Galapagos Galaxy Cruises

What Galapagos Galaxy Cruises does

Galapagos Galaxy Cruises is a privately held Ecuadorian tour operator founded in 2000 that owns and operates a fleet of small-vessel (16-passenger) cruises in the Galapagos Islands. The company sells exclusively through a wholesale B2B model, equipping global travel agencies and tour operators with vessel-specific unbranded websites, downloadable sales collateral, a partner portal, and dedicated key account managers, while guaranteeing departures on a minimum of 1 guest. The fleet spans multiple service tiers (Luxury Class, First Class, Tourist Superior) and includes two specialized diving liveaboards (Galaxy Diver II and III), enabling the company to capture distinct price points and traveler segments — from eco-conscious nature tourists to certified scuba divers — within a single supplier relationship.

The technical platform is asset-based rather than software-defined: physical vessels form the core product, supplemented by a MYDAS APP for onboard entertainment (movies, documentaries, e-books), vessel-wide satellite communication for emergencies, and a centralized tracking system (mytraveltracking.com) that allows partners and families to monitor passengers. The B2B distribution stack — including per-vessel unbranded microsites, multilingual partner materials, and structured booking forms — is the most differentiated infrastructure layer.

Revenue is generated per passenger per cruise through wholesale package sales, supplemented by private charters, diving add-ons, ancillary fees (handling, park entrance, transit cards), and onboard alcoholic beverage sales. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; commission economics are shared with travel agency partners. All revenue is geographically tied to the Galapagos archipelago, with no other operating regions, creating destination concentration risk despite diversified end-customer demand.

Name

Galapagos Galaxy Cruises

Legal name

Galaxy Cruises

Website

https://galapagosgalaxycruises.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Galapagos Galaxy Cruises is a privately held Ecuadorian B2B tour operator that owns a fleet of 16-passenger vessels across luxury, first-class, and tourist-superior tiers, including two diving liveaboards, selling exclusively through global travel agencies via unbranded ship-specific partner websites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adventure Cruise Tourism

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Small-Ship Expedition Cruises (Under ~500 Guests) (THAEADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Eco-Cruises & Small-Ship Nature Cruises (Expedition Cruising) (THAAAEAK), Luxury & Expedition Cruise Specialists (THAKAKAE), Adventure Expedition Cruise Lines (Warm-Water & Remote Islands) (THAEABAE), Marine Wildlife & Birding Cruises (dolphins, seals, seabirds) (THAAAIAD)

Keywords

• Galapagos cruise tours
• Liveaboard diving cruises
• Ecotourism expeditions
• Small vessel cruises
• Naturalist guided cruises

Headquarters

HQ city

Quito

HQ country

Ecuador

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Cruise Package Sales: Galaxy Cruises generates revenue primarily through selling cruise packages to travelers via travel agency partners. Packages include accommodation, meals, naturalist bilingual guide, excursions, snorkel gear, kayaks, paddle boards, wetsuits, and unlimited water/coffee/tea. Revenue is earned per person per cruise, with pricing varying by vessel class, itinerary, and season.
2. Charter and Full-Boat Bookings: Partners and groups can charter the entire vessel (private charter), generating higher per-trip revenue than individual cabin bookings.
3. Diving Package Add-ons: For the Galaxy Diver II and Galaxy Diver III liveaboard vessels, additional revenue is generated from diving gear rental, diving itineraries, and diving-specific services. Nitrox is free for certified divers.
4. Ancillary Services and Fees: Revenue from handling fees for flights not issued through Galaxy Cruises ($60 per person), pre-arranged migration cards and park entrance fees, alcoholic drinks, tips/gratuities, and equipment rental.
5. Alcoholic Beverages and Drink Menu: Alcoholic and specialty drinks are available for purchase on all vessels via drink menus, generating additional per-incident revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Galaxy Cruises owns and operates a fleet of nine small (16-passenger) vessels in the Galapagos Islands, offering multi-class naturalist cruises and dedicated liveaboard diving cruises. The company sells exclusively through B2B travel agency and tour operator partners worldwide, providing unbranded ship websites, booking tools, and guaranteed departures with a minimum of one guest. Cruise packages include accommodation, meals, bilingual naturalist guides, excursions, snorkel gear, kayaks, paddle boards, wetsuits, and unlimited water/coffee/tea.

Product overview

Galapagos Galaxy Cruises operates a fleet of nine vessels across the Galapagos Islands, offering two primary cruise categories: Naturalist Cruises and Diving Cruises. The Naturalist fleet includes M/C Galaxy Sirius (luxury class catamaran), M/C Alya (luxury class with jacuzzi), M/C EcoGalaxy (first class eco-catamaran), M/Y Galaxy (first class yacht), M/Y Bonita (tourist superior), M/Y Galaxy Orion (tourist superior), and M/Y Galaxy Stella. The dedicated Diving fleet consists of M/Y Galaxy Diver II and M/Y Galaxy Diver III, both equipped for liveaboard diving experiences with PADI-certified instructors. All vessels provide accommodations, meals, guided excursions, snorkeling gear, and naturalist bilingual guides, with itineraries categorized as A, B, or C routes covering various Galapagos visitor sites.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Galaxy Cruises: Parent brand for Galapagos cruise operations with fleet of 9 vessels including M/C Sirius, M/C Alya, M/C EcoGalaxy, M/Y Galaxy, M/Y Bonita, M/Y Orion, M/Y Galaxy Diver II, M/Y Galaxy Diver III

Products and services

• M/C Galaxy Sirius (Luxury Class Cruise) A luxury-class motor catamaran offering Galapagos Islands cruises with activities including snorkeling, kayaking, and guided naturalist excursions. Sold through travel agency partners.
• M/Y Galaxy Stella (Cruise Yacht) A motor yacht providing Galapagos cruise experiences with cabins, deck plans, and social areas for passengers. Sold through travel agency partners.
• M/C Alya (Luxury Class Catamaran Cruise) A luxury-class catamaran featuring jacuzzi, premium dining, and comprehensive Galapagos exploration itineraries. Sold through travel agency partners.
• M/C EcoGalaxy (First Class Eco-Catamaran Cruise) A first-class catamaran focused on eco-friendly Galapagos cruising with naturalist guides and sustainable tourism practices. Sold through travel agency partners.
• M/Y Galaxy (First Class Yacht Cruise) A first-class motor yacht offering Galapagos Islands cruises with cabin accommodations and various onboard activities. Sold through travel agency partners.
• M/Y Bonita (Tourist Superior Yacht Cruise) A tourist superior-class yacht providing Galapagos cruise experiences at an accessible price point with basic amenities. Sold through travel agency partners.
• M/Y Galaxy Orion (Tourist Superior Yacht Cruise) A tourist superior-class motor yacht offering Galapagos Islands itineraries with cabin accommodations and diving options. Sold through travel agency partners.
• M/Y Galaxy Diver II (Diving Liveaboard Cruise) A dedicated liveaboard diving vessel authorized for full diving cruises in Galapagos, featuring a dive platform, equipment rentals, free Nitrox for certified divers, and PADI-certified instructors. Up to 3-4 dives daily with 2 dive masters (7:1 ratio).
• M/Y Galaxy Diver III (Diving Liveaboard Cruise) A dedicated liveaboard diving vessel for experienced divers exploring Galapagos underwater sites with up to 3-4 dives daily. Authorized for full diving cruises.
• Galaxy Cruises B2B Partner Program A dedicated B2B partner service offering travel agencies and tour operators unbranded ship websites, downloadable assets, booking forms, FAQs, multimedia gallery, and dedicated key account management to resell Galapagos cruises without branding or operational overhead.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• AVIATECA Airlines / AVIANCA AirlinesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGalaxy Cruises partners with AVIANCA Airlines to transport travelers to and from the Galapagos Islands. Galaxy Cruises recommends that clients purchase flights through them; otherwise a handling fee of US$ $60 per person is charged and Galaxy Cruises disclaims responsibility for any flight delays.
• SSS Recompression Chamber (Puerto Ayora)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGalaxy Cruises leverages the SSS recompression chamber in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, which operates 24/7 for emergency diving treatment, providing safety assurance for Galaxy Diver liveaboard passengers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Metropolitan Touring: Metropolitan Touring operates the Yacht Isabela II and other Galapagos vessels under the Finch Bay brand, competing directly with Galaxy's luxury and first class tiers. Both are Ecuadorian operators with B2B travel agency distribution.
• Aqua Expeditions: Aqua operates small luxury expedition vessels including in the Galapagos (Aqua Mare), competing in the luxury small-ship category. It shares Galaxy's all-inclusive, high-service positioning and B2B agency distribution approach.
• Ecoventura: Ecoventura operates a fleet of small expedition yachts in the Galapagos with a similar B2B travel-agent model and naturalist-guided itineraries. It is the most direct head-to-head competitor for Galaxy's 16-passenger naturalist cruises.
• Quasar Expeditions: Quasar runs small 8- and 16-passenger expedition yachts in the Galapagos with high-end naturalist itineraries, mirroring Galaxy's fleet size and luxury positioning. It targets the same travel agency and high-net-worth consumer segments.
• Kleintours: Kleintours is a long-established Ecuadorian tour operator running small Galapagos yachts (Yacht La Pinta, Coral I/II) across multiple service tiers. It is one of the most direct B2B competitors to Galaxy's multi-class fleet strategy.

Broad incumbents

• Lindblad Expeditions: Lindblad, partnered with National Geographic, operates the National Geographic Endeavour II and other small ships in the Galapagos. It is a much larger, publicly-traded expedition incumbent that competes on the high end of the same market Galaxy serves.
• Silversea Expeditions: Silversea deploys the Silver Origin in the Galapagos as part of its global luxury expedition portfolio. It is a luxury incumbent in expedition cruising, competing for the upper end of Galaxy's customer base through travel agency partners.
• Celebrity Cruises (Celebrity Xploration/Xpedition): Celebrity operates larger Galapagos expedition ships (Xpedition, Flora, Xploration) under the Royal Caribbean umbrella. It is a much larger, mass-market cruise incumbent that overlaps with Galaxy on destination but competes on a different vessel-scale and price point.
• Hurtigruten Expeditions: Hurtigruten Expeditions runs small-to-mid expedition ships globally, including Galapagos itineraries. It is a broad incumbent in expedition cruising with a different brand and scale, but competes for the same travel agency Galapagos bookings.

Others

• Adventure Life: Adventure Life is a US-based tour operator and travel agency that resells Galapagos cruises (including competitor operators). It is a relevant B2B channel partner for Galaxy and competes indirectly for end-consumer bookings to the same destination.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GalaxyExpeditions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/galaxyexpeditions
• Instagraminstagram.com/galaxycruises_
• TikToktiktok.com/@galaxycruises
• Xx.com/GalaxyCruises

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Galapagos Galaxy Cruises