M/V Santa Cruz Information
Our flagship, 90-guest M/V Santa Cruz emerged from its period in dry dock refreshed, revamped and ready to give its passengers an experience of the Galápagos Islands they'll never forget. The Santa Cruz has gained worldwide recognition for its excellent standards, including superb service, expert crew, the most knowledgeable multilingual naturalist guides and menus that feature the very best international cuisine and celebrated Ecuadorian dishes. Its capacity is for ninety guests.
Our Expedition Team consists of a Chief Naturalist and five Naturalists. All will delight guests with diverse natural history explanations, superb on-deck talks and eye-catching lectures regarding natural history issues. Their multimedia presentations and recaps will complement the day's activities. Together with the Captain, they will plan every day's program. They are masters of Galapagos' knowledge. Soon enough, our Naturalists will become the highlight of your voyage. At night, when pitch-dark starry skies are seen, stargazing is an amazing nocturnal activity. The southern skies are beautifully arranged with awesome constellations.
On the Boat Deck, there are two master suites with double beds (plus a sofa bed for a child) and a private balcony, and two junior suites with twin beds (plus a sofa bed for a child). Six Superior-Class cabins have twin or double beds and, the remaining Standard Cabins on the Upper and Main decks, offer a variety of accommodations, all meeting the same high standards for comfort and style. Family guests have ample choices to opt among single, double and triple accommodations.
The Sun Deck features a bar and Jacuzzi, along with the observation platform for dolphin and whale watching. The dining room, lounge and bar are elegantly appointed, as is the well-stocked library/reading room. As an alternative to snorkeling, the glass-bottom boat offers another opportunity to observe the marine life.
The entire ship is air-conditioned. A carefully planned itinerary includes the Galapagos' main highlights plus a flexible program allowing guests to enjoy several alternatives for their daily activities. In essence, an expedition to the most unique National Park, aboard the only ship exclusively built for exploring the Galapagos.
Underwater discovery
We have added an extra naturalist guide to the crew - an Underwater Naturalist - who will lead guests by the hand during swimming and snorkelling activities, helping them with masks, snorkels and techniques, and we've added new flotation aids, too. We're confident far more of our guests will enjoy the ship's snorkelling activities, revealing another world of wonder in the Galápagos that they might otherwise have missed.
Expedition Equipment
In order for guests to get closer and understand more about the islands' marine world, the ship now has a hydrophone for listening to the calls of dolphins and whales, as well as a ‘splashcam' video camera which will let us film these creatures in action underwater from the pangas. To record our guests' fun in the water, our high-quality staff camera has an underwater housing - and photos of the expeditions are always shown on the last night before disembarking. The Santa Cruz also has a spotting scope for improved observation of wildlife.
Family Fun
We believe the M/V Santa Cruz to be the best option for family journeys, so we've reinforced our commitment to giving families precious moments to share, explore, learn and have fun together. As part of every journey, we include:
- Our "Young Pirates" programme on board with attractive kits full of materials.
- Kids' meals and times
- Board games and puzzles in the library
- Panga rides just for young explorers
- An "introduction to snorkeling for kids" time with our extra naturalist
- Bridge visits with the Captain
- Interaction with our multimedia tablet
Santa Cruz Island visits: great alternative activities
We have listened to our guests' feedback and have introduced more options for them when visiting Santa Cruz Island. As well as the ‘traditional' visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station in the afternoon of this day (currently Thursday, but Monday and Saturday with the 2012 itineraries), guests can choose from the following activities:
- Trekking in the highlands
- Biking downhill to a secluded beach
- Visiting an organic coffee plantation
- Scuba diving
- Walking to Tortuga Bay beach where they can kayak or simply enjoy some down-time.
All of these activities are offered at no additional cost, except for scuba diving.
Refreshed accommodation, dining and relaxing!
We have given the M/V Santa Cruz a stylish make-over, including:
- New carpeting throughout the ship
- Renovations in Reception
- New armchairs in the Bar-Salon
- Renewed décor and furniture in the Dining Room - plus new crockery and cutlery
- A revamped library-internet room
- New sun loungers on the Sun Deck
- In the cabins, many shine with new wallpaper, while we have replaced all the desk tops, swapped curtains for blinds and brought in off-white sheets, pillow cases and blankets to give a lighter, more spacious feel.
Something for everyone
We are confident these changes and innovations will appeal to a wide range of Galápagos travellers: there are options for the active, fun for families, underwater explorations, expedition equipment... something for everyone. Combine these with the crew's deep sense of service and we feel each and every one of the M/V Santa Cruz's guests will return home enriched, revived and inspired.
Our Galapagos Travel Team consists of a Chief Naturalist and five Naturalists. All will delight guests with diverse natural history explanations, superb on-deck talks, and eye-catching lectures regarding natural history issues. Their multimedia presentations and recaps will complement the day's activities. Together with the Captain, they will plan the day's program. They are masters of Galapagos travel. Soon enough, our Naturalists will become the highlight of your voyage on santa cruz galapagos. At night, when pitch-dark starry skies are seen, stargazing is an amazing nocturnal activity. The southern skies are beautifully arranged with exuberant constellations.
Technical Specifications
- Construction : Bilbao, Spain, 1979
- Reconstruction : Talcahuano, Chile, 1998
- Category : First Class
- Gross Tonnage : 1675
- Capacity : 90 guests
- Length : 72.35 meters (237.3 feet)
- Beam : 11.85 meters (38.86 feet)
- Speed : 13 knots
- Electricity : 110 Volts in the cabins with 220 Volt sockets available in Reception and Dining area.
- Engines : 2 Sulzer engines, 1620 BHP each
- Navigation : Gyrocompass, auto pilot, radar, echo-sounders,
- Equipment : GPS and Radio Director Finder
- Safety Classification : ABS classification +A1E + AMS #7907 853 SOLAS (safety of life at sea) ISM certificate Complying with the IMO resolution A.788(19) Automatic fire controls
- Life Jackets : In each cabin
- Lifeboats : Two 66-man, two 25-man,
- Life Rafts : Two 16-man, two 10-man
- Zodiacs : 5 for ship to shore transportation
- Boston Whaler : 1 with glass-bottom for underwater observation
- Owner : ETICA / Metropolitan Touring
- Decks : 4 (Sun deck, Boat deck, Upper deck, Main deck)
- Crew : 52
- Naturalist : 6 multilingual (includes Chief Naturalist)
- Medical Officer : Permanently on board
Services and Facilities
- Bar - Lounge, Boutique
- Gift Shop
- Email, radio, telephone, and Fax communications.
- PA system.
- Snorkeling Equipment
- Multimedia natural history lectures
- Stargazing Program
- Glass bottom boat
- Jacuzzi
- Reading Room and Natural History Library
- Air conditioned throughout
- Safety boxes
- Hair dryers
Sun Deck
Bar and relax area
Boat Deck
- 2 Master suites double bed + sofa bed
- 2 Junior suites twin beds + sofa bed
- 4 Superior cabins twin beds
- 2 Superior cabins double bed
- 5 Standard cabins twin beds
- 1 Standard cabin double bed
- 1 Standard single cabin
- 2 Standard Plus Twin beds
Upper Deck
12 Standard twin cabins
Main Deck
12 Standard twin cabins
SHARE
PRINT
New! 4 night Galapagos Expedition (Saturday / Wednesday) Eastern Islands, Updated 2013
4 night Galapagos Expedition (Monday/Friday) Northern Islands
5 night Galapagos Expedition (Wednesday/Monday) Western Islands
Related Trips
Guest Handbook - MV Santa Cruz Galapagos 
About Adventure Associates
