My partner and I recently sailed the Western Galapagos Islands on Quasar Expedition's M/V Evolution and we were simply blown away by the whole experience - from booking to cruising! Like most people, we were somewhat nervous about plunking down a significant sum of money without really knowing what to expect. Outstanding reviews about the company and the boat certainly helped but having an opportunity to actually speak to Diane and Paul, the company's US based managers, and clarify our many questions about everything from flights to daily itinerary was a huge factor in our choosing the company. Any company that works with potential clients, like Paul and Diane did, had to be great, right? Not necessarily, you may be thinking. But, Quasar Ex really is exceptional and the proof of that really was our onboard experience.

We had an amazing time on the Evolution. The guides that led our group - Roberto and Hernan - were outstanding and easily lived up to our rather high standards (both my partner and I are scientists). We thoroughly enjoyed our days, jam-packed as they were with snorkelling, swimming, and hiking. My partner refers to the cruise as one amazing science field trip. Cruise connotes lounging by the pool. This ain't that kind of a cruise! Sure, individuals were welcome to skip any of the activities and relax/nap out the comfy couches in the open, breezy lounge on the top deck or in the hot tub - and yes, we did all that too but we made it a point to be in on all the activities. Who would have wanted to miss an opportunity to swim with the incredibly curious sea lion pups, penguins, octopi, turtles and giant rays, or watch blue-footed boobies catch their prey underwater, or be blown away by the unearthly landscape of Sullivan Bay lava field?

The crew of M/V Evolution - from the captain to the cruise director to the onboard doctor to the panga drivers were all focused on one goal...to make this the trip of a lifetime for us. And this extended beyond the activities to include the onboard food and general cleanliness of the passenger quarters and the boat as a whole. I have to admit that I was particularly concerned about these two. I worried pointlessly. Our rooms were cleaned several times a day and the food onboard was excellent. Yes, expect a fair amount of seafood but if you have special requests (like my partner did), the crew/company will go out of its way to meet them. They actually anticipate the passengers' needs and had juices and snacks ready at precisely the right times. And what was even more impressive is that Steve, our cruise director, actually had memorized each persons needs (dietary or otherwise) and would alert/direct the passengers even before anyone needed to asked. I learnt that once when they had a person onboard with nut allergies, the whole boat was scrubbed down and there was not a nut to be found the entire week. Read more