Abercrombie
& Kent's Eclipse Set out to the Galapagos Islands in
style.
Top
photos: The Eclipse's year-round itinerary includes
amazing views and a circuit of the wildlife-rich Galapagos
Islands, off the Pacific Coast of South America. Below:
the 210-foot Eclipse at sea.
The lavish 48-passenger Eclipse is the smallest ship in our
survey. It's also the only boat that sticks to one itinerary
year-round – a circuit of the wildlife-rich Galapagos
Islands off the Pacific coast of South America. Eclipse has
been chartered by the likes of Holland's Queen Beatrice
and crooner Enrique Iglesias for private cruises around the
islands. It's also the most kid-friendly of the new
breed of small luxury ships, with special family cruises offered
over summer vacation and the winter holiday season.
The Ship
Relaunched in 2003 after a comprehensive luxury refit, the
210-foot Eclipse can reach a top speed of 14.5 knots, although
given its casual passage around the archipelago, “full
speed ahead” is rarely needed. Meals are enjoyed in
a spacious dining room, or al fresco on the back deck around
the 20-foot plunge pool. A lounge at the front of the boat
does triple duty as a cocktail bar, lecture hall and craft
hall for the younger guests. The upstairs lounge functions
as a library, video room and “teen club” during
the family cruises.
The 27 cabins are spread across two decks connected by stairs.
Unlike most cruise ships, there are actually two single cabins
for those who like to travel alone or have an extra family
member along. The four 207-square-foot suites on the boat
deck are top of the line. Regardless of size, the rooms are
decorated in rich seikewood paneling, and they all have queen
or twin beds, private bathrooms, writing desks and ample storage
space.
The Frills
Eclipse prides itself on personalized – graciously warm
– South American service, whether in the dining room,
on the bridge or during the shore excursions.
Guests are broken down into groups of no more than 12 for
the twice-daily shore excursions, which means you basically
have your own private naturalist guide for beach forays, nature
walks, whale-watching sorties and snorkel trips. These same
guides join you for meals and give animated (and often hilarious)
lectures in the main lounge each night. By the end of the
voyage you truly feel like they are part of your family.
One of the unexpected pleasures of the Eclipse cruise is live
Latin American music and dancing on at least two nights during
the trip, courtesy of a Galapagos-based folk troupe that comes
aboard and an Andean-flavored crew band that's as good
as anything you'll see in the peñas of Ecuador
and Peru.
The Cruise
After a two-hour flight from mainland Ecuador, guests board
Eclipse in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island at the start
of their weeklong journey. You've barely got time to
settle in before your first close encounter of the animal
kind. Every day brings a new island and a slightly different
wildlife adventure – a chance to snorkel to penguins
and sharks at Bartolomé, hiking amongst the marine
iguanas of Fernandina, searching for giant tortoises in the
lush forest of the Santa Cruz highlands, the blue-footed boobies
and albatross of Española.
Another highlight is a visit to the Darwin Research Station,
where scientists and researchers study the extraordinary Galapagos
ecosystem. There's also a day set aside for visiting
the crafts and jewelry areas, art galleries and clothing boutiques
of Puerto Ayora, the archipelago's budding metropolis.
From $4,530 per person, for the 11-day “Wonders of the
Galapagos.”
Abercrombie & Kent
800.554.7016; www.abercrombiekent.com
