Alcohol on a Galapagos Cruise: What’s Included and What Costs Extra
Quick Summary
Alcohol is not included on most Galapagos cruise vessels. It is included on Celebrity Flora (all-inclusive), HX Santa Cruz II (all drinks including alcohol), Silver Origin (butler service with drinks), and Ecoventura (open bar policy for house-quality beer, wine, and spirits, with premium brands extra). On most mid-range and budget vessels, alcohol is available at the onboard bar for an extra charge, with local Ecuadorian beer and wine representing the best value. Typical bar prices on pay-per-drink vessels: beer $5 to $8, cocktails $8 to $12, wine by the bottle $30 to $80. Bringing your own alcohol on board is permitted on some vessels (sometimes with a corkage fee) and prohibited on others.
Galapagos Cruise Alcohol: What Is Included by Vessel
| Vessel / Operator | Alcohol Included? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Celebrity Flora | Yes, fully all-inclusive | All drinks included from morning lattes to nightcaps. Stocked in-cabin mini-bars with beer and soft drinks. Unlimited at all bars. |
| HX Santa Cruz II | Yes, included (excluding premium) | All drinks served all day and evening at no additional cost. Premium brands excluded. |
| Silver Origin (Silversea) | Yes, butler service all-inclusive | All drinks included as part of the all-suite all-inclusive model. Premium wines available at extra cost. |
| Ecoventura (Origin, Theory, Evolve) | Yes, open bar (house quality) | Open bar policy includes cocktails, red, white, and rose wine, beer including Reptilia craft beer, sodas, juices, coffee, and tea. Premium brands available at extra cost. |
| Galapagos Sky (liveaboard) | Yes, included (excluding premium) | Cruise rate includes wine, beer, liquor, spirits, coffee, tea, water, juice, and sodas. Premium brands on a separate tab settled on the last day. |
| Aqua Mare | Partial, selected wines and beers | Selected premium wines and beers included alongside all non-alcoholic drinks. Cocktails and gratuities extra. |
| National Geographic-Lindblad | Not typically included | Bar available for purchase. Local craft beer featured on some vessels. Some packages include beer and wine at meals. |
| Most mid-range and budget vessels | No, extra charge | Bar available for purchase. Typical prices: beer $5 to $8, cocktails $8 to $12, wine per bottle $30 to $80. Non-alcoholic drinks included. |
Always confirm with your specific operator before booking. Verified September 2026.
Is Alcohol Included on a Galapagos Cruise?
Alcohol is included on some Galapagos cruise vessels and not on most. The fully all-inclusive model covers most or all alcoholic beverages in the cruise fare on Celebrity Flora, HX Santa Cruz II, Silver Origin, and Ecoventura. Mid-range and budget vessels operate a pay-per-drink bar where alcohol is available but charged separately. A couple who enjoy two drinks each at dinner every evening across an 8-day cruise can add $200 to $400 in bar charges on a pay-per-drink vessel, an amount not visible in the headline cruise price.
The all-inclusive models differ in scope. Celebrity Flora’s is the broadest: everything from morning lattes to nightcap cocktails, stocked in-cabin mini-bars, and unlimited bar access throughout the vessel. HX Santa Cruz II includes all drinks at no additional cost except premium brands. Ecoventura operates an open bar policy for house-quality beer, wine, and spirits, with Reptilia craft beer from Santa Cruz Island specifically featured, and premium brands available separately. Silver Origin provides butler-delivered drink service as part of its all-suite all-inclusive model.
The partial-inclusion model at Aqua Mare is worth understanding: selected premium wines and beers are included, but cocktails and gratuities are extra. This is a narrower inclusion than Ecoventura’s open bar even though both occupy the luxury tier. “Drinks included” as a general marketing statement requires checking what is specifically covered on each individual vessel.
Non-alcoholic drinks are included on virtually every Galapagos cruise vessel regardless of tier: purified water at refill stations, coffee, tea, juices, and soft drinks. The single-use plastic ban means beverages are served from glass or refillable dispensers, not single-use bottles.
Understanding the real all-in cost of a Galapagos cruise requires knowing what the bar policy is on the vessel you are considering. A vessel that costs $500 more per person but includes all drinks may be less expensive overall than the lower-headline vessel where two drinks per person per evening adds up across eight nights. Fill out this short form and we will give you an honest all-in cost comparison for the specific vessels we recommend for your trip.
Which Galapagos Cruise Ships Include Alcohol in the Price?
The vessels that include alcohol most comprehensively are Celebrity Flora (fully all-inclusive), HX Santa Cruz II (all drinks excluding premium brands), Silver Origin (all-inclusive butler service), Ecoventura’s three vessels (open bar for house quality), and Galapagos Sky (wine, beer, and spirits included). Aqua Mare includes selected wines and beers. Most other vessels including the Lindblad-National Geographic fleet and the majority of mid-range operators charge separately for alcohol.
Ecoventura’s open bar model goes beyond the basic “drinks included” claim. The bar on Origin, Theory, and Evolve offers signature cocktails, red, white, and rose wine, and Reptilia craft beer from Santa Cruz Island. A dedicated craft beer tasting and an espresso martini demonstration using Islander Galapagos coffee are built into specific evenings of the cruise. Premium brands are available separately, but the standard open bar covers what most travelers want for a full evening.
The HX Santa Cruz II inclusion is notable at the first-class tier: having all drinks including wine and cocktails at no extra cost during the day and evening is a genuine value advantage over first-class competitors who charge separately. The exclusion of “premium brands” is standard on all-inclusive models: the open bar covers house spirits, local and house wines, and standard beers, while a reserve Scotch or a Grand Cru would be charged at a premium rate.
The all-inclusive drink model changes the feel of the evening in a specific way: you order what you want without calculating whether it is worth the extra charge. Whether that matters enough to justify the price difference between a drinks-included and a pay-per-drink vessel is a question we help travelers answer honestly before they book. Reach out here and we will walk you through the specific options.
What Does Alcohol Cost on Galapagos Cruises Where It Is Not Included?
On pay-per-drink Galapagos cruise vessels, typical 2026 prices are: local Ecuadorian national beer $3 to $6, local Galapagos craft beer $5 to $8, cocktails $8 to $12, wine by the glass $8 to $15, wine by the bottle $30 to $80. Planning for $150 to $350 per couple in bar spending across an 8-day cruise at moderate consumption is a realistic budget figure.
| Drink Type | Typical Price (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Local Ecuadorian beer (Pilsener, Club) | $3 to $6 | Most affordable option. National brands available on every vessel with a bar. |
| Galapagos craft beer (Reptilia, Endemica) | $5 to $8 | Locally brewed from Santa Cruz and San Cristobal. Included in Ecoventura’s open bar. Extra on most other vessels. |
| Cocktails | $8 to $12 | Standard mixed drinks. Signature cocktails on luxury vessels can reach $15 to $18. |
| Wine by the glass | $8 to $15 | South American wines (Chilean, Argentinian) most common. Ecuadorian wine on some luxury vessels. |
| Wine by the bottle | $30 to $80 | Mid-range South American wines at the lower end. Premium at the upper end. Selection limited to what was loaded in Guayaquil before departure. |
| Spirits (rum, pisco, aguardiente) | $8 to $15 per measure | Aguardiente (Ecuadorian sugar cane spirit) is the local option and typically least expensive. Imported spirits at standard bar pricing. |
Prices based on traveler reports and operator data, 2026. Prices vary by vessel. Confirm before boarding.
The bar tab impact across a voyage is worth calculating specifically. A couple who each drink two beverages per evening across 7 evenings: at $8 per drink average, that is $224 in charges not in the headline cruise price. At $12 per drink average, that is $336. Neither is ruinous, but both are meaningful additions to a budget travelers often assume is fully covered by the inclusive fare.
What Drinks Are Available on a Galapagos Cruise?
The drink selection on a Galapagos cruise reflects provisioning from Guayaquil before departure and any local sourcing from the islands. Standard offerings across the fleet include Ecuadorian national beers, Galapagos craft beers (Reptilia from Santa Cruz, Endemica from San Cristobal), South American wines, standard spirits, and cocktails. On luxury vessels the selection extends to reserve wines, signature cocktails, and espresso-based cocktail experiences with local Galapagos coffee.
The two Galapagos craft breweries are the most distinctive drink experience unique to a cruise in the archipelago. Reptilia Brewery on Santa Cruz produces five styles: an American Pale Ale, an Irish Red Ale, a Stout, a Wheat beer, and an Amber Ale. Endemica on San Cristobal makes a Blonde Ale, a Summer IPA, and a Coffee Stout, using reusable bottles distributed by bicycle. Both supply cruise vessels. Ecoventura features Reptilia as part of its open bar and conducts a dedicated craft beer tasting. Lindblad-National Geographic vessels have featured Endemica’s IPA to consistently positive traveler feedback.
Ecuadorian wine from Bodega Dos Hemisferios appears on Ecoventura’s bar. The winery near Guayaquil produces creditable reds and whites that pair well with the locally sourced seafood anchoring Ecuadorian cruise menus. Aguardiente, the sugar cane spirit distilled across Ecuador, is the most affordable local spirit. Canelazo, a warm spiced sugar cane and cinnamon drink with Andean roots, appears on some vessels as a welcome drink or evening cocktail feature and is worth asking for if you see it.
The specific drink selection, bar quality, and evening social atmosphere on any Galapagos vessel varies meaningfully between operators. If the bar experience matters to how you choose a cruise, we can describe what it looks like on any vessel we recommend. Send us a message here and we will include bar and drink details alongside the cruise recommendation.
Can You Bring Your Own Alcohol on a Galapagos Cruise?
Policy varies by operator. Some vessels allow guests to bring their own alcohol, sometimes with a corkage fee of $10 to $25 per bottle for wine consumed in the dining room. Others prohibit it entirely. Confirm before buying anything in port or on the mainland. If your vessel permits it, buying Reptilia or Endemica craft beer directly from the breweries in Puerto Ayora or Puerto Baquerizo Moreno during port stops is genuinely worthwhile: the price is lower than the vessel’s bar, and the selection is broader.
The practical logistics of bringing alcohol from the mainland are more limited than they appear. The domestic flight to the Galapagos enforces a strict weight limit of 20 to 23 kg checked and 7 to 10 kg carry-on. Wine packed in checked luggage risks breakage and consumes weight allowance that is better used for other items. The most practical strategy is to not attempt mainland-to-vessel alcohol and to buy locally during port stops if your operator permits it.
One operator note from the TripAdvisor Galapagos forum: “Outside alcohol is not allowed to be brought on board” was a sign posted on the Galapagos Voyager, while another traveler noted that “some don’t allow outside alcohol but some don’t mind and even suggest a visit to the store when in Puerto Ayora.” The variance is real. Some operators see local shopping as part of the Ecuadorian cultural experience and accommodate it generously. Others maintain a firm prohibition. Check with your specific operator.
Not sure what to leave at home when packing for a Galapagos cruise or which items are banned, pointless, or just dead weight? Here’s a straight breakdown on what not to bring on a Galapagos cruise.
What Is the Drinking Culture Like on a Galapagos Cruise?
The drinking culture on a Galapagos cruise is convivial and moderate. The active daily schedule, two excursions in equatorial sun, an early morning start, and an 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. bedtime naturally limits how much most people drink in the evening. Post-excursion aperitif hour on deck is the social centerpiece of the drinking day: a glass of wine or a local beer as the vessel sails toward the next anchorage. The Galapagos cruise is not a party boat experience by any vessel’s design.
The post-excursion aperitif is consistently named by travelers as one of the most enjoyable daily moments on any Galapagos cruise regardless of whether alcohol is included or charged. Returning from an afternoon snorkel or lava field walk, showering, and meeting on deck with a cold local beer as the sun lowers over the Pacific is a specific pleasure that the Galapagos cruise format delivers with a consistency no other destination matches. The social dynamic of a 16 to 100 passenger vessel where everyone has shared an extraordinary day means the conversation at aperitif hour is typically more interesting than any drink on offer.
One practical point worth naming directly: seasickness medication and alcohol are a poor combination. Both Bonine (meclizine) and Dramamine (dimenhydrinate) have reduced effectiveness when combined with alcohol, and alcohol independently lowers the vestibular system’s tolerance for motion. A glass of wine at dinner is unlikely to cause problems. Multiple drinks before an overnight crossing on a vessel prone to movement creates real risk. Travelers taking seasickness medication should drink moderately, particularly before anticipated rough passages.
We’ve got a full breakdown on how to avoid seasickness on a Galapagos cruise if you want to know exactly which medications, patches, bands, and onboard strategies make the biggest difference on rough channel crossings.
What Non-Alcoholic Drinks Are Available on a Galapagos Cruise?
Non-alcoholic drinks are included on every Galapagos cruise at every tier: purified water at refill stations, espresso and filter coffee, tea, fresh juices, and soft drinks. Fresh tropical fruit juices from guava, passionfruit, naranjilla, and tomate de arbol (tree tomato) appear on mid-range to luxury vessels and represent some of the most distinctive taste experiences of the destination. Ecuadorian highland coffee is excellent on quality vessels that source it well.
Fresh naranjilla juice is the non-alcoholic drink most travelers find revelatory on a Galapagos cruise. Naranjilla (Solanum quitoense) is a tart, citrusy fruit native to Ecuador with a flavor genuinely unlike anything available in North American or European grocery stores. Served fresh over ice as a morning juice, it is one of the flavor memories from Galapagos cruises that travelers consistently describe as surprising and irreplaceable. Tomate de arbol (tree tomato) juice is similarly distinctive: earthy, tangy, and typically served at breakfast as a straight juice or blended with sugar into a smooth drink.
Ecuadorian coffee deserves specific mention. Ecuador’s highland coffee regions, particularly around Loja and Zamora, produce high-altitude arabica that competes with the best of Colombia and Costa Rica. Ecoventura’s espresso martini demonstration uses Islander Galapagos coffee specifically, a brand sourced from Galapagos farmers. The coffee program on a quality vessel is not an afterthought: it is part of the local-sourcing story that runs through the best Galapagos cruise kitchens and bars.
Trying to figure out how to manage hydration on active landing days without carrying bottles of water onto the panga? Here’s the guide on drinking water on a Galapagos cruise so you plan it right.
What Travelers Say About Alcohol and Drinks on Their Galapagos Cruise (Our Data)
From feedback collected through mytrip2ecuador.com and our YouTube audience, here is what travelers reported about drinks and the bar experience on their Galapagos cruise:
| Finding | % Who Named It | Pattern Observed |
|---|---|---|
| Drank less than expected | 64% | Nearly two thirds of travelers reported drinking significantly less than they typically do on vacation, attributing it to the active schedule, early mornings, and the fact that being in bed by 9:30 p.m. does not leave much drinking time. |
| Bar charges were an unexpected budget item | 39% | More than a third of travelers on pay-per-drink vessels said their bar tab was higher than anticipated. The most common pattern: two to three drinks per person per evening adds up noticeably across eight nights. |
| Local craft beer was a highlight | 71% | More than seven in ten travelers named trying Galapagos craft beer (Reptilia or Endemica) as a specific enjoyable experience. Travelers on vessels featuring it prominently rated the bar experience significantly higher. |
| Aperitif hour was a daily highlight | 58% | More than half of travelers named the post-excursion drinks on deck as one of the daily moments they most looked forward to, whether alcohol was included or charged separately. |
| All-inclusive drinks changed the trip feel | 47% | Among travelers on all-inclusive vessels, almost half said that not having to think about drink costs changed the feel of the evening positively: they ordered what they wanted without calculating whether it was worth the extra charge. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is alcohol free on a Galapagos cruise?
It depends on the vessel. Celebrity Flora, HX Santa Cruz II, Silver Origin, and Ecoventura all include alcohol in the cruise fare. Most mid-range and budget vessels charge separately for alcohol at an onboard bar. Non-alcoholic drinks are included on virtually every vessel at every tier.
How much does alcohol cost on a Galapagos cruise?
On pay-per-drink vessels in 2026: local Ecuadorian beer $3 to $6, craft beer $5 to $8, cocktails $8 to $12, wine by the glass $8 to $15, wine by the bottle $30 to $80. A couple who drink moderately across 7 evenings can expect to add $150 to $350 in bar charges that are not visible in the headline cruise fare.
Can I bring my own wine or beer on a Galapagos cruise?
Policy varies by vessel. Some operators permit it, sometimes with a corkage fee of $10 to $25 per bottle for wine consumed in the dining room. Others prohibit it entirely. Confirm with your specific operator before purchasing anything. If permitted, buying local Galapagos craft beer in Puerto Ayora during port stops is genuinely worthwhile.
What local drinks should I try on a Galapagos cruise?
Reptilia craft beer (Santa Cruz) and Endemica craft beer (San Cristobal) are the standout local alcoholic drinks unique to the Galapagos. Fresh naranjilla juice and tomate de arbol juice are the most distinctive non-alcoholic local offerings. Aguardiente and canelazo represent Ecuadorian spirit and drink culture.
Does alcohol affect seasickness medication on a Galapagos cruise?
Yes. Both Bonine (meclizine) and Dramamine (dimenhydrinate) have reduced effectiveness when combined with alcohol. Alcohol also independently reduces the vestibular system’s tolerance for motion. Drink moderately and avoid heavy alcohol consumption before overnight crossings if you are taking seasickness medication.
Want to Know Exactly What Is Included Before You Book?
The alcohol inclusion or exclusion on your Galapagos cruise affects both your onboard experience and your real trip cost in ways not always obvious from a headline price. We factor drink policy into the full cost-of-ownership comparison we build for every traveler we work with, and we know the specific bar selection and drink experience on every vessel we recommend. Cruises To Galapagos Islands is rated 4.9 stars on Google and TripAdvisor. Every conversation is free with no commitment. Fill out the contact form and we will give you a complete and honest picture of what is included versus what costs extra on any cruise we recommend.
Written by Oleg Galeev
Galapagos cruise traveler (3 trips, 2 cruises) · Founder, Cruises To Galapagos Islands
Oleg has personally researched drink policies, prices, and the local Ecuadorian drinks scene across multiple Galapagos cruises documented on mytrip2ecuador.com and the YouTube channel My Trip to Somewhere.
Cruises To Galapagos Islands is rated 4.9 stars on Google and TripAdvisor.
All pricing and policies cited in this article are verified against operator sources as of the publish date. Drink policies and prices change frequently.