CruiserN1

We're cruising in about 2 weeks and I have packed my eMed tests in my carry on in the original shipping box with the bubble wrap they shipped it in. Once I'm done with the tests, I'll have a nice empty spot in my carry on for all the fun stuff I buy on my cruise!

I'm cruising Jul 3 and mine is showing as verified. I submitted it about 2 weeks ago.

We flew in the first day but were able to get a flight that came in around 9pm. The people who came in on the later flights were exhausted the next day, so if you have the time and money, I think it's smart to come in a day early. Celebrity doesn't offer any tours other than the one included in the package. If you look in Cruise Critic for the Xpedition --- Anyone recently back? thread, there are some recommendations about a private tour. If you just want to chill that first day and acclimatize to the altitude, the area around the JW Marriott is safe to walk around. There's a craft market about a mile away and the taxi is $2 to get there if you don't want to walk.

We were on Xpedition late Nov 2021. The package includes 2 nights in Quito, a full-day tour with meals in Quito, the flight to Baltra (Galapagos) and then 1 night in Quito afterward and transportation to the airport. I would highly recommend taking the package because it's impossible to fly directly from the US or Canada to Baltra, so you'd have to spend a night in either Quito or Guayaquil anyway. Letting X handle the details of flying you to Baltra makes life a lot easier. They take care of everything from the moment you clear customs in Quito until the moment they drop you off at the Quito airport for your flight home. The team on the ground in Quito was amazing and helped with any need our group had. We booked Xpedition because the price difference was pretty huge at the time. I think now the difference isn't as much, but I'd still take Xpedition over the Flora. Xpedition was built to carry 98 passengers but only can take 48 now due to the rules set when Ecuador let them bring in the Flora. The ship feels roomy as a result and because it's a smaller group you get to know everyone. By the end of the trip it felt like we were a family. As far as the two itineraries, I don't thik you can go wrong. We did the northern loop because we were more interested in marine animals than birds, but I wouldn't hesitate to do the southern loop. Neither loop will feature warm water, unfortunately. The Humboldt current from the Southern Ocean keeps the water pretty cold. It fluctuates a little by time of year, but it'll feel cold. The ship provides you with a shortie wetsuit and has a few long ones if you're really cold. Once you get in the water and see all of the fish and marine life, you'll forget how cold you are. When you get back on board, a crew member is waiting with a warm towel and a cup of hot chocolate (with the alcohol of your choice if you want). I'd be happy to answer any other questions. It was the trip of a lifetime for us and we're already saving up for the next trip.

My TA said it gets sent as a gift and so it doesn't post until you sail. They don't send it sooner because they don't get paid their commission until right around the time that you sail. They need to make sure you don't cancel before they send the OBC.

I guess if you want a massage you could bring disinfecting wipes with you and wipe down the face cradle before you get on the table as a precautionary measure. If you did it when you were disrobing, the therapist would not see and could avoid possibly offending that person.

I don't think so. My DH also is up early, usually at what we call 1st breakfast at the Oceanview by 7am. There's usually a group of regulars he runs into who share his morning enthusiasm. He stops at Cafe Bacio and brings me coffee and a crossaint for when I wake up an hour or more later. He's in bed by 9pm, I'm out and about until 10-11pm. Neither of you will stick out at all.

I think no one really knows exactly how X chooses who to move or if it's the case that they try to move up as many people as possible (which would be your musical chairs scenario). All other things being equal, I'd imagine they take the highest bid over what you paid already (to maximize profit for them). Minimums differ based on cabin. If you look at the pinned thread on MoveUp offers at the top of this forum, you'll see examples of how minimums differ depending on booked cabin category.