Galapagos Questions please

Hey Everyone! So excited to visit the Galapagos on the Silversea Expedition! I am not used to an expedition ship, and have a few questions - would appreciate the advice.

1. For wet landings, what about SWIMS (shoes for wet) ?

2. Should we take our own binoculars?

3. Can you wear shorts at the Grill outside for dinner?

4. How long are the daily hikes? And please rate them -scale of 1 to 10 in extreme?

Thank you and please advise

Please look up my review on these pages of our back to back November 2014. Home > Cruise Reviews > Silver Galapagos Cruise Review by 57 varieties: B2B Western and North Central Itinerary

1. SWIMS are ideal

2. Yes I would, on board ones are bulky

3. Yes, no problem but maybe chilly after dark as ship is often repositioning

4. Two level of hikes are offered. 'Long hike' 5/10 'short hike' 2/10. Even the one in the north of Espanola at Punta Pitt which is advertised as tough, only lasted an hour with about 20 minutes of climbing. Our guide did it in his bare feet! I took a walking pole which fitted in my suitcase and it was useful on the uneven (lava) terrain.

The snorkelling is fantastic so take a rash vest and underwater camera.

Feel free to ask anything else.

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Wish there was a "like" button to push!

Awesome! Thanks for the info!

My hubby wants to know how the food was? We love Silversea, but this may be different?

It is an Expedition ship, it's different......but you will enjoy it.

JoeK

Food is varied. Breakfast boring, lunch on deck includes a different ceviche every day, grilled fish or lobster or meat, pizzas, burgers, followed by patisserie and ice cream. Dinner in Dining room OK and hot rocks on deck fun and delicious. The food is all locally sourced.

As you would expect not SS typical but suits the expedition style.

The locally sourced requirement is a problem, but it sounds that silversea has done a better job than celebrity at overcoming it. You still won't see the variety that you would on another silversea ship--no fresh berries, no European wines, no caviar. And they are only allowed to serve lobster when it is in season. But from all reports recently, what is available and served is good.

We're going in late Sept. So when is lobster season?

Wow all this info is SO helpful - thank you!

I am bringing an underwater Gopro - too bulky? Anything else you would recommend?

And please, hot rocks? Is this in the Grill restaurant outside?

If you recommend hiking shoes, what kind please?

Sounds like a rashguard is a good idea?

Underwater Gopro was what the guides and professional photographer were using. It is ideal.

Yes hot rocks is at the grill outside in the evening.

We wore sturdy trainers/tennis shoes and they were fine for dry landings. If it is a wet landing it is usually onto sand so bare feet or water sandals work. There will be towels available from the ship and carried onto the landing area for you.

Yes rash guard (we call them rash vests in the UK) good idea.

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We're going in late Sept. So when is lobster season?

We were told there are two different lobster seasons. The season we enjoyed was in November and they were delicious. I ate a lobster a day (at least) and didn't tire of them!

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Agree with all comments above re: gear. We didn't take walking poles. There were poles available on ship to use - not collapsable but people used them. Walking over different sized small and large rocks were the main issues on a number of islands. Combine the rocks with the temperature you'll sweat a bit! We actually lost a few pounds while enjoying all the food on the ship!!! The focus of the food on the ship is Ecuadorian - please try it. However, you can also get steaks, chicken, pizza, etc. The staff and crew were great! I actually improved my Spanish 😊. GREAT TRIP! Definitely a bucket list. Loved the wildlife and great passengers too!!!

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Agree with all comments above re: gear. We didn't take walking poles. There were poles available on ship to use - not collapsable but people used them. Walking over different sized small and large rocks were the main issues on a number of islands. Combine the rocks with the temperature you'll sweat a bit! We actually lost a few pounds while enjoying all the food on the ship!!! The focus of the food on the ship is Ecuadorian - please try it. However, you can also get steaks, chicken, pizza, etc. The staff and crew were great! I actually improved my Spanish 😊. GREAT TRIP! Definitely a bucket list. Loved the wildlife and great passengers too!!!

 

 

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Great feedback--thank you! Did you bring sneakers or hiking shoes? And was there anything that you wished you had packed but hadn't?

How did you find the ship renovations? i was looking at some of the "before the renovation" photos and the new decor looks great. Are there plenty of public areas on the ship to relax or perhaps sit outside? I guess I'm also wondering if you were out every day on every island or if you eventually got burned out and stayed onboard for a day or morning or afternoon.

Thanks so much!

I wore hiking shoes as they are a little more sturdy than regular sneakers. I had previously torn up a pair of sneakers hiking on lava fields in Hawaii, so I was forewarned. You don't need boots, but the lava is very rough, so you need the thicker soles of the hiking shoes.

We were happy to wear sturdy trainers/sneakers.

Renovations are smart if a little dark but it all looks good. The sitting areas are not huge but they're plentiful. Shady spots aft of the piano bar were my favourite. When not sailing the seating fore in front of the suites on deck five are pleasant but it is too windy when the ship is moving. There is limited seating on deck six near the jacuzzi. The piano bar and explorer lounge (lecture theatre) have lots of seating, sofas and armchairs in the bar and benches and individual seats in the lounge.

We did every trip that was offered. You are never off the ship for more than three hours and the trips tended to be early morning and around 3 or 4 pm. The guests are divided into two groups and alternate as far as who is early and who late.

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We're going in late Sept. So when is lobster season?

We were in the Galapagos in early August and lobster was not in season.

What would you advise to wear when Embarking?

Flat rubber soled shoes and something comfortable and suitable for warm weather. Shorts and a lightweight shirt maybe, with a pullover in the hand luggage. You would be unlucky to encounter rain.

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Just can't wrap my head around boarding a Silversea ship with shorts and a top? I know it's an expedition ship but really?

Absolutely. With all the activities you will be doing, shorts are practical. You will be stepping off zodiacs into the sea at the beaches most days. The local guides/specialists wear shorts, so why not the guests?

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You've been on this voyage so I trust you! Shorts it is!

Absolutely. With all the activities you will be doing, shorts are practical. You will be stepping off zodiacs into the sea at the beaches most days. The local guides/specialists wear shorts, so why not the guests?

 

 

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Thanks again for the very helpful info. So I guess on the zodiacs it is best to wear rubber beach shoes as you will be stepping out into the water...how deep is the water? Should a bathing suit be worn underneath the shorts, or is the water just mid-calf deep? Just thinking it would be a bit uncomfortable to hike after a water landing in a bathing suit!?!

Getting the clothes organized...sounds like this will be a very light packing cruise, with super casual clothes during the day?

While they say the weather is relatively consistent year round, and I have checked on the web, what is the real story in regard to the weather, and how hot and how wet, in late April??? Any ideas or insight? Should I be expecting hot sun (high 80s and 90s) during the day, and dipping down to the 70s in the evening?

I think I already asked about mosquitos....

Thanks again--very much looking forward to this adventure and just want to make sure we are prepared! :) After I return from this, we are off to the Spirit at the end of May so it sounds like it will be quite the contrast! :confused:

We were there in 2009 on a smaller ship ( 44 passengers ) but the landing would be very similar.

This entry in our blog details a little of the landings.

http://thefletchers.com.au/The_Fletchers/South_America/Entries/2009/2/10_GALAPAGOS_-_HOW_DO_PEOPLE_COPE.html

The photo album South America at the top of the blog has Galapogos albums, but unfortunately we lost the captions under the photos at some stage and haven't bothered to redo them.

Herman

The water you step into came up to my knees usually and if there is swell a little higher. The crew bring towels ashore and it is warm so swimming costume not necessary. You can step from the zodiac with bare feet and then dry and put on your socks and shoes on the beach. It is no big deal once you are there! Don't know about weather in April but because of the islands' position mid Ocean they are never very hot or very cold, pleasant in November, anyhow. Your temperatures sound about right. And yes the formality of the original ships will be a contrast after an expedition ship but aren't we lucky to be able to do both?

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