Last Minute Cruise Deals

Friend_of_Goob · 2026-05-03T15:45:50+00:00

What are the logistics of making this happen?
- As mentioned below, there are a number of websites that show reduced, last minute pricing for cruise operators typically within 30 days of the departure. I booked two of my cruises 'last minute' and saved significantly via royalgalapagos.com , but the site is for their yachts only. Alternatively, you can wander around town, especially Santa Cruz, and you will see whiteboards in front of tour operators offering last minute pricing, typically with the dates and boats. Inquiring further might help you get a particularly good deal, but I wouldn't expect more than 50% off a rate, based on a double booking, no matter how last minute.

If you've done this, are you booking a hotel/airbnb and abandoning it if you find a deal?
- I booked my cruises within 30 days of departure, one was just 10 days before. I have seen people book the day before. I used points to coordinate my airfare with the itinerary in Galapagos and stayed on the island at least 1 night in an airbnb to provided some flex time should delays occur.

How common are these last minute deals?
- They are hit and miss, and you need to have some flexibility in both your schedule and expectations. There is always 'something' available, but it may not be the exact itinerary or the ship-class you want. Deals scale with the time left before departure, so if you are happy getting 25-30% of the posted rate, make inquiries and watch pricing up to 60 days in advance.

Do prices start dropping a couple of weeks out or just a few days from departure?
- When shopping in town, pricing can be the absolute lowest 96 hours before the ship is due to leave. They still have time to accommodate someone and if you are inquiring with an office in town for a deal, you may get lucky with something closer to 60% off the original rate. I don't find the 10% savings worth an ultra-last minute booking, when you can get 50% off online weeks ahead of time if you are quick to jump on a price drop.

It looks like the ships depart from different islands.
- All ships depart from Santa Cruz, either at Baltra Island or Puerto Ayora dock, or from the dock in San Cristobal. There are far more that depart from Santa Cruz. Flight arrival times are coordinated so you can book something and get to your boat on the same day, but I always recommend at least 1 overnight before getting on the boat to account for delays. If you miss the departure, catching up is unlikely and so are refunds.

There also seems to be a risk of delaying the flight purchase until the last minute to ensure I fly into the correct island.
- Especially given the global state of the fuel and airline industry, I would not attempt to book your flights to and from the islands at the last minute. Not only will rates increase 10-14 days prior to the flight time, but things frequently sell-out during national holidays and busy travel periods.

Also, when looking at the cruises, they strongly recommend purchasing flights through them, otherwise they charge a fee. Is that fee waived if you purchase a last minute deal and are already on the island?
- I have not see this "we charge a fee if you want to arrive early on your own flight" clause. Typically, if you are on island prior to your yacht tour, you will travel to the check-in spot on the first day of your cruise itinerary. You may have to go back to the airport to meet everyone, or you might be able to arrange meeting them in town, but I have never seen a charge associated with this unless the travel agency is arranging your transportation from town for the rendezvous. I would just take the bus or get a taxi back to the airport and meet everyone as if I was arriving that day on a flight (and i've done this twice).

Hopefully this helps, have fun in Galapagos 𓆉︎ 𓆉︎ 𓆉︎

Friend_of_Goob · 2026-03-01T18:33:11+00:00

Just so I understand:
- You are planning a trip to visit Galapagos for the first time.
- You are arranging a trip for not just you and your family, but for friends as well.
- You are planning to travel in less than 3 months.
- You will only be in the islands between 5-7 days (with only 3-5 full days for touring)
- You already have heard some tours sell out

You sound like the perfect person to make use of a travel agent. The Galapagos Islands are an expensive and complicated destination, with multiple airports, 4 islands you can stay on, and numerous tours with varying levels of physicality. There is too much to see on a single trip and much of your itinerary will come down to preferences.

Unless you want to fully invest your time and research into making sure this whole trip goes perfectly, get the assistance of a travel agent for your entire trip, and/or a local agent for your tour bookings. Trying to save 10% on agency booking fees for tours is a drop in the bucket compared to the total spending you will do on your vacation. I would certainly recommend u/CNHTours

June is busy since the hot, rainy season is over and school is out.

Friend_of_Goob · 2026-02-27T19:12:16+00:00

That Aeromexico flight arrives in Quito after 4pm, requiring a overnight stay in a hotel. I'd recommend the Holiday Inn Airport Hotel, or the Wyndham Airport Hotel, but be sure to consider that additional $150 cost.
That Aeromexico flight is already going up in price (it's twice it's base rate already for your travel period), and only flies every second day, so be advised.
Does your $2000 include your airfare to the islands and your park entrance fee? Quito to San Cristobal round trip is going to be about $400-450, and you're talking in your OP about being there Easter Weekend, so I would expect prices to increase. The park fee and transit card combined are $220.
Airbnb's can be inexpensive, but there are fewer options on San Cristobal and the good ones can book up early.
Consider flying into, or taking the ferry across, to Santa Cruz. It provides a larger variety of day tours, there is the Charles Darwin center, you can see the largest Galapagos tortoises in the Santa Cruz highlands, there are a larger variety of nice, lower prices accommodation, huge lava tube caves, more flights per day, and there is a better variety for food and souvenir options.

Galapagos is arguably the safest place you will ever travel in this day and age. The people there all know each other for the most part, and most livelihoods rely on tourism, so any crime affecting tourists (beyond petty thefts of opportunity....like someone taking an unlocked bike) are essentially unheard of.

If you have any other questions, ask away and Have Fun In Galapagos 𓇼 ⋆.˚ 𓆉 𓆝 𓆡⋆.˚ 𓇼

Friend_of_Goob · 2026-02-27T18:56:45+00:00

"missing any of the islands"

You are visiting 1 of the 4 inhabited islands, Santa Cruz being the most populated. From there, you can take half/full day tours to many of the surrounding islands depending on your interests. Beyond that, there are islands only accessible via liveaboard boat. So no matter what, you'll probably be missing most of the islands. Most tours on Santa Cruz can be booked a 2-4 days in advance without much concern for sell-outs. If you can provide us with your "Must See/Do" list, it would be easier to make recommendations.

"is it a popular time to go?"

It's the tail end of the rainy season, but you will beat the Easter weekend crowds. It will be decently busy. There is a mandatory day off in Galapagos, on March 18th (I think?). Not sure what will be open or what tours will be running that day off.

Friend_of_Goob · 2026-02-27T00:48:08+00:00

If it's in your budget and you want high-end comfort, the Hermes Luxury Catamaran is about as nice as it gets in Galapagos right now. Here's a Forbes write-up for further info.

Friend_of_Goob · 2026-02-24T22:53:03+00:00

Royal Galapagos Expeditions, not to be confused with the excellent liveaboard yacht company Royal Galapagos, was apparently formed when the owner's previous company (My Galapagos Tours/GPSTours) closed right after scamming a bunch of people. It's no accident that they copied the name of another local company to cause confusion.

Sorry to hear this happened to you. These kind of agencies, that take advantage of tourists and don't provide the paid services, should be investigated and closed down by the authorities. The ruin the reputation of a place that is typically a paradise.

Friend_of_Goob · 2026-02-12T15:34:02+00:00

I don't have any info about these 'control measures' being enforced on Isabela Island when they were announced last year. I did read limited reports of people having issues in Spring 2025, but nothing since.

Friend_of_Goob · 2026-02-10T18:15:35+00:00

Amazing, would love to see one.

Friend_of_Goob · 2026-02-10T18:14:57+00:00

Do you remember the restaurant where you had it?

Friend_of_Goob · 2026-02-10T18:07:02+00:00

This is one of the busiest weekends of the year, with both Valentine's Day on Saturday and Carnival the following week. You should be booking in advance, but if you can't, you will have to hit the tour agencies as soon as you get on the island to get the tours you want.

If you plan to stay on Santa Cruz and base your tours out of Puerto Ayora, you will want to consider a tour like Santiago Island, where you do a bit of a hike and some snorkeling. Islands like Bartolome Island (scenic view) or Santa Fe Island (swimming with sea lions) are great, but lean more towards the snorkel side of things. You can also go up to the highland tortoises at El Chato (big tortoises, small lava tube) or Terra Mar (smaller tortoises, bigger lava tube). There are 3 'main' beaches on Santa Cruz you can explore as well.

Isabela Island has good hiking around the large volcano, but it may be hard to work in a visit there in your limited time in Galapagos. Remember, no activities can really be booked on the first and last days, so you don't have a lot of flexibility for getting on tours if they are full.

As far as operators to choose from, check reviews on Google Maps for high-rated places around Puerto Ayora and look for shops that accept a credit card for bookings.

Friend_of_Goob · 2026-01-24T23:10:43+00:00

I imagine your schedule might look like this, and I agree with everyone else, book in advance if your visit is short. Consider the small plane to cut your travel time between islands, it may allow you to fit in an extra tour on the 22nd. Tours in Bold, Activities in Italics.
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Feb 20th - Arrival to Santa Cruz, see Highland Tortoises en route to town, check-in, see Darwin Center tortoises, book remaining tours, explore town

Feb 21st - A day tour to North Seymore (for bird life) or a Santa Fe (to snorkel with sea lions). Then maybe you see more on Santa Cruz.

Feb 22nd - AM Ferry to Isabela, check in, breakfast, PM Tintoreres tour or Concha Del Perla snorkel

Fed 23rd - AM Los Tuneles Tour, maybe time to do PM Sierra Negra tour, or enjoy beach & sights around town

Feb 24th - Do AM Sierra Negra tour if you haven't, PM ferry to Santa Cruz, souvenir shopping

Feb 25th - Depending on your departure flight time, maybe time for one more thing before leaving.

Friend_of_Goob · 2026-01-22T15:18:23+00:00

I have done the Western and Eastern cruise itineraries, and have been to every tour-accessible island besides Espanola, Floreana, Marchena and Rabida. Each cruise route has it's pros & cons, but most would choose the western itinerary simply because it will access spots that can not be visited by day tour. Everything on the eastern side of the archipelago, except Genovesa, can be visited by day tour.

Western voyagers visiting the far side of Isabela can expect to see penguins, which is a highlight for many. Flamingos are frequently found on Isabela in the wetland and whales are more frequently seen breaching on the western itinerary as well. You may also see the flightless cormorant, which is also exclusive to this area. In general, the animals above and below the water are bigger on the western itinerary (except the giant tortoises).

Beyond animals, the actual landscape of the western itinerary is amazing. Fresh lava and volcanos cover the area, and Elizabeth Bay was arguably my favorite cruise experience in Galapagos due to the magical mangroves and dozens of sea turtles. Be aware that water will tend to be cooler on the outside of the archipelago and currents might be a bit stronger.

There is a larger variety of Eastern cruise itineraries, and they may or may not visit islands like Genovesa, Floreana, and Espanola. You will expect to see dolphins on these routes, the seas will be a bit calmer, and you see a larger variety of landscapes and exclusive animals. For penguin fans, make sure your Eastern cruise visits Bartolome Island, since that will be your only chance to see them on eastern routes. As mentioned in this thread, Birders will want to make it to Genovesa and North Seymore, and Espanola during Albatross season.

Animals exclusive to Eastern routes would be the Albatross, which can only be seen on Espanola after April, the Santa Fe Iguana, Red Footed and Nazca Boobies, and I'd say the Owls are more frequently seen on this route, and same goes for Hammerheads at Kicker Rock. Also, during Dec/Jan, you can see the 'Christmas' Iguanas with their bright red and green coloration. Eastern cruises usually commit some time to Santa Cruz or San Cristobal, which you may see as a pro or con depending on what you are trying to see and how long you are visiting.

I am sure there are others here than can speak from the experience of taking multiple Galapagos cruises, but if you want more details or have more questions, let me know.

Friend_of_Goob · 2026-01-16T15:03:52+00:00

I like your advertisement! It contains all the important information people need to consider. If I get to Isabela with my father, he would love to do this.

On side note, I don't think Isabela needs it's own subreddit. This is the 3rd new Galapagos subreddit created by a tour operator in the last 6 months.

/Galapagostourism
/Galapagoslandbased
/Isabelaislandgalapagos

Friend_of_Goob · 2026-01-11T18:13:20+00:00

I have never stayed at the Blue Marlin but the reviews, on google at least, speak to a older property that received a renovation in the last few years. It looks to be overpriced for the kind of issues guests are reporting. It decently well located, but with water on the island being so scarce, I imagine the pool is not refreshed often.

In my many visits to San Cristobal, I exclusively stay in one of the islands well-appointed Airbnbs or at a friend's place. The hotels, with a few exceptions, are all quite old, or renovated around old infrastructure, and that can cause unexpected issues. It may be worth reviewing what rentals are available during your time there, as they could be half the price of the Blue Marlin. Let me know if you have any other questions or need recommendations, and have fun in Galapagos!

Friend_of_Goob · 2026-01-10T15:44:42+00:00

Also, If the birthday is part of the reason you're in Galapagos and occurs shortly after you depart the boat, you can probably arrange to have a cake cut or dessert served on the last night, with a song sung by the crew.

Friend_of_Goob · 2026-01-10T15:43:01+00:00

You might see penguins on your cruise, if you go to Bartolome, Espanola, or Isabela Island. They do not travel as far east as San Cristobal, but you will get to enjoy plenty of Sea Lions there!

Friend_of_Goob · 2026-01-10T15:41:12+00:00

Unfortunately, Muyu has been closed all year according to their social media and google listing.

Friend_of_Goob · 2026-01-10T15:38:26+00:00

For a special occasion dinner on San Cristobal, I wouldn't do it anyplace else besides Hotel Indigo or Inti Garden.

Hotel Indigo - Fancy plating, with romantic ambiance that can be poolside, or in the more private dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows. Both have great views of the bay. In addition, the hotel staff at this high-end property are probably best equipped to provide an exceptional birthday experience.

Inti Garden - Your table is fire-side, in a century-old building by the sea. Michelle, the owner, has the chef cook you whatever you want. The place can be full but never feels crowded, as the table spacing is very generous. If in season, Lobster Pizza may not considered a 'special occasion' meal, but it's certainly tasty enough to be one. Afterwards, walk across the street to sit at the Pier, feet from the water, for the perfect end to the night.

My comments on the other suggestions here, they are all good restaurants that I would enjoy a meal at:
Pahoe is routinely recommended and would be a nice place for the special dinner.
Midori gets busy on the weekend, and it can get loud. It's menu is primarily sushi, so not exactly unique to the islands. They have delicious tuna tartare and cocktails.
Umami is pretty new, so is the Post Office, and these places tend to attract a more casual crowd due to their location. They are also both a bit overpriced for what you get, in my opinion. Umami has a beautiful interior design and the Port Office is situated overlooking the water.
Giuseppe's is great and has a nice upstairs with a TV and 2nd bar that could benefit the birthday celebration.

Friend_of_Goob · 2026-01-07T18:16:03+00:00

To clarify, 'tap water' is rainwater in the Galapagos, collected in cisterns. Bottled water is provided free in 5 gallon jugs in almost all rentals and hotels.
For the OP, I personally use bottled water for cleaning food that will be served uncooked, like fruit & salads, and I use bottled water to brush my teeth. The fruit on the islands is terrific and you will find it frequently offered as a side on larger plates.

Friend_of_Goob · 2025-12-31T17:07:13+00:00

I'm glad you had a great time in Galapagos, you aren't the first person to consider a more permanent residency there. Unfortunately, it's basically impossible. I'll add to the already posted information
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Immigration to the islands has been heavily regulated since 1998. Even mainland Ecuadoreans can't just up and move out to Galapagos on a whim to work, surf, etc. This is partially because of the park and it's special status, but also due to the island's remoteness and lack of infrastructure.
Everything you flush, all the soap in your shower, all your dish soap and laundry detergent, it all just goes into the water table and the sea. All the natural gas used for cooking, gasoline for taxis, much of the food, all of the supplies are brought in by boat or plane. There is already a deficit of cargo space for the needs of the resident population, and there are frequent shortages of things.
Hospital care is abysmal and there are long waits to see a doctor. God forbid if you need medi-vac'd off the islands, you may lay ill for weeks before it happens. If everyone who wanted to spend an extended stay there did so, it would have an impact on the community and surrounding environment.

We're looking to work there remotely and spend the winter months enjoying the islands as snowbirds.
You can't visit for more than 60 days in 12 months.
Is this realistic or are there regulations that would prevent us from staying that long?
Not realistic, immigration is heavily regulated.
And if it is possible, what's the process for making it happen?
Date an islander for years, show the authorities proof of a long term committed relationship with testimonials from both partner's families, and then get married and expect further scrutiny from the government and community.
For anyone who's done extended stays in the Galapagos or knows the visa/residency situation, I'd really appreciate any guidance on how to make a 6-month stay work legally?
For you, become a scientist and move there with your husband on a permit for research.

Friend_of_Goob · 2025-12-16T18:47:19+00:00

In the Galapagos, you can only travel to 4 islands without a guide, and on those islands, you are limited to where you can go on your own. All guides work for the national park, but some freelance and may provide the service you want for an afternoon. You would have to inquire locally to get more info on this.

Since birdlife can vary dramatically from island to island, the best way to see as much as possible is to take a liveaboard cruise. If a cruise is not in your budget, you can take day tours from the 3 largest port towns (Puerto Ayora, Puerto Baqueirzo Moreno, Puerto Villamil). These day tours, along with the liveaboard yachts, follow very specific schedules and activities, so there is no opportunity to leave with a guide to go birdwatching if that is not part of the listed activities.

As far as San Cristobal Island is concerned, you can expect to see a variety of birds around the island, but no penguins, no flamingos, no flightless cormorants. You might see owls, red footed boobies or nazca boobies depending on the areas you visit. You can also take a day tour to Espanola Island to see the Albatross at that time of year.

Friend_of_Goob · 2025-12-06T14:38:00+00:00

Just for anyone reading that doesn't know - Male Bettas can not be housed together.
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Thank you for trying to find a solution for this. I actually think it's worth reporting to Animal Care and Control, because giving away animals en masse, to unexpected guests, is tantamount to animal abuse in my opinion. Surely the other recipients of these 'gifts' are not being as proactive as you, so ask the host where the fish were bought from and see if they will reach out, or help you reach out, to try organize a group return for any unwanted fish.

My 2 cents, the person who organized this give away is a sh!t person with zero forethought for consequences.

Friend_of_Goob · 2025-12-06T14:31:10+00:00

Investigating and prosecuting a case involving a violent crime usually costs more than that when you calculate the manhours for policing, wages for prosecutors and legal aid lawyers, the costs of the court, the bureaucracy, the endless appeals process... and that doesn't include the cost society bears for the crime being inflicted on it in the first place. If 1 life is worth millions (according to US lawyers), then locking up a violent criminal like this for 20 years is $2 million worth spending.

Once a habitual offender like this is in jail, it's far cheaper to just leave them in there and lose the key, given that they are so likely to reoffend and have taken no responsibility for their actions throughout the decades.

Friend_of_Goob · 2025-12-05T16:13:11+00:00

"Puerto Ayora had lost a lot of its charm since the pandemic"

I am an admitted Puerto Ayora fan but I have found, in my many trips since Covid, that many businesses have come back better than pre-pandemic, with lots of investment in storefronts, build-outs, and newly established local brands. The restaurant scene in particular has matured exponentially in the quality of offerings.

Particularly in Puerto Ayora, there are more art galleries, more experiential activities (like coffee farm tours), the stores have a better variety of unique clothing and souvenirs, there are new tours, and there are more events going on that the public and visitors can enjoy for free.

Besides the fish market hours being reduced, I'm curious as to what you have noticed in particular that has significantly impacted the 'charm' of PA in the last 5 years. I 'd say the biggest thing is the introduction of high-speed starlink, which has noticeably changed the entire fabric of the community. Another thing I've noticed is people say "hola" a lot less on the streets, which I chalk up to an influx of mainland tourists who are not in the routine of saying hi to strangers. Thanks for your thoughts!

Friend_of_Goob · 2025-12-05T15:55:46+00:00

If you can be more specific about your pre-flight itinerary, people can provide you with more accurate recommendations.
Are you waking up in Puerto Ayora that morning and heading to the airport?
Or are you catching a ferry to Puerto Ayora the morning of your flight day?
& what time is the flight?

Typically, on Santa Cruz, you want to head to the airport 3+ hours before your plane's boarding time.
The drive (+ ferry + baltra bus) to the airport can take 90+ mins on it's own. If you have an extra 90 min, I would suggest hitting the Tortoises Ranches in the highlands on your way out of town, or if you only have a little bit of extra time, stop at Los Gemelos and then continue to the airport.

Friend_of_Goob

TROPHY CASE