Quasar Expedition’s Evolution is a 16 cabin luxury yacht. We had the opportunity to spend 7 nights on this boat cruising the eastern Galápagos Islands. Every day brought new and different experiences, while hiking and snorkeling, which were explained by superb naturalists expert on the history, conditions and intricacies of the different islands in the Galápagos Archipiélago. The yacht was just the right size for this sort of cruise with plenty of common space for lounging but cozy enough to enable one to get to know every passenger and crew member on a first name basis. I would not hesitate to strongly recommend this yacht and cruise line to anyone interested in seeing this remote and fascinating part of our world. From the moment we made the decision to book to now several weeks post cruise, there is not a single thing I can recommend be improved. They have their act together in every aspect of their cruise adventure!!!! Read Less

I choose this cruise mainly for being able to put 3 people in one cabin. Myself, my son, and my 19 year old grandson. And we did fit...mostly. The staff was great. Our guides were Samuel and Alex. Both were extremely knowledgeable and had a love of their topics, Steve was our tour director and wore many, many hats. He was a very funny and friendly young man, YES I would I go again and I highly requirement the cruise, "Trip of a lifetime". WE had both wet and dry landings. The crew were very helpful getting us older folks off and on the pangas which rocked some in the open ocean. No one got seasick, which was good. The doctor on board was one of our snorkeling mates. We saw hammerhead sharks and white tip sharks along with tons of sea lions, birds, and iguanas. Luckily no one had to see him on a professional basis. GO if you get the change, Do not wait. The food was outstanding. Read Less

My wife and I spent a wonderful week in the Galapagos on the M/V Evolution in May 2018. We chose it because it looked like a stately boat with nice finishes. The price was in line with the Nat'l Geo ship (maybe cheaper) but smaller and looked nicer to us. The ship had been recently renovated and it looked great. The room was beautiful and spacious. The bathroom was good sized as well. The common spaces (particularly the upstairs bar/lounge area) were big and very comfortable. There was plenty of space for all 32 passengers. The tub was fantastic after snorkeling for an hour. The food was delicious and the staff took great pains to accommodate everyone's needs. The drinks were reasonable priced. Speaking of the staff they were superb. Great personalities and very attentive. The guides were extremely knowledgeable. The itinerary was fantastic, in particular the snorkeling. We'd definitely recommend Quasar and the Evolution! Read Less

We chose Quasar M/V Evolution because of their reputation and the size of the ship. Our cruise was everything we could have imagined and more. If you are looking for an activity centric vacation with a focus on nature and wildlife combined with an attentive crew, I would highly recommend Quasar. The ship itself was luxurious without being overdone. Our cabin was spacious, updated and quiet. The public areas were comfortable and nicely appointed, perfect for large or small group gatherings as well as quiet time to read a book or journal. The food was amazing, fresh and healthy. The crew could not have been more attentive, making sure we were comfortable and safe while on the ship and our excursions. Our National Park Service guides were informative, sharing their knowledge and love of the Galapagos every step fo the way. Every day we were treated with new natural wonders and closeup encounters with the wildlife. Being on a ship that size with like-minded travelers was a treat in itself. We got to know everyone and made friendships that extended beyond the trip. We hope to go back sometime and will definitely look to Quasar for another great adventure. Read Less

From the moment we arrived in Ecuador, the team at Quasar had us covered like it was a state visit. Every detail was coordinated for us, and we found ourselves in the magical Galapagos Islands in no time. Stepping onto the Evolution was everything we hoped for as it was in excellent condition, clean and frankly looked like a 5-star floating boutique hotel (including a modern 'front desk'). The crew worked diligently 7x24 both in front and behind the scenes to provide us with an experience that can only be described as beyond perfect. The information was provided in good detail and in a timely fashion so that we could prepare for every day's adventures. The rooms were large and modern with modern lighting, great bathroom and great climate control. To keep the surprises coming, the meals and dining room kept delivering great cuisine every day. Our two guides were deeply experienced and knowledgable about the areas we went to and I think we saw every possible feature of this wonderland. While the islands themselves provide a great canvas to work with, the 'artists' at Quasar and the crew of the Evolution helped create a true vacation masterpiece for us. If I travel back to Galapagos (or any other place serviced by Quasar), they will be my first choice to host our family again. Read Less

Richard Dawkins the evolutionary biologist was the fly paper that had me turn up on this my first ever cruise. Fantastic to be in the company of Richard and those interested in the same while spending a week visiting the Galapagos on the Evolution a ship owned and run by Quasar Expeditions. The trip exceeded all my expectations. The ship was a perfect size for the group number and never felt crowded or cramped. The Panga's (dingy's used for ferrying) were well run and we all felt safe on the may boarding and landings we did over the 7 day trip. I loved the guides enthusiasm, knowledge and ability to show and explain any aspect of the flora, fauna, geology and history of the islands in response to the may questions asked by our group. The food, service and attention to detail was outstanding, The snorkeling was as you see on the wildlife programs as was the shore excursions to see the flora and fauna. When researching this trip I saw only outstanding reviews and I have now added one. Highly recommended. Thanks Quasar. Read Less

I'd always wanted to go to the Galapagos, and when life took a twist and the opportunity arose at the last minute, Diane was extremely helpful in booking the cruise and making sure I had everything I needed to be on my way. Not going to lie, it was long trip to get there but it was so worth it. I wasn't exactly sure what was going to happen after getting off the plane at Balta, so I just followed the crowd and sure enough, the crew was there to greet us. That was the last time that week that I had to put any thought into scheduling or where to be as everything after was smoothly and efficiently handled by the friendly and courteous crew. Mornings were one of my favorite times as every day we woke up in paradise. There were several of us that would get up early to enjoy the quiet before the day started, scanning the water and the land for the animals and enjoying a cup of coffee over books. Once the wake up call occurred (always delivered in a smooth and comforting voice), the day was on... breakfast, hiking, snorkeling, kayaking. There were wet landings and dry landings and some very adventurous landings, and throughout it all the Guides and the crew made sure everyone was safe and could participate according to their capabilities and desires. We saw so many things from the panga (ah, the beloved panga!), the boat, and on land. Orcas, flying flamingoes, birds nesting on eggs or with their babies, turtles, iguanas, penguins, crabs,sea lions with their babies and untold varieties of birds. We swam with so many different types of fish, sharks, turtles, and sea lions. The scenery, the atmosphere- it really is even more amazing in person than I could have imagined. I loved my cabin. I'm a solo traveler and it was the perfect size for me, although it could have easily accommodated another person, too. The bed was comfortable, lots of pillows, and cleaned several times a day. The staff made me smile with the different surprises they'd leave on the bed, too. My cabin seemed to be in the perfect spot- I was rocked to sleep each night and, while I could hear the engine and the anchor, neither was loud enough to interrupt my sleep. As a solo female traveler, I'm always a bit on guard when in a new place and around new people. I quickly lost any apprehension as the crew was so friendly and courteous. I thoroughly enjoyed that I could share the experience with a great group of people, but also that there was time to enjoy the ambience of the islands on my own. It was one of the most relaxing vacations I've ever been on and a lot of that was due to the amiability and competency of the entire crew. The only time I was uncomfortable was in the air conditioning in the public areas. Each night was a bit too cold for me during the evening activities and dinner. Next time, I'd take some warmer clothes for the evenings and would suggest that to anybody planning on going as well. A beautiful ship, wonderful and adventurous excursions, meticulous execution of planning, the atmosphere governed by the crew, and other fun surprises throughout the cruise made this trip a highlight of my life. Read Less

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Best vacation ever!!!! This trip to the Galapagos islands was an amazing adventure. First we flew from NY to Quito Ecuador for a few days before our cruise to the Galapagos Islands. Once we flew into the Galapagos Islands, our tour guides greeted us at the airport to take us to our yacht, The Evolution. The embarkation went very smooth. Once we were on the yacht, we were greeted by the friendly staff and crew. The ship was recently renovated and absolutely beautiful. The cabins were a decent size and were kept extremely clean during our stay. As for the food...I don't have one negative thing to say. The chef was absolutely talented and not one bad meal came out of the kitchen. They catered to any allergies and preferences we had. After every excursion we were greeted with snacks and drinks to hold us over till our next meal. There was a lot of shore excursions through out the trip. Usually there were 2 hikes and 2 water activities per day. Our naturalist guides were very good at explaining everything about the wildlife and ecosystems of the islands. They became our friends by the end of the trip. We traveled with quite a few children, the youngest was 2 and the oldest was 13. My children were 4 and 6. I thought there wouldn't be much for them to do but they were included in everything and enjoyed every part of the trip. My kids often ask when we can go back. We would definitely recommend Quasar to anyone looking to travel to Galapagos and would love to visit again in the future. Read Less

We are a family of five (3 adult children) that was looking for an active, adventurous and educational vacation with time to relax. The cruise aboard the Evolution in and around the Galapagos Islands fulfilled our needs perfectly. The ship's cabins were excellent, food and crew top notch, and the two onboard naturalists were smart, funny and engaging. The total number of passengers at 32 makes for an intimate, personal approach on-board and allows for land excursions that are small in size when split with the two naturalists. The public spaces on the ship are sufficient to allow for small groups to form and get to know each other - especially in the 10 person hot tub and the back deck bar area! I could not have hoped for a better trip and would highly recommend Quasar, and the Evolution in particular. Swim with sharks and seals, see finches and tortoises - do this cruise. Read Less