Galapagos Cruise Reviews

Great Cruise, really had a good time. You must like strenuous activity.

Easily one of the best cruises we have ever been on. Everything was taken care of and the naturalists were amazing as well as the staff.

This was a great adventure and we loved every minute. There is a 2 meter distance you are required to maintain between you and the wildlife, however no one explained this to the animals so be prepared for some amazing up close encounters. This ship is a great choice for teens through active seniors without mobility issues. Although it was not a problem for us, if you're prone to motions sickness come prepared.

I was in the Galapagos in 1993, it is still very similar to my 1st trip 25 years ago. You will not be disappointed, bring good walking shoes (or hiking boots) and be prepared to walk on lava rocks in some areas. The ship did provide walking sticks if you need one. Bring a great zoom lens, you will be thrilled if you buy a 60x zoom. Be prepared to take LOTS of pics, everything is a picture opportunity. Be in the moment and enjoy nature. Thank goodness the wifi is very slow on the ship it really makes you unplug.

Active, interesting trip with varied landscapes and animals. Highly recommend.

The Xpedition is a small ship that exceeded our expectations. You will be treated special because you are 1 of only 100 guests. All guests come for one reason, to see The Galapagos and you will see them. After the first day we were so amazed at the island we could have gone home satisfied we saw them. However each day just got better. The wildlife is amazing. On the last day, they offered us a chance to plant small trees to re-forest part of the island which gives you a sense of helping out. Celebrity Expedition was the best cruise we have ever done.

Dialy excursions to individual islands.  Naturalists were most informative and easy to understand.  All questions were answered without hesitation.  All seemed to have a strong appreciation for their job. 

The wildlife and nature staff were amazing.  They did an excellent job teaching us and keeping us safe. Service was good but not as good as the regular Silver Sea cruises we have been on.  The food at lunch and breakfast was excellent but the service in the evening was very poor as was the selection.  

Expert guided hikes and snorkeling, then return to pampered luxury on board Xpedition. All staff were delightful and helpful. Their only wish was for you to learn and enjoy every minute of the tour. 

The cruise was wonderful.  Each day you do two to three tours on zodiacs from the ship.  They are hiking, snorkeling or just a zodiac tour so something for everyone.  You should have good stability as some of the shore landings require walking on lava that has been wet and slippery and getting on and off the ship requires climbing or descending about 25 stairs to the zodiac.  The service was great and food very good.  This was our first Silversea trip so I have nothing to compare it too but many of the passengers had sailed many times with Silversea  

From the time we were met at the Quito airport until the time we departed Quito, Celebrity staff made this trip perfect.  Everything was right on time.  Service was warm and personal.  The trip was casual, yet elegant at the same time.  No need to dress up, but the dining room was lovely, staff were very attentive, the bar staff made all our drinks cheerfully and quickly.  The naturalists were with us on every shore excursions to explain all the magnificent birds, animals and plants, and always were looking out for our safety while we hiked or snorkeled.  The ship was immaculate and everything was well-organized and timely. I could not have asked for more and the whole trip exceeded our expectations in every way.

This cruise was everything Celebrity promised....... and more! The crew of the ship was awesome. Everyone was very friendly and did everything to make sure all of the guests were comfortable and happy. The naturalists were OUTSTANDING! No matter the situation, they were reassuring, patient, and supportive. The stops that we made optimized the kinds of animals and terrain that we experienced. It was worth every cent that we paid. I can't say enough good things about sailing on the Xpedition and the crew.

This WAS the trip of a lifetime.  With about 90 passengers, you get to know just about all your fellow travelers, and we made great friends.  The staff was also outstanding.  Special mention goes to bartender Ana, always prepared and always with a smile.

 Loved the snorkeling opportunities.  Excellent, informative naturalists (though sometimes things got a bit repetitive), and helpful presentations.  The walks can be a challenge, so invest in good trekking shoes before you go.  You may want to consider below the knee pants or knee pads, because falling on the lava rock would not be pleasant and you may want to kneel to take photos. Also loved having walking sticks available.

The ship is comfortable and enjoyable.  My only complaint is that the mattresses and pillows could be of a better quality.

This was a once in a lifetime opportunity. We loved everything about the cruise. It was well organized. The staff were all OUTSTANDING! Meeting our every need. The naturalists on every island landing were all knowledgeable and enthusiastic. They loved sharing about their homeland. Monica, the cruise director, was informative every night about the next day's activities. My suggestion... Go on every panga ride a valuable. Learned so much, saw so many animals, snorkeling was so good. We used the ship's snorkel gear and did use wet suits to prevent sunburn. On and the food.... Great choices, Carlos and staff, could not have been more gracious. Everyone spoke English, but they were so helpful to us learning our Spanish. WONDERFUL cruise, way better than expected. Totally different as everything is paid for up front...drinks, gratuities and snorkel.gear. 

It is an intimate experience secondary to the 100 passengers onboard.  From the airport pick up to the hotel, the level of services was incredible.   This continued on to the cruise, the post cruise hotel and the airport drop. 

Outstanding adventure. It is not cliche in this instance to be considered a trip of a lifetime. As experienced travelers, the two of us tend to expect the promotion to far exceed the experience. In this case the Galapagos Islands, as seen from the Xpedition, is a correct use of "awesome."  I would have enjoyed a second week back-to-back for the outer loop but my sweetheart was satisfied with the one week.  We also are satisfied with the cooler temps and wildlife options during November.

We tend to avoid the herd and travel independently. But we are glad we opted for the 11 day package beginning and ending in the airport in Quito. The Galapagos restrictions and requirements are extensive and cumbersome. It was worth the cost to avoid navigating all of those contingencies. 

We likewise enjoyed the morning tour of Quito, lunch, and afternoon at the Equator. The Marriott is truly 5 star as well. 

Each day on the Xpedition includes two or three excursion options. A 1-3 mile hike, a Zodiac (Panga) ride, beach/swim snorkel or deep water snorkel. You need to do all of them to experience the full beauty and diversity of the Islands and wildlife. Bring a prescription dive mask if needed and a "dry top" snorkel. Celebrity provides gear including short wet suits. In November we found the water cool but did not need the wetsuits. With the 44 pound weight limit for the one suitcase, use their fins. Bring sunscreen and bug wipes. I am glad I brought hiking boots, water shoes and another pair of loafers. 

We could have worn shorts and short sleeves but opted for added sun/bug protection of long sleeves on the Islands. You may need a light rain jacket. 

Laundry came back same day even if you did not check the one day option. It is relatively inexpensive as hotels/cruises go but we chose to wash items ourselves. They dried rapidly on the deck or in front of the fan. The newly added room 500 suite is reviewed below. 

The usual Elite priviledges do not apply. We chose to eat in the suite each evening, ordering from the dining room menu. Food overall was excellent. Our Southern Sweet tooth would have preferred different desert options but the chocolate souffle was delicious.

We thoroughly enjoyed this cruise and recommend it without hesitation. 

This is a once in a lifetime experience that shouldn't be missed!  Everything was included and perfect!  You will never have a chance to experience nature as it was meant to be seen anywhere else.  This is one place that hasn't been commercialized in any way.  The ship was great but now they are putting it in dry dock in a few weeks to totally refurbish it so it can only get better.  We were in a cabin without a balcony for our first time ever and I thought it would feel small in the room.  The room was perfect.  We had a window and didn't miss the balcony at all.  The staff was awesome.  

The Celebrity Xpedition was an exceptional cruise with a great itinerary and overall amazing experience of the Galapagos natural ecosystem, of the land, the geological transformation, of the range of life-forms in the water, the birds and land-animals.

There are two areas of improvement recommended:

1. No smoking should be enforced.  We were in the Penthouse Suite but a neighboring suite (602) had heavy smokers and their smoking was not curbed by the staff.  

2. Some of the "naturalists" were not very knowledgeable and also were rude or unfriendly - very unlike normal Celebrity experience.  Their boss was also grumpy, possibly unsuited for the job.

One of my best voyage, the magic of the Galapagos and the service of the Origin...

Overall, we enjoyed the experience. It was, as mentioned above, a different level of service, food and flexibility compared to more traditional Silversea cruises. With that said, if you go knowing ahead of time what to expect, you'll have a great time. I thought the guides were fantastic - both onboard and onshore. The educational programs were excellent. NOTE: There are a LOT of physically challenging activities onshore (climbing over rocks, wet landings, snorkeling, hiking, etc.), so I think it's important that you're in decent physical condition if you want to really enjoy all that this expedition has to offer.