Hurtigruten more than doubles its new Galápagos offering

Travelers will be able to choose from four different small-ship cruises ranging from four to eight nights. These essentially cover the full span of the remote 19-island archipelago.

Added four- and eight-night cruises

The six-night Eastern Galápagos itinerary that launches this January will be complemented with a four-night Northern Galápagos cruise, a four-night Western Galápagos cruise and an eight-night combination covering Northern and Western Galápagos. All four options are now open for booking.

In addition, Hurtigruten Expeditions expanded its pre- and post-cruise program by  adding luxury rainforest hotel Mashpi Lodge, located a few hours northwest of Quito. A three-night add-on is available with any Galápagos cruise.

Santa Cruz II's multimillion-dollar upgrade

Leading up to the 2022 season, Santa Cruz II has undergone a multimillion-dollar upgrade, including all public areas, cabins and suites. The 50-cabin ship now has light and modern Nordic interiors.

Besides the spacious Darwin Suites, the vessel has dedicated family and single cabins. All accommodations were upgraded with new mattresses and bedding. A new menu now features vegan and more vegetarian options at breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Citizen science

A Science Corner was added in line with Hurtigruten Expeditions' Science Program. Passengers are invited to participate in scientific activities to develop a deeper understanding of the region. Two citizen science projects will be offered, according to Dr. Verena Meraldi, chief scientist, Hurtigruten Expeditions.

Hurtigruten's Galápagos program springs from a long-term partnership with Ecuador's Metropolitan Touring, which has more than 70 years of experience in the archipelago.