MV Santa Cruz II
- Built
- 2002 (refurbished in 2015)
- Guests
- 90
- Crew
- 60
- Length
- 71.8 m / 235 ft
- Staterooms
- 50
- Gross Tonnage
- 2664 tonnes
- Electricity
- 440V – 220V – 110V throughout ship
- Beam
- 13.4 m / 43 ft
- Cruising Speed
- 10.5 knots
- Engines
- 2 Cummins engines KTA 38 – MO of 850 HP each
Ship Overview
Metropolitan Touring, the leading travel company in Ecuador, has been guiding expeditions through the Galapagos Archipelago since the 1960’s, but today it is further enhancing its tours with the release of its newest Galapagos cruise ship, the Santa Cruz II.
On 10th October 2015, the Santa Cruz II took up the baton from its legendary prodecessor, M/V Santa Cruz, and brought with it a chic new way to explore the wonders of the Galapagos Islands in style and comfort. On top of Metropolitan Touring’s unrivalled expeditions, this ship guarantees that the utmost care will be given to the Galapagos Islands by implementing the newest sustainable advances in sailing, thus protecting their delicate ecosystem.
With five spacious decks and gorgeous chic interiors designed by the distinguished ship designer, Richard Nilsson, the Santa Cruz II offers tours that are better than ever. Based on the principle of stylish simplicity, our new vessel guarantees its guests a luxurious ambience from which they can appreciate the breath-taking views of the enchanted islands.
The three decks of Santa Cruz II host 90 guests throughout 50 modern cabins. Guests may choose from a variety of options, which include single, double and family cabins. However, if they desire something more lavish, we also offer the exclusive Darwin Suites, which meet an exceptional standard of accommodation on the boat’s Panorama Deck. These suites provide guests with enhanced service, as well as particularly selected details such as a take-home Galapagos coffee table book and a tablet loan for each cabin.
We have an excellent staff camera with an underwater housing so that we can record guests’ thrilling adventures while in the ocean water. Expedition photos are displayed on the last night of the trip and are uploaded online so that visitors can view and share them as they please.
Children’s programs and other events are held in an open multi-purpose room at the starboard side of the ship’s deck.
Here at Metropolitan Touring, we believe that the Santa Cruz II is the best option for family excursions and so we have strengthened our commitment to provide families with unique and prized opportunities to share, adventure and learn together, and enjoy each others company. Each expedition includes:
A “Pirates Aboard” program, which includes a kit with multiple family-fun activities.
Kid-sized meals on a kids’ friendly schedule.
Several family games and puzzles that can be found in the boat’s library.
Panga rides, designed specifically for young adventurers.
An opportunity for kids to learn to snorkel with our extra naturalist.
Bridge tours led by the Captain.
Every time that Metropolitan Touring visits Santa Cruz Island (twice a fortnight), we offer several alternatives to main activities such as downhill biking in the highlands, treks to the famous Tortuga Bay, kayaking or merely taking a break from the busy schedule to enjoy some downtime. Metropolitan Touring is one of the very few companies that offers these alternatives.
- Bar-Lounge
- Al fresco dining-BBQ
- Gift shop
- Satellite telephone
- WiFi hotspot (intermittent/low bandwidth
- Snorkelling equipment
- Ipod/MP3 docking station
- Reading room and natural history library
Staterooms / Suites
- Explorer Family Horizon Deck (192 ft²)
- Explorer Horizon Deck (163 ft²)
- Expedition Explorer Deck (163 ft²)
- Explorer Panorama Deck (163 ft²)
- Voyager Horizon Deck (127 ft²)
- Darwin Suite Panorama Deck (325 ft²)
Features
After a day of exploring and discovering the Galapagos, nothing beats unwinding in a cozy and capacious room, with an elegant and ample bathroom to boot! In addition to being spacious, all cabins are continuously cleaned and kept tidy throughout the day, making for a pristine piece of paradise on water. Don’t worry about amenities: our rooms and communal areas come fully equipped with everything you’ll need to feel like this Galapagos expedition vessel truly is your home-away-from-home.
- Ensuite Bathroom
- Air-conditioning
- Large windows
- In-room phone
- In-room safe
- Hair dryer
- Reading lamp
- Writing desk
- Wi-Fi
- Amazing view
- Towels
- Power Outlets
- Single bed
- Outside cabin
Deck Plans
Sky Deck
Panorama Deck
Expedition Deck
Horizon Deck
Ocean Deck
Categories
Dining
We source as much of our food locally as possible – this means freshly caught fish and seafood and organically grown fresh vegetables and fruit, all prepared by a team passionate to provide sybaritic delights through Ecuadorean and international cuisine under the creative lead of our Gastronomic Director, a Le Cordon Bleu chef. Meals are served in the Beagle Dining Room and snacks are served after expeditions, whether in the bar, in the library or on the outdoor terrace, where you can take in the fabulous vistas and marine breezes of the Galapagos. A 24-hour coffee station located in the library provides free coffee, tea, and water.