After a special request from LSoM I will (albeit late) tell you about my recent trip to the Galapagos on board the Celebrity Xpedition. If you can't be bothered to read the rest just go - it is amazing.
My better half had wanted to go to the Galapagos islands as long as I can remember - she has a PhD (well DPhil actually) in Biochemistry and the combination of natural beauty and historical scientific significance was the clincher. We booked 2x G returns to Miami departing on our wedding anniversary... Paranoid me insisted on a 5.30am taxi ride and we arrived at LHR at about 6.10am despite the taxi being late - checkin was obviously quiet and after waiting for it to open the clubhouse served well - flight to Miami was very empty and enjoyable. The wife managed to bag the first onboard treatment despite getting one in the clubhouse as well.
In Miami we stayed in the Miami airport Hilton - a bit dated but reasonable and the restaurant was pretty good. We had a midday flight to Quito with AA and to be honest the checkin for South American flights at MIA is a joke. However the lounge and even onboard experience on AA was surprisingly good despite what I read about international busines (aka domestic first) on the AA 757s. The landing at Quito was pretty hair raising as the airport is in the middle of the city and due to the altitude you come in very very fast.
Once in Quito we were picked up by Celebrity at the airport - I realised very quickly that yet again we would be a good 30 yrs younger than the average cruise passenger - but who cares! Arrived at the Marriott Quito and got checked in - this is an amazing hotel!!! Next day we had a city and local area tour - the city is very nice but the altitude is really hard work - just walking up a flight of stairs took it out of you.
Sunday morning we flew out of Quito to Baltra on TAM - The flight takes about 2 hours including a stop in Guayaquil despite this they managed to complete two full drink services, a meal, and a snack.
Once in Baltra we knew something was special - we got picked up from the airport for the mile or so trip down to the bay. At the bay we queued ton board the zodiacs (inflatable speedboats) to take it to the boats, even at the dock there were sealions asleep that you had to step over.
The Celebrity Xpedition is very impressive. It takes 94 passengers but has most of the amenities of a full size cruise ship. Drinks and food are all included (except for premium champagne etc) - I highly recommend the pisco sours! You can have pretty amazing buffet lunch on the back of the boat every day with a nice cocktail.
The shore visits started within a couple of hours of embarkation and every one was amazing. You sign up for low, medium or high intensity and are taken by zodiac from the boat to the islands along with a naturalist. Tours typically start at 9am and get you back to the boat for lunch with another excursion at 2pm.
The islands were all so different yet so amazing. The animals have no fear and are as interested in you as you are of them. You step over sealions and marine iguanas and albatross take off within a few metres away from you. At some times the landscapes may be barren and not beautiful but the whole feeling is very special.
The temperature was about 26-28C each day and this varied from cloudy with drizzle to full (and as it on the equator very burning) sun. Lunch at the back of the boat in the sunshine was brilliant.
For me the highlight of the trip was the snorkelling. The boat issues you with a wetsuit, fins, mask and snorkel (all included) and on many of the days you have the choice of spending a whole trip snorkelling from a boat on a remote rocky encrop or doing an island walk and snorkelling off the beach afterwards. We managed to swim with penguins, sealions, sharks, giant turtles and a pod of about 100 dolphins - it is just incredible!
As the boat is so small for a cruise ship you really get the benefit of meeting everyone onboard but therefore being able to find people with common interest. The day we left home was very sad because it was like leaving a group of friends. The service onboard was brilliant, the food etc was top notch.
Overall the whole experience was incredible. At the airport in Baltra we spoke to some people who had been on a much smaller boat who had been told that the larger boats didn't get to visit many sites - this is not the case!
It is quite expensive for the trip. I'd love to say it is a once in a lifetime experience however I will insist on going again! If you are interested in a luxury holiday but with lots of activity and things to see then this is the one. My only negative comment is that I am still exhausted three weeks later!
Any questions let me know, obviously I have pictures etc!
The other thing I'm sure some people would be interested to know is how my wife managed to get the first onboard treatment on the way home as well!
My better half had wanted to go to the Galapagos islands as long as I can remember - she has a PhD (well DPhil actually) in Biochemistry and the combination of natural beauty and historical scientific significance was the clincher. We booked 2x G returns to Miami departing on our wedding anniversary... Paranoid me insisted on a 5.30am taxi ride and we arrived at LHR at about 6.10am despite the taxi being late - checkin was obviously quiet and after waiting for it to open the clubhouse served well - flight to Miami was very empty and enjoyable. The wife managed to bag the first onboard treatment despite getting one in the clubhouse as well.
In Miami we stayed in the Miami airport Hilton - a bit dated but reasonable and the restaurant was pretty good. We had a midday flight to Quito with AA and to be honest the checkin for South American flights at MIA is a joke. However the lounge and even onboard experience on AA was surprisingly good despite what I read about international busines (aka domestic first) on the AA 757s. The landing at Quito was pretty hair raising as the airport is in the middle of the city and due to the altitude you come in very very fast.
Once in Quito we were picked up by Celebrity at the airport - I realised very quickly that yet again we would be a good 30 yrs younger than the average cruise passenger - but who cares! Arrived at the Marriott Quito and got checked in - this is an amazing hotel!!! Next day we had a city and local area tour - the city is very nice but the altitude is really hard work - just walking up a flight of stairs took it out of you.
Sunday morning we flew out of Quito to Baltra on TAM - The flight takes about 2 hours including a stop in Guayaquil despite this they managed to complete two full drink services, a meal, and a snack.
Once in Baltra we knew something was special - we got picked up from the airport for the mile or so trip down to the bay. At the bay we queued ton board the zodiacs (inflatable speedboats) to take it to the boats, even at the dock there were sealions asleep that you had to step over.
The Celebrity Xpedition is very impressive. It takes 94 passengers but has most of the amenities of a full size cruise ship. Drinks and food are all included (except for premium champagne etc) - I highly recommend the pisco sours! You can have pretty amazing buffet lunch on the back of the boat every day with a nice cocktail.
The shore visits started within a couple of hours of embarkation and every one was amazing. You sign up for low, medium or high intensity and are taken by zodiac from the boat to the islands along with a naturalist. Tours typically start at 9am and get you back to the boat for lunch with another excursion at 2pm.
The islands were all so different yet so amazing. The animals have no fear and are as interested in you as you are of them. You step over sealions and marine iguanas and albatross take off within a few metres away from you. At some times the landscapes may be barren and not beautiful but the whole feeling is very special.
The temperature was about 26-28C each day and this varied from cloudy with drizzle to full (and as it on the equator very burning) sun. Lunch at the back of the boat in the sunshine was brilliant.
For me the highlight of the trip was the snorkelling. The boat issues you with a wetsuit, fins, mask and snorkel (all included) and on many of the days you have the choice of spending a whole trip snorkelling from a boat on a remote rocky encrop or doing an island walk and snorkelling off the beach afterwards. We managed to swim with penguins, sealions, sharks, giant turtles and a pod of about 100 dolphins - it is just incredible!
As the boat is so small for a cruise ship you really get the benefit of meeting everyone onboard but therefore being able to find people with common interest. The day we left home was very sad because it was like leaving a group of friends. The service onboard was brilliant, the food etc was top notch.
Overall the whole experience was incredible. At the airport in Baltra we spoke to some people who had been on a much smaller boat who had been told that the larger boats didn't get to visit many sites - this is not the case!
It is quite expensive for the trip. I'd love to say it is a once in a lifetime experience however I will insist on going again! If you are interested in a luxury holiday but with lots of activity and things to see then this is the one. My only negative comment is that I am still exhausted three weeks later!
Any questions let me know, obviously I have pictures etc!
The other thing I'm sure some people would be interested to know is how my wife managed to get the first onboard treatment on the way home as well!
