Travel Story: The Galápagos Islands – A Family Adventure of a Lifetime

Finding our Sea Legs and Discovering Something to Please Everyone from Ages 8-78

As we stepped aboard our home for the next 8 days, we were greeted with some severe rocking. Up, down, up, down, up down. I looked over at my seasick prone daughter and watched her turn sheet white. Her eyes looked up at me in panic as she turned to disembark. Our welcoming crew, oblivious to the drama unfolding, happily ushered us into the dining room. I took a seat with my daughter at the table nearest to the door. It was pretty clear within minutes that she would not sit there without losing her breakfast, so she and I hastily got up and took our first tour of the National Geographic Endeavor alone to find the outdoor deck. For the next 20 minutes, I played psychologist, trying to coax her out of her plights as we pulled away from shore and out into rougher waters. As I spouted out anxious words of mothering advice on coping with motion sickness, I reeled in discouragement. Playing nurse was not how I planned to experience our once-in-a-lifetime family adventure in the Galápagos Islands.

Pleasing a family of 14, age range 8-78 can be a challenge. When my world-traveling parents suggested we take a family trip, filled with adventure and education to the Galápagos, my siblings and I gave a resounding “yes.” Although some of our kids overlap in age, we each thought of our own families to ensure they would enjoy this experience as much as we would. The definition of “what is fun” to a 3rd grader, a middle schooler and a Freshman in college can be vastly different, let alone the expectations of the parents and grandparents. Would this adventurous trip work? With a resounding “yes,” I can say it did!

Cruising with National Geographic is a first class experience. The Endeavour is teaming with officers, crew, chefs, and expert naturalists waiting to please and make our trip exceptional. With only 96 passengers, and roughly a 1:1 ratio of passengers to crew, the small size lent itself to an intimate feel, where crew and passengers could really get to know each other. Each evening we were given a printed itinerary of the next day’s activities. It included a range of options perfect to please everyone. The outings to shore included beach explorations, low-key hikes along relatively flat terrain, and slightly more strenuous lava hikes. For a few hard core athletes in our family, when they needed more cardio workout, they headed to the gym on board after the hikes.

The zodiac outings varied as well, from touring coast lines to view playful sea lions and other species in their natural habitat, to drop offs into 2 man kayaks to explore deserted shorelines. Being on vacation, it was nice to know, though that none of the outings were mandatory. So when my mother chose to stay aboard to read, or my father decided to take a nap, it was acceptable.

The water activities were also geared for all types. Although I come from a family of swimmers, there were some deep sea snorkeling spots that were too rough for the younger kids. During those outings, they were given the option of boating near by on a glass bottom boat. This was the perfect compromise to allow them to see the incredible sea life, yet not need the more advanced snorkeling skills. The beginners didn’t miss out on snorkeling opportunities, though. The crew arranged several outings where we entered the water from the beach to view turtles, sea lions, fish and more, a much more approachable method to snorkeling that all could enjoy.

Part of the cruise included on board education about the various islands in the Galápagos as well as details about the unique animals and their habitats. Convincing any kid of school age (and some adults for that matter) to get excited to listen to an educational lecture while on vacation can be a daunting task. Fortunately, the crew had this one well sorted out as well. They kept their presentations short and sweet, and knowing they were appealing to all ages, kept the content appropriate. There were also loads of pictures (and even pictures taken from that day.) This was a sure fire way to keep kids interested. If they didn’t pay attention, they may miss a picture of themselves!

Even with all the activities throughout the day, there was some time for the family. Typically during cocktail hour, the younger kids would run around and play hide and seek on the upper deck, while the older kids would play cards. Mealtimes also allowed for reconnection to hear about the amazing things spotted during the day.

Of course, with a family of 14, there were bound to be a few misadventures. One sickness with a visit to the boat’s doctor, a small family misunderstanding, and a few rocky nights of rough waters, didn’t dampen the amazing experience. Even my daughter, the most prone to sea sickness, found her sea legs a few days into the trip. By day 2 she knew the right dose of Dramamine to make her feel better! On occasional rough sea evenings, she opted for time sketching in her journal. Although she may have wanted to be a bit more active with the crowd during those times, she brought home a journal of a trip of a lifetime. Her pictures and stories will be keepsakes she can share with her grandkids when she brings them to Galápagos some day.