Many seniors visit the Galapagos Islands. Whether for a special retirement treat or just for a fun and exciting adventure, seniors often ask what the best Galapagos Islands cruises for them might be. The reality is that this usually depends on individual preferences. Here we explain what you might need to know when booking a visit to the enchanted islands for seniors. This includes itineraries, when to go, Galapagos Islands activities and some suggestions of cruises that seniors traveling with us have loved.
Seniors sometimes want to know what the best itineraries might be for them. This is a difficult question, as what each person is looking for may differ quite a lot. Also, itineraries do not necessarily vary much from boat to boat.
The upside of this is that seniors can look at itineraries based on what they would most like to see. Choices to make may initially include the length of the cruise. Cruises generally run between 4 and 10 days. On a shorter cruise, guests may be less likely to visit both the western islands of the archipelago and the central or southern islands and may just visit one or the other. Longer cruises tend to include both the western and other areas of the islands.
What may be a worthwhile exercise is considering the wildlife and birdlife that is present on the different islands. For example, the waved albatross can only be found on Espanola Island, and then, only during the months of April and December. Having a think about the preferred wildlife experiences is important to choosing a trip most suited to the customer.
We have found that some seniors do not enjoy heat as much as others. For those that are less fond of the heat and humidity that can be present in some seasons in the Galapagos Islands, it is probably best to visit between June and December. In these months, the weather is a bit cooler and a bit less humid too. In particular, February, March and April can be quite hot and sticky, so seniors that do not like the
We sometimes find that seniors have concerns about the levels of activity that might be expected from them on Galapagos cruises. In reality, many of the visits to the islands are gentle, and fairly short walks on decent paths, stopping frequently to observe the wildlife and birdlife on, or nearby to the path. These walks are suitable for individuals of all ages, though on some of the islands paths may be smoother than on others. There is no compulsion to take part in any of the walks, and if you prefer to stay on the ship while others visit there is no problem with that.
Galapagos cruise activities also include swimming and snorkeling. Sometimes this may be off the beach, or other times it may be off the boat. Again, there is no obligation to take part. We find that seniors generally enjoy these activities on their Galapagos cruises very much.
One aspect of a Galapagos cruise that may be trickier for some seniors is island landings. Generally speaking, visits to the islands are undertaken on a panga, which is an inflatable tender. Some of the landings go directly to a dock and some to a beach. Beach landings can sometimes be a bit harder because it is easier to achieve greater stability on the panga when landing at a structure like this. However, Galapagos crew will always be on hand to help, whether a dock or a beach landing. They will want to keep you safe. If you need more help, you only have to ask.
For seniors that are more active there may be other activities of interest. Some Galapagos cruises offer kayaking, which may appeal to some seniors. Depending on the itinerary, some cruises may offer a longer walk or two. If seniors have a good level of fitness, they are always welcome to take part in these types of activities.
We find that some seniors are concerned about being on board a Galapagos cruise and they may be concerned about being in a small space. Some cruises do have smaller cabins and less space, but seniors can easily avoid these by opting for those with greater space both in cabins and in the social areas.
There are a number of Galapagos cruise options that seniors might prefer due to the level of comfort provided, and also the personalized service that customers report on these boats. All of the vessels suggested provide for just a few customers, allowing for good service. In some cases, the number of crew members is one on one with visitors, or not far off.
Infinity is a smaller vessel with capacity for up to 20 passengers. A fairly new boat, it has a lovely contemporary style, and each cabin has its own private balcony.
Hermes provides cabins for 20 people on what is a very luxurious catamaran. The number of crew almost matches the number of guests, meaning very good service that is highly personalized.
Natural Paradise also only has capacity for a few passengers; 16 in total. This means that customers tend to report a more personalized level of service because the ratio of crew to passengers is high.
Alya has space for 16 passengers. It is a fairly new vessel and one of its most delightful features is the panoramic windows each cabin boats. All the little details are well taken care of on this cruise.
Horizon provides 16 guests with a comfortable cruise in sizeable cabins. It is the only trimaran in the Galapagos Islands at present. For seniors that experience sea sickness, this may be a good choice as this design gives it good stability.
Passion is a spacious yacht with 14 passengers only, and a one-to-one ratio of crew to visitors. For seniors that want sophistication and style, this may be a good choice.
Galapagos Angel is a fairly new entrant to the Galapagos Islands with space for 16 passengers. The vessel offers superb itineraries and rooms have stunning views through panoramic windows.
Anahi provides for 16 passengers on a large, well-appointed catamaran. Service is very good on this boat, with strong training provided to the crew in this respect. Each cabin has an ocean view.
In reality, many cruises in the Galapagos Islands are likely to be good for seniors – the above are just a few of our suggestions based on what seniors travelling with us have said they have enjoyed the most.
The Galapagos Islands are a great place for seniors to visit. On Galapagos Islands cruises, activities are rarely strenuous, and there is plenty of time to relax and enjoy the boat too. A cruise is the best way to see what the archipelago has to offer. There are plenty of exceptional cruises where seniors enjoy personalized service and a great deal of comfort. Why not get in touch to find out which cruise might be best suited to your trip of a lifetime to the stunning Galapagos Islands?
