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| Reviewed By: Rennie, Kidderminster on 23rd Jan 2008 |
| Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises |
Times cruised before: 6-10 |
| Cruise Ship: Celebrity Xpedition |
Sailed:
May,
2007 |
| Destination: Pacific |
Age: 56-65 |
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This was a trip of a lifetime to the Galapagos Islands and exceeded all our expectations. We flew to Quito in Ecuador via Madrid, and had a couple of nights there at each end of the cruise. We had a city tour and visit to a restaurant up in the mountains next to a volcano. Also to a cultural exhibition on the Equator where we all had photos taken on the line!
Then we flew to Baltra in The Galapagos, a small friendly airport where we were treated like VIPs, and taken by coach to the landing stage. Here we were welcomed by Galapagos sealions while we boarded the zodiac boats to be taken out to the Celebrity Xpedition. This is a small ship, there were about 100 passengers, so we all got to know each other very quickly.
The days followed a pattern: 2 visits per day to different islands, one around 9am returning about 12 noon and one about 4pm returning about 6pm. Each time we had the choice of three excursions, low, medium and high activity, so there was something for everyone. We chose our excursions at the previous evening's briefing meeting. We were divided into groups, maximum 16 people, sometimes a lot fewer, accompanied by a naturalist, all of whom live in the Galapagos and know their subject inside out. They couldn't do enough for us, and happily answered endless questions. They made sure everyone had a good view of the wildlife and was able to take their pictures. We saw blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, albatrosses, sealions, Galapagos penguins, marine and land-based iguanas, flamingoes, giant tortoises (including Lonesome George) as well as the ubiquitous Sally Lightfoot crabs, to name but a few. We must have set a world record for the number of pictures taken!
This was an all-inclusive cruise: everything, excursions, drinks, entertainment, tips, was included, so, although it was quite expensive, there really was no further cost apart from souvenirs.
The passengers were mostly Americans with also about 10 British and a few Europeans, all ages from twenties (honeymooners) to seventies with different levels of fitness. We all got on so well, we have kept in touch with quite a few.
On the final night we saw a montage of pictures taken by all the naturalists, and were then given a copy to take home brilliant!
The food was well up to Celebrity's usual standard (we have also travelled on the Constellation and the Galaxy) so all in all this was a superb holiday. We would recommend it wholeheartedly.
We would give it 11 out of 10.
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| Quality of Food |  |
| There was only one restaurant as this is a small ship | | Entertainment |  |
| There was a special "crossing the Equator" show where I was chosen as "Queen" various people were chosen to pay homage and imitate different animals, eg sealions. | | Shore Excursions |  |
| All excursions were very enjoyable. One day we went to see the Charles darwin Centre, where the oldest giant tortoise, Lonesome George, lives, and then to the highlandsto see the giant tortoises in the wild. | | Staff | n/a |
| All of the naturalists were impressive. As well as their care and attention, they knew their subjects inside out. | | Children's Facilities | n/a |
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| The main activities were the excursions rather than onboard. | | Cabins | n/a |
| Very good size cabin for the size of ship. | | Overall Rating | |
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