Travel guide · Cruises & Tours
Galápagos family cruises: minimum ages, family cabins and child fares
Which Galápagos yachts take children, from what age, which have family or connecting cabins, and the child discount each one publishes, yacht by yacht.
Photo: David BritoOn this page (11)
- The short version
- From what age can children cruise?
- Yachts with real family cabins
- Child discounts, yacht by yacht
- Family departures and kids’ programmes
- Yachts that are not for young children
- The alternative: charter the whole yacht
- How to choose, in order
- Frequently asked questions
- Related reading
- Book a family cruise
A Galápagos cruise works well with children, but three things change from yacht to yacht: the age at which a child may board, whether three or four of you can sleep together, and how much a child’s fare comes down. This page puts those three answers side by side for the yachts we sell, as of November 2026.
How we chose what to print: only what each yacht publishes in its own terms, rate pages and cabin plans, or states in the documents it sends us. Where a yacht publishes nothing, we say so instead of guessing. Policies change, and promotions often cancel the child discount, so we confirm the age rule, the cabin and the child fare in writing before you pay anything.
The short version
| If your family is… | Look for… | Yachts to start with |
|---|---|---|
| Two adults and one child | A cabin that sleeps three | M/Y Solaris, M/Y Grace, M/V La Pinta, M/V Isabela |
| Two adults and two children | A suite for four, or two connecting cabins | M/C Treasure of Galapagos, M/V Legend, M/Y Infinity, M/V Origin, Theory & Evolve |
| Travelling with under-sixes | A yacht with no fixed minimum age | M/Y Monserrat, M/Y Tribute, M/C Treasure of Galapagos, M/Y Solaris |
| Hoping for other children on board | A family departure or a kids’ programme | M/V Origin, Theory & Evolve, M/V La Pinta, M/V Legend, M/V Evolution |
| An odd number, such as a grandparent | A single cabin with no supplement | M/C Endemic, M/C Elite, M/Y Monserrat |
From what age can children cruise?
Most yachts settle on six. Below that, your choice narrows to the few yachts with no fixed minimum, or to a private charter.
| Rule the yacht publishes | Yachts |
|---|---|
| No fixed minimum; all ages accepted, parents fully responsible | M/Y Monserrat, M/Y Tribute |
| No fixed minimum; the yacht suggests at least 3 to 4 years | M/C Treasure of Galapagos, M/Y Solaris, M/C Archipel I |
| No fixed minimum; the yacht recommends 5 years | M/Y Aqua Mare Superyacht |
| No fixed minimum; the yacht recommends 7 years | M/V Evolution, M/Y Grace |
| Six years on scheduled departures; any age on a private charter | M/C EcoGalaxy, M/Y Bonita, M/C Alya, M/C Galaxy Sirius, M/Y Galaxy Orion, Galaxy Stella |
| Six years; younger children only with a signed release, and under-fives only on a charter | M/V Origin, Theory & Evolve |
| Over six years | M/Y Infinity, M/Y Grand Majestic, M/Y Natural Paradise, M/Y Calipso, Galapagos Sea Star |
| Under six only with special permission; six is the recommended age | M/V La Pinta, M/V Isabela |
| Twelve years | M/Y Grand Daphne, M/Y Grand Queen Beatriz |
A “no minimum” rule is not an invitation to bring a toddler. There are no lifeguards, railings are built for adults, landings are from a small boat, and you should not count on babysitting. With children under five, a land-based trip is usually kinder; the age-by-age advice is in Galápagos with kids.
Yachts with real family cabins
On a 16-guest yacht almost every cabin sleeps two. These are the ones whose own cabin plans say otherwise.
Suites and cabins for four
- M/C Treasure of Galapagos: the master suite on the main deck converts into a family suite for four.
- M/V Legend: the largest ship we sell, with triple and quadruple suites, connecting rooms and a Kids’ Corner play area.
- M/Y Aqua Mare Superyacht: the 80 m² Owner’s Suite takes a couple with two children.
- Cachalote Explorer: some cabins take three or four guests, with a queen bed and single berths.
Connecting cabins
- M/V Origin, Theory & Evolve: on each of the three sister yachts, two pairs of cabins connect, for families of four or five. Triples are made up with a fold-down berth for a child or small teenager.
- M/Y Infinity: suite 8 and cabin 10, both on the upper deck with balconies, connect.
- M/V La Pinta: eight Luxury cabins form four connecting pairs.
Cabins for three
- M/Y Solaris: six cabins sleep three, with a queen bed plus a single bed or a sofa bed.
- M/Y Grace: the Master Suite A4 converts to a triple, and cabin C5 is a triple with a queen and a twin bed.
- M/V La Pinta: four Luxury Plus cabins of 23 m² take three guests, the third on a sofa bed.
- M/V Isabela (the Isabela II): two Classic Family cabins for two adults and one child under 12.
When you are an odd number
M/C Endemic and M/C Elite each have a single cabin with no single supplement, meant for the extra traveller of a family or group. The M/Y Monserrat has two single cabins on the same terms. A grandparent or a teenager gets a door of their own at the normal per-person fare.
If a yacht is not on these lists, plan on two cabins side by side. We ask for neighbouring cabins when we place the hold, and we tell you which numbers you have.
Child discounts, yacht by yacht
The discount applies to the cruise fare of a child sharing a cabin with adults. Read the conditions: some yachts ask for two full-paying adults per discounted child, others for one.
| Yachts | Published child discount | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| M/V Legend, M/Y Coral I & II | 50% under 12 | Sharing with two adults at full fare; 25% in the festive season |
| M/C Endemic, M/C Elite | 25% under 12 | One child with two adults; not at Christmas or New Year |
| M/Y Infinity, M/Y Grand Majestic, M/Y Natural Paradise, M/Y Calipso, Galapagos Sea Star, Horizon Trimaran, M/Y Galapagos Angel | 20% under 15 | One child sharing with one full-paying adult; not on 2-for-1 promotions |
| M/C Treasure of Galapagos, M/Y Solaris, M/C Archipel I, M/Y Tribute | 20% under 12 | One child with two full-paying adults; not on discounted fares |
| M/C Anahi | 20% under 12 | — |
| M/V Origin, Theory & Evolve | 15% for ages 17 and under | Not combined with other promotions |
| M/V Evolution, M/Y Grace | 15% for ages 15 and under | Up to three children per family; not at Christmas or New Year |
| M/Y Monserrat, M/C Hermes | 15% under 12 | With two adults; not on promotional fares, and on the Hermes not in peak season |
| M/C EcoGalaxy, M/Y Bonita, M/C Alya, M/C Galaxy Sirius, M/Y Galaxy Orion, Galaxy Stella | 10% for ages 6 to 11 | Not combined with other discounts |
| M/Y Aqua Mare Superyacht | Child rates on request | — |
| M/V La Pinta, M/V Isabela | A child discount under 12, percentage not published | We quote it with your dates |
Two more savings sit outside the cruise fare. The national park entry fee is US$100 for foreign children under 12 against US$200 for adults, and children under 2 pay nothing. The M/V Origin, Theory & Evolve also take 30% off the Galápagos flight for children of 11 and under.
When a promotion applies, the child discount usually does not. We work out both and tell you which gives the lower total. Current fares per night by class are in our Galápagos cruise prices index.
Family departures and kids’ programmes
Few yachts run anything specific for children. These do.
- M/V Origin, Theory & Evolve: family and family-teen departures in the school holidays of 2026 and 2027, with a treasure hunt, pyjama film nights and a pizza party with the chef. Families are grouped across the three yachts by the children’s ages.
- M/V La Pinta: a “Young Pirates” programme for ages 6 to 12, except on the first and last days. Some activities need at least three children on board.
- M/V Legend: a Kids’ Corner play area and children’s activities.
- M/V Evolution: a Darwin-themed family cruise in July 2026, with talks for families, plus a children’s menu and library on every departure. From June to December it also takes 15% off for parents and children together on its C and D decks.
- M/Y Aqua Mare Superyacht: a children’s menu and family film nights.
- M/C Seaman Journey: junior naturalist activities and family-friendly excursions in the summer months.
On the other yachts, the children’s programme is the naturalist guide. A good guide with six children on a beach full of sea lion pups needs nothing else.
Yachts that are not for young children
The M/Y Grand Daphne and the M/Y Grand Queen Beatriz take guests from 12 years and have only cabins for two. The M/Y Aqua Diving is a dive liveaboard to Darwin and Wolf that takes experienced, certified divers only.
The alternative: charter the whole yacht
Two or three families fill a 16-guest yacht. On a private charter the minimum age usually falls away, the guide sets the pace for the children, meals move to their hours, and nobody else minds the noise. The dates with a whole yacht still free, with the price for the entire boat, are on our private yacht charter page. Ask us for the charter rate next to the cabin rate; we send both.
How to choose, in order
- Ages. Under six, start from the yachts with no fixed minimum, or look at a charter.
- Beds. Decide whether you want one cabin for everyone or two cabins together, then shortlist from the lists above.
- Hull. A catamaran rolls less at anchor than a monohull, which matters with children from July to October; see catamarans vs monohulls and our seasickness guide.
- Length. Four or five days is enough for most children under ten. A week suits teenagers.
- Dates. School holidays sell out first, and family cabins are one or two per yacht. Book these six months to a year ahead. What is still free over the holidays is on our Christmas and New Year cruises page.
Next departures with places
Places and fares from our inventory on 13 November 2026. They change every day: check the live dates before you decide.
- M/Y Cachalote Explorer27 Nov – 2 Dec 2026 · 5 nights6 places left · from US$3,300 per person
- M/Y Beluga27 Nov – 2 Dec 2026 · 5 nights2 places left · from US$4,400 per person
- M/Y Aqua Mare Superyacht27 Nov – 4 Dec 2026 · 7 nights4 places left · from US$11,550 per person
- M/C Grand Ocean Spray28 Nov – 5 Dec 2026 · 7 nights16 places left · from US$10,745 per person
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum age for a Galápagos cruise?
Six years on most yachts. A few have no fixed minimum, among them the Monserrat, the Tribute, the Treasure of Galapagos and the Solaris, and two take guests only from 12. On a private charter most yachts accept any age.
Do children get a discount on Galápagos cruises?
On most yachts, yes: between 10% and 25% off the cruise fare, usually for children under 12 sharing with adults, and 50% on the Legend and the Coral yachts. The discount is rarely combined with promotions.
Which Galápagos yachts have family cabins?
For four in one room: the Treasure of Galapagos, the Legend and the Aqua Mare. With connecting cabins: the Origin, Theory and Evolve, the Infinity and La Pinta. With cabins for three: the Solaris, the Grace, La Pinta and the Isabela II.
Are there Galápagos cruises just for families?
Yes. The Origin, Theory and Evolve run family departures in the school holidays with a children’s programme, the Evolution has a family cruise in July 2026, and La Pinta runs a programme for ages 6 to 12.
Is a cruise or a land trip better with young children?
With children under five or six, a land-based trip on one or two islands is usually easier: no fixed schedule, a pool, and nights on land. From six, a cruise reaches more wildlife with less travelling.
Related reading
The age-by-age advice is in Galápagos with kids; a week that works for a family is in our family itinerary; and the yachts for other kinds of traveller are in the best Galápagos cruises. Cabin types and decks are in cruise cabins explained.
Sources
- Each yacht’s own published terms, rate pages and cabin plans, read in November 2026, and the documents the yachts send us
- Galápagos National Park entry fees, in our entry fee guide
- Our guides: Galápagos with kids, catamarans vs monohulls and the best Galápagos cruises
Book a family cruise
Tell us the children’s ages and your dates, and we send the yachts that take them, with the cabin numbers and the child fare for each. Every departure is in our cruise finder. We place a free cabin hold, usually for 5 to 7 days, while you decide. Every cruise we book includes complimentary nights at Las Terrazas de Dana Boutique Lodge & Spa in Mindo Cloud Forest; the details are in the complimentary nights guide.
Last verified: November 2026