 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Contact:
Simone Allig
Sales and Marketing Manager
OCEANADVENTURES S.A.
Av. Rep. de El Salvador N 36-84 y Av.NNUU,
edificio Quilate, 9no piso
Quito, Ecuador
Tel: +593/2-246-6301
Fax: +593/2-246-6301 EXT 5
sallig@oceanadventures.com.ec
www.oceanadventures.com.ec
www.eclipse.com.ec
Certified by:
SmartVoyager (November 2007)
Type of accommodation:
Boat (Expedition Vessel)
Features:
Air conditioning
Hot water
Laundry facilities
Private bathroom
Telephone
Television
Other: Jacuzzi, dinning room, lounge, ample Sun Deck, al fresco dinning area, satellite telephone, television in public areas, permanent MD on board / infirmary,
boutique and coffee, tea & snack
station
Year founded: 1999
Number of employees: 65
Percent of employees who are local residents: 25%
Type of destination:
Galapagos Islands
Able to accommodate:
Families
Seniors
Singles
Singles with children
Description of the area:
Situated 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos archipelago consists of nineteen islands and more than forty islets, which were created six million years ago when they emerged from the Pacific in a flurry of volcanic activity.
Each island forms a unique ecosystem, a series of specialized relationships that have adapted to the volcanic and isolated nature of the islands. As a result, the Galapagos Islands are home to a wide variety of endemic species. Only here will you see Galapagos penguins, waved albatrosses, flightless cormorants, swallow-tailed gulls, land and marine iguanas, as well as the
giant tortoises that give the archipelago
its name.
It has been more than 450 years since their discovery, and the islands remain largely intact thanks to the conservation efforts of the Galapagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Research Station. A further boost to the protection of the islands was given in 1978, when UNESCO declared them a World Heritage Site. The waters around the Galapagos, which are the lifeblood of the archipelago, are also legally protected within the Galapagos Marine Reserve.
The Galapagos Islands offer a unique interaction with nature, and their name is synonymous with survival and the celebration of the diversity of species on earth.
Available activities:
Adventure, sports
Bird watching
Eco/nature/wildlife
Scuba diving/snorkeling
Visits to conservation projects
Walking/hiking
How to get there:
The M/V Eclipse operates year-round except during our dry dock period in September (Dry dock season in 2008 from September 06 to October 11).
Galapagos can be reached only by air.
Flight schedules to the Galapagos Islands - The Eclipse operates from Saturday to Saturday with the following Aerogal airlines schedule:
Meeting point at the airport in Galapagos:
Upon arrival in Baltra passengers are met by our guides after passing through passport control. Only original passports will be accepted as identification. Passengers are then transported on Aerogal buses to the vessel anchored nearby.
Entrance fee to the Galapagos National Park:
All visitors to the Galapagos have to pay an entrance fee in cash upon arrival in Baltra. No credit cards or traveler’s checks are accepted. The entrance fee may be prepaid with the cost of the cruise.
Making a difference:
For several years the Eclipse has used only four stroke outboard engines in its dinghies, as opposed to two stroke engines which are considered to have adverse effects on the environment. Oceanadventures implemented this change long before the local authorities decided to make four stroke engines mandatory from 2008 onwards.
Oceanadventures has installed special filters in its main engines and generators in order to reduce and, in some cases, eliminate the need to change oil and lubricants.
Oceanadventures has purchased and installed special equipment for the adequate treatment of organic waste aboard the Eclipse.
Oceanadventures retains a modest portion of the sale of every cruise ticket and annually donates funds to a variety of worthy causes in Galapagos. Some of these funds have been channelled via the Charles Darwin Foundation and have contributed to the following projects, which are all primarily education oriented:
General rates:
$$$$$ ($150 and up)
Year-round rates, no seasonal changes.
More information:
Additional information:
Ever since her arrival in Ecuador at the end of 1999, the Eclipse has surpassed the other options available as the finest boutique cruise ship in the Galapagos Islands. She was converted specifically for upscale cruising in the islands, and was designed to meet the exacting demands of high-end travel. The Eclipse is the perfect base for any Galapagos experience. She is unique in offering the generous accommodation of a larger vessel, while preserving the atmosphere and exclusivity of a smaller yacht. The Eclipse is a 210 ft expedition vessel that accommodates up to 48 passengers in 26 cabins, all with sea views. Fully air-conditioned, the spacious cabins have either a queen or twin bed arrangement and well-appointed bathrooms with hot water, fresh towels provided every day and the complimentary use of bathrobes.
There is a well-equipped lounge for relaxation and for the nightly briefings on the day’s discoveries and the following day’s activities. In addition to the elegant indoor dining room, there is an al fresco dining area located around the pool, where you can enjoy the islands’ spectacular scenery over a delicious lunch. There is also has a well-stocked library for quiet study and reading.
One of the favorite areas on board the Eclipse is the observation/sun deck, ideal for stargazing, whale watching or simply relaxing in the comfortable sun loungers. The ship also has a bar, pool bar and a boutique for the purchase of our exclusive range of souvenirs and Eclipse apparel.
Date this information was provided: April, 2008.
