Samba vs. Sagitta Cruise - Galapagos
 

Both are operated by Angermeyer Cruises which seems to get good reviews. Both have similar itineraries as well. The cost for an 8 day cruise is about $1,000 pp less on the Samba, and while it looks nice from the pictures, I'm just not sure if we should upgrade - mostly because of fear of seasickness.

The appeal of these two is also the departure dates - we need to be back in Quito on Thursday August 26 for a wedding that weekend.

Does anyone have experience with either? know if there is a difference in the levels of the naturalists on each? Any other suggestions?

we were thinking originally of going with a GAP tour but I was dissuaded by some negative reviews.

thanks in advance!

My daughter and I were on the Samba in Jan 06 . . . we cannot say enough good things about the ship, the crew, the meals, the sites. It was an enchanted trip.

There were some times when the ship rocked a bit . . . but those of us who had "the patch" or any other kind of seasick meds were not bothered.

I typed up a very detailed travelog of that trip and would be happy to send it to you, email me at [email protected] if interested.

We would love to return to the Galapagos but our trip was so wonderful, we're afraid a second trip would be disappointing!

Buen viaje,
Sandy (in Denton)

Sagitta was great. I was on a similar sized ship in August and with Bonine had no trouble. Is Samba the same size as Sagitta? I'd be tempted to pocket the $1000.

I've worked as Naturalist guide on both Sagitta and Samba. They both have the same itinerary, food and level of naturalist, which are a very good standard. The big difference is in the size of the vessel. It's similar to the difference between a 4-star hotel and a very well run youth hostal. The Sagitta has large rooms and common areas, is spacious with alot of teak-decking and brass, meaning alot more maintenance. Samba, although smart, is tighter with bunks in small cabins. It has the teak and brass, etc., but alot less of it! The dining area can feel a little crammed at times.
Regarding movement, the general rule is that the smaller the vessl, the more you feel the movement of the sea and the quicker it rocks. These factors are influenced by time of year and ones personal reaction to sea-sickness. The Samba, in that respect, moves more.
People who travel the Samba are generally happy to make the saving and in my travel agency, it's the cheapest vessel I'd recommend. The Sagitta is for those where the extra $1,000 doesn't hurt!

The Samba (in my opinion the best Tourist Superior option) and the Sagitta (an excellent First class sailer) are well run cruise options ... both with highly qualified naturalist guides (which is an extremely important factor in the overall enjoyment of a cruise), good onboard services etc.

The Sagitta has a bit more atmosphere and charm .. but not to steer you away from the Samba. Sample feedback comment, including these boats, can be found here: http://www.sangay.com/testimonies.html

[.... My girfriend and I did a 7 night cruise on Samba and had an absolutely fabulous time .....]

[ou asked for some feedback on Samba after our trip so here it is:

* Guide - Fantastic (Juan Salcedo) - a local from Puerto Ayora, extremely knowledgeable, enthusiastic, partook in all the activities (unlike some we saw from other boats who didn't snorkel with the guests) & genuinely appeared to be enjoying the experience himself.
* Crew - Excellent in all aspects - courteous, skilled & eager to please.
* Boat - Good facilities, clean, comfortable ( thanks for getting us the double room cabin!).
* Itinerary - I guess this is partly dictated by the length of the cruise & the geography but it appeared very well constructed with a wide cross section of the islands/landscapes covered.
* Safety - As should be expected.
* Food - Of unbelievable variety & quality given the somewhat limited kitchen facilities.

I think you can maintain your "Highly Recommended" status! ]

[ ... we thought the Samba was excellent. ]

[ ... We toured the Galapagos Islands aboard the Sagitta on an 8-day cruise during the last week of July. Our cruise was an amazing experience. The Sagitta is a beautiful three-masted ¨motor sailboat.¨ ]

[ ... We had an amazing 8 days on board the Samba]

kak113

I was on the Samba for a 7 day cruise in July 2008. The trip was arranged through CNH tours (CNHtours.com). It is organized by a Candian living in France. She used to work at the Darwin Institute.

I can vouch that our stay was fabulous!!!. We were on the cabin that is on deck, not in the bottom of the boat. There was a lot of movement during sails but it didn't bother us too much. As long as you keep a scopolamine patch on, you should be ok.

The room was cramped compared to the other cabins but was several hundred dollars cheaper and we managed just fine. It was clean and the washroom, although small, worked out ok. I had fun trying to take a shower as the boat rocked!!. There is a common dining area with a huge table for meals and a TV with older DVDs. There are several deck chairs on the front for use on board.

The food was fantastic....much better than what I was expecting. One day, the crew bought lobsters from a fishing boat and we had a feast!! The only negative aspect of the food is that sometimes one dish ran out and you couldn't get seconds (cause it was that good). The meals are served family style.

The crew was awesome. Not all of them spoke good english but it was fun trying to have a conversation with them. They were very professional and looked for us on all the disembarkation trips on the panga.

Our naturalist was fantastic. His name is Santiago Moran. Very informative and packed with knowledge. I am happy to say that we became good friends and he even invited us to his wedding last july!!

The trip itinerary was very similar to many other boats. Usually comprising a morning and afternoon trip. Lunch in between and snorkelling between the am and pm trip, or after the pm trip. It was amazing what we saw...we saw EVERYTHING THAT SANTIAGO SAID WE WOULD see! From sea lions to turtles to albatross to blue footed boobies. I have great memories of snorkelling with sea lions and turtles around me. We even saw a sea horse and killer whales.

I can whole heartedly recommend the Samba. You will get used to SAMBA SAMBA call during the trip. I can't speak for the other boat, but I am sure it is of similar quality. I think the numbers were perfect (there were 12 in our group). I saw bigger, nicer boats that could carry 120 people (national geopgraphic explorer). I am glad we took the smaller boat.

Here is a link to some of the pics i took. Hope this helps

http://gallery.me.com/doctorjohn4

thank you everyone. I think we will go with the Samba and be sure to use the patch to quell any seasickness.

I missed out on a recent deal with airfares so we could really use the savings and it seems like the guide and itinerary are great.

doctorjohn, your pics are wonderful. thanks for sharing!

hi kak113, you will not regret going on the samba! i was on the samba in feb 2008 and it couldn't have been a more perfect trip! the crew is so hard working and wonderful... the captain even went snorkeling with me (not a great swimmer!). we had juan salcedo as our guide and could not have asked for anyone more knowledgeable or enthusiastic. if your guide asks if you want to go out earlier in the morning (5:30 wake up call for a 7A landing), DO IT. there is nothing better than having a whole island to yourself. you can always nap after lunch!

Need feedback on 5 vs. 8 day Galapgos tour. Some have said that 5 is sufficient. others 8; Feedback, please; we would like tour - Samba soinds fine, but would also like to do Quito, Machu Picchu; Sacred Valley; Ollyantambo, Nazca Lines Pisac, Cusco, Lima (Museums) Aequipa, Colca Canyon ; Lake Titicaca and several days in Peru Amazon -North? or South? Any suggestions welcome.

Many thanks

In response to 5- vs. 8-day tour--I personally think that 8 days is the only way to go. If you're going that far, do it the right way. On the shorter cruises, you can't get to the furthermost islands--Isabela & Fernandina in the west; Genovesa in the north; Española in the south. Since these islands are the most distant, the wildlife there has evolved uniquely and can only be seen there. For instance, the Mangrove Finch and the Flightless Cormorant can only be seen in the western islands; Red-footed Boobies, only on Genovesa; Waved Albatross (if you're there between March & Dec.), only on Española. (Obviously, I'm a birder.) The reptiles differ as well. If you're especially interested in geology, the westernmost islands are the youngest and have the most active volcanoes.

Very few 8-day tours get to all of these, although there are a handful. If you had to choose among them, I'd suggest to be sure to get to Genovesa and Española (which many 8-day itineraries include). (Truth in advertising--our trip on the Tip Top II didn't get to Isabela/Fernandina, so this recommendation doesn't do them justice.) The nesting sea bird colonies are astounding, especially the magnificent Waved Albatrosses. If you're interested, you can look these islands up on my trip report--http://galapagos2009.wordpress.com/. You don't have to read it all; just click from this home page on the links to the outings or topics of interest.

Tina

We just returned from the Samba this morning. We can't say enough good things about it. The friendly crew went above and beyond in their service and the food was outstanding. Our guide Martha Chica was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the Galapagos. Her nightly briefings were comprehensive, clear and to the point.

We had no problems with seasickness. I took a pill the first evening only. If you are worried about seasickness just make sure to bring enough pills to last the trip.

We saw so much wildlife! At all of our appointed stops and in a few instances when the crew alerted us to dolphins, Orca whales, fin whales, and enormous sunfishes. They are also committed to buying their food locally and supporting local economy.