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Eclipse (Galapagos Island)  


Discover the Galapagos Islands on board the finest expedition vessel available. Ever since her arrival in Ecuador,
the Eclipse has surpassed the other options available in the Galapagos Islands, offering unparalleled levels of comfort
and service. She was converted specifically for upscale cruising in the islands, and was designed to meet the exacting
demands of luxury travel. The Eclipse is the perfect base for any Galapagos experience; a generously proportioned
ship with a small yacht atmosphere.

Whether you are snorkeling with sea lions, watching a blue-footed booby feed its young, or following a giant tortoise
through the forest, the Galapagos Islands will surpass all expectations. And there is no better way to enjoy the wonders
of the islands, than on board the Eclipse.

In designing the Eclipse’s layout we chose to compromise on cabin numbers in order to provide our passengers with unrivalled cabin space and ample social areas. The Eclipse is unique in offering the generous accommodation of a larger vessel, while preserving the atmosphere and exclusivity of a smaller yacht.

The Eclipse accommodates up to 48 passengers in staterooms, all with sea views. Fully air-conditioned, the spacious cabins have either a queen or twin bed arrangement and well-appointed bathrooms with fresh towels provided every day and the complimentary use of bathrobes. All the ship’s twin beds can be converted to king size beds upon request.

Local time: GMT minus 6 hours, one hour behind Ecuador’s mainland.
On-board languages: English and Spanish.
On-board currency: US Dollar.

On-board payments:
Please keep track of your consumption of alcoholic beverages in order to avoid any confusion at the end of the cruise. Each
beverage should be signed for. The total bill should be paid at the end of the cruise in US Dollars. We accept Traveler’s Checks, Visa, MasterCard and American Express for payments over US$50.00. Passengers do not need to carry cash on board, and bills should be paid the evening before the last day of the cruise, in order to avoid any inconveniences on the day of disembarking.

Food and drink:
All meals are served buffet style around the Jacuzzi or in the dining room.
All non-alcoholic beverages, plus 2 glasses of house wine with lunch and dinner, are included.

Special meals:
Some travelers have special dietary requirements. In this event, Ocean Adventures should be contacted at least 30 days prior to the start of the cruise. Every effort will be made to accommodate any special requests, subject to the products’ availability in Ecuador.

Drinking water:
As part of our continued effort to protect the environment, all guests will receive a complimentary water bottle upon arrival, and refill stations are available throughout the vessel.

Electrical current:
220 volts (110 transformers available upon request)

Dress Code:
There is no formal dress code on board, but we require that shoes, shirts and trousers/shorts be worn in the lounge, dining room and library.

Smoking policy:
Smoking is forbidden inside the Eclipse. However, smoking is permitted by the Jacuzzi and on the sun deck.

Please bear in mind that this is merely a suggestion, since we believe that gratuities are a very personal matter.










 


Itinerary
From your comfortable base aboard the Eclipse, you will be able to explore the best visitor sites. There are many opportunities to hike, swim, snorkel, kayak, bird-watch and take great close-up photographs of the flora and fauna. For land visits, passengers are divided into groups of a maximum of twelve people, each with its own naturalist guide. Groups can be divided according to the physical conditions of the passengers. On the islands you will follow trails, walking at a leisurely pace, with your guide explaining the unusual sights you see. Afterwards, there is often an opportunity to swim and snorkel before returning to the Eclipse.

INFO ABOUT GALAPAGOS ISLAND:
It has been more than 450 years since their discovery, and the islands remain largely intact thanks to the conservation efforts of the Galapagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Research Station. A further boost to the protection of the islands was given in 1978, when UNESCO declared them a World Heritage Site. The waters around the Galapagos, which are the lifeblood of the archipelago, are also legally protected within the Galapagos Marine Reserve.

The Galapagos Islands offer a unique interaction with nature, and their name is synonymous with survival and the celebration of the diversity of species on earth.

History
Situated 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, the archipelago consists of nineteen islands and more than forty islets, which were created six million years ago when they emerged from the Pacific in a flurry of volcanic activity.

The islands were discovered in 1535 by Tomás de Berlanga, who sent the first known description of the Galapagos to the King of Spain; "…nothing but seals, and turtles, and such big tortoises that each could carry a man on top of itself, and many iguanas that are like serpents". He also remarked on the tameness of the creatures; "…many birds like those of Spain, but so silly that they do not know to flee, and many were caught in the hand."

The most important visitor to the Galapagos Islands was Charles Darwin, who arrived in 1835 on board the Beagle. He was amazed by the extraordinary life he found on the islands, and obtained very important samples and facts to develop and sustain his theory of evolution and natural selection. In fact, he was responsible for bringing the Galapagos to the world's attention in 1859, when he published The Origin of Species.



Galapagos National Park Regulations:
Groups of no more than 16 visitors are led by a naturalist guide certified by the Galapagos National Park Service. This policy is intended to reduce the impact on the fragile ecosystems while providing a sense of solitude and privacy on the islands.

- Take nothing but photographs, and leave nothing but footprints.
- Do not disturb or remove any native plant, rock or animal.
- Always follow the trails that are marked out by the National Park Service.
- Do not take food on to the islands.
- Do not smoke on the islands.
- Do not litter.
- Do not touch or feed the animals.
- Do not use flash photography for close up animal shots.
- Do not buy any souvenirs made from native Galapagos products (except for wood).
- Clean the soles of your shoes after island excursions in order to avoid transporting seeds.
 
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