Paradise
Ecuador | May 4 - May 18, 2023

J
james s.
Blue Springs, MO | Reviewed on May 25, 2023

Our 15 day cruise was amazing! We enjoyed many islands and an abundance of wildlife. Birds, tortoises, sea lions, iguanas, lizards, whales, dolphins, penguins. Our naturalist, Pablo, was an encyclopedia of information. Excellent English, and very personable. The crew on the Monserrat always had a smile on their faces, and were very helpful. Most crew spoke Spanish only, which did create some communication breakdowns at times. The meals were delicious with a lot of variety. Our boat did have a bug problem however. (Roaches) Never having been on a Galapagos cruise, we do not know if this is common on most boats. Our local specialist, Tamer, with KimKim, seemed to be available 24/7. He was always very responsive with answers to our questions. Tamar did a fantastic job keeping us informed each step of the way with our planning. We would highly recommend the services of KimKim . We cannot emphasize enough the beauty of the Galapagos Islands. It is definitely a large piece of paradise.

Hotel Review
M/Y Monserrat
Quito

The crew always had a smile on their faces, and were very personable. Most crew spoke Spanish only, which made communication challenging at times. The food was excellent. We had a great variety of meals during our 15 day cruise. The bar service fell a little short. Cold beer at times was hard to come by. They seemed to wait until they ran out before replenishing supply. Not that anyone was partying, but a cold beer tastes really good after a day of hikes and snorkeling. They also ran out of white wine for 4-5 days. There was a roach problem. We had them in our bathroom, and on our bed pillow. The roaches were also in the dining area. I little disturbing watching roaches climbing up and down the walls and across your table while you are eating. Never having been on a Galapagos cruise before, we do not know if this is common on all boats. Doors and drawers did not fit properly. The boat is in need of maintenance. There is a nice upper deck which provides great views. I would have a difficult time recommending the Monserrat cruise.

Staff
Very friendly and personable.
Cleanliness & Comfort
New furnishings. Existing furniture is dirty. The seating in the dining area is uncomfortable. I don't think the floor in our cabin was swept at all during our 15 day cruise. You need to get control of the roach problem.
Local specialist: Tamer Obeid
Tamer
Tamer Obeid
Local specialist in Quito, Ecuador | Replied on May 25, 2023
Cindy & Jim,
Thank you so much for your valuable feedback. We are so happy here at KimKim to know that you enjoyed the charming Galapagos Islands and their fascinating nature and wildlife; we knew since the early stages of planning this trip that this was our goal, and I'm so glad that Galapagos didn't disappoint :) I'm also happy that to know that the guide rose to the occasion, and positive comments regarding the boat staff will be duly conveyed. It was great meeting you in person, we...
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Cindy & Jim,
Thank you so much for your valuable feedback. We are so happy here at KimKim to know that you enjoyed the charming Galapagos Islands and their fascinating nature and wildlife; we knew since the early stages of planning this trip that this was our goal, and I'm so glad that Galapagos didn't disappoint :) I'm also happy that to know that the guide rose to the occasion, and positive comments regarding the boat staff will be duly conveyed. It was great meeting you in person, we enjoyed a nice meal I must say :) Yet as I mentioned to the group before when we met in JW Marriott, we have worked with the boat operator and I assure you that they have taken all the corrective measures to maintain the boat; the humidity of the ocean and the tropical environment can be a reason behind the unpleasant existence of those little creatures, but applying the right procedures and fumigation on time will make sure no future travelers experience the same.
I thank you again, and we apologize for any inconvenience.
Best,
Tamer