In late October, charter broker Agnes Howard of Camper & Nicholsons International was invited to explore the Galapagos Islands aboard the 90-foot powercatamaran Queen of Galapagos. It was Howard’s first trip to the Galapagos, which are about 600 miles west of Ecuador.
    Following is my exclusive interview for CharterWave about her experience.

From what I have heard and seen in photographs, Queen of Galapagos is not a typical charter yacht.
That’s true. Queen of Galapagos was built in 2007 by an Ecuadoran company, which makes her a local boat, since the Galapagos Islands are part of Ecuador. This particular company has been selling charters through travel agencies. The agencies would purchase blocks of time, say three months on the boat, and then sell the cabins to various clients.
    Now, because of the recession, the agencies are buying much less time, and the boat is sitting idle. The company invited charter brokers like me to see whether we thought they could switch their business model, whether the boat was of a caliber to entice higher-end charter clients, and so on.

I have chartered in Galapagos twice, and based on what I saw, I would say it’s unusual to find a “high-caliber” boat for charter there.
The thing about Galapagos is that it’s a closed market. Internationally flagged yachts are not legally allowed to charter there, so your options are limited to local boats that only have to compete against one another, as opposed to against global charter standards.
    Queen of Galapagos, I would say, was okay—which is good for Galapagos. And honestly, the boat is eclipsed by the destination.

How about the crew? My past experiences have indicated that crew, too, are not at the international level.
I would say that the crew in Galapagos are like wait staff, which is different from yacht crew in other parts of the world. If you go to Monaco or Antigua, the captain is not just in charge of the boat, but he’s also like the concierge. The deckhands will go diving with you. The stewardesses put on parties and dress up for theme nights.
    In Galapagos, the crew are focused on doing their jobs of running the boat. It’s the nature guide who you really interact with all day long. He sets the itinerary and acts as the concierge, and in some cases is the only person who speaks fluent English. In Galapagos, the guide does many of the things that a captain or chief stewardess might do on a charter yacht in another destination.
    And our guide aboard Queen of Galapagos, I must say, was terrific.

Did you recommend any changes in the Queen of Galapagos program?
To me, it seems that some of the outdoor areas of the boat itself could be better utilized. There were spaces on deck where a table might be placed so that we could have eaten outside, for instance. In Galapagos, the boats are somewhat utilitarian. We brokers, for our level of clients, would like to see a little more attention to things like the way the deck spaces are laid out.

When you get a request for a Galapagos charter, how do you educate the client about the location?
I have had inquiries in Camper & Nicholsons’ Fort Lauderdale office, as have the brokers in our Palm Beach office. We try to make it clear that the charter experience in Galapagos is not about the boat. It’s about putting on your hiking boots and looking at animals. The beauty of the place is its remoteness.
    For instance, I snorkeled during our trip, and it was phenomenal. Yes, it’s rocks and not coral. Yes, the water is cooler than you might find in other charter destinations. But where else in the world is a sea lion going to come and play with you right after you see a penguin and a shark and a sea turtle? All in a half-hour snorkel. It’s an amazing place if you are interested in those kinds of experiences.

Overall, then, would you recommend Queen of Galapagos?
I would recommend this boat, yes, but with the caveat that it is adventure travel. It’s affordable compared with charters elsewhere, and Queen of Galapagos can take 16 people as opposed to 10 or 12 on yachts in other locations. Plus, the rate is mostly inclusive, so you’re getting  a lot of bang for your buck.
    But charter guests have to keep in mind that this is not a location where you get private cars. You are on ferries and buses, because that’s all that is there. A charter in Galapagos is about value and the destination.
    And the destination, if you are into wildlife, is pretty darn amazing.

Agnes Howard works in the Fort Lauderdale office of Camper & Nicholsons International. You can reach her directly through the company’s website.

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