Tried & Tested: Galaxy Sirius, Galaxy Expeditions

The Galaxy Sirius is the seventh ship in the water for locally-based Galaxy Expeditions, and it's also supposed to be the jewel of the fleet. The luxurious catamaran has been sailing through the natural paradise of the Galapagos Islands for ten months now, but will its passengers be floating on cloud nine? LuxuryWise went on board to find out.

As experienced by LuxuryWise Editor-in-Chief, Iris M. Köpke

The Ship

The 36-metre-long (388ft.) Galaxy Sirius is an actual new build, and for that reason alone it's something very distinct. Most ships that are advertised as "new" for a Galapagos cruise are usually just older ships that have been renovated. That's because the licenses to operate a cruise ship here, which are issued according to strict guidelines, are attached to the ship itself. Serandipians member Galaxy Expeditions, on the other hand, has replaced an older ship from its fleet with the Galaxy Sirius, meaning that guests can now enjoy a brand new, sleek catamaran. And it's noticeable – on board and in the equipment. The chic, black pangas (Zodiacs that are not Zodiac branded), for example, look like they just came off the assembly line!

+++ IMPORTANT TRADE NEWS +++

DMC Galagents has been called Galaxy Expeditions since the beginning of the year. This is because it has greatly expanded its portfolio and now offers land programs in Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia, in addition to its seven expedition ships and the Galaxy Daily, a day-trip ship. This means that clients can now combine a Galapagos cruise with a visit to Machu Picchu, for example. TAKE NOTE: As a result of the rebrand, there is also a new website and new e-mail addresses for the entire team. See below for contact details!

The Cabins

There are nine cabins on board, with a maximum of 16 passengers. First impression: bright, friendly, very modern, and surprisingly spacious for such a small ship. Cabins range from 22-25 square meters (236.8-269.1sq. ft.). I'm in Cabin 1 (pictured) and apart from mine all of them have a balcony. The most important difference is the location. Cabins 1 to 5 are on the main deck, while Cabins 6 to 9 are on the upper deck.

This is the most critical part of the booking: if your clients are seaworthy, the Upper Deck is definitely the better choice – better views, and peace and quiet guaranteed. However, it rocks more than below (as with all ships). The main deck is more stable, but clients who are sensitive to noise should not book Cabin 1 or 5. In both, it sounds as if the heavy iron anchor chain is rattling right past your pillow – even at 2 o'clock in the morning. In Cabin 1, you can also hear the background noise from the crew area at times.

The Common Areas

The lounge with the large, wrap-around sofa (pictured) and the dining area on the main deck are the heart of the ship. This is where passengers meet several times a day for meals, briefings, and entertainment. The icing on the cake would have been if the bar here had been staffed more often – or, as one guest suggested, run as an honor bar.

Travelers who prefer to stay out in the fresh air can also make themselves comfortable in the Al Fresco Lounge on the Upper Deck. Each common area is bright, furnished to a high standard, and modern, putting guests immediately at home. The jacuzzi at the very top of the Sun Deck seems to be a crowd favorite. And no wonder – the sunset over the Galapagos somehow looks even more beautiful from this spot!

Culinary Delights

You shouldn't expect star-studded chi-chi cuisine here. With all due respect, no one would probably want that either, as guests almost always have a hearty appetite after snorkeling and excursions. Accordingly, everyone is happy about the varied, hearty meals. Breakfast and lunch are served as a buffet, in the evening there is sometimes a buffet, sometimes a choice of main courses, and sometimes a little cooking show with Chef Leonardo fixing authentic Ecuadorian ceviche.

The cuisine is consistently high quality – nothing is repeated and intolerances are always taken into account after the first faux pas. A glance across the table proves that you can always see satisfied, masticating faces. But it's almost a miracle that we are hungry at all, since after every excursion the bartender Ramiro awaits us with freshly squeezed fruit juices (a different one every day!), hot drinks, and delicious little snacks.

Sensory Impressions

How the stay feels

Fragrant

Every single day after tidying the room, it smells subtly of vanilla. Mhhmmm – I love that!

Safe

The crew is very capable, and guests feel they can set off on an adventure without worry.

Trustworthy

There are no keys, the cabins are only locked if you lock them from the inside. Perfectly okay!

Curious

Is it insecurity? Everyone goes to great lengths to be professional, but somehow the cheerfulness sometimes disappears.

The Service

It gets off to a bumpy start. I've never been to the Galapagos Islands before and there are a few things to consider when entering the country. I find myself asking a few questions: Where can I get the Transit Control Card, and when do I need it? Where do I have to take my luggage for the special agricultural check? Where do I pay the national park fee? Galaxy Expeditions had agreed to send a representative to Quito Airport. I felt relaxed, but unfortunately that feeling quickly vanishes when the person never shows up and doesn't reply to any of my text messages. I end up having to ask around and figure it out myself – after all, departure is quickly approaching. After a few rookie mistakes, it finally works out and I'm standing at the gate with my boarding pass. That shouldn't happen of course with high-end clientele, but here we go, onward to the Galaxy Sirius!

On board, all nine crew members are eager to please. Cruise Director William in particular, who is not afraid to take on anything that comes up is ready at the slightest gesture and fulfills every wish in the blink of an eye. His poker face doesn't reveal whether he enjoys his role as host, but he always acts in a highly professional manner.

But as is so often the case with young products, the devil is in the details. For example, sometimes the soap in the bathroom is not refilled, sometimes it's the minibar (which could do with a few non-alcoholic drinks). Red wine and white wine are served in wildly mixed glasses. We have the biggest laugh on the penultimate day: cabin attendant Moisés has put funny towel animals on the bed. We quickly scramble across the ship to take photos in every room, since everyone has a different one! Then it's quickly off to shower since dinner is waiting. It's only when you get out of the shower dripping wet that you discover that there are no fresh towels in the bathroom. It only dawns on us at dinner that the towel animals are the supply! All thumbs up on the next day: the crew was aware that one of the guests was celebrating his birthday during the trip, so his cabin was decorated, and a cake baked!

The Excursions

There simply aren't enough words to describe the beauty of this part of the world. I almost feel like a Disney princess interacting with all the animals around! The two-day-old sea lion pup, which you want to film from a suitable distance, curiously struggles forward bit by bit until it bumps its little nose against the GoPro. A fluffy, gigantic albatross chick marvels at its visitors. A squeaky pink flamingo flies overhead and the quaint marine iguanas can be circled without a care in the world. But it doesn't stop there as the natural wonders extend beneath the surface of the water, too. Nimble sea lions, giant sea turtles, bright blue starfish, and fish of every size, color, and shape. It's all so... breathtakingly amazing. One guest even claims to have seen a hammerhead shark.

The time spent away from the ship is of course much more important than the time aboard. The water is still very cold in November even with a wetsuit, but despite that there are daily snorkeling tours and hikes on various islands – and no two are the same. Big plus point: our hiking tours are always at "Golden Hour," when the light is best for taking photos. What's more, we don't ever encounter any larger ships on the trip, and even on land we are almost always among ourselves. The Galaxy Sirius offers three different routes (five or six days), my trip was from San Cristóbal to Santa Cruz and couldn't have been more beautiful.

The Guides

Of course, the guide is always the most important person on an expedition cruise. Here they are even more so: Chris and Walter (from left) are our keys to deciphering the wonderful world around us. Not only do they both speak at least four languages brilliantly (even German!), they know every blade of grass and every current, and they show us things that would otherwise have gone overlooked. Their explanations are always friendly and patient, even if a guest asks the same question twice. They conjure up towels after every "wet landing" so that you can slip into your hiking boots with dry feet, and they're always thinking of every little detail.

They also act as lifesavers and help insecure guests on bumpy terrain, or pull frozen journalists through the crystal clear, icy water onto a lifebuoy. Twelve out of ten points!!

It's important to note that a certain level of physical fitness is absolutely essential for this trip and its excursions – otherwise the only option is to stay behind on board, sad and alone.

What We Loved

  • Exploring the Galapagos Islands in such a small group leaves plenty of room for highly personalized care – exactly what the Galaxy Sirius excels at.
  • The international flair on board! After a maximum of 48 hours, Australians, Germans, Dutch, Canadians, and Latin Americans were a well-acquainted community.
  • Everything is brand new and in excellent condition, from the walking sticks to the upholstered furniture.
  • The money stays in the region: the owners are from the Galapagos Islands, the headquarters are in Puerto Ayora, and almost all the employees are Galapageños.
  • The stay in the VIP lounges at Baltra and San Cristobal airports is included in the tour rate.

Not So Much

  • The sound insulation on board could be better. However, this is the case with many expedition ships, and is probably a question of weight.
  • Not everything is running at top level yet, but it could be with a few relatively simple tweaks.
  • Regular manning of the bar and the active offering of drinks, e.g. at lunch, was missed by many guests, and would ultimately also generate better sales.

In a Nutshell

On this trip it was one once-in-a-lifetime memory after another. That's primarily because of the way one can experience this unique destination aboard the Galaxy Sirius. The ship already has very good hardware and the crew is very committed – the only thing missing is a little fine-tuning here and there, which is already being worked on. It's important to know that this is an active trip and not one to kick back on. The program is tight, almost like a fam trip. To be more explicit, an hour to get ready between the excursion and the next meal is a luxury, and sometimes you have to make do with less time. But after all, your clients haven't traveled all this way to hang out, but to get up close and personal with this wonderful part of the world as much as possible. In this way, the Galaxy Sirius really does deliver everything an explorer's heart desires.

International Trade Contacts

UK: Diego Freire | U.S.: Manuel Patiño

Visit the Galaxy Sirius website