Discovery World Cruises Gets Green Light to Sail to the Galapagos

Discovery World Cruises brokered a deal to offer two sailings that include the Galapagos Islands, a tightly-controlled cruising region that is restricted to small ships that fly the Ecuadorian flag.

Typically, ships must apply for a small handful of permits in order to cruise the region. The Discovery, which flies the Bahamian flag, will be an exception.

Occupancy on the 650-passenger ship will be capped at 500, and passengers will be tendered ashore on a rotating basis.

The April 7 departure is a 26-day trip from Tahiti to Peru and then to Ecuador; the 16-day April 27 voyage sails from Ecuador to Panama and through the Panama Canal to Nassau, Bahamas. The cruises will begin or end with two days in the Galapagos and three nights in Quito, Ecuador.