Galapagos Island Adventure on Celebrity Flora (Inner Loop)

Introduction

As a travel advisor, I've often heard that Celebrity Cruises has an incredible experience for the Galapagos Islands.  But after hearing about the trip a client of mine recently had, I knew I needed to try it out for myself!  To start with, I admit that there really aren't adequate words to describe just how exceptional this experience is. If I had to choose one word, I would pick EXCEPTIONAL.  From start to finish, Celebrity Cruises elevated every detail.

There are a couple of things that make the Celebrity Flora in the Galapagos different than a normal Celebrity cruise.  First, almost everything is included.  There's no extra cost for gratuities, excursions, drinks onboard, or internet. Each person also gets 20 pieces of laundry cleaned twice during the cruise. Second, the ship is all suites and holds a maximum of 100 guests.  There are around 90 crew so it's an extremely personalized service. This is an active cruise! There aren't sea days and often we had 2-3 excursions per day.

Day 1

Will and I flew to Quito, Ecuador with a stop in Atlanta.  Our flight ended up being delayed several hours which meant we landed in Quito around 10 pm.  Even though it was late at night, there were Celebrity representatives right outside of baggage claim waiting for us with a sign.

After others from our flight arrived, we boarded a coach bus and headed for the JW Marriott. Quito is the capital city and is also high in elevation, sitting around 9000 ft above sea level.  Because of this, Celebrity immediately gave all the passengers water to start drinking so that no one would feel the effects of the elevation.

As we drove to the hotel, our guide shared important information about Ecuador and Quito, what to expect when we arrived, and what our day would look like the next day. Upon arrival at the hotel, they  got us a Celebrity Cruises backpack and water bottle to use for the trip, our hotel keys, and helped us get settled quickly so we could get to sleep.

• Fun Facts we learned right away: Ecuador's official currency is the US Dollar.  It's also in the Central Time Zone for the most part, which makes it easy to travel.  No jet lag and no need to exchange currency.  One of their biggest exports is roses, and there are beautiful rose bouquets everywhere! Because Ecuador sits on the equator, they have 12 hours of daylight every single day of the year. 
• Pro Tip- Bring something to distinguish your backpack and water bottle from everyone else's.  Even though the water bottles have your suite number on top for the ship, a sticker was still useful!

     

 

Day 2

Celebrity arranged for breakfast to be included with the hotel, so we ate before our morning tour.  Because some of the flights were delayed even later than ours, they gave the option of not doing the morning tour, and they would shuttle guests to meet the group for lunch.

There were about 75 of us doing the Quito pre-cruise extension.  We were divided into smaller groups, and each group had a tour guide, driver, and also a security person.  Sometimes in bigger cities, pickpocketing can be something tourists need to be aware of, and our security person would keep an eye out for anyone coming near our group that looked suspicious. This allowed us to be able to relax and enjoy our time without needing to be on alert. Our group ended up just being 4 people in the morning- Will and me, and another couple.

We stopped at the Virgin Mary statue, then went for a city walk in the Old Town where we also had a delicious buffet lunch with the opportunity to try Ecuadorian food. We had two more people join our group at lunch. We then took our coach bus to the Museum of the Middle of the World (about a 45-minute drive).  This is a fun place where they teach you about the history and uniqueness of Ecuador, but also have some fun facts and experiments to try, being located directly on the Equator.  We also got to stand with one foot in each hemisphere!  We then took our bus back to the hotel where we had about an hour of free time before a short drive to dinner at a local gourmet restaurant.   

After dinner, back at the hotel, we dropped off our main luggage to be inspected before flying to the Galapagos Islands.  Instead of having to be at the airport early and waiting in a long line for the inspection, Celebrity arranged for the inspection to be done beforehand.  Every detail was taken care of so that we could have maximum enjoyment!

• Fun Facts we learned today: Ecuador is about the size of Colorado, but is broken into 4 unique "worlds"- the Amazon, the Andes Mountains (where Quito is), the Pacific coast, and the Galapagos.   On the Equinoxes, for a period of time, you can't see your shadow because the sun is directly above you! Did you know that you can't walk in a straight line with your eyes closed on the equator?  It's true!  We tried it, and it's so weird, but you can feel the pull from each side. You can also balance a raw egg on top of a nail (well, I couldn't do it, but our guide did!) 
• Pro Tip from today- Since we had to check our main luggage in the evening, we were glad to have a smaller carry-on for the next day to put our dirty clothes and toiletries in.

 

   

 

Day 3

After breakfast at the hotel, our group met in the lobby, got our plane tickets for the charter flight to Baltra in the Galapagos, and our Transit Control Card that is needed to enter the Galapagos Islands. All these details were handled by Celebrity, making it a seamless process. 

We took the coach bus to the airport (about 45 minutes) and were directed right through security and to the gate for our chartered flight to Baltra. Unfortunately, after loading the plane and getting ready to taxi, a mechanical issue meant we needed to deplane and caused around a 4-hour delay.  But even in this, Celebrity had us covered!  We had access to the lounge at the airport, we were given vouchers to be able to get lunch anywhere in the airport, and we had the security of knowing the ship wasn't going to leave without us! 

Once we were able to take off, we were still given a meal onboard even though the flight is about 2 hours. Landing in Baltra was easy, and having our documents checked was an easy process. We took a 5-minute bus ride to the tender area where we got on zodiacs that took us to the ship. Celebrity handled loading all of our luggage. And talk about an exciting way to board the ship!

Because it was a later embarkation, we had just a short time before our muster drill, virtual ship tour, and excursion overview.  Each night on the Celebrity Flora, there is an excursion briefing with all the details for the next day. During the debriefing, they explain what you will need for each excursion and whether it is a wet or dry landing. 

A wet landing means that to get from the zodiac to the excursion, your footwear will get wet.  Alternatively, a dry landing means that either you don't leave the zodiac or, when you do, you are stepping directly onto land, and your footwear won't get wet.  After this briefing is when you sign up for your excursions the next day.

Next was dinner onboard.  The majority of the food is sourced directly from the Galapagos, and if you like seafood, the menu will be a delight!  There are also vegetarian, chicken, and beef options.  The cattle isn't the best in the Galapagos though, so I wouldn't recommend some of the beef dishes (they even told us that onboard).  After dinner, Will and I went to the top deck to see the stars (you can see constellations from the northern and southern hemisphere, and the stars are so bright without the other light pollution!).

• Fun fact we learned: on the Celebrity Flora, they offer a "glamping" option where you can sleep under the stars on the top deck!  We didn't try it this time, but I was definitely interested!

 

 

 

Day 4

Santiago Island (Puerto Egas), Rabida Island.  We woke up early to get fitted for all of our snorkel gear (all provided by Celebrity).  This is normally done the day before, but because of our delay, they adjusted the schedule. Each person got a mesh bag, wetsuit, fins, snorkel, mask, and a flotation vest if you wanted one.  They are marked with your suite number and then an A or B so that you know who it belongs to.  For example, Will was 604A, and I was 604B.

We then grabbed a quick breakfast before heading out on our first excursion. Depending on which option for excursion you chose, you had a time to meet in the Discovery Lounge to check in for your zodiac number. The groups were around 12-16 people, and each one is escorted by a certified naturalist from the Galapagos National Park. Celebrity also provides walking sticks if you would like them. 

The first excursion we chose a longer walk with snorkel time.  The black sand was really cool to see, even though we've seen it in some other destinations.  On the walk, we saw lava lizards, iguanas (both land and marine), pelicans, a blue-footed booby, crabs, herons, fur seals, and sea lions! The naturalists were there to explain things about each animal we saw, and to keep us on track to preserve this amazing destination.

The terrain was mostly flat, although at one point it was more rocky.  I was very thankful I had made the decision to get hiking boots instead of trying to just use good tennis shoes. We then had time to snorkel and saw lots of beautiful fish. We went back to the ship for lunch and some free time as we headed to Rabida Island. 

Later in the afternoon, we did a wildlife tender ride and snorkeled from the shore.  Rabida Island had red sand beaches, very different than Puerto Egas. We also got to see some flamingos on this island. After snorkeling, we went back to the ship for a quick shower, our next day's excursion briefing, and dinner.  There was a World Cup soccer game which was fun to watch with the other guests. 

• Pro tip for the day- I'm a minimalist packer typically and had hiking shoes and water shoes, which were necessary, but I wish I had also brought some thin flip-flops to wear after getting back to the ship and sanitizing everything so that I wasn't putting wet shoes back on just to get back to our cabin.   Also, wear your swimsuit down when you get fitted for your wetsuit (it'll feel weird since you aren't getting wet but will ensure a proper fit!)

     

   

 

Day 5

Isabela Island (Elizabeth Bay and Tagus Cove) - We started our morning in Elizabeth Bay doing a wildlife tender ride. We saw mangroves with loads of sea turtles, sea lions, penguins (they were so fast!), cormorants (another flightless bird), and pelicans.   This was such a peaceful and beautiful setting! 

We enjoyed lunch on the ship as we sailed to Tagus Cove.  There was an opportunity to do a deep water snorkel here, but we chose not to do it since the waves were pretty choppy, although watching them from the ship, I think we could have done it, and the other guests talked about how amazing it was snorkeling with the turtles (and some saw penguins). 

After the other guests got back from the snorkel excursion, we had an excursion where we did another wildlife tender ride to see penguins, cormorants, pelicans, and sea lions, followed by a short but steep walk up about 180 stairs to see Darwin Lake.  In this area, ships used to mark that they had been there.  We found a ship that left its mark back in 1836!  This night we crossed the equator several times during the night and officially became "Shellbacks", complete with a certificate from Celebrity!

 

 

Day 6

Santiago Island (Sullivan Bay) and Bartolome Island - This day started with a longer walk across lava fields from a volcano eruption over 100 years ago.  I can honestly say I've never seen anything like it!  This day especially, I was thankful for my hiking shoes (and not just regular tennis shoes). Amazingly, even in this terrain, you could spot cactus growing!  We were thankful for an overcast day, as the naturalists told us that when the sun is out, the black can get really hot.

Doing the longer walk allowed us to go further where the terrain turns more red and then green.  It was really pretty to see the stark contrasts in color.

After our walk, we had lunch on the ship, and then we did the deep water snorkel. We got to see a ray, lots of kinds of fish, an eel, and I got to see my first chocolate chip starfish!  Some in our group saw a shark, but I missed it. After the snorkel, we had just enough time to change into dry clothes on the ship, and then we went for a hike to the top of Bartolome Island where we were treated to gorgeous views.

This was a little steep, but most of it was on wooden walkways, and there were 4 rest points along the way. It was fascinating to see the vents from the volcano eruptions over the years.   After our walk, we took a wildlife marine ride for our last chance to spot penguins (but also saw other fun animals too!)  We also got an up-close view of the famous Pinnacle Rock. Back on the ship, we ate dinner under the stars on the top deck. 

 

Day 7

Santa Cruz Island (Las Bachas Beach) and North Seymour Island - On Las Bachas Beach, we took a short beach walk to see the turtle nests and then a lagoon with ducks, flamingos, and other birds.  After our walk, we had free time to snorkel, but the water was a little bit murky.  We still saw some fish, and there were sea lions swimming not too far from us.  But the beach area was just beautiful.

Back on the ship, we ate lunch and then sailed by Daphne Major, a well-known tuff crater.  Celebrity offered a deep water snorkel after lunch, but the waves were kind of choppy, so Will and I decided to skip it and took a long (and much needed!) nap instead.  After the snorkel group got back, we all did an afternoon walk on North Seymour Island. 

My initial thought was hesitant as there were SO MANY birds flying over us (and birds can freak me out if they get too close!), but wow, this island was a highlight for me, and I could have stayed much longer.  We were there during mating season for the birds, so we got to see quite a few mating rituals, including the blue-footed booby dance, and the frigates with their bright red balloon throats. It was really such a cool experience!  And there were still plenty of crabs, iguanas, and sea lions to look at too! 

   

   

   

 

Day 8

San Cristobal Island (Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and Punta Pitt) -  We started our day in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, which is a town on San Cristobal Island.  This was the first time since starting our cruise that we saw people outside of the Celebrity Flora guests and crew! 

We took a short bus ride to the Interpretation Center where we could learn at our own pace about the history and inhabitants of the Galapagos Islands. After that, we went back into town where we watched a beach full of sea lions (including some babies nursing) and then did some shopping.  (The sea lions are so cute that I took a picture of almost all of them I saw throughout this entire trip!) 

On our way back to the Flora, we even saw sea lions that had taken over a boat! We also saw a sea turtle on our way back.  That's one thing about this trip- you had to be constantly present because there were surprises and things to see almost constantly!

After lunch onboard, we opted to do a wildlife tender ride for our afternoon excursion.  There were more active ones that you could do, but honestly we were tired so chose the easy option.  In Punta Pitt, we were able to see 3 species of the booby birds- the blue-footed, red-footed (first time seeing them), and the Nazcas, along with other wildlife.

While we didn't choose the beach option this afternoon, several of the guests that did were able to swim up close with sea lions, and one of the guests has a video of a sea lion coming up and splashing him on purpose!  SO CUTE!!  Back onboard, we ate another dinner under the stars, and then stopped by the Silent Disco Night that Celebrity is known for. 

   

   

   

   

 

Day 9

Santa Cruz Island.  In the port city of Puerto Ayora, we started our day by taking a short bus ride to the Fausto Llerena Giant Tortoise Breeding Center, where we saw baby tortoises and giant saddleback tortoises. We had some free time after for some shopping and to try the local coffee. 

Then we took a bus ride (about 30 minutes) to the highlands where each person got to plant two trees as part of a rewilding program.  Again, Celebrity had taken care of every detail.  Someone had come before us and dug up the holes for us to plant the trees in, and they also provided us with rubber boots since it was a little muddy in that area.

From there we had a short bus ride to Primicias Ranch for lunch and a performance of local dances and then a tortoise walk to see them in their natural habitat. Afterwards we took the bus back to town where you could continue shopping or go back to the ship.

Then it was time to pack up to leave (SO SAD!!!)  Our debriefing for the next day also had a recap of a slideshow they had put together with pictures the naturalists had taken throughout the week, and as a true surprise, the crew put all the pictures and the slideshow on thumb drives for us to pick up the next day.  Again, way to excel, Celebrity!!

   

   

   

 

 

Day 10

Our journey home.   It was truly emotional for this trip to end.  With only 100 passengers onboard, we came to know each other well.  And the crew was so spectacular, and we had spent so much time with them during the week that it was hard to say goodbye to them as well. 

Our hotel director had gotten word from the airport the night before that our flight would be delayed due to some maintenance on the runway.  But we had already learned that Celebrity would go above and beyond with their plan B-s!  We got to stay in our cabins an extra hour, they kept breakfast going an extra hour, and then one of the naturalists gave us a bonus informational talk.

When it was time, we hugged the crew as we disembarked to go back for the 5-minute ride to the airport.  Going through was easy, and Celebrity had arranged for us to have access to the VIP lounge in Baltra where we had snacks, soda, and juices. Even though we had eaten most of the day, on the 2-hour flight back to Quito they still served us another meal!

Upon landing and getting our baggage, we were met by another Celebrity guide.  Because our flight left at 1 am, Celebrity provided those with a late-night or early morning flight use of a hotel room at the EB Hotel near the airport. 

There we showered, took a nap, and had dinner before Celebrity picked us up at 10:15 for our flight.  Going through customs was very easy- I think from drop-off to the gate it was less than 30 minutes.

   

 

Final Thoughts

Really, I can't put into words how amazing this trip was.  From the unique destination to the extraordinary service, I can't think of anything that could have made this a better vacation!  To check out all of our photos and videos from this trip, you can visit https://magnifiedvacations.smugmug.com/Galapagos-Islands-Celebrity-Flora. 

 

Nikki Gott is a travel advisor based in Avon, IN, specializing in cruises, all-inclusive resorts, and Hawaiian vacations. Affiliated with Dream Vacations, Nikki is known for her deep destination knowledge, personalized service, and genuine care for her clients — many of whom have trusted her with their travel plans for over a decade. Whether you're planning your first cruise or your fiftieth, Nikki is dedicated to making every trip seamless, memorable, and perfectly tailored to you.