Rothko1

You're basically near the equator, so you aren't getting major seasons. Instead, a key issue is the Humboldt Current. This brings in cold water to the Galapagos, which brings in krill and nutrients, etc, which in turn attracts the fish and birds. The Current runs from June to November, so I would go in November. It will be colder for snorkeling, but you'll see more activity.

Oh, and to answer your questions about safety: Brightline trains are very safe. No worries there. TriRail can be a bit sketchier, because it is very inexpensive. Many school age kids take TriRail and so it can be crowded with "those darn young kids with their rock & roll music" etc... But I really wouldn't be concerned about getting mugged onboard.

I believe that TriRail does go directly to MIA airport - it's just a long trek. Brightline does not. I am not aware of anything from Brightline that would get you from their station in downtown Miami to the airport.

I've heard about how rough the Passage can be. I'm scheduled on a cruise in February where we are going to fly over to King George Island instead and embark there, rather than make the Passage. How are the waters actually down in Antarctica? Can they still be rough or are they fairly calm?

I just filled in mine, and I put the date of the last booster.

Especially if you fly back on a redeye.

I'm on a February 2023 cruise. But I already had my suite room assigned when it was the Explorer. Well, I emailed my TA to ask her to find out, so we will see if I get any information. In any event, I am excited to be going aboard the Endeavor!

Hehehe!

You're right. It seemed farther away when I was there.

If I recall, Humpy's is farther away than that.

OK, I understand that. I was just down near that hotel on my June cruise (we went to look at the creek and the salmon views). There are no restaurants nearby. You'll need to go at least a few blocks away. The 49th State Brewing Company is fairly close and is very well-regarded. But they don't take reservations and they can have a long wait. You can easily walk to it.

We did the helicopter option back in like 2012 and it was fantastic. Highly recommended. Beautiful flight along the coastline to Monte Carlo. It was over too soon!

Why not pack something and eat on the plane before you land? Once you arrive, get your bags, get a ride to the hotel, it is going to be late. With the time change, you are going to be exhausted. I imagine the best thing is just get your room and go to bed, especially if you have to be up early to get your train.

Yes, I did check today. But it still lists me as on the Explorer. I am thinking of emailing my travel agent to ask her to look into it.

Yeah, that's not one to joke about. 🙂

I'm waiting to find out my new suite assignment.

All I can remember from tea on the QM2 back in 2019 were the spirited debates over the pronunciation of the word "scone". Almost came to fisticuffs several times. 🙂

You are talking about the two best cruise ships in the Galapagos, I am thinking. It's like picking between a BMW and a Mercedes. Both really nice cars. It might depend on which line, if either, you've had previous experience with. I've been on the Silver Origin, but not the Flora, so I cannot do a direct comparison. I think you could compare the generalities of the two cruise lines perhaps. It might also boil down to issues like cost, itinerary, etc.

uber

There are some very high end, very expensive bathing suits from widely recognized designers. Should they be allowed in?

I do think that this will be a major upgrade for the folks who booked cruises on the old Explorer, and are now going to get the new Endeavor. It was a factor in making my decision to switch from a Mediterranean cruise next year to an Antarctica cruise this winter.

To answer your questions: 1) You will only see a small part of the Inside Passage. You basically are not doing the Inside Passage. 2) You will not see glaciers. At least not the way the advertisements have them, where the cruise ship goes right up to them, like in Glacier Bay or Hubbard.

Did an Atlantic crossing in summer of 2019 (not on SS, but on the Queen Mary 2). What I found is that we quickly fell into a daily routine: early morning exercise, late breakfast, lunch, nap, tea, trivia, get dressed for dinner, predinner cocktails, dinner, show, bed, repeat. The days melded together, in this sort of fantasy world where you just do whatever you like, and there's no pressure. Anything you want, you just ask. It was almost sad when we finally saw the shore. Back to reality.

Now I gotta go try this place out.... Thanks for the tip!

Well, Key West is the Conch Republic. So technically is it really part of the US still? 🙂 Question for the OP: Did you get out to the Dry Tortugas? I hope you did.