Guantanamera

Cruise

V!VA User‘s Description

The Guantanamera is a poorly-designed, top-heavy motor yacht that can provide weak-stomached (and even relatively sea-savvy) passengers hours of discomfort in rough seas. It has capacity for 16 passengers, distributed among two below-deck matrimonial suites—with double lower and twin upper berths, two below-deck double cabins, and four upper-deck double cabins.

Each mid-sized, simple cabin is equipped with private bathroom, hot water, and oftentimes frigid air-conditioning, which passengers must adapt to since they cannot control it from their staterooms. External deck space is fairly ample, with a few front-facing lounge chairs providing excellent sunbathing and dolphin-watching opportunities and a covered conference area with tables and chairs. Unfortunately, this is the limit of the social space: the indoor lounge consists of two cushioned benches directly in front of the television/video and minimalist library facilities, while the dining/bar area includes three cramped—but plush—booths and a hallway doubling as a buffet area. Furthermore, the open-air conference area, while it provides excellent salsa-dancing space, is half-occupied by scuba-diving equipment and a noisy, often distracting, place to hear island briefings.

Crew members are friendly and competent, and the cook is a master, especially with seafood. The Guantanamera has sophisticated scuba-diving capabilities.

Four-day, five-day, and eight-day cruises depart on Thursdays and Sundays, making stops at visitor sites in northern, central, and southern islands.

Owner: Aida María Travel

Traveler Reviews of Guantanamera

Experience Galapagos on the Guantanamera

Rating: 100%

I recently read information about the Guantanamera and am surprised. The individual stated that it is top-heavy and could feel the sea in rough waters. The only boat you MAY not feel the rough waters is on a large cruise liner, where you can also enjoy a pool, sundeck and tv. I think it all depends on how you want to experience the Galapagos. I thought the crew was excellent, and the cook was wonderful and the guide was impressive. I was very comfortable in my cabin, which I shared with another passenger. On the Guantanamera I felt like I experienced the Galapagos, and did not need a large cruiseliner with its TV, pools or sundeck. There was plenty of room to strech out your legs between Islands, and enough space to be able to get away from people if needed. But I was in the Galapagos to experience it, and I did. Of course everyone is free to give thier own opinion, and some may be more comfortable in a large ship but in my opinion the Guantanamera was excellent!

By V!VA User, Oct 26, 2005