant to the cabin quality discussion.
The price-to-balcony argument is as clean as it gets in this bracket. At $8,690 for 8 days, the Petrel delivers private balconies on every cabin, a suite at 463 square feet, a B Corp operator, and a catamaran platform with genuine stability credentials. The Ocean Spray delivers the same at the same price with a longer review history and smaller upper-deck cabins. The Sea Star delivers balconies on only four of eight cabins at a slightly lower price. For travelers for whom the private balcony is the non-negotiable feature and the catamaran hull is the preferred platform, the Petrel is the choice.
Book the 8-day itinerary. The 4 and 5-day options are efficient, but the Petrel’s itinerary A earns its length: the crossing to Fernandina alone is worth the extra days. Punta Espinoza on a calm morning, with a flightless cormorant drying its vestigial wings on a lava ledge three meters away, is the kind of encounter that anchors the entire trip in memory. You can’t rush to it on a 5-day schedule and get the same result. Ready to check availability for the Petrel’s 8-day departures? Get in touch here for a free quote and an honest comparison against the Ocean Spray and Sea Star for your target dates.
What Travelers Actually Report: Petrel Cruise Cohort Feedback
Based on feedback gathered through mytrip2ecuador.com, our YouTube audience, and traveler conversations Oleg has conducted. Public review data is limited to one verified Liveaboard.com account. The table reflects the available signal alongside structural assessments applied to the Golden Galapagos fleet and comparable vessels.
| Category | Early Signal | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin comfort | Very strong | Only verified public review rates “excellent boat comfort” as headline; 463 sq ft suites and all-balcony design are above-class specifications; 2015 build approaching refit cycle |
| Stability and sea motion | Strong | Twin-hull catamaran with dedicated stability system; class advantage well-documented across comparable vessels |
| Food quality | Pending | Chef and sous chef for 16 guests; Ecuadorian and international menu; B Corp local sourcing commitment; independent food-specific reviews not yet available |
| Guide quality | Positive signal | Golden Galapagos fleet standard consistently rated across Ocean Spray and Endemic reviews; cruise manager and guide tandem structure; 1:16 ratio standard for class |
| Wildlife encounters | Strong | Itinerary A covers Isabela and Fernandina western sites; Itinerary B includes Genovesa; both routes cover flagship Galapagos wildlife zones |
| Value for money | Good | Price matches Ocean Spray exactly; larger cabin footprint at suite level; alcohol exclusion adds real cost; 100% single supplement is the sharpest limitation for solo travelers |
What to Know Before You Book the Petrel
The single supplement is 100%. A solo traveler booking a double stateroom pays the full cabin rate times two. At $8,690 for 8 days, that produces an effective solo price of $17,380 for a double cabin before park fees and flights. The single stateroom at 151 square feet (including balcony) avoids this entirely and is the practical solo option on the vessel. Confirm the single stateroom rate with your booking agent before comparing the Petrel to alternatives like the Tribute, where the Ocean Vista Staterooms carry no single supplement.
Alcohol beyond the welcome and farewell cocktails is not included. The bar is fully stocked with signature cocktails, wine, beer, and international spirits, all charged separately. Budget this against the base fare when comparing vessels like the Tribute or Grace that include wine and beer in their published rates.
Park fees and the Transit Control Card are excluded. The $200 USD adult Galapagos National Park fee and $20 USD Transit Control Card must be paid separately. The TCT must be purchased through the official digital platform before flying to the islands, as of September 20, 2026. Domestic Galapagos flights are also additional, typically $473 to $530 USD round-trip per person.
The independent review pool is thin. The Petrel has strong structural credentials and a solid operator behind it, but travelers who need peer-reviewed documentation of specific onboard quality should either ask their agent for recent guest references or consider the Ocean Spray, which carries a longer and more visible public review history from the same operator.
The 2015 build is approaching 11 years. The vessel was refurbished in 2019, which brings the interior up to approximately 7-year-old standards. A full refit cycle may be approaching. Confirm the current interior condition with your booking agent, particularly for cabin fittings, soft furnishings, and bathroom fixtures that typically show wear first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every cabin on the Petrel have a private balcony?
Yes. All 9 cabins – including the single stateroom – have private balconies. This distinguishes the Petrel from most competitors in the luxury class, where balconies are a subset of cabins rather than a fleet-wide feature.
What is the difference between the Petrel and the Ocean Spray?
Both are Golden Galapagos catamarans at the same price with all-cabin balconies. The Petrel has larger main-deck suites (463 sq ft vs. 334 sq ft) and covers the western islands more comprehensively on its A itinerary. The Ocean Spray has a longer public review history. Neither is strictly better – the choice depends on cabin preference and itinerary priorities.
Is alcohol included in the Petrel price?
Welcome and farewell cocktails are included. All other alcoholic beverages are charged separately at the bar.
Are park fees included in the Petrel price?
No. The $200 USD adult Galapagos National Park fee and $20 USD Transit Control Card are additional. The TCT must be purchased through the official digital platform before flying to the islands. Prices verified September 20, 2026.
Considering the Petrel?
We can compare it against the Ocean Spray, the Sea Star, the Tribute, and every other balcony-cabin vessel in the Galapagos luxury class. Cruises To Galapagos Islands holds a 4.9-star rating on both Google and TripAdvisor.
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 to build the most first-hand cruise knowledge base available. 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 in this article are verified against official Galapagos National Park and Ecuador government sources as of the publish date.