GALAPAGOS • 10 NIGHTS • APRIL 23RD – MAY 3RD, 2010
Your Galapagos Cruise
• All gratuities
• All meals and beverages (except premium brand liquors)
• Onboard entertainment and lectures
• All land tours led by naturalist guides
• Snorkeling equipment and wetsuits
• Binoculars
• Galapagos National Park entrance fee
Quito Pre- and Post-Cruise
• Round-trip Quito-Baltra airfare
• Airport-hotel transfers
• Hotel accommodations in Quito
• All meals
• Guided Quito tour
There is no better way to combine the natural wonder and intrigue of the Galapagos Islands with the amenities that make a voyage with Celebrity Cruises® such an enduring experience. You’ll travel with a team of naturalist guides, certified by the Galapagos National Park, who will enlighten you both onboard and onshore. As we travel through this archipelago, as well as to Ecuador, you’ll be free to focus on the splendor of the destinations, as we’ll handle all the details.
To ensure you get the most out of this life-enriching destination, a team of naturalists will accompany you to each location throughout the Galapagos Islands and will also be onboard to provide lectures and briefings each night. On daily guided tours, you can trek to the black lava rocks where sea lions sun themselves, take a gander at blue-footed or masked boobies, or encounter giant tortoises, dolphins, and white-tipped reef sharks, among other amazing sea life. With over 300 species of fish (and 200 kinds of starfish alone), the Galapagos Islands have earned their reputation as one of the world’s best snorkeling spots. And as the wonder of Galapagos unfolds before your eyes, rest assured that our naturalist guides will be there to enlighten you at every turn.
During your Galapagos experience, you’ll spend three nights in Quito and seven nights aboard the intimate Celebrity Xpedition® experiencing the Galapagos Islands. Several excursion options offered each day, included with your cruise and accompanied by expert guides, allow you to choose between high, medium, and low intensity so you can encounter each island at your own pace.
This enriching voyage represents a rare opportunity to absorb the lessons of nature in one of the world’s largest classrooms. Traveling in the company of a team of certified Galapagos naturalists, who will interpret every surrounding detail, you’ll have a front-row seat to a wide array of natural wonders — from sunbathing marine iguanas to the imperceptible movement of giant tortoises. Yet despite the impact these islands will have on you, the trip has been designed so that we will have a minimal impact on the environment, ensuring that generations of animals, and human visitors, can enjoy this special place for decades to come.
During your journey, you’ll voyage more than 600 miles from the coast of Ecuador to cruise through islands so isolated they contain over 1,900 species of plants and animals that cannot be found anywhere else on the planet. And once you’re there, you’ll be delighted by the approachability of the creatures you’ll see. Having lived thousands of years without fear of predators, they’re as interested in you as you are in them.
Part of providing excellent service to our guests is ensuring that the destinations we explore are protected for the future. In that spirit, Celebrity’s Galapagos experience is planned in conjunction with the Galapagos National Park and follows strict environmental guidelines and regulations. Our naturalist guides are certified by the Galapagos National Park and we follow our own conservation program onboard. So enjoy your vacation in the Galapagos Islands, knowing that future generations can have a similarly enriching experience.
One naturalist for every 14 guests (max.) allows for personalized enrichment.
Click on a Tab to view the day’s activities
PRE-CRUISE: FRIDAY, APRIL 23 — QUITO, ECUADOR
Our 10-night Galapagos experience includes two nights pre-cruise and one night post-cruise in Quito for a seamless Celebrity vacation from the time your plane lands in Ecuador. On the first day of your journey, you’ll be greeted at the airport by a Celebrity representative and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy free time to relax and settle in.
SATURDAY, APRIL 24 — QUITO, ECUADOR
During a guided tour of the capital of Ecuador, situated at an altitude of 9,350 feet, you’ll stand on the equatorial line at the Half of the World Park and Museum, and marvel at the monasteries of San Francisco and Santo Domingo. Your Tour Director will escort you throughout your Quito stay, offering an uninterrupted experience from your cruise, and serve as your personal concierge.
CRUISE EMBARKATION: SUNDAY, APRIL 25 — ISLA BALTRA
Your Celebrity representative will escort you from the Quito airport all the way to Isla Baltra in the Galapagos. At the airport, enjoy refreshments in the Royal Palm VIP Lounge, which has been reserved for you. During World War II, the island’s airport was a U.S. military base protecting the Panama Canal from enemy attack. Now, surrounding the airport are land iguanas indigenous to the island. Your luggage will be delivered straight to your stateroom aboard Celebrity Xpedition, so you can unpack and enjoy exploring the 296-foot mega-yacht, your home for the week.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON, APRIL 25 — ISLA NORTH SEYMOUR
Isla North Seymour is home to a thriving colony of frigate birds, the largest in the Galapagos. Keep an eye on the males’ red gular sac, which may inflate like a balloon in anticipation of a female seeing them. You may also encounter breeding pairs of Blue-footed Boobies displaying their slow mirror dance or spot numerous iguanas and sea lions. Your afternoon excursion options include a dry landing with guided hike, a Zodiac coastline cruise with dry landing and short hike, or a scenic Zodiac coastline cruise to view geological formations. Later onboard, your captain welcomes you with a toast and a naturalist briefs you on the next day’s activities (offered nightly).
MONDAY MORNING, APRIL 26 — PUERTO BAQUERIZO MORENO, ISLA SAN CRISTÓBAL
Located on one of the four islands that Charles Darwin visited aboard the HMS Beagle, this administrative capital of the Galapagos features cobblestone streets and a pleasant waterfront park. In early morning, we’ll circumnavigate Kicker Rock, known as the Galapagos version of Gibraltar, and you may take a Zodiac cruise to the rock for closer observation. After breakfast, your morning excursion options include a dry landing for shopping and a visit to an interpretation center covering human history and conservation of the Galapagos archipelago.
MONDAY AFTERNOON, APRIL 26 — PUNTA SUÁREZ, ISLA ESPAÑOLA
Punta Suárez, or Suárez Point, is located on the oldest Galapagos island and has a high concentration of wildlife. Expect to observe sea lions, Galapagos hawks, blue-footed and masked boobies, and red marine iguanas, strange creatures found only on this island. This afternoon, you may attend the first of our Celebrity Xpedition Lecture Series onboard to learn more about the islands’ geology. Afternoon excursions offer three different levels of activity, including a high-intensity hike (follow the trail to the very edge of the dramatic southern cliff, where an impressive blowhole gushes water up to 20 meters in the air).
TUESDAY MORNING, APRIL 27 — CORMORANT POINT, ISLA FLOREANA
Isla Floreana was once a penal colony for Ecuador, the first capital of the Galapagos and where Charles Darwin met the Galapagos viceroy. Your excursion options include a medium-intensity wet landing at Cormorant Point (or Punta Cormorant), where you may see two plant species found only at this particular site, as well as flamingos, stilts, and white-cheeked pintail ducks. Or try advanced snorkeling to Champion Island to spy grunts, groupers, chubs, spotted eagle rays, white-tipped reef sharks, sea stars, parrotfish, and rainbow wrasse.
TUESDAY AFTERNOON, APRIL 27 — BARONESS OUTLOOK, ISLA FLOREANA
Baroness Outlook lends a little mystery to Isla Floreana as the spot where a self-proclaimed Baroness, who inexplicably disappeared with her lover in the 1930s, kept watch for incoming ships. Afternoon excursions include advanced snorkeling at Mystery Bay and a low-intensity Zodiac ride for wildlife observation. When the stars come out, join us for an alfresco dinner and stargazing with our bridge officers.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, APRIL 28 — LAS BACHAS, ISLA SANTA CRUZ
The name “Las Bachas” comes from the locals’ poor English pronunciation of “barges” to describe the WWII barges that broke free from their moorings and ran aground on this beach. A pair of beach lagoons occasionally host flamingos feeding in the shallows. And the beach itself is one of the largest nesting areas of the Pacific green sea turtle in the Galapagos. Morning excursions include a wet landing and hike to view flamingos, followed by an opportunity to swim from the beach, and a wet landing at the beach for a few hours of relaxation.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, APRIL 28 — ISLA BARTOLOMÉ
A recently volcanically active island, Isla Bartolomé has a moon-like landscape and volcanic cones. Before we anchor, attend today’s lecture about the Human History of the Galapagos Archipelago. Afternoon excursions include a “To the Top” Pinnacle Rock hike and beach snorkel/swim and a coastal exploration Zodiac cruise with an optional beach landing. The view from the top of Pinnacle Rock is perhaps the most famous in the Galapagos, with the opportunity to see up to 26 islands if visibility allows. On the beach, watch for Galapagos penguins, some of the smallest penguins in the world.
THURSDAY MORNING, APRIL 29 — ELIZABETH BAY, ISLA ISABELA
Isla Isabela, the largest island in the Galapagos Archipelago, is composed of five volcanoes, with the latest eruption occurring in October 2005. The cold, nutrient-rich waters of Elizabeth Bay and the small Mariela Islands provide the perfect home for the Galapagos penguin. This morning, you may opt for a scenic Zodiac ride to view the Mariela Islands and Galapagos penguins. Then back onboard the ship, we’ll spend some time cruising along the scenic Isabela and Fernandina islands to search for whales and dolphins.
THURSDAY AFTERNOON, APRIL 29 — PUNTA ESPINOZA, ISLA FERNANDINA
Isla Fernandina is the youngest Galapagos island due to its volcanic activity. As Darwin wrote, it is “covered with immense deluges of black naked lava.” During the afternoon excursions, hike along Punta Espinoza to view several sea lion colonies, the largest colony of marine iguanas and a nesting area for flightless cormorants. Or enjoy a low-intensity journey into the Bolivar Channel searching for pelagic bird species and possibly whales and dolphins, with an optional landing for closer observation.
FRIDAY MORNING, APRIL 30 — PUERTO EGAS, ISLA SANTIAGO (SAN SALVADOR)
Puerto (Port) Egas on San Salvador Island, also called James or Santiago Island, offers the most popular walk along James Bay on a black-sand beach. On the trail, look for oystercatchers, marine iguanas, sandpipers, Galapagos hawks, Sally lightfoot crabs, and Galapagos and fur sea lions. Excursion options include a high-intensity “Survival of the Fittest” hike with swimming/ snorkeling at the beach, a high-intensity coastal walk followed by swimming/snorkeling, and a low-intensity landing for relaxing on the beach or swimming and snorkeling.
FRIDAY AFTERNOON, APRIL 30 — DRAGON HILL, ISLA SANTA CRUZ
Dragon Hill, or “Cerro Dragón,” is named after its population of land iguanas. The site offers a beautiful view of the landscape and two small brackish lagoons where flamingos and other shore birds occasionally feed. Along the trail, we’ll cross a beautiful “white forest” of Palo Santo (incense) trees and Galapagos cotton plants. Excursion options include a high-intensity hike with swimming/ snorkeling at the beach, high-intensity snorkeling from a Zodiac followed by a short walk, and a low-intensity landing for relaxing on the beach or swimming and snorkeling.
SATURDAY, MAY 1 — PUERTO AYORA, ISLA SANTA CRUZ
Puerto (Port) Ayora is home to the Charles Darwin Research Station and the National Park Service. At the Darwin Station, learn more about tortoise preservation and try for a lucky peek at Lonesome George, the last member of the Pinta Island species. Morning and afternoon shore excursions include a Tortuga Bay hike and lagoon swim, a bus ride to the highlands to observe giant tortoises in the wild and a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station, all followed by free time to shop before returning to the ship. Onboard, enjoy a farewell cocktail party and folkloric show with the captain and a barbecue dinner under the stars.
SUNDAY MORNING, MAY 2 — ISLA BALTRA (Cruise Disembarkation)
Your round-trip Galapagos cruise brings you back to Isla Baltra, home to the Baltra airport. A Celebrity representative will greet you at the airport for your flight back to Quito. At the airport, enjoy refreshments in the Royal Palm VIP Lounge, which has been reserved for you. Your luggage will be transferred from the ship directly to the plane. As your flight takes off, enjoy one last aerial view of one of the world’s most treasured archipelagoes.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON, MAY 2 — QUITO, ECUADOR
Upon your arrival in Quito, a Celebrity representative will escort you to your hotel. Enjoy an afternoon excursion to the local craft market. Then join us for a farewell dinner at a local gourmet restaurant.
MONDAY AFTERNOON, MAY 3 — QUITO, ECUADOR
On Monday, after a continental breakfast, your Celebrity representative will once again escort you to the airport for your return flight home.
 |
||
 |
Downlaod Celebrity’s Galapagos brochure |
|
|
Download our ship’s deckplan |
|
|
Cruise prices vary from $4,199 for an Oceanview Stateroom (Category XP shown) to $5,999 for a Full Suite. (Cruise pricing is subject to change.) Taxes are $100. There is a fuel supplement of $10 per person per day. There is a $40.80 exit fee in Quito that must be paid in cash. All prices and fees, which are per person, are detailed on the BOOK NOW page.
Use our PRICING CALCULATOR for a quick price quote! For questions, please don't hestitate in calling 650-787-5665 or emailing neil@InSightCruises.com.
You’ll also have the rare opportunity of combining your Galapagos cruise with a four-night best of Ecuador and Peru post-cruise tour. During your journey, knowledgeable guides will lead you through Peru’s well-preserved archeological sites, including Lima, Cuzco, the Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo, and Machu Picchu.
|
Downlaod the post-cruise Best of Ecuador & Peru excursion flyer |
|
|
With fewer than 100 guests per sailing, a 3-to-2 guest to-staff ratio, and many of the amenities you would expect, Celebrity Xpedition offers a truly intimate encounter with the Galapagos Islands year-round. As the only major cruise line sailing these waters, Celebrity Cruises offers touches of the familiar, such as complimentary plush Frette bathrobes, hot tub, sauna, and fitness room — and our lounge, featuring nightly lectures by naturalists and live music. This cruise is all-inclusive, from staff gratuities to all shoreexcursions. What’s more, you’ll have the comfort of knowing that while your Galapagos experience will touch you in unimagined ways, you’ll sail this itinerary on a ship ecologically designed to leave the islands virtually untouched.
Cruise aboard Celebrity Xpedition and you'll experience a sense of intimacy that can only be achieved aboard a smaller ship. And yet, Celebrity Xpedition is filled with touches that are luxuriously familiar. Morning mimosas and moonlit toasts are just a few of the spoils you'll enjoy as you embrace the timelessness of the Galapagos Islands — a land that time has seemingly forgotten.
• Passengers: 100
• Crew: 64
• Tonnage: 2,329
• Length: 296 ft
• Beam: 43 ft
• Decks: 4
• Cruise Speed: 15 kts
• Fitness Center
• Library
• Entered service: 2004
561 Windsor Dr., Menlo Park, CA 94025 • 650-787-5665 • Copyright 2008 © InSight Cruises
