Galaxy Cruises adds two yachts for Galapagos small-group travel

Galaxy Cruises has expanded its Galapagos fleet with a 12-guest expedition yacht and a 16-guest day-tour vessel, giving travel advisors and tour operators more ways to book intimate trips in the islands. The new yachts target both multiday cruise guests and land-based travelers as Ecuador’s regulated tourism market keeps demand for small-group options high.

Why it matters: - Galaxy Cruises now has two new ways to serve Galapagos travelers who want smaller, more customized trips. - Galaxy Stella and Galaxy Skape split the market between multiday expedition cruises and day tours from land-based stays. - The additions also expand tourism-linked jobs and local supply demand in the islands.

What happened: - Galaxy Cruises added Galaxy Stella, a 12-guest luxury expedition yacht, and Galaxy Skape, a day-tour yacht for up to 16 guests. - The company says the new yachts give travel advisors and tour operators more booking options for small-group travel in the Galapagos Islands. - Both yachts are available for full-yacht charters for families and private groups.

The details: - Galaxy Stella is a U.S.-built Broward yacht with six cabins, including a master suite with a study. - Galaxy Stella has a hot tub, barbecue area and fire pit on deck. - The yacht sails four-day southern, five-day eastern and eight-day western itineraries. - The southern and eastern routes can be combined into an eight-day voyage. - Galaxy Stella carries kayaks and paddleboards. - Rates include meals, a bilingual naturalist guide and snorkeling gear. - Flights, national park fees, gratuities and insurance are extra. - Galaxy Skape is a Ferretti 731 built in Italy and is the fastest vessel in the Galaxy fleet. - Galaxy Skape offers day trips to North Seymour, South Plaza and Bartolomé, with one island per outing. - North Seymour is known for frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies. - South Plaza is known for land iguanas and sea lions. - Bartolomé offers views of Pinnacle Rock and the chance to see Galapagos penguins. - The format fits land-based stays, which accounted for 79% of all Galapagos visitors in 2025, according to the Galapagos government’s annual visitor report. - The same report says the United States accounted for 29% of total visitors and ranked as the islands’ second-largest source market. - On Galaxy’s multiday cruises, vessels travel between islands at night so daytime hours can be spent ashore or in the water. - Groups reach landing sites early, when wildlife is easier to spot. - Every vessel has a cruise director focused on guest comfort. - Meals are prepared on board with Ecuadorian ingredients. - Vegetarian, vegan and allergy-friendly meals are available. - Satellite Wi-Fi is available on most routes. - Galapagos itineraries are soft-adventure trips with easy to moderate activity levels, including some wet landings and walks over uneven terrain. - Solo travelers can share a cabin with another guest of the same gender at no additional cost or pay a supplement for a private cabin. - Travelers reach the islands on domestic flights that take about two hours, depending on the route and any stopover.

Between the lines: - The launch appears designed to capture both the high-end cruise traveler and the land-based visitor, two segments that often overlap but need different products. - Small-group vessels can also align with the Galapagos’ regulated tourism model, where biodiversity protection shapes how visitors move through the islands. - The company is leaning into premium service, with onboard dining, naturalist guidance and charter flexibility as core selling points.

What's next: - Galaxy Cruises is offering promotional rates for travel through November 2026 and on select departure dates in 2027. - Travel advisors and tour operators can contact the company’s U.S. commercial representative for pricing, availability and booking terms. - The company says the two yachts add more than 22 onboard jobs and increase demand for local provisioning, transportation, guiding and other tourism services. - Galaxy Cruises has been a member of the Expedition Cruise Network since 2025.

The bottom line: - Galaxy Cruises is betting that Galapagos travelers want smaller groups, more flexibility and a clear split between cruise-based and land-based experiences.