I cannot recommend Quasar's Galapagos cruise on the Evolution highly enough. My husband and I were first-time cruisers and the idea of cruising at all really put us off-- we typically like to have control over our plans, active schedules, flexibility, etc., but were told by many experienced travelers that the best way to see the Galapagos is by boat because of the scarcity and limitations on hotels. We are so glad we chose Quasar. Not only are the smaller ships (the Evolution has a maximum of 32 passengers) easier on the environment, but they also allow you to have a very personalized and intimate experience with the wildlife. We had 3 naturalist guides (all of whom had advanced degrees in biology, conservation, etc.) on our ship meaning we typically broke up into groups of about 10, and we very seldom ran into other groups or ships during excursions. Everybody was able to get up close to the incredible wildlife -- we saw sea lions, crabs, hammerhead sharks, white-tipped sharks, flamingos, penguins, sea turtles, tortoises, dolphins, iguanas, three types of boobies, other birds, tons of sea life, and I'm sure other things I'm forgetting. Everyday was packed with activities from snorkeling to short hikes to kayaking, etc. The small size of the ship also meant that we were able to be more flexible. For example, one day after lunch we saw in the far distance a pod of dolphins swimming by - the guides quickly leapt into action, told us to put our life jackets on, and we hopped into the dinghy boats to catch up to them. We spent 20-30 minutes riding alongside a pod of hundreds upon hundreds of dolphins, who were swimming, breaching, flipping, and playing alongside us. It was one of the most memorable experiences I have ever had in my life. I can't imagine a ship of 100+ passengers being able to do that. It wasn't on our schedule, but the guides really and truly were all about giving us the best experience ever and making sure we saw all that we could. In addition, the boat itself was beautiful and extremely well kept. They do an excellent job of keeping everything incredibly clean so that you feel comfortable walking around bare foot-- everybody's feet and shoes are hosed off after every excursion. The hot tub was also a very lovely amenity. Food was plentiful and fresh, and we were never served the same meal twice. The staff and crew were courteous and helpful and went above and beyond to ensure we all had a great time and were taken care of. I had very high expectations, but they were far exceeded by Quasar. I cannot recommend their Galapagos cruise enough.