Operating an environmentally friendly fleet of small expedition yachts in the Galapagos Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ecoventura is now offering family departures suitable for children over seven. Cruise rates start at AU$3750 per person double, with discounts of 25% for ages seven to 11 and 15% for ages 12 to 17. Other groups that Ecoventura regularly cater to include multi-generational families who often request full- or half-vessel charters. Family trips are faster paced with snorkelling, kayaking and evening activities.
As of early spring, space is available on the following designated family departures; 16 to 23 June, 30 June to 7 July, 7 to 14 July, 14 to 21 July, 28 July to 4 August*, 11 to 18 August*, 18 to 25 August*, and 25 August to 1 September. Departures marked with * are currently on promotion with five to 15 percent discounts on adult fares.
“Our family departures are exclusively for families, the majority traveling with children aged 12 to 21. This means that adult passengers sans children will never be assigned to a family departure cruise, thus precluding the often incompatible mix of families and adult couples often found on larger vessels or with companies that operate just one ship,” explained Doris Welsh, spokesperson.
“We assign guides best suited and popular with teens and their families to our family-designated trips,” she added, noting that the growing demand for family-only departures accounts for one-third of the company’s overall business. On school holidays, at least one yacht (and most often two) is designated for families. Her team looks at the break-down of ages and assigns the identical 20-passenger yachts accordingly. Each yacht has 10 twin or double cabins, of which two have an extra upper berth accommodating triples. These sell out first on family departures.
