Galaxy Sirius Galapagos Cruise Review
TL;DR
The Galaxy Sirius is a 120-foot luxury catamaran built in 2023 and operated by the Galaxy fleet, carrying 16 guests in 9 cabins with private balconies across two decks. Its defining structural advantage is two naturalist guides for 16 guests, matching the Tribute’s 8:1 ratio at a noticeably lower price. Three itineraries run 5 or 6 days (A South, B West, C North/Central), combinable into an 11-day full circuit. Prices start at $5,700 per person for 5 days, with park fees and alcohol excluded. Liveaboard.com scores 8.9 out of 10. Cruise director William and guides Chris, Walter, and Carlos Lopez are named positively across independent accounts. The cooking class and cocktail class onboard are a practical differentiator from most competing vessels.
Galaxy Sirius Galapagos Cruise: Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Vessel type | Power motor catamaran (twin-hull) |
| Class | Luxury / Super Deluxe |
| Dimensions | 120 ft (36.32 m) length / 42.65 ft (13 m) beam |
| Capacity | 16 passengers |
| Cabins | 9 cabins: main deck (4 or 5 cabins) and upper deck (4 cabins). All with private balconies, king or twin beds, en-suite bathrooms, A/C, minibar, large windows. Cabin size approximately 244 to 277 sq ft. |
| Year built | 2023 (entered service 2024) |
| Operator | Galaxy fleet (Ecuadorian, also operates Galaxy Diver II, Galaxy Orion) |
| Crew and guides | 9 crew + 1 cruise director + 2 bilingual naturalist guides |
| Guest-to-guide ratio | 8:1 (two guides for 16 guests) |
| Itinerary lengths | 5 days / 4 nights (A: Southeast), 6 days / 5 nights (B: Western, C: Northern/Central). Combinable to 11 days. |
| Price range (2026) | From $5,700 pp (5 days) to $7,100 pp (6 days). Includes all meals, snacks after excursions, soft drinks, water, coffee, tea, snorkel gear, wetsuits, kayaks, paddleboards, welcome cocktail, transfers. Prices verified September 20, 2026. |
| Not included | Galapagos National Park fee ($200 USD adults), Transit Control Card ($20 USD), Galapagos domestic flights, alcoholic beverages, gratuities, travel insurance. Single supplement 50%. |
| Child discount | 10% for children 6 to 11 traveling with two adults |
| Liveaboard.com score | 8.9 / 10: Vessel 9.3, Food 9.3, Crew 8.7, Activities 8.7, Value 8.7 |
What Is the Galaxy Sirius and Who Is This Cruise Actually Built For?
The Galaxy Sirius is a 120-foot luxury catamaran built in 2023 and operated by the Galaxy fleet, which also runs the Galaxy Diver II dive liveaboard and the Galaxy Orion. It carries 16 guests in 9 cabins, all with private balconies, and deploys two naturalist guides simultaneously on every departure. That 8:1 guide ratio matches the Tribute, which charges significantly more per cabin for the same feature. Three modular itineraries run 5 or 6 days from $5,700 per person, with park fees excluded.
The two-guide model is the Galaxy Sirius’s clearest competitive advantage relative to its price. Most vessels at this price point run one guide for 16 guests. The Tribute runs two guides for 16 guests but starts at $5,495 for 5 days on its lowest cabin category before park fees, roughly comparable in price to the Sirius, though the Tribute carries additional inclusions like wine and beer. The practical difference two guides makes is the same regardless of which vessel delivers it: excursion groups of 8 instead of 16, more individual question time, the ability to split hikers from snorkelers without either group losing guide coverage.
The 2023 build date means the Galaxy Sirius is one of the newest standard vessels currently sailing in the Galapagos luxury fleet. The interior reflects current design standards: clean lines, contemporary finishes, large windows, and the kind of detail that marks purpose-built 2020s hospitality vessels rather than vessels renovated from earlier builds. Compared to the Petrel (2015) and Sea Star (2011 rebuilt 2019), the Sirius offers the newest hardware at this price bracket.
This cruise suits travelers who want both private balconies and a strong guide ratio without paying upper-luxury pricing. It suits couples and groups who want a socially active onboard experience: the cooking class and cocktail class format draws the group together in a way that more passive social spaces don’t. It suits families where children are at least 6 years old. It does not suit travelers who need included alcohol as a baseline, or those who need more than 6 days in a single itinerary without combining routes. Reach out here and we’ll compare the Galaxy Sirius against the Tribute and Ocean Spray for your specific travel window.
What Are the Cabins and Social Spaces Like on the Galaxy Sirius?
Nine cabins across main and upper decks, all with private balconies and convertible king or twin bed configurations. Cabin sizes run approximately 244 to 277 square feet including the balcony. Every cabin has an en-suite bathroom with hot water and premium toiletries, individual A/C control, large panoramic windows, a minibar, closet, and writing desk. The Liveaboard.com review notes the cabins as “large” with “all amenities” and specifically calls the vessel “beautiful and very clean.”
The all-cabin balcony feature at this price point places the Galaxy Sirius alongside the Petrel and Ocean Spray as one of the few luxury catamarans where no traveler draws the short straw on outdoor cabin access. The upper deck cabins sit higher with wider sightlines; the main deck cabins sit lower with slightly more stability in beam seas. Both are the same size, which avoids the hierarchical cabin-selection anxiety that affects vessels where upper-deck suites significantly outsize lower-deck staterooms.
The social spaces across three decks are where the Galaxy Sirius’s catamaran beam works in its favor. The main deck holds the dining room and interior lounge. The al-fresco lounge opens off the rear deck for outdoor dining and social time between excursions. The sun deck at the top carries the jacuzzi, sun loungers, and the 360-degree view that makes it the de facto gathering spot during morning and afternoon transits between sites. Across these three levels, 16 guests have enough distributed space that the vessel never feels crowded, a point the independent reviewer describes explicitly: “the common areas are large and available throughout the ship, so it never felt crowded.”
Wi-Fi is included and rated as “quite fast” in the Liveaboard.com review, a specific commendation given that Galapagos connectivity is satellite-dependent and many vessels offer Wi-Fi that works in theory and fails in practice. Cell service on the islands is noted as scarce, making the onboard Wi-Fi practically important for guests managing family communication or light work during downtime.
Which Itineraries Does the Galaxy Sirius Sail and What Will You See?
Three itineraries cover complementary geographic zones. Itinerary A (5 days, Southeast) covers Española, Floreana, Santa Fe, and South Plazas. Itinerary B (6 days, Western) covers Isabela, Fernandina, and Santiago. Itinerary C (6 days, Northern/Central) covers Rabida, Genovesa, Bartolome, and Santiago. A and C combine into an 11-day circuit; A and B combine into an 11-day western-focused circuit. All three together is a 17-day full archipelago trip on a single vessel.
| Itinerary | Length | Key Sites | Signature Wildlife | 2026 Price From (pp) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Southeast Wonders | 5 days | San Cristobal (Lobos Island), Española (Gardner Bay, Suarez Point), Floreana (Post Office Bay, Cormorant Point, Devil’s Crown), Santa Fe, South Plazas, Darwin Station (Santa Cruz) | Waved albatross (Española, seasonal), flamingos, sea lions at Gardner Bay, sharks at Devil’s Crown, giant tortoises | $5,700 |
| B: Western Wonders | 6 days | Santa Cruz Highlands, Isabela (Moreno Point, Elizabeth Bay, Urbina Bay, Tagus Cove, Albemarle Point), Fernandina (Espinoza Point), Santiago (Egas Port, Espumilla Beach, Buccaneer Cove), Dragon Hill | Flightless cormorants, Galapagos penguins, marine iguanas, seahorses, Galapagos hawks | $7,100 |
| C: Winged Wonders | 6 days | Black Turtle Cove (Santa Cruz), Rabida, Chinese Hat, North Seymour, Mosquera, Santa Cruz Highlands, Santiago (Sullivan Bay), Bartolome, Genovesa (El Barranco, Darwin Bay), San Cristobal Interpretation Center | Red-footed boobies (Genovesa), frigatebirds, short-eared owls, land iguanas, sea lions at Mosquera, Pinnacle Rock (Bartolome) | $7,100 |
Itinerary B’s western coverage is the strongest single route on this vessel. The combination of Isabela and Fernandina in a 6-day itinerary that doesn’t skip central island stops is the same geographic achievement that makes the Petrel’s 8-day Itinerary A compelling, delivered here in 6 days with two guides. Punta Espinoza on Fernandina, where the flightless cormorant exists in its highest concentrations, is not accessible from every itinerary in the fleet and requires the longer western crossing that shorter routes skip.
Itinerary C’s “Winged Wonders” name earns its title. Genovesa is the crown jewel of the northern route: red-footed boobies nesting in the thousands, Prince Philip’s Steps trail climbed by two groups of 8 rather than one group of 16, and the storm petrel and short-eared owl predator-prey dynamic visible from the plateau above. Combining C with A gives an 11-day trip that covers the full eastern, southern, and northern island arc without the western detour, which is the right combination for travelers whose priorities lean toward wildlife diversity over volcanic geology.
The combination flexibility mirrors the Sea Star’s modular design and adds real value for travelers with more than 6 days available. The 11-day A plus C combination in particular covers every major wildlife zone except the far west, making it one of the more comprehensive wildlife itineraries available at this price point. Send us a message and we’ll match the right route combination to your travel window.
How Is the Food, Crew, and Day-to-Day Experience on the Galaxy Sirius?
Food scores 9.3 out of 10 on Liveaboard.com, tied with the vessel score as the highest-rated category. The kitchen produces themed meals across the week with strong vegetarian and gluten-free accommodation. The cooking class and cocktail class are specifically called out in the most detailed independent review as highlights. Snacks and juice or tea are served after every excursion. Alcoholic beverages are excluded from the base fare but the bar produces cocktails rated as “well-crafted and tasty” by the same reviewer. Cruise director William is named positively across multiple accounts.
The cooking class deserves more than bullet-point treatment because it changes the social dynamic of the trip in a meaningful way. A cooking class on a 16-person vessel means essentially the whole group participates simultaneously, which produces a social cohesion that passive deck time doesn’t. By day three, a group that has cooked and eaten together has a different relationship than one that has simply shared meals served to them. The Liveaboard.com reviewer describes the group of 15 passengers as having “blended well and had a great time sharing adventures, photos and bits about their lives.” That outcome is partly itinerary and partly the cooking class format creating early connections.
The themed meal structure across the week is another operational decision that reflects active kitchen creativity rather than a rotating standard menu. Different regional or culinary themes on successive evenings maintain interest across a 5 or 6-day trip and give the chef a framework for showcasing Ecuadorian ingredients without repeating the same presentation. The reviewer describes the food as “delicious and varied,” which for a 5 or 6-day trip is the minimum standard but expressed with specificity that suggests it exceeded expectations rather than just meeting them.
Cruise director William appears by name in more than one account from different departures, a specific trust signal for operational consistency. A cruise director who generates this kind of named recognition is managing group dynamics, excursion timing, and individual requests in a way that guests notice and remember. Combined with guides Chris, Walter, and Carlos Lopez all named positively in separate accounts, the Galaxy Sirius has a stronger named-staff track record for a 2024-launched vessel than most comparable catamarans manage in their first two years. Fill out this short form for a free quote and an honest read on whether the Galaxy Sirius is the right fit for your group.
How Good Are the Naturalist Guides on the Galaxy Sirius?
Two certified bilingual naturalist guides for 16 guests. Chris and Walter are named positively in the most detailed independent account as “extremely knowledgeable about everything Galapagos” and praised for balancing patience with less agile travelers without disadvantaging more active ones. Carlos Lopez and Walter Sotomayor appear by name in a separate account. Two guides named across multiple accounts within the first two years of operation is an unusually strong early signal for a 2024-launched vessel.
The reviewer’s specific observation about guide pacing is worth highlighting because it describes something that affects every Galapagos group tour: “they were patient with those who needed a bit more assistance, but didn’t take away from others who were more agile and adventurous.” That balance is harder to maintain with 16 people and one guide than with 8 people and a dedicated guide for each subgroup. The two-guide model makes this balance structurally easier to achieve, and the named guides here appear to execute it well.
The guide-to-guest ratio of 8:1 also makes a practical difference at specific visitor sites. At Genovesa’s Prince Philip’s Steps, a steep trail with limited width, two groups of 8 move more fluidly than one group of 16. At Gardner Bay on Española, where sea lions share the beach with visitors, smaller groups produce less crowd pressure on the animals and longer individual observation time per guest. These are the accumulated moments where the guide ratio converts from a spec number into a better wildlife experience.
How Does the Galaxy Sirius Compare to Similar Vessels?
The Galaxy Sirius’s natural competitors at the two-guide / all-balcony intersection are the Tribute (same guide ratio, no balconies, higher amenity tier, wine and beer included) and the Monique (same operator family, no balconies, newer eco-tech, lower price). Against vessels with only one guide, the Sirius wins on education quality. Against the Tribute on total inclusions, the Sirius trades included alcohol and a massage area for private balconies on every cabin and a lower per-cabin price.
| Vessel | Guide Ratio | Balconies | Alcohol Included | Key Trade-off vs. Galaxy Sirius |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Sirius | 8:1 | All 9 cabins | No | Newest build; cooking/cocktail classes; 3 combinable routes; two guides at mid-luxury price |
| Tribute | 8:1 | None | Wine and beer | Wine/beer included; private massage area; onboard photographer; no balconies |
| Ocean Spray | 16:1 | All 9 cabins | No | Longer review history; same price; one guide only |
| Monique | 16:1 | None | Beer and wine with dinner (some channels) | 2026 build; stronger eco-tech; lower price; no balconies; one guide |
The Tribute comparison is the one most travelers end up on when they find the Galaxy Sirius. Both offer two guides for 16 guests. The Tribute adds wine and beer, a private massage area, an onboard photographer, and a 2024 refit on a 2008 hull. The Galaxy Sirius adds private balconies on every cabin, a 2023 build interior, and the cooking and cocktail class experience. At broadly comparable prices (Tribute from $5,495, Sirius from $5,700, both before park fees), the choice comes down to whether you prioritize an outdoor balcony and the newest possible interior over included alcohol and wellness amenities. Neither is strictly better. Both have two guides, which is the most operationally meaningful shared feature.
What Do Real Travelers Say About the Galaxy Sirius?
Liveaboard.com aggregate score 8.9 out of 10 across a small but growing review set: Vessel 9.3, Food 9.3, Crew 8.7, Activities 8.7, Value 8.7. Two primary accounts exist in the public domain. Nancy S (US, 10/10) describes the trip as “flawless and fantastic” and specifically praises guides Chris and Walter, cruise director William, the cooking and cocktail classes, the food themes, the Wi-Fi, and the social dynamic of a 15-person group. Joseph V (US, 8.0/10) calls it “an amazing vacation experience” that “exceeded expectations,” naming Carlos Lopez, Walter Sotomayor, and the crew as highlights, with no documented complaints in either account.
Nancy S’s review is the most detailed independent account and worth reading for what it actually describes rather than the rating alone. The length of the review, covering guides by name, food quality, Wi-Fi performance, cocktail class, cooking class, snack timing, group dynamics, common area design, and hot tub experience, indicates a traveler who engaged fully with the vessel and came away with genuine enthusiasm rather than the performative positivity of a courtesy review. The 10/10 rating is supported by specifics rather than generalities.
The 8.9 aggregate with only a small number of reviews means the Galaxy Sirius cannot yet be compared on the same review confidence level as the Humboldt Explorer (90 reviews) or the Sea Star (multiple years of multi-platform accounts). This is the predictable position of a vessel that launched in 2024 and primarily books through tour operators who route reviews to internal channels. What exists is unambiguously positive, and the named staff pattern (William, Chris, Walter, Carlos Lopez across two accounts) points to consistent crew quality rather than a lucky single departure.
One practical detail that appears in the review corpus and doesn’t appear anywhere on the vessel’s booking pages: the juice and tea served after every excursion. This is a small but consistent feature that creates a recovery moment between returning from a hot Galapagos hike or snorkel and the next activity. On a vessel where two excursions per day is the standard pace, those post-excursion recovery rituals matter to how people feel by day four.
Is the Galaxy Sirius Worth Booking? Our Honest Verdict
Yes, particularly for travelers who want both private balconies and a two-guide ratio at a price that sits below the upper luxury tier. The 2023 build delivers the newest interior in its competitive set. The named crew and guide track record is unusually strong for a vessel in its first two years of operation. The cooking class and cocktail class are genuine experiential differentiators. The honest caveats: thin review pool compared to established vessels, alcohol excluded from the base fare, a 10% child discount that is considerably weaker than the 20 to 25% offered by competing vessels, and an 8.7 activities score that invites checking whether the itinerary you’re selecting aligns with your wildlife priorities.
The price-to-features case is the Galaxy Sirius’s strongest argument. At $7,100 for a 6-day cruise with two guides, private balconies on every cabin, post-excursion snacks, cooking and cocktail classes, and a 2023 interior, the vessel competes favorably with the Tribute on guide ratio, with the Petrel and Ocean Spray on balconies, and with both on price. It is not the cheapest option in the Super Deluxe class, but it is the only vessel in that class that combines all three of those features simultaneously at its price point.
Book Itinerary B or C for the strongest wildlife coverage. Itinerary A’s 5-day southern circuit is a solid introduction, but the 6-day western and northern routes deliver the islands where the wildlife encounters are most concentrated and least replicable on shorter trips. If time allows, the 11-day A plus C combination covers the most ground at the best value-per-day on this vessel. Ready to lock in availability for the Galaxy Sirius? Get in touch here for a free quote and honest comparison against the Tribute and Ocean Spray for your dates.
What Travelers Actually Report: Galaxy Sirius Cohort Feedback
Based on feedback gathered through mytrip2ecuador.com, our YouTube audience, and traveler conversations Oleg has conducted, combined with the Liveaboard.com public review dataset. The Galaxy Sirius entered service in 2024, so the sample is growing but still early-stage.
| Category | Score / Signal | Key Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Food quality | 9.3 / 10 | Themed meals across the week; strong vegetarian and gluten-free accommodation; cocktail class and cooking class both specifically praised; post-excursion snacks and juice/tea routine noted positively |
| Vessel condition | 9.3 / 10 | 2023 build; “beautiful and very clean” in primary review; common areas described as spacious and non-crowded for 16 guests; hot tub specifically praised |
| Crew and service | 8.7 / 10 | Cruise director William named positively across multiple accounts; safety orientation described as thorough; crew availability described as consistent throughout the trip |
| Guide quality | Strong early signal | Guides Chris, Walter, and Carlos Lopez all named positively within first two years of operation; 8:1 ratio confirmed; pacing for mixed-ability groups specifically praised |
| Activities | 8.7 / 10 | Two excursions per day maintained; snorkeling, hiking, kayaking, slow panga rides all mentioned; cooking class and cocktail class as standout additions; Genovesa and Española highlights in respective itineraries |
| Value | 8.7 / 10 | Two guides and all-cabin balconies at mid-luxury price viewed as strong value; alcohol exclusion noted as additional cost; park fees adding $220 per adult before trip cost |
What to Know Before You Book the Galaxy Sirius
Alcohol is not included. The bar is open and serves cocktails, wine, beer, and spirits, all charged separately. The welcome cocktail is included; everything after that runs on your tab. For a 6-day cruise, this adds a real cost on top of the base fare. Budget it against vessels like the Tribute where wine and beer are included in the published rate.
The child discount is 10% for children 6 to 11. This is noticeably lower than the 20 to 25% offered by competing vessels including the Sea Star (20%), Monique (25%), and Petrel (25%). Families with multiple children will feel the gap meaningfully when comparing all-in costs across vessels.
Park fees and the Transit Control Card are excluded. The $200 USD adult Galapagos National Park fee and $20 USD Transit Control Card must be paid separately. The TCT must be purchased through the official digital platform before flying to the islands, as of September 2026. Add roughly $220 per adult to the published cabin price before comparing the Galaxy Sirius against vessels where these fees are included.
The review pool is still thin. The Galaxy Sirius launched in 2024 and the public review corpus reflects that. The early data is strong, and the named staff pattern is encouraging, but travelers who need a large verified review sample before booking should consider the Ocean Spray, Sea Star, or Tribute, all of which carry more public review history from the same or lower price range.
The single supplement is 50%. At $7,100 for a 6-day cruise, a solo traveler booking a double cabin pays the full twin cabin rate with a 50% surcharge. Confirm the single supplement impact on your specific cabin category before comparing the Galaxy Sirius to alternatives where solo pricing is more favorable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many guides does the Galaxy Sirius carry?
Two certified bilingual naturalist guides for 16 guests, producing an 8:1 ratio. This is the same ratio as the Tribute and among the best in the luxury class at this price point.
Does every cabin on the Galaxy Sirius have a private balcony?
Yes. All 9 cabins have private balconies, with convertible king or twin bed configurations and panoramic windows. Cabin sizes are approximately 244 to 277 square feet including the balcony.
Can I combine Galaxy Sirius itineraries?
Yes. Itinerary A (5 days, Southeast) and Itinerary C (6 days, Northern/Central) combine into an 11-day circuit. Itinerary A and Itinerary B (6 days, Western) also combine to 11 days with a western focus. All three itineraries together cover 17 days and most of the archipelago.
Are the Galapagos park fees included?
No. The $200 USD adult park fee and $20 USD Transit Control Card must be paid separately. The TCT must be purchased through the official digital platform before flying to the islands. Prices verified September 20, 2026.
Considering the Galaxy Sirius?
We can compare it against the Tribute, Ocean Spray, Petrel, and every other vessel in the luxury catamaran class, including which itinerary combination covers your wildlife priorities most efficiently. Cruises To Galapagos Islands holds a 4.9-star rating on both Google and TripAdvisor.
Written by Oleg Galeev
Galapagos cruise traveler (3 trips, 2 cruises) · Founder, Cruises To Galapagos Islands
Oleg has personally inspected nearly every available Galapagos cruise vessel and interviewed thousands of travelers to build the most first-hand cruise knowledge base available. He also runs the Ecuador travel blog 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 regulations in this article are verified against official Galapagos National Park and Ecuador government sources as of the publish date.