LIVE(ish) Xpedition - Quito and Galapagos November 11, 2023

[prmssk]

38 minutes ago, mahdnc said:

what did  you think of today's Celebrity guided tour of Quito et al?  Bad, good, decent, great?

I thought it was one of the better city tours we have ever taken.  It focused mostly on Old Town and the Equator Museum so just plan your own tour to avoid those sights.

[JerseyGem]

Thanks for taking the time to post about your adventure.  I hope all continues to go well for you.  We are on the Xpedition in February and love all your posts.  Thanks!

[mahdnc]

9 hours ago, prmssk said:

I thought it was one of the better city tours we have ever taken.  It focused mostly on Old Town and the Equator Museum so just plan your own tour to avoid those sights.

Thank you. I hope your embarkation goes smoothly today. Have fun. 

[prmssk]

This morning we met our same guide in our same small group of 10 in the lobby where she gave us our boarding passes and Galapagos Transit Cards.  As a group we traveled the 45 minutes to the airport on a bus.

 

An aside note, when we received our boarding passes, our guide informed those who would be staying at the EB Hotel post cruise of those plans.  This included anyone with a very early morning flight.  The rest of us would either return to the JW Marriott after the cruise or continue on to Lima for the Machu Picchu extension.

 

At the airport, porters brought our checked luggage to the bag check area but we had to each claim our bags and personally check them ourselves before continuing on to security and then our gate.  Our guide left us at security after introducing us to the Celebrity staff member that we travel on the plane with us.

 

We boarded an Avianca Airbus where we had all been only assigned window and aisle seats with the middle empty so there was plenty of room to spread out.  Our flight was about a 10:30 a.m. flight with an estimated arrival time of 11:45 a.m. (Galapagos time).

 

On the plane were offered drinks and a light meal of a chicken wrap, smoked salmon, or the vegetarian option.  Anyone who had informed Celebrity of food allergies ahead of time had a specially prepared meal.  My husband chose the chicken wrap option.  Being allergic to dairy, I had a dairy free meal which included the smoked salmon.

 

Once in Galapagos, we deplaned on the tarmac and were greeted by this friendly iguana.

 

 

We went through customs where they reviewed our passports, Galapagos transit cards (which Celebrity provided this morning), and declarations (a form provided on the plane).  We are told to hang on to the half of the transit card they gave us as we will need it to leave the Galapagos.  

 

The naturalists met us outside the airport where we had a short bus ride to the harbor of Baltra, boarded the zodiacs with our carryon luggage, and arrived at the ship.  Our checked luggage would follow us later.

 

 

We have our muster drill in a moment, then lunch, and then a briefing.  I'll share more later.

[mahasamatman]

Thanks for the report, but I have a couple of logisticalquestions.

 

When they handed out boarding passes, did they give people a chance to add frequent flyer numbers, or was that handled at the airport?

 

For the hotel briefing, did they mention anything about leaving bags at the hotel for the return? We'll have our winter coats and some heavier clothes for our return trip, and we really don't want to take those to Galapagos and back.

[prmssk]

3 hours ago, mahasamatman said:

Thanks for the report, but I have a couple of logisticalquestions.

 

When they handed out boarding passes, did they give people a chance to add frequent flyer numbers, or was that handled at the airport?

 

For the hotel briefing, did they mention anything about leaving bags at the hotel for the return? We'll have our winter coats and some heavier clothes for our return trip, and we really don't want to take those to Galapagos and back.

The flight to Baltra is a chartered flight so I'm not sure frequent flyer numbers would be relevant, just like Marriott rewards numbers don't get you anything but access to the amenities, if you have a high enough status (we will not earn points for the stay).  But it doesn't hurt to ask one of the Celebrity representatives in the hotel when you arrive.  They are the ones that handle all the arrangements.

 

None of the guides talked about leaving items behind at the hotel but I had heard from other travelers on other online forums that this is possible provided you are not continuing on to Machu Picchu and don't have too early of a flight home that they would put you up at the EB Hotel for your last night.  The Celebrity rep at the hotel would be your best resource once you arrive.

 

More to come about today's excursion where we had our first chance to see a Blue Footed Booby and Lava Heron along with so many sea turtles.  I have a lot of photos and videos to sort through from just an hour+ zodiac ride.  Even if today was the highlight (which I doubt will be the case), this trip was worth it!

[sunpsyche]

The blue footed boobies were one of the highlights of the trip for us! Did you get to see any babies or yearlings?

[prmssk]

8 hours ago, sunpsyche said:

The blue footed boobies were one of the highlights of the trip for us! Did you get to see any babies or yearlings?

Not yet.  The two we saw yesterday I believe were adults.  But I'm sure we will have more chances to see them.

 

[prmssk]

After embarking on the Xpedition, we had a brief introduction to some of the staff, were welcomed with mimosas, and then were escorted to our suites.  There was a traditional muster drill (without life jackets) on deck 5 near the lifeboats and then we had a welcome buffet lunch (yes, a second lunch) before our first briefing.  In our first briefing, they explained the afternoon's excursion and talk through various safety protocols.  

 

Our first excursion was at 5:00 p.m. and was an hour zodiac ride (no landing) in small groups to Black Turtle Cove Lagoons, home to a lot of mangroves.  We saw so many turtles (including at least three males trying to court a single female), reef sharks, a couple of Blue-footed Boobies, Lava Heron, Striated Heron, Cattle Egret, Magnificent Frigatebirds (including one trying to steal dinner from a Booby), etc.  My husband with his binoculars and me with my telephoto lens were captivated.

 

 

Upon returning to the ship, the zodiac pulls up to the back of the ship, the naturalist gets out and he (or she) along with another crew member help each passenger out of the zodiac making it fairly easy to disembark.  They ask that you be hands free so recommend that you carry everything you need for excursions in a backpack.  They provide a simple string backpack that isn't all that strong to all guests.  Due to being in a higher level suite, we also got the nicer backpack that Flora guests get.  They also provide a rain poncho, sunscreen, lip chap, and aloe.

 

 

Our briefing for the next day's excursions was at 7:30 p.m. with dinner in the Darwin restaurant afterwards.  

 

 

There was a documentary after dinner you could watch in the Discovery Lounge, but we were not up for that after the long day.  

 

Breakfast this morning (and every morning) will be in the Darwin Restaurant (buffet style) starting at 7:00 a.m.  I understand a coffee station is set up at the Beagle Grill (with a few pastries and fruit) starting at 6:15 a.m. but I didn't go check it out.

 

The excursions we signed up for today include a Long walk and kayak this morning from Rabida Island and then a Long walk, moderate terrain (flat, sandy and lava field) on Santiago Island.  There is space for 16 passengers to kayak at any time.  All other excursions have no limit.  Everyone can do the same excursion if they want (just in smaller groups - they can have no more than 16 guests per group).

 

Alternatives for the morning include the same long walk we will do but optional snorkeling or swimming from the beach instead of kayaking or a zodiac ride and then optional snorkeling or swimming from the beach.

 

The alternative for the afternoon include a short beach walk and optional snorkeling or swimming from the beach.

 

Last night they said that we have 40 passengers on board which I think includes the two Galapagos National Park representatives who are hear checking on some of the sites we will visit.  28 are from the US, 2 are from the UK, and the rest are from Canada.  We have one couple who is Elite+ and two couples who are Elite.  I think I expected more experienced Celebrity cruisers.  I'm a bit surprised by the lack of use of binoculars and nicer cameras.  I stand out a bit with my Nikon and telephoto lens.  Oh well.  It's off to breakfast now and then to get assigned our snorkel equipment.

 

[mahdnc]

Very nice writing. I take it that Xpedition’s WiFi is pretty good?

[prmssk]

10 minutes ago, mahdnc said:

Very nice writing. I take it that Xpedition’s WiFi is pretty good?

Funny you asked. I opened Cruise critic just now to add WiFi speeds. The ship has Starlink. There isn’t a limit to the number of devices as it’s just a general password everyone uses (and not tied to you or your stateroom).
 

[mahdnc]

That’s awesome. I’m going to be spoiled. 

[mahdnc]

How are your accommodations? If you plan on addressing that at another time, I can wait. 

[bjahil47]

Following along!  Sounds like a fantastic trip so far!  

[dlh015]

Your beautiful photos really bring everything to life!! Feels like being there! (but I'm quite sure it's *much* better to actually be there...lol...)

 

Thank you! 

[prmssk]

5 hours ago, mahdnc said:

How are your accommodations? If you plan on addressing that at another time, I can wait. 

I don't know if I'm the best one to answer this as we splurged on the penthouse so I can't tell you much about the ocean view or Xpedition Suites which is what most people are in.

 

Our cabin overall is in very good condition, aside from a low spot under the carpet in the bedroom that I manage to step in every single time.  The furniture seems newish.  I walked past a couple of the fifth floor Xpedition Suites when the doors were open and they are all varying sizes and shapes.  Suite 501 has the couch turned to look straight out the window which seemed quite nice.  Suite 500 appeared to be a bit darker.

 

Here are a few photos of our suite.  When I get around to editing it, I do plan to post a room tour on YouTube (and hopefully a ship tour).  The biggest plus of this cabin we have decided is the second shower.  You also can't beat a front facing balcony for the views.

 

 

The ship does rock and roll quite a bit when moving.  A few minutes ago, all the glass bottles in the mini-fridge were banging back and forth against each other, two we had on the counter almost slid off before we caught them.  All that said, I have not yet had any issues of motion sickness.  I have not even worn my ReliefBand since our flight from Atlanta to Quito on Thursday.

 

As you likely know, this ship does not have any elevators and so is not accessible.  Additionally, there are a lot of places where you step or down so you need to watch where you are walking.  

 

The Discovery Lounge where we have all our briefings, meet for excursions, and where the one bar is located is quite comfortable.  There are two restaurants on board, the MDR which is called Darwin's Restaurant and Beagle Grill, a casual grill on deck.  I don't have many good photos of any of those public locations yet but will before the week is over.

 

I have plenty to say about our morning hike and kayaking but still want to sort through more photos and collect my thoughts so that will have to wait for later.  I'll leave you with this last photo.  During our downtime (which isn't all that much), I'm either out on my balcony or sitting at the table in our suite with this view.  This is where I had my coffee this morning and where I edit photos this afternoon.

 

[prmssk]

One more thing I want to add before I go back to my photos, they do offer bridge tours.  Guest Services  has a sign up with various time slots (I expect times when the ship is not moving).  We are scheduled for one on Thursday afternoon.

[LabMom57]

Enjoy your trip and the penthouse! Thank you for continuing to share your experience.

[Ken the cruiser]

4 minutes ago, prmssk said:

I don't know if I'm the best one to answer this as we splurged on the penthouse so I can't tell you much about the ocean view or Xpedition Suites which is what most people are in.

 

Our cabin overall is in very good condition, aside from a low spot under the carpet in the bedroom that I manage to step in every single time.  The furniture seems newish.  I walked past a couple of the fifth floor Xpedition Suites when the doors were open and they are all varying sizes and shapes.  Suite 501 has the couch turned to look straight out the window which seemed quite nice.  Suite 500 appeared to be a bit darker.

 

Here are a few photos of our suite.  When I get around to editing it, I do plan to post a room tour on YouTube (and hopefully a ship tour).  The biggest plus of this cabin we have decided is the second shower.  You also can't beat a front facing balcony for the views.

 

 

The ship does rock and roll quite a bit when moving.  A few minutes ago, all the glass bottles in the mini-fridge were banging back and forth against each other, two we had on the counter almost slid off before we caught them.  All that said, I have not yet had any issues of motion sickness.  I have not even worn my ReliefBand since our flight from Atlanta to Quito on Thursday.

 

As you likely know, this ship does not have any elevators and so is not accessible.  Additionally, there are a lot of places where you step or down so you need to watch where you are walking.  

 

The Discovery Lounge where we have all our briefings, meet for excursions, and where the one bar is located is quite comfortable.  There are two restaurants on board, the MDR which is called Darwin's Restaurant and Beagle Grill, a casual grill on deck.  I don't have many good photos of any of those public locations yet but will before the week is over.

 

I have plenty to say about our morning hike and kayaking but still want to sort through more photos and collect my thoughts so that will have to wait for later.  I'll leave you with this last photo.  During our downtime (which isn't all that much), I'm either out on my balcony or sitting at the table in our suite with this view.  This is where I had my coffee this morning and where I edit photos this afternoon.

 

I can definitely appreciate your joy cruising around the Galapagos in your PH! I remember when we did our Galapagos cruise on the Xpedition back in Nov 2015. We were originally booked in an OV cabin. Then 3 weeks before the cruise, we got a call and were told they had a XS cabin available for an additional $150 pp. But for $325 pp, we could upgrade to the RS, which is across the hall from your PS. So for a total of $650, Royal Suite here we come! The view is definitely awesome from the balcony at the front of the ship! But it also feels like you're jumping on a diving board when the seas are rough, as was the case on the 2nd night of our cruise. Here's hoping for calm seas for your entire cruise! 

[mahasamatman]

The deck plan shows a dance floor in the lounge. What is that space like? How is the music?

[Shiba_Lover]

On 11/10/2023 at 7:14 PM, mahdnc said:

I don't know if you have time to answer this:

 

what did  you think of today's Celebrity guided tour of Quito et al?  Bad, good, decent, great?

 

The reason I am asking is that we have a full day in Quito on our own on the day before the Quito tour. I am hiring a private guide for that day.  I am mulling over some choices on what to do that day.  If you thought today's tour was pretty good, I will probably have our guide take us somewhere else outside of Quito..

We also enjoyed the private full day tour.  If you've already hired your private guide - they are probably aware of what Celebrity does.  We hired Gabriella from Tours by Locals.  She was well versed in what Celebrity did.  We had her customize a foodie tour and add on the cable car.  It was fantastic.  We did this the day prior.  You could also do the Mindo Cloud Forest - lots of people like that.

[mahdnc]

53 minutes ago, prmssk said:

I don't know if I'm the best one to answer this as we splurged on the penthouse so I can't tell you much about the ocean view or Xpedition Suites which is what most people are in.

 

Our cabin overall is in very good condition, aside from a low spot under the carpet in the bedroom that I manage to step in every single time.  The furniture seems newish.  I walked past a couple of the fifth floor Xpedition Suites when the doors were open and they are all varying sizes and shapes.  Suite 501 has the couch turned to look straight out the window which seemed quite nice.  Suite 500 appeared to be a bit darker.

 

Here are a few photos of our suite.  When I get around to editing it, I do plan to post a room tour on YouTube (and hopefully a ship tour).  The biggest plus of this cabin we have decided is the second shower.  You also can't beat a front facing balcony for the views.

 

 

The ship does rock and roll quite a bit when moving.  A few minutes ago, all the glass bottles in the mini-fridge were banging back and forth against each other, two we had on the counter almost slid off before we caught them.  All that said, I have not yet had any issues of motion sickness.  I have not even worn my ReliefBand since our flight from Atlanta to Quito on Thursday.

 

As you likely know, this ship does not have any elevators and so is not accessible.  Additionally, there are a lot of places where you step or down so you need to watch where you are walking.  

 

The Discovery Lounge where we have all our briefings, meet for excursions, and where the one bar is located is quite comfortable.  There are two restaurants on board, the MDR which is called Darwin's Restaurant and Beagle Grill, a casual grill on deck.  I don't have many good photos of any of those public locations yet but will before the week is over.

 

I have plenty to say about our morning hike and kayaking but still want to sort through more photos and collect my thoughts so that will have to wait for later.  I'll leave you with this last photo.  During our downtime (which isn't all that much), I'm either out on my balcony or sitting at the table in our suite with this view.  This is where I had my coffee this morning and where I edit photos this afternoon.

 

 

Thanks.  I was asking about your accommodations!  Nice.  I can post photos of the lowly XS next week.

[mahdnc]

22 minutes ago, Shiba_Lover said:

We also enjoyed the private full day tour.  If you've already hired your private guide - they are probably aware of what Celebrity does.  We hired Gabriella from Tours by Locals.  She was well versed in what Celebrity did.  We had her customize a foodie tour and add on the cable car.  It was fantastic.  We did this the day prior.  You could also do the Mindo Cloud Forest - lots of people like that.

 

Thank you for your suggestions.  We have been leaning towards doing Mindo.  However the point of getting in a day early was because we won't be getting to the hotel until midnight the day before.  Not sure if I am I want to get up early for a long drive.

[Shiba_Lover]

13 minutes ago, mahdnc said:

 

Thank you for your suggestions.  We have been leaning towards doing Mindo.  However the point of getting in a day early was because we won't be getting to the hotel until midnight the day before.  Not sure if I am I want to get up early for a long drive.

That was also my dilemma.  We opted for a 9:30 start with the guide, and did the cable car + a short hike at the top of the mountain, then we did a few things in town that did not overlap with the Celebrity tour, including some foodie type stops for snacks - we had a nice day, then capped it off at a small arts market - it had souvenier type things (took all of 15 minutes to walk through since the stalls repeated).  Then back to the hotel around I think 4 ish.  Lounged by the pool for a bit to relax.  Was a nice day.

[RichYak]

Thanks for this LIVE(ish) thread. I'm enjoying reminiscing about our Galapagos voyage aboard Xpedition some years ago. It's clear that while ship capacity and itineraries have changed, the overall quality of the cruise has not. Enjoy the rest of the trip and thanks again for sharing. I will surely be following along.