TL;DR
The Santa Cruz II is a 90-passenger expedition ship operated by Metropolitan Touring – the company that pioneered small-ship Galapagos cruising in the 1960s – and fully chartered to HX Expeditions since 2022. Built in 2002 and refurbished in 2021, it offers five decks, a Cordon Bleu-trained gastronomy director, a 24/7 onboard medical officer, a glass-bottom boat, two hot tubs, and a dedicated science center. Excursions run in groups of 8-13. It’s the largest permitted ship in the Galapagos that still qualifies as a small expedition vessel, and it suits travelers who want serious wildlife access alongside genuinely hotel-quality amenities. Prices start from $3,400 per person for a 5-day cruise in a double Horizon Deck cabin.
Quick Facts: Santa Cruz II Galapagos Cruise
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Vessel type | Expedition cruise ship |
| Built / Refurbished | 2002 / 2021 |
| Length / Decks | 236 feet / 5 decks |
| Operator | Metropolitan Touring (owner) / HX Expeditions (charter since 2022) |
| Capacity | 90 guests / 52 crew + 6 naturalist guides |
| Cabins | 50 cabins across Horizon, Expedition, and Panorama decks; 36 of 50 interconnectable |
| Excursion group size | 8-13 guests per group |
| Itineraries | 5-day Northern, 5-day Western, 7-day Eastern (combinable for 9-11 days) |
| Starting price (5-day double) | From $3,400 pp (Horizon Deck double) |
| Darwin Suites | From $4,150 pp (5-day) – Panorama Deck; VIP lounge access, complimentary drinks |
| Park entrance fee (not included) | $200 USD adults / $100 children under 12 – cash only on arrival |
| Transit Control Card (not included) | $20 USD per person – purchased at mainland airport |
| Included | All meals, guided excursions, snorkel gear, glass-bottom boat, kayaks, zodiac rides, water/coffee/tea, domestic flights (most packages), Quito hotel stays (most packages) |
| Not included | Park fee, TCT, alcohol (beer/wine/spirits), wetsuit rental, tips (no tipping policy under HX – optional only) |
Prices verified May 26, 2026. Park fees based on official Galapagos National Park Directorate rates.
What Is the Santa Cruz II and Who Is It For?
The Santa Cruz II is a 90-passenger expedition ship operated by Metropolitan Touring – the company that pioneered small-ship Galapagos cruising in the 1960s, and chartered to HX Expeditions since 2022. It carries more guests than any 16-passenger first-class yacht, and that difference shapes everything: the activity variety, the onboard amenities, the excursion logistics, and who the trip is actually best for. This is the right boat for families, multi-generational groups, and travelers who want serious wildlife access alongside hotel-quality facilities they won’t find on smaller vessels.
The 90-passenger number is the first thing that comes up in every Santa Cruz II conversation, usually as a concern. Ninety people sounds like a crowd. In the Galapagos context, it isn’t. The maximum permitted passenger capacity on any vessel operating in the archipelago is 100. The Santa Cruz II sits just below that ceiling and remains classified as a small expedition ship. For comparison: a typical Caribbean cruise ship carries 3,000 to 5,000 guests. The conversation about “crowding” on the Santa Cruz II needs that calibration.
The more honest question is whether 90 passengers changes the Galapagos experience versus a 16-passenger yacht. The answer is: yes, in specific ways, and not all of them negative. The excursion groups run 8-13 guests, the same size as on a 16-passenger boat split between two zodiacs. You’re never landing on an uninhabited island with 90 people at once. What the larger ship buys you is a glass-bottom boat alongside the zodiac fleet, a fully equipped gym, two hot tubs, a science center, a 24/7 medical officer, and a Cordon Bleu-trained gastronomy director in the kitchen. None of those exist on a 16-passenger yacht at any price tier.
Who fits this vessel: families with mixed ages and abilities, where a glass-bottom boat option for non-swimmers matters. Multi-generational groups where someone needs medical access. Travelers who’ve done Galapagos on a small yacht before and want a different experience. People who want genuinely good food and hotel-standard cabin comfort alongside the wildlife. And anyone for whom the social dynamics of 90 like-minded travelers are more appealing than the intensity of 16 days.
What Does the Santa Cruz II Look Like Inside? (Cabins, Decks, Common Areas)
The Santa Cruz II has 50 cabins across three cabin-bearing decks: Horizon, Expedition, and Panorama. All cabins have ocean views – there are no inside cabins. Ninety percent of cabins have convertible beds, and 36 of the 50 cabins can be interconnected, making this one of the most family-flexible vessels in the Galapagos. Three Darwin Suites on the Panorama Deck offer the highest cabin tier with VIP airport lounge access and complimentary drinks. The 2021 refurbishment brought Scandinavian-influenced design throughout.
The interconnected cabin setup is the detail most families don’t notice until they start comparing options seriously. On a 16-passenger yacht, a family of four takes two rooms with no connecting door. On the Santa Cruz II, 36 of 50 cabins connect – meaning a family of four or five can have adjoining rooms, a shared bathroom arrangement, and the ability to move between spaces without using a corridor. For parents traveling with young children or for multi-generational groups, this changes the practicality of the booking entirely.
The 2021 refurbishment brought Scandinavian aesthetic influence from the HX partnership – clean lines, contemporary materials, natural light prioritized throughout. The five-deck ship is designed so no cabin sits near an engine room or other noise source. The dining room sits at sea level, which minimizes movement during meals – a deliberate design choice by the engineers that gets quietly appreciated by anyone prone to motion sensitivity.
Common areas are what separate the Santa Cruz II from every 16-passenger boat in the market. Two hot tubs on the Expedition Deck stern open to the Galapagos horizon. A gym. A dedicated science center with microscopes, specimen displays, and a whale vertebrae replica. A library with a free coffee station. The Beagle Restaurant with full table service and a menu designed by the Cordon Bleu-trained gastronomy director. An outdoor Panorama Bar and Lounge for events, briefings, and happy hour. These aren’t approximations of hotel facilities – they are hotel facilities on a Galapagos expedition ship.
Which Itineraries Does the Santa Cruz II Offer and Which Islands Do You Visit?
The Santa Cruz II operates three core Galapagos itineraries: a 5-day Northern route, a 5-day Western route, and a 7-day Eastern route. The Northern and Western routes depart Mondays and Thursdays; the Eastern departs Fridays. All three can be combined for 9 to 11-day cruises. The itineraries are designed to cover different island zones, with the Western route offering access to remote Isabela and Fernandina sites and the Eastern covering the seabird-heavy southern and central islands.
The itinerary breadth across three distinct routes is broader than most first-class yachts offer. The Northern 5-day route reaches Genovesa – the same distant, permit-restricted island that distinguishes the Tip Top fleet’s best routes – along with Santiago, Bartolome, and the central chain. The Western 5-day covers Vicente Roca Point, Fernandina, and Floreana. The Eastern 7-day takes in Española, San Cristobal, Santa Fe, South Plaza, and Eden Islet.
| Route | Duration | Key Islands | Signature Wildlife | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern | 5 days | Genovesa, Santiago, Bartolome, Santa Cruz, North Seymour | Red-footed boobies (Genovesa), Pinnacle Rock snorkeling, land iguanas | Return visitors; seabird focus; snorkeling |
| Western | 5 days | Isabela, Fernandina, Floreana, Santa Cruz | Flightless cormorant, Galapagos penguin, marine iguanas, flamingos | Wildlife photographers; remote island access |
| Eastern | 7 days | Española, San Cristobal, Santa Fe, South Plaza, Santa Cruz | Blue-footed boobies, waved albatross (seasonal), giant tortoises, sea lions | First-timers; classic southern Galapagos; families |
| Combined routes | 9-11 days | Full coverage across western, northern, and eastern zones | Maximum island diversity | Serious wildlife travelers; return visitors |
Itineraries subject to change by Galapagos National Park authority. Verified May 26, 2026.
One operational detail worth knowing: the Santa Cruz II can access up to 13 visitor sites across the archipelago, more than most small yachts reach on equivalent itinerary lengths. The combination of the ship’s navigation permits and the Metropolitan Touring relationship with Galapagos National Park – built over six decades – gives it access that newer operators haven’t established.
Most packages include Quito hotel nights on either end of the cruise. This pre-cruise Quito segment gets mentioned repeatedly in reviews as a genuine trip highlight rather than just a layover. It gives travelers time to recover from long international flights, absorb Ecuadorian culture, and arrive at the Galapagos rested and ready rather than still shaking off jet lag. If you want help structuring the full package including Quito nights and mainland extensions, reach out here and we’ll put it together for you.
How Good Is the Food and Naturalist Guide Experience on the Santa Cruz II?
Food on the Santa Cruz II is the clearest advantage over any 16-passenger first-class vessel: a Cordon Bleu-trained gastronomy director designs the menus in the Beagle Restaurant, with full table service, al-fresco barbecue options on the Panorama Deck, and free coffee and snacks available throughout the day in the library. The naturalist guides – six onboard, each leading groups of 8-13 guests – are consistently described as passionate, knowledgeable, and deeply connected to the islands they work on.
The gastronomy setup is a meaningful differentiator. Most first-class yachts have an international cook producing good buffet meals. The Santa Cruz II has a gastronomy director with formal culinary training who designs menus that draw on Ecuadorian ingredients – fresh ceviche, locally sourced seafood, highland produce – combined with international dishes that don’t feel like cruise ship afterthoughts. One reviewer described the dining staff as “friendly, quick and efficient, adapting easily to changed choices and eager to refill drinks or help with dietary restrictions.” Free coffee all day from the library station is a small thing that changes the onboard rhythm considerably.
The guide setup is structurally different from a 16-passenger yacht. Six naturalists work simultaneously, each leading their assigned group of 8-13 guests. This means you have a consistent guide relationship across the cruise – your group, your guide, your briefings – while the excursion logistics manage 90 passengers smoothly across multiple zodiacs. One guide described in a Cruise Critic review had family roots on Floreana Island, a population of 150, connecting the guide’s personal history to one of the most historically distinctive sites in the entire archipelago. That kind of rootedness matters in ways a professional bio doesn’t capture.
The HX non-tipping policy is worth noting plainly. Under Metropolitan Touring the expectation was standard gratuities. Under the HX Expeditions charter, tipping is officially optional and not expected. This affects the all-in cost calculation meaningfully and removes the end-of-cruise awkwardness around gratuity amounts that many Galapagos travelers find uncomfortable.
What Do Real Travelers Say About the Santa Cruz II? (Praise, Complaints, Patterns)
Traveler feedback on the Santa Cruz II splits along a single fault line: the 90-passenger question. Guests who understood what they were booking – an expedition ship with hotel-grade amenities and small excursion groups – consistently rate the experience very highly. Guests who expected the intimacy of a 16-passenger yacht and found 90 fellow travelers instead were disappointed, regardless of ship quality. The experience is genuinely good. The expectation management is the variable.
A family who did the 7-day Eastern itinerary with two children described the guide quality as “top qualified,” the wildlife encounters as extraordinary from arrival day onward, and the experience as an expedition cruise that delivered exactly what was promised. A solo expert reviewer who spent nine days aboard described the crew as “true magicians” – rooms tended to five times on busy days without ever seeing the staff in corridors, bed turned down, towels pressed and hung on the shower bar. The glass-bottom boat at Santa Fe Island meant non-snorkelers could still see marine life in deep water alongside snorkelers without being excluded from the activity. Guided bike rides at the tortoise breeding center on San Cristobal – not offered on most Galapagos vessels – got specific mention as a memorable highlight.
The critical reviews from 2024 and 2025 share a pattern. One guest described 16 people on a zodiac for embarkation (standard zodiac capacity but uncomfortable at full load) and the dining room feeling packed. Another noted the 90-passenger size impacted the intimacy of excursions in ways they hadn’t anticipated. These are real observations. They’re also observations that apply equally to any vessel near maximum capacity, and the Santa Cruz II’s group system mitigates them significantly on shore, where the wildlife encounters happen and where the experience is actually evaluated.
One detail that comes up across multiple positive reviews: the ship genuinely doesn’t feel crowded because the space-to-passenger ratio is among the highest of any Galapagos vessel. Five decks, extensive indoor and outdoor common areas, and thoughtful traffic-flow design means that even with 90 guests aboard, you can find a quiet corner on the Expedition Deck lounge, the sky deck, or a sun lounger, without the shoulder-to-shoulder feeling that “90 passengers” implies.
What Santa Cruz II Travelers Tell Us: Patterns from Traveler Feedback
Based on traveler feedback collected through mytrip2ecuador.com and our YouTube audience, alongside thousands of traveler interviews Oleg has conducted across the Galapagos cruising market:
| Feedback Category | % Strong Satisfaction | Common Comment Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Food and dining quality | 96% | “Best food on any Galapagos cruise; Cordon Bleu difference is real” |
| Naturalist guide quality | 98% | “Guide was passionate and deeply knowledgeable about the islands” |
| Activity variety (glass-bottom boat, bike rides) | 95% | “Options for all fitness and comfort levels – nobody was excluded” |
| Family / multi-generational suitability | 99% | “Best family option in the Galapagos by a clear margin” |
| Cabin comfort and design | 94% | “Feels hotel-standard; Scandinavian design suits the expedition brief” |
| Intimacy vs. 90-passenger scale | 91% | “Some expected 16-yacht feel; excursion groups solved the concern on shore” |
How Does the Santa Cruz II Compare to Similar Vessels?
The Santa Cruz II doesn’t directly compete with 16-passenger first-class yachts, it operates in a different category. The honest comparison is against other mid-sized expedition ships in the Galapagos: the National Geographic Delfina (Lindblad), the Celebrity Flora, and vessels in the 48-100 passenger range. Against those, the Santa Cruz II offers Metropolitan Touring’s six-decade operational heritage, the Cordon Bleu food program, the 36-interconnectable-cabin family setup, and a price point that starts meaningfully below the $8,000+ per person tier of true luxury expedition ships.
| Vessel | Capacity | Class / Operator | Glass-Bottom Boat | Medical Officer | 5-Day Price (double) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz II | 90 | Expedition / Metropolitan Touring + HX | Yes | Yes (24/7) | From $3,400 pp |
| Tip Top V | 16 | First Class / Wittmer | No | No | From $3,913 pp |
| Solaris (2019) | 16 | First Class / Oniric | No | No | From ~$4,150 pp (5-day) |
| Celebrity Flora | 100 | Luxury / Celebrity Cruises | Yes | Yes | From $8,000+ pp |
Prices are approximate reference rates. Verified May 2026. Contact operators for exact current pricing.
The Santa Cruz II sits in a genuine gap in the market: the amenities and operational scale of an expedition ship, at a price point that’s competitive with upper first-class yachts rather than luxury-class. The glass-bottom boat alone is a differentiator for families, it means children, elderly travelers, or anyone who doesn’t snorkel comfortably can still participate in the underwater wildlife experience rather than watching from the zodiac. No 16-passenger first-class yacht offers this.
The meaningful trade-off is intimacy. A 16-passenger yacht means you know everyone aboard by dinner on day two. You eat at the same time, debrief with the same group, hear the same guide stories each evening. The Santa Cruz II offers more variety, more anonymous space, and more activity options – at the cost of that tightly knit group dynamic. Neither is objectively better. They’re different trips for different travelers. If you want help deciding which experience is right for your group, send us a note here and we’ll give you an honest read on which direction makes sense.
How Much Does the Santa Cruz II Galapagos Cruise Cost and What’s Included?
Santa Cruz II prices start from $3,400 per person double occupancy for a 5-day cruise in a Horizon Deck cabin. The 5-day Expedition Deck runs $3,550 double; Panorama Deck $3,650 double; Darwin Suites $4,150 double. Six-day versions run approximately $750-1,000 more per person across cabin categories. Single occupancy is available on two Horizon Deck cabins from $4,650 for 5 days. Most packages include domestic flights and Quito hotel nights. Add the $200 park fee and $20 TCT on top.
The no-tipping policy under HX changes the all-in calculation. On a 16-passenger first-class yacht where $30 per day per person is standard, an 8-day cruise adds $240 per person in gratuities. On the Santa Cruz II, that’s officially optional. Over a full trip this affects the real cost comparison in ways the headline cruise price alone doesn’t show.
| Cost Item | Approximate Cost (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 5-day cruise, Horizon Deck double | From $3,400 pp | Lowest cabin tier; ocean views; convertible beds |
| 5-day cruise, Expedition Deck double | From $3,550 pp | Mid-deck; larger windows |
| 5-day cruise, Panorama Deck double | From $3,650 pp | Upper deck; best views |
| 5-day cruise, Darwin Suite double | From $4,150 pp | Panorama Deck; VIP airport lounge, complimentary drinks, Galapagos coffee table book |
| 5-day cruise, single occupancy (Horizon) | From $4,650 pp | Only two single-occupancy cabins available; book early |
| Galapagos National Park fee | $200 pp (adults) / $100 (under 12) | Cash USD only; paid on arrival at Galapagos airport |
| Transit Control Card (TCT) | $20 pp | Purchased at mainland Ecuador airport before flight |
| Gratuities | Optional under HX policy | Not expected; saves ~$150-240 vs first-class yachts with standard tipping |
All prices verified May 26, 2026. Official park fee source: Galapagos National Park Directorate. Cruise prices are indicative; contact operators for current rates and availability. Select 2026 departures have promotions up to $4,000 per person off – worth asking about.
Early booking promotions of up to $4,000 per person off select 2026 departures are available through HX and authorized booking partners. For current availability, active promotions, and a full package quote covering the cruise, Quito nights, and domestic flights, get in touch here.
Is the Santa Cruz II Worth Booking in 2026/2027 – Our Honest Take?
Yes, for the right traveler. The Santa Cruz II is the strongest option in the Galapagos for families, multi-generational groups, and anyone who wants expedition-level wildlife access alongside hotel-grade dining and facilities. If you’re comparing it to a 16-passenger first-class yacht and valuing intimacy above everything else, the smaller boat will serve you better. If you want the Galapagos experience without sacrificing food quality, activity variety, or access to a medical officer, and especially if you’re traveling with children or mixed-ability groups – the Santa Cruz II is the most complete package in the market at its price point.
Metropolitan Touring built the first small-ship Galapagos operation in the 1960s. They’ve been running vessels in these waters for over sixty years, have naturalist guides with generational connections to specific islands, and established recycling programs at sea in 1979 before environmental credentials were a marketing strategy. The operational depth behind the Santa Cruz II is real and it shows in the details: the way excursion groups are structured, how the dining room is positioned at sea level for guest comfort, the fact that 36 of 50 cabins can connect for families who need them to. None of that happens by accident.
The glass-bottom boat is the feature I tell families to think hardest about. On every 16-passenger first-class yacht, snorkeling is the marine activity. Full stop. If someone in your group doesn’t snorkel – a young child, an elderly relative, someone with a shoulder injury – they watch from the zodiac while everyone else is in the water. On the Santa Cruz II, the glass-bottom boat means every member of your group sees the same marine iguanas, reef sharks, and sea turtles, just from different vantage points. That inclusivity matters on a once-in-a-lifetime trip.
For 2026 and into 2027, availability moves faster on the Eastern 7-day route during December through April, when the southern island wildlife is most active. The Darwin Suites – only three on the ship – book earliest of all cabin categories. If a suite is on your list, this is the one decision that rewards early commitment.
What to Know Before You Book: Fail Points and Smart Preparation
The 90-passenger expectation gap is the main source of disappointment. Travelers who board expecting 16-yacht intimacy find something different. The excursion groups solve this on shore – you never land with 90 people, but the dining room, the bar, and the zodiac embarkation can feel busy when the ship runs at capacity. If true small-group intimacy is your top priority, a 16-passenger yacht is the right call. If you can accept a mid-sized expedition dynamic in exchange for better food and more amenities, the Santa Cruz II rewards that trade-off fully.
Only two single-occupancy cabins exist. If you’re traveling solo and want your own room, these two Horizon Deck single cabins at $4,650 for 5 days fill quickly. The solo supplement situation here is less flexible than on vessels like the Solaris (which carries five no-supplement solo cabins). Book early or ask about sharing options.
Bring USD cash for the park fee and TCT. The $200 park fee and $20 TCT are cash-only at the airport. Under HX’s no-tipping policy, you don’t need as much cash for gratuities, but the government fees remain non-negotiable cash requirements. Show up with enough clean USD bills.
Pre-book dietary requirements. With a Cordon Bleu gastronomy director in the kitchen, the Santa Cruz II can accommodate dietary restrictions more gracefully than most Galapagos vessels. But they need to know in advance. Noting it at boarding is too late for a kitchen operating at this scale.
The Quito pre-cruise nights are worth keeping. Most packages include Quito hotel nights. Some travelers try to skip these to save time. Don’t. The altitude adjustment, the cultural context, and the simple benefit of arriving at the Galapagos rested rather than jet-lagged change the first two days of the cruise significantly. Every seasoned Galapagos traveler who mentions the Quito segment says the same thing: it was one of the best parts of the whole trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 90 passengers too many for a Galapagos cruise?
The maximum permitted passenger capacity on any type of Galapagos cruise vessel is 100, making 90 a small-ship experience by any global expedition standard. On shore, excursion groups run 8-13 guests – the same size as groups from a 16-passenger yacht split across two zodiacs. The ship’s high space-to-passenger ratio across five decks means onboard crowding is rarely an issue. The experience is different from a 16-passenger yacht, not inferior to it.
Who operates the Santa Cruz II?
The Santa Cruz II is owned by Metropolitan Touring, the company that pioneered small-ship Galapagos cruising in the 1960s. Since 2022 it has been under full-time charter to HX Expeditions (formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions). Most bookings are made through HX or authorized travel partners, and the HX no-tipping policy applies.
What is the glass-bottom boat and why does it matter?
The Santa Cruz II operates a glass-bottom boat alongside its zodiac fleet for marine excursions. This allows guests who don’t snorkel – whether due to age, mobility, swimming confidence, or preference – to observe the same underwater wildlife (sharks, rays, sea turtles, marine iguanas) from inside the boat. No 16-passenger first-class Galapagos yacht offers this feature. For families and mixed-ability groups it changes the inclusivity of every marine excursion.
Does the Santa Cruz II include tips in the price?
Under HX Expeditions’ policy, tipping is optional and not expected. This is a change from the Metropolitan Touring era where standard gratuities applied. The no-tipping policy reduces the all-in cost compared to first-class yachts where $30 per person per day is standard practice.
How much is the Galapagos National Park entrance fee in 2026?
The fee is $200 USD for foreign adults and $100 USD for children under 12, following a doubling in August 2024. It must be paid in cash USD on arrival at Baltra or San Cristobal airport. The Transit Control Card is an additional $20 per person, purchased at the mainland Ecuador airport before your Galapagos flight.
Thinking about the Santa Cruz II for your Galapagos trip?
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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.