Dive trip with Tribute - 4 nights

Boat

Tribute is designed for travellers who want the reach of a liveaboard without joining a diving safari. It is a luxury naturalist expedition yacht and a non-diving liveaboard. The programme combines guided landings, nature walks, tender exploration, snorkelling and, where the site and conditions allow, kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding. Scuba diving is not operated from this vessel and is not part of the cruise fare.

Built in Guayaquil in 2008 and comprehensively refitted in 2024, the steel monohull measures approximately 42 metres long and 8 metres across. She carries a maximum of 16 guests, looked after by 13 crew members and two naturalist guides. That creates an unusually strong service and interpretation ratio: the operator assigns one English-speaking guide to each group of eight guests for the listed excursions.

Tribute's size is one of her practical strengths. She has the range to link remote visitor sites overnight, yet her small guest complement keeps embarkations and daily briefings personal. Days normally begin early. Guests leave the yacht by tender for a dry or wet landing, return for lunch and a pause during the hottest hours, then set out again in the afternoon. The captain may reposition the yacht while everyone dines or sleeps, so the next landscape is waiting at breakfast.

The main interior social space brings together an ocean-view dining room, a cocktail bar and wine vault, a coffee-and-chocolate corner, a small boutique, and Freddy's lounge and library. Large windows keep the islands present even between excursions. The atmosphere is refined rather than formal: practical expedition clothing works during the day, while relaxed resort wear is appropriate for dinner.

Outdoor areas are spread over several levels. The Sky Deck has a panoramic lounge, open and shaded seating, an al fresco dining area, a barbecue station and the outdoor hydro-massage sky tub. The Bridge Deck adds a sunset lounge, a private massage area and an open-air workout zone. At the stern, the swim platform creates a convenient water-level point for authorised swimming and snorkelling sessions under crew direction.

Meals are an important part of the experience. The operator describes menus that draw on Ecuadorian flavours and international technique, with lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on the final day included. Dietary or allergy-related requests should be submitted before travel so the galley can plan appropriately. A stated selection of local house wines, beers and soft drinks is included; other alcoholic beverages and special beverage packages remain chargeable.

The yacht publishes an International Safety Management certification and carries two GPS units with alarms and depth sounder, satellite and mobile communications, bilge and fire pumps, extinguishers throughout, three CO2 banks, emergency oxygen, first-aid and trauma supplies, lifelines and emergency life jackets in the suites. Guests still need to attend the onboard safety briefing and follow the captain, guides and tender crew during every transfer.

Cabin

Tribute accommodates a maximum of 16 guests in exactly 8 suites across three accommodation decks. The current inventory reconciles as follows:

• 4 Panorama Suites — 20 m² / 215 ft²: two on the Bridge Deck and two on the Main Deck; double or twin configuration; maximum 2 guests each; chair, working desk, large drawer, spacious ensuite bathroom, superior foam mattress, pillow menu, reading lights, blackout curtains, individual air conditioning and refillable water bottles
• 2 Premium Suites — 25 m² / 269 ft², Bridge Deck: double or twin configuration for 2 guests, with a sofa that can convert into an additional bed only when specifically approved; chair, working desk, larger storage, ensuite bathroom with double washbasin, superior foam mattress, pillow menu, reading lights, blackout curtains, individual air conditioning and refillable water bottles
• 1 Owner's Suite — 50 m² / 538 ft², Main Deck: double or twin configuration for 2 guests; separate resting lounge with two sofas and coffee table, chair, working desk, extensive storage, ensuite bathroom with double washbasin, superior foam mattress, pillow menu, reading lights, blackout curtains, two individual air-conditioning units, binoculars and refillable water bottles
• 1 Ocean Vista Suite — 18 m² / 194 ft², Oceanside Deck: double or twin configuration for 2 guests; three portholes, private ensuite bathroom, reading lights, blackout curtains, individual air conditioning and refillable water bottles

The arithmetic is exact: four Panorama plus two Premium plus one Owner's plus one Ocean Vista equals eight suites. At standard double occupancy, the inventory provides 16 berths, matching the yacht's published maximum. The convertible sofa in each Premium Suite creates flexibility for a family arrangement, but it does not increase the vessel's overall capacity above 16. Any triple request must therefore be confirmed for the specific sailing, suite and group composition before deposit.

All suites have private bathroom facilities with hot shower, toilet and washbasin, air conditioning, closet space and towels. The operator also lists biodegradable soap, shampoo and conditioner. Bedding is sold as double/twin, but the final configuration should be recorded on the booking confirmation; no public cabin-number list is provided, and a request for a particular deck or room remains subject to availability.

The Panorama Suite is the core category and represents half the inventory. Its location on either the Main or Bridge Deck gives a more elevated sea view than the Oceanside accommodation. Travellers should choose the deck as deliberately as the room category: Main Deck suites sit closer to dining and the principal lounge, while Bridge Deck suites are nearer the sunset lounge and workout area.

The two Premium Suites add five square metres, more storage, a double washbasin and a convertible sofa. They suit couples who value a larger sitting zone or families whose approved configuration uses the extra bed. Because the yacht's cruise capacity remains fixed at 16, the presence of that sofa should never be presented as automatic three-person availability.

The full-beam Owner's Suite is the largest and most private option. Its 50 m² footprint is two and a half times the size of a Panorama Suite, and the separate resting lounge makes it attractive for guests who want genuine private living space between excursions. There is only one Owner's Suite, so its availability and double/twin setup should be confirmed early.

The Ocean Vista Suite is the only accommodation on the lower Oceanside Deck. It offers the same essential privacy and ensuite comfort in a smaller 18 m² layout, with its view through three portholes rather than the larger windows found higher in the yacht. It is sold for up to two guests. Single use may be requested, but the operator's applicable single supplement and exact suite allocation must be confirmed for the selected departure.

Naturalist Experience — No Scuba Diving

Tribute's expedition programme is built around the protected visitor sites authorised by Galapagos National Park. A typical day may combine a guided walk over lava, a beach landing, a tender ride beside cliffs or mangroves, and a snorkelling session. Kayaks and paddleboards are available when the location, park rules, weather and guide permit their use. Guests may always decline a more demanding activity and remain aboard.

This distinction must be clear at every stage of sale: Tribute is not a scuba-diving liveaboard. The cruise does not advertise scuba dives, dive guides, cylinders, weights, compressors, Nitrox or rental scuba packages. Included masks, fins, snorkels and wetsuits are for surface snorkelling. A traveller wanting scuba diving needs a separately booked island-based dive extension or a dedicated diving liveaboard; it should not be inserted into Tribute's day-by-day programme.

Excursions vary in effort. Some landings are dry, while others require stepping into shallow water. Trails can include loose ground, uneven lava, heat, stairs or a short scramble. Tender embarkation may move with the swell. A reasonable level of balance and mobility is helpful, and guests with limitations should discuss specific routes before booking rather than assuming that every landing is accessible.

Wildlife is the reason to travel, but it remains wild. Depending on route and season, possibilities include giant tortoises, marine and land iguanas, sea lions, penguins, flightless cormorants, flamingos, frigatebirds, blue-footed, Nazca or red-footed boobies, and the waved albatross. No species, behaviour, snorkelling encounter or landing can be guaranteed. Guides and the captain can change the sequence because of weather, sea state, wildlife protection, safety or a National Park instruction.

Other Information

• Cruise type: luxury naturalist expedition / non-diving liveaboard
• Destination: Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
• Routes: A and B — 5 days / 4 nights; C — 7 days / 6 nights
• Embarkation / disembarkation: Baltra or San Cristobal according to route
• Guest capacity: 16
• Accommodation: 8 ensuite suites
• Crew and guides: 13 crew + 2 naturalist guides
• Guide ratio: 1 English-speaking naturalist guide per 8 guests on listed excursions
• Vessel: steel monohull yacht, built 2008 and refitted 2024
• Length / beam: approximately 42 m / 8 m
• Languages: English and Spanish are listed for staff
• Water activities: snorkelling, kayaking and paddleboarding when applicable; no scuba diving
• Internet: Wi-Fi is included, with intermittent service possible in remote areas

Confirmed in the published Tribute cruise rate: accommodation in the booked suite with private facilities; all meals from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day; the stated collection of local house wines, beers and soft drinks; all excursions shown in the confirmed itinerary; one English-speaking naturalist guide per eight guests; use of kayaks and paddleboards when applicable; mask, fins, snorkel and wetsuit for snorkelling; Wi-Fi, acknowledging that remote coverage can be intermittent; complimentary access to the VIP lounge at Baltra Airport; and airport–yacht–airport transfers for guests who arrive at the scheduled meeting point on the specified date and time.

Not included in the published rate: return flights between mainland Ecuador and the Galapagos; the Galapagos National Park entrance fee; the Transit Control Card; alcoholic beverages outside the included house selection or any special beverage package; gratuities; mandatory travel insurance; personal expenses; and any service not specifically identified as included. Scuba diving and scuba equipment are not part of this non-diving cruise.

The operator currently displays USD 200 per person for the National Park entrance and USD 20 per person for the Transit Control Card, both subject to change. Actual park fees vary by age, nationality and residency category, so the amount relevant to each traveller should be checked before departure. These charges are paid separately unless a dated booking confirmation expressly states otherwise.

Galapagos flights are also separate. Guests must travel on the flight and timing coordinated for their route so they reach the published meeting point. A late or independently timed arrival can miss the shared transfer and may require a private speedboat at the traveller's expense. The final voucher should identify the arrival airport, meeting arrangement and transfer eligibility.

Travel insurance is mandatory and purchased by the guest. The policy should be suitable for a remote archipelago and the traveller's own health and trip value. Bring soft, manageable luggage, sun protection, non-slip water shoes, sturdy walking footwear, a light wind layer, swimwear, a small day bag and any personal medication. Clothing and footwear should be clean before entering the protected islands to reduce the risk of carrying seeds or other organic material.

The Galapagos can be visited year-round. Warmer, generally calmer water is associated with the first part of the year; the cooler garua season often brings stronger marine activity and cooler snorkelling conditions. Local temperature, visibility and sea state still vary between islands. The included wetsuit makes longer snorkelling sessions more comfortable, particularly in the west.