Expert Aboard: MV Evolution Galapagos Review

IN THIS POST – MV Evolution Galapagos Review:
My First Impressions
My Cabin & Insights on Choosing Yours 
My Favorite Area Aboard
Itinerary Highlights & Comparisons
Guide-to-Passenger Ratio 
Food & Drink Review
More MV Evolution Galapagos Reviews from Our Travelers

My First Impression 

Taking the dinghy up to the ship, Evolution certainly stands out as a unique vessel, especially when moored next to newer modernized vessels and luxury catamarans. From the outside she appears like an archetypal vessel Charles Darwin might have sailed when exploring the Islands. However, once aboard she has a classic, comfortable and high-end feel to her interiors.  

She incorporates traditional mahogany combined with modern teak wood décor. Windows and port holes throughout the ship allow just enough light to shine down on the modernized furnishings.  

Common areas are conveniently located on the main deck with cabins and suites accessed by semi-steep stairs requiring the use of handrails when the ship is moving.

But most importantly, the ship starts to really shine and match its price tag once you experience the top-tier service and high number of naturalist guides aboard. 

My Review of MV Evolution’s Cabins & Insights on Choosing Yours 

All the cabins are uniquely shaped and sized. Standard cabins C1, the one I was staying in, and C9 were my two preferred due to their size as the largest of the standards. The downside is their location at the bow and hearing the anchor drop on a few early mornings after a long evening sail.  

A few cabins onboard can accommodate three travelers with two double beds and a smaller rollaway. This could comfortably accommodate a family with a young child. On my sailing, one of the cabins onboard had three adults, one of which was very petite. It certainly accommodated them, but it was tight and the use of the bathroom was harder to share for three adults. 

If you’re looking for economy, D3 would be my recommendation, also due to its size. If you’re looking to spoil yourself, go with suites A1 or A3, the two largest. 

Notable for the Evolution among its peers, are that only the suites aboard have windows; every other cabin has a porthole. Since I had a private balcony in my room on my last cruise, I wondered if I’d miss the views. Surprisingly, I did not at all. This trip was so active, I was hardly ever in my room. And the sunlight felt ample, the beds were extremely comfortable and the shower had excellent pressure.

My Favorite Place on the Ship 

I spent most of my time on the stern in the outdoor lounge, conveniently located next to the manned bar. Island views and sunsets from here were spectacular, especially with a freshly made cocktail in hand.  

After a long day of activities, happy hour was always an anticipated treat here. We would be greeted with music along with fresh cocktails, most of which were inspired by local fruits and/or alcohol, along with local and international snacks such as empanadas and chicken wings. During this time, my fellow guests and I would regale about what we saw and did while reviewing and sharing photos.  

Itinerary Highlights & Comparisons 

The itinerary I was on, In the Steps of Pirates & Darwin, focused on both the youngest and oldest islands, Fernandina and Española. This allowed me to appreciate the contrast in landscape and diversity of flora and fauna.  

Many other Galapagos cruises split their routes into east/west or north/south variations. Evolution and her sister ship Grace are among the few that do it different, with two comprehensive 8-day choices that hit a lot of highlights (learn more in our guide to choosing your Galapagos itinerary).   

We were fortunate to see three different Galapagos tortoises in their natural habitat: Isabela, Santa Cruz and Española. On our daily snorkeling adventures, which became an unexpected highlight of my trip, we saw an array of fish and turtles and had the pleasure of swimming beside sea lions, penguins and white-tip reef sharks.

The highlight of the trip was seeing a calf playing beside its mother, without warning jump clear out of the water 10 feet from us—a sight you’d expect to see choreographed at SeaWorld. I’ve had some pretty amazing encounters with whales, but this trumped them all.  

Coming into this, I was not a huge fan snorkeling, but after this trip I now have a deeper curiosity and appreciation of the ocean and its inhabitants.  

Where the Evolution Shines: Guide-to-Passenger Ratio 

Aboard the Evolution, I quickly learned that having three guides was crucial for a multitude of reasons. One, groups remained around 10, which allowed for a more intimate group setting. With a smaller group you could easily hear the guide and not compete for their attention when asking questions.  

Feedback we frequently get from clients on 16-passenger Galapagos vessels with 1 guide is that they are disappointed to not always have a guide on their Zodiac during excursions. With the Evolution, all 10 guests and the guide fit comfortably on the Zodiac and are never left without a guide.  

Another advantage of having multiple guides was having a different guide each day, which many appreciated given one’s specialty, personality, etc.  

Having multiple guides was crucial during the snorkeling excursions.

Lastly, and the most important in my opinion, having multiple guides was crucial during the snorkeling excursions. We were able to break the groups into advanced vs beginner/intermediate, allowing each group to have their own guide at their own level of expertise and comfort. And for those that weren’t interested in snorkeling, an optional panga activity with a guide was offered.  

Additionally, the Evolution offers a doctor on board. This is extremely unique for a vessel of this size and I cannot think of any smaller ship that has one. I saw many benefit throughout my week. 

On our first snorkeling excursion, the doctor accompanied the group to make sure everyone was okay. They remained on the Zodiac, which remained close to the group during the full excursion. One client had a stomach illness halfway through the cruise and was incredibly thankful to have more effective medicine than their basic over-the-counter pills.  

One traveler cut their hand on coral and the doctor was happy to clean it up and put a bandage on. 

Food & Drink on Par with the Best 

I can’t end without commenting about the food. The food and drinks are certainly on par with a fine dining level. I should note to back this up that I’ve sailed aboard multiple ships with the highest levels of dining at sea (read about my time in Antarctica aboard Le Commandant Charcot).  

All the guests raved about the quality and variety of food. Plates were piled high as guests were able to select their choices when counter service was offered. When meals were plated and served at our tables, the amount of time and thought that went into each presentation was always apparent.

The one meal that really blew my mind was offering a whole-cooked pig, Hornado, which in Ecuador is a very typical and delicious dish. It was one that I very much looked forward to having when returning to Ecuador after living in the country for two years. Getting it on the cruise was a pleasant surprise.

A Ship that Gets to the Core of This Destination 

As I reflect on my trip, I’m transported to one of my favorite experiences. Sitting at the top of Tagus Cove, the guide asked us to sit in silence for a minute and take in the sounds of nature: the birds chirping, the wind wisping by and the rustle of trees. Sitting in that moment I was grounded with an even deeper respect for the wonderous diversity of life that surrounds us, especially that of Galapagos.  

The efforts put forth by people such as Charles Darwin and organizations like IGTOA have helped teach us the importance of conservation and building connections to remarkable places such as the Galapagos. And the guides, attention to detail and deeper learning aboard Evolution were a very personal extension of this important ethos. If you haven’t checked this bucket list off, now is the time. And I highly recommend doing so aboard a ship like the Evolution. 

For more photos & video from this cruise, view my Facebook album on AdventureSmith Explorations’ Facebook page.