Coral 1 Information

The Coral I Personal Observations
of the Coral I - 32 passengers

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Our Wonderful Chef

The Coral I was refurbished in 2005. She is beautifully outfitted with wonderful warm woods everywhere. The main lounge is particularly attractive with great seating arrangements for interaction between passengers. The waiter / bartender was a lot of fun and always had us in stitches with his antics. The staff were really excellent. There is a hot tub on the back of the ship and a sport platform which makes getting on and off the zodiacs very easy and convenient. If you wish for a small ship or if you have a group and want to be together this is a nice choice. If you have enough people to charter the ship it would be a wonderful experience. The sun deck is wonderful. The very top of the ship has a large deck, comfortable deck chairs and a semicircular area with comfortable cushions for either viewing scenery or star gazing at night.

The cabins

Cabins - Sea Deck: The majority of the cabins are on this deck and are very similar with just slight differences between the cabins. These are very small with not a lot of room. No drawers at all only shelving and a small hanging area.
Cabins - Earth deck: There are two cabins on the Earth Deck with just a little more room and a picture window instead of a pothole.
Cabins - Sky Deck: The negative here is the only way to reach these six cabins is by going outside. They are a little more spacious. If it is raining it would be very inconvenient. Anyone with any walking difficulty should not consider these cabins as you must climb the steps to the upper deck to reach these cabins. If you choose to be high on the ship then these may suites you.
The Bathrooms: Basically the same in all suites. They are small and serviceable but not spacious.

The dining room and food

The ship focuses on the quality food, not of a gourmet quality but with fresh ingredients and simple presentation. We never had a bad meal. All meals are presented buffet style. Breakfast always consists of eggs, fruit, cereal and all the trimmings. Lunch was as good as dinner in most circumstances. The dinner menu is always a surprise and features one main course, fish, beef, etc. but with many vegetables, salads and deserts to go with the main course. Do not expect gourmet meals, but do expect quality meals, simple presentation and good taste. The dining room has a wonderful ambiance the tables are in "fixed" position and range from tables for 2 to tables for 5 being the largest. On our trip, our chef was really a deal of fun. He could not speak a word of English but we managed to communicate very well. Hot tea and coffee was available at all times in the dining room.

The Bar The Dining Room Santiago - Our Bartender

The daily routine

A wake up call comes around 7.00 am in the morning. Breakfast is served at 7.30 am and departure for the mornings activities is usually around 8.30 am. Normally you are on land for 2 to 3 hours and return to the ship to freshen up. At 12.30 pm lunch is served. In most cases the ship sails to a new destination for the afternoon. At around 3.30 pm you depart the ship again to experience a new afternoon adventure. Returning to the ship at around 5.30 to 6.00 pm. After you freshen up a complimentary cocktail is served while the naturalists explain the landings and adventures for the next day. Dinner is served at 7.30 pm. Evenings are pretty quiet on board, the activity in the main lounge really depends on the passengers on board. The days are tiring so often people retire quite early.

The Naturalists

On the Coral I there were two naturalists onboard and we were split into two groups. Both were Marine Biologists, every informative and accompanied their group during the time on the islands. They also acted as cruise directors and were available to assist you with almost any need.

Additional charges

All food was included along with tea and coffee. There is a charge for soft drinks $1.50, beer $3.50 and wine and mixed drinks of $5. Snorkel equipment rental is $10 for the cruise and wet suit rental is $10 for the cruise. All the land excursions are of course included in the price of the cruise.

Frequently asked questions about life on board

Q: What does my cruise rate not include?

A: What is not included in the cruise rate:- Galapagos Airfare - Galapagos National Park Tax - Alcoholic and non- alcoholic beverages (other than tea and coffee) - Tips and personal expenses.

Q: What type of clothing should I wear on board?

A: Comfortable, casual clothing is recommended aboard the ship. The ships prefer that jeans, shorts, t-shirts, or tennis shoes are not worn for dinner.

Q: How can I pay my expenses on board?

A: The ships accept all the major credit cards: Diners Club, Visa, Mastercard & American Express.

Q: Do I need a passport or visa to go to Galapagos?

A: A passport is required for all US citizens. No visa is required. Other nationalities need to check with their consulates.

Q: What can I pack for the excursions?

A: For shore excursions comfortable clothing is a must, preferably shorts, bathing suits, head covering, sun screen, walking shoes, tennis shoes, windbreaker type jacket, binoculars, camera and plenty of film. Although insect repellant is advisable insects are not a major problem. On the Coral I, the shoes you wear on shore are left on deck until the next shore excursion. Be sure to bring an extra pair to wear inside the ship.

Q: What is the smoking policy on board the ship?

A: It is forbidden to smoke inside the ships or the vessel. Smoking is allowed ONLY on the sun decks.

Q: What is the dress code for dinner?

A: Casual attire is acceptable during dinner (Shorts, sandals or swimsuits are not allowed in the dinning room).

Q: Are there any language restrictions?

A: The ships can guarantee English, Spanish, French, German and Italian in our cruises. Any other language must be requested.

Q: Are there any luggage Restrictions?

A: Luggage is restricted to 20 kg, excess luggage will be paid for at the airport.

Q: What is the electric current on board?

A: The Coral I has 110 voltage.

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