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The 90-guest Santa Cruz II expedition ship sails the Galapagos Islands and features first-class amenities, daily naturalist-led hikes and panga rides, snorkeling and a glass-bottom boat. A wide variety of cabins, many of them interconnected, and ample space on five decks make the Santa Cruz II a great option for Galapagos family cruises.
The Santa Cruz II operates one 9-day and two 7-day Galapagos cruise itineraries, the latter of which can be combined to create an 11-day cruise. Contact our Galapagos small ship cruise experts for the inside scoop on which route is best for you. AdventureSmith Explorations’ award-winning crew has personal experience sailing in the Galapagos Islands and can recommend the best options to suit your travel interests and timeline.
Santa Cruz II itineraries are designed by guides who are passionate about wildlife and have created the best combination of wildlife viewing per route. No matter which Santa Cruz II itinerary you choose, expect a tailored experience that prioritizes the best of what the Galapagos has to offer.
Daily activity levels are chosen by the guests aboard Santa Cruz II. Your cruise can be as active as you want it to be, with several levels of excursions offered each day and a highly organized crew to keep all passengers on board engaged and enjoying the Galapagos Islands. A 1-to-1.5 guest-to-crew ratio ensures that no one is ever left behind and that each individual finds the right activity level to experience the Galapagos Islands.
On the Iconic Wildlife & Sublime Scenery (West) Galapagos Islands itinerary, visit Santa Cruz, Isabela, Fernandina and Floreana islands. Floreana is one of the oldest islands in the Galapagos and is rich with marine life and human history. Also on this itinerary are the youngest volcanically active western islands of Isabela and Fernandina.
On the Nature and Wildlife Expedition Cruise (North Galapagos Islands itinerary), swim in the company of sea turtles and discover the impressive cliffs and natural rock formations like Elephant Rock and The Bishop on Santiago Island. Leave footprints along the beaches of Rabida island where sea lions, marine iguanas, mockingbirds, yellow warblers and Darwin’s finches contrast with the iron-rich, red sandy shores. Spot playful dolphins on the way to Genovesa, a true birder’s island, where Prince Philip’s Steps lead to a rocky plateau and a colony of Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, great frigatebirds and storm petrels. Enjoy time beneath the orchids and bromeliads on Santa Cruz Island in search for giant tortoises roaming in the wild.
On the In Darwin’s Footsteps (East) Galapagos Islands itinerary, highlights may include Mosquera Islet, a small volcanic uplift perfectly situated as a sea lion rookery; Punta Pitt, an eroded tuff cone and the only site where Nazca, blue-footed and red-footed boobies can be found together; Punta Suarez where the famous blowhole spouts and waved albatross nest; the perfectly white sandy beach of Gardner Bay; the Charles Darwin Research Station, headquarters for scientific investigation; and North Seymour Island, a small, flat island covered in silver grey palo santo trees that wait for rains so they can burst into bloom.
The Nine of The Best Isles (West+North) Galapagos Islands itinerary combines the two 7-day itineraries back-to-back for a seamless, comprehensive cruise with no repeated landing sites.
The Santa Cruz II offers active itineraries, with numerous options. Enjoy active as well as mellow hikes, options for Zodiac or glass-bottom boat rides, plus swimming and snorkeling for all levels. There is ample time to relax on board after meals or opt out of activities, but note that this is an expedition-cruise style itinerary, so you will be kept busy if you choose!
Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Galapagos Islands cruises and Galapagos trips.
Designed to operate in remote areas, the state-of-the-art, 90-guest Santa Cruz II boasts the perfect infrastructure for Galapagos exploration. Built with modern technology and style to preserve the islands’ delicate ecosystem, she operates with the latest in sustainable sailing and promises an intimate and active small ship cruising experience.
AdventureSmith Explorations’ Santa Cruz II review includes a detailed description of the small ship including a deck plan and a photo gallery. Our Galapagos experts have been aboard the Santa Cruz, the Santa Cruz II’s predecessor and sister ship, firsthand. Please read our Santa Cruz II review below then contact our experts to compare the Santa Cruz II with other Galapagos ships offering Galapagos cruises.
OUR EXPERTS WERE HERE
You have questions.
We have answers.
Choose the Santa Cruz II for her uniquely low guest-to-guide ratio, her sustainable practices and thoughtful ship design. Every aspect of the Santa Cruz II enhances guest experiences: the itineraries are created by guides who know the islands best, the ship is designed so that no cabin is near an engine or other disruption and the dining room is on sea level for the least amount of movement. Built and operated to explore the archipelago, the Santa Cruz II is a champion for the Galapagos Islands, offering sustainability and active itineraries for every style. With her wide variety of cabins, many of them interconnected, she’s an excellent choice for singles, couples and groups on Galapagos family cruises.
The Santa Cruz II took the baton from its predecessor, the MV Santa Cruz, in October 2015. Launched by Metropolitan Touring, Ecuador’s travel company that pioneered small ship expeditions in the Galapagos Islands in the 1960s, the Santa Cruz II has a 58 percent increase in passenger space ratio than its predecessor, and a 31 percent reduction in fuel consumption, resulting in a lower environmental footprint per guest.
Environmentally responsible efforts are a major focus of the Santa Cruz II, including modern engine technology and generators for lower fuel consumption, onboard water production (desalination plant) and water treatment plant to reduce each guest’s environmental impact. Sustainable cruise efforts also include drinking water and electricity efficiencies and outdoor deck lights to limit insect dispersal from island to island. Plastic consumption has been greatly reduced, and as many purchases as possible are made from local producers to reduce the demand for imports from mainland Ecuador and encourage the local communities to believe in the presence of a sustainable tourism industry.
The Santa Cruz II boasts five spacious decks, with modern interiors, created with the ethos of stylish simplicity. With an intelligent layout, including wide hallways and broad stairwells, guests will immediately know their way around. Relax in the beautifully designed communal areas and viewing platforms, including indoor and outdoor dining options, a lounge bar, a well-stocked library, two indulgent ocean view hot tubs and a state-of-the-art gym. Separate lecture areas allow for simultaneous presentations. The Expedition Lounge includes a Science Corner with a microscope. And there is a medical doctor on board, with a fully equipped infirmary, free of charge.
WiFi is available on board for a charge, but note that it is only available in the ship’s social areas or at designated computer stations. Due to the Galapagos’ remote location, internet connections are intermittent and low bandwidth.
Inventive Ecuadorian and international cuisine are prepared under the creative lead of the Santa Cruz II’s gastronomic director, a Le Cordon Bleu chef. Freshly caught fish and seafood and locally grown organic fruit and vegetables will feature heavily on menus served in the colorful Beagle Dining Room on the Ocean Deck and al fresco on the Panorama Deck. Guests who wish to bring their own bottles of wine and/or spirits aboard are subject to corkage fees.
Santa Cruz II guests are accompanied by exceptionally knowledgeable guides plus an expedition leader in charge of making the most of each day’s outings. An onboard photographer supports guests in learning to capture the best photographic memories. Small activity groups ensure the most enriching, educational experience and individual attention, with an average of 11 guests per guide. Activities can be tailored to each guest’s personal interests and range from daily land expeditions to a host of aquatic activities, including ocean kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, panga coastal exploration, swimming, snorkeling and glass-bottom boat expeditions—all of the options permitted by the Galápagos National Park. Snorkeling and kayak gear is provided; wetsuits are available for rental.
Santa Cruz II cabins are designed with the goal of a good night’s sleep. No cabins are located at sea level or near engines or generators. She sleeps 90 guests in 50 contemporary-designed cabins across three decks. Guests can choose from luxuriously appointed single, double and triple cabins, or opt for one of the three even more exclusive Darwin Suites, an exceptional standard of accommodation on the Panorama Deck, with elevated service and carefully refined extras such as a take-home Galápagos coffee table book, complimentary drinks and VIP lounge access at the Galápagos Islands airport. A commanding 90% of all cabins include convertible beds, and 36 of the 50 cabins can be interconnected.
