GRAND DAPHNE is built for one place, and it shows. She is a 39.8-metre Broward Marine motor yacht, delivered in 2011 and refitted in 2020, and she spends her year in the Galapagos, one of the few larger charter yachts arranged specifically for cruising this UNESCO World Heritage archipelago. Her shallow 1.8-metre draft, her efficient displacement hull and her quiet 10-knot cruise are all chosen for these waters, where access, patience and a light footprint matter far more than speed.
What defines her inside is light. Oversized windows wrap the main deck living spaces, so the volcanic coastlines, the wildlife and the extraordinary equatorial light are present from almost every seat onboard. The main deck lounge is wide and calm, flowing into a dining area sized for the full group, and the mood throughout is unfussy and comfortable rather than formal, a yacht meant to be lived in after long days ashore.
Her real advantage is capacity. GRAND DAPHNE accommodates twelve guests across eight cabins, arranged as a double, five convertible double or twin cabins, a twin and a single. That flexibility is unusual and genuinely useful. She suits an extended family, a group of friends or a mix of couples and solo travellers without compromise, and every cabin has been planned around comfort at anchor rather than passage making at speed.
Outside, the deck spaces are extensive and versatile. The sun deck opens to the sky for wildlife watching and evening gatherings, while the main deck aft carries a bar and shaded seating for meals and downtime between excursions. A crew of ten run her, a high ratio for the guest count, and much of that team is dedicated to the water and shore program that is the reason to be here.
The activity inventory is arranged around the Galapagos itself. She carries a towed tender and two further tenders for landings and exploration, along with kayaks, stand up paddleboards, scuba diving equipment, snorkelling gear and fishing tackle. Days are built around the water: swimming with sea lions, drifting over reefs, paddling quiet inlets and coming back aboard to space, food and rest.
The 2020 refit refreshed her interior and systems while keeping the layout that makes her work here, and she operates with the local knowledge these islands demand, coordinating naturalist guiding, park permits and itineraries so guests can focus on what they came to see. Wildlife sits at the centre of every day, from giant tortoises and marine iguanas ashore to the remarkable birdlife and the clear, cool water that draws divers from around the world.
GRAND DAPHNE is not a fast yacht and does not try to be. She is an expedition base with the comfort of a private yacht, designed to let guests immerse themselves in one of the richest natural environments on earth while returning each evening to generous living space, a capable crew and a calm, light-filled interior. For families and groups who want the Galapagos properly, at their own pace, she is a rare and well-judged option.
She cruises the Galapagos year-round, chartering from USD 165,000 per week.
