If you’ve tried to check out some of the Galapagos cruise tours, you’ll notice that they’re a bit pricey. Luckily, there are a few tips and tricks which can help you save a lot of money. So before being heartbroken about the price factor, take a look at some of these noteworthy things.
Combined cruise and land tours
Depending on your budget, taking a long cruise might be the best option for you if you want to get the most out of a Galapagos cruise tour. However, if you are on a budget and still want to enjoy a sensational cruise, consider combining your trip into a cruise and a land tour. Just think about it.
Here’s how it’ll work. Shorten your cruise days to around four and delegate the rest of your days to land trips. You’ll still get to enjoy breathtaking cruises while still saving a good chunk of your money. Better yet, you’ll also get to further explore the islands of Galapagos on your land tour, having enjoyed your cruise.
Mid-range and budget cruises
The way to enjoy the Galapagos in style is on a luxury cruise ship or yacht. You’ll have top of the class meals, rooms, and even a unicorn (maybe that’s a little bit far fetched). One loveable thing about the Galapagos is that it always has everyone in mind; whether you’re out there to spend money with no budget or you are on a shoestring budget.
Mid-range and budget cruises are some of the cheaper options that offer enthralling experiences. However, unlike the luxury class, you’d be missing out on some precious services while cruising in these classes. The rooms won’t be as chic as you’d want them to be.
A word of advice is when you go for these classes, especially the budget cruise, try to avoid rooms that are near the engine. You might end up losing some of your precious sleep time that you’d require while vacationing. This is because yacht engines tend to be noisy.
Last-minute cruise
Cruise vessels are generally in high demand. Booking early allows you to get the cruise ship you truly desire. A nice sleeping spot, the elegant fleet of your choice and all that panache. Most likely, you’ll catch the worm if you’re early enough. But this also means one thing, all those come at the original stated price, which is usually steep.
Nonetheless, taking a Galapagos last minute cruise can save you a lot of money if you are on a budget. It might sound strange to you at first. This is how it adds up. Towards the day of departure, some fleets normally have unbooked cabins. To avoid traveling with those empty cabins, most cruise companies slash their prices tremendously. It’s not unusual to see a discount of 50% off in an attempt to attract more riders. Now that’s a good deal.
However, there are some things you’d want to consider before you do this. You have to put in mind that this is a risky move. A gamble that might leave you with no cruise. The best thing to do is finding a good travel agency that has the experience. You’ll also have to forgo your cruise preferences. Simply because, by not booking, you somehow leave your spot up for grabs.
One last thing that’ll be required of you is flexibility. Since you’ll be operating in a last-minute mode, it’ll force you to be on the lookout for any opportunity that arises.
Low seasons
Cruising the Galapagos during the high seasons requires you to book long before the actual departure date. This could be several months in advance. With the high demand comes steep prices. If you want to enjoy a cruise in these picturesque islands on a budget, another good option for you would be touring during the low seasons.
Most cruise operators slash their prices to woo passengers. The trade-off, however, is this; the low season is warm and rainy and characterized by choppy waters that might make you seasick.
Traveling to the Galapagos doesn’t have to dent your pockets since you can always get a good bargain. Nevertheless, you’ll have to keep in mind that it’ll also come with a trade-off, your preference for money.