On Silver Origin in the Galapagos

[wineasmusic]

Great cruise so far, really enjoying it!.  A couple of rough spots, but all resolved, or all within the window of reasonableness.  This is an adventure cruise. They have multiple outings a day on the zodiacs.  If you did them all for the whole week, well I think you deserve a medal. We are being lazy and skipping kayaking and snorkeling, so we do one excursion in the early morning and one in the late afternoon. These islands are amazing for the unique animals and plants. The ship is beautiful, and the staff is very friendly.  The food has been very good so far.  I'll be posting observations daily, but this is a start. Got to run to the daily briefing now...

D2

[wineasmusic]

Here is how the adventure excursions work. There is a main morning and late afternoon adventure walking excursion.  The morning starts between 7am and 7:30, depending on your group. You always ride a zodiac to the shore. You walk on the islands to see lots of animals and birds. The animals are not scared of you so you get great pictures up close. You don't really need a huge lens.  Everyone comes back and then, mid morning, the snorkelers and sometimes kayakers go out. At noon everyone eats lunch. At 2 there are lectures and then the mid afternoon adventure leaves. This afternoon is a very challenging trek over raw lava fields. They are offering an easier option for those that don't want this much of a challenge. They are very good at showing pictures of what to expect during the briefings so you can decide what is right for you. This is all very well organized! They use the audio system you put on your ear and you can hear your guide without any yelling so the animals are not bothered. More later.
D2

[Stumblefoot]

Thank you for sharing your voyage with us.  The Origin is still so new and there hasn’t been a lot of sharing yet, so your observations and pics on board will be much appreciated here.

[wineasmusic]

The ship is new and looks great. 2 restaurants, the main, more formal one and the grill on the top deck. Breakfast is a buffet in the main restaurant so you can eat quickly to make your early excursion. Most folks eat lunch on the top deck. For dinner, the grill on the top deck is reservation only, doing the "Hot Rocks" thing, which we will see for the first time tonight. Big birthday dinner for my Wife tonight! We have done the main dining room for dinner the last two nights.  It is a nice space. The food has been very good. Last night I had surf and turf. Beef (and I'm sure other meats) have to be pre-cooked before being brought to the islands. So if you are interested in a med rare piece of steak, well, it's not gonna happen... This really is a seafood menu being around islands and all. My Wife does not eat seafood (by preference), but she is still being well fed.
D2

[wineasmusic]

The rooms are nice, some cool innovations like drawers that finish shutting themselves so they don't slam. Yes, I've seen that before on nice cruise ships, but these seem to really work. Our room has the new "horizon balcony". Those at home can follow along by checking the Silversea website looking at the Silver Origin.  Essentially, they are giant motorized windows that you can open. The idea is you get the balcony space added to your room. This is going to be a personal preference item as everyone uses their room different. We are balcony folks (weather permitting) so I think we will stick with a real balcony. Most folks underutilize their balconies, so this is a way to get more room and still open the massive window occasionally for the sea air experience, big win for them! The first day, anchored close to shore in the warm afternoon, we tried it out. Fail. It made the room hot, and introduced a fly and a moth. Tonight, we figured it out. There is a separate curtain you can draw that is between the room and the indoor "balcony" area. It keeps any warm air out of the main room. We also waited until we were away from shore and avoided bugs. That worked!  Again, it comes down to what you value in a room.  I'll be interested to see if this shows up on other new ships.  Off to the daily briefing...
D2

[MBP&O2/O]

Interesting comments and watching with a specific eye on the excursions as I don't kayak or snorkeling so it will be good to see what options are offered.

The Infinite Balcony doesn't do it for me either.

How long did you stay in Quito pre cruise? It always used to be 2 nights but now it looks like just the 1?

Tks.

 

[kimanjo]

Thanks so much for posting!!! We are on in August.  

1.  Neither DH or myself eats seafood ( also by choice, weird for New England born)so good to know we won't go hungry.

2.  We do want to snorkel and kayak, so if you pick up any knowledge and post about those things, that would be awesome.

 

Thanks again!

Edited May 31, 2022 by kimanjo

[wineasmusic]

Today's excursions are zodiac drive bys. These islands are all too rugged lava to walk on. This morning we went out early and went along the shore, backing into some lagoons for a better view. Some of the sea lions got jealous when we were looking at birds so they came right up to the zodiac to get our attention. They are very photogenic.

 

Today is one of the best spots for snorkeling and those folks are excited. Chance to swim with penguins, turtles and marine iguanas. Colder water here so they will all be wearing their wet suits. You are given a wet suit, short sleeves with shorts (one piece). Also get a mask, snorkel and fins. Find out about how to sign up for kayaking as soon as you get on the ship. Have overheard someone complaining the list was already full for that day, so understand how that works as soon as you get on.

 

We did the standard Silversea plan with 2 nights in Quito. We hired a guide to see Quito most of the day. Well worth seeing. Stayed in the old town area and did not try to do to much as it is 9200ft, so some huffing and puffing. We booked a year ago, so they may have a different plan now. Included was a Quito by night tour which left at 5 and returned about 7:30.

D2

[TLCOhio]

21 hours ago, Stumblefoot said:

Thank you for sharing your voyage with us.  The Origin is still so new and there hasn’t been a lot of sharing yet, so your observations and pics on board will be much appreciated here.

 

Super appreciate ALL of these great posts and follow-ups from wineasmusic of Texas.  

 

Great info and background!!  Yes, lots of pictures and continued great details are very much of interest.  We had this cruise booked for late January 2021, but then Covid shut things down.  Had good friends who did this cruise in August 2021 on the Silver Origin and enjoyed it so much. This sailing is still on our future, to-do list.  

 

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Sydney to NZ/Auckland Adventure, live/blog 2014 sampling/details with many exciting visuals and key highlights.  On page 23, post #571, see a complete index for all of the pictures, postings.  Now at 237,489 views.

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

[wineasmusic]

We did the Grill last night for dinner (reservations only). They seated 22 (there are 71 on board). It was a nice night for dinner topside. The main Grill seating area has movable glass walls so they can block the wind as needed. It has an opaque cover to protect from the sun for lunch. I did the "Hot Rocks", which I am told is available fleet wide. Choices last night were octopus or tofu. I love octopus and it was great! Wifey got pork ribs (very good). You cook your food on this hot lava rock, flipping it over after a certain time. It was a fun thing to do on vacation, glad I did it, but for me it was one of those "one and done" kind of things...
D2

[LAexNY]

Wineasmusic,

Thanks for your reports.  Very helpful.  We are booked on the Origin 7/23/22.

The package did include two nights in Quito.  We did a deviation and added a third night.  Our flight arrives near midnight and we wanted two full days to adjust to the altitude and get over our jet lag.  The cost to add a night and deviate was reasonable.

We were in the Galapagos in 2006 with Lindblad. It remains one of our most amazing trips and we are looking forward to returning.

[wineasmusic]

We are now halfway through the cruise. So far the food has been very, very good!  I'm a foodie, so wine and food are very important to me, so I'm happy the food part is so good. This is a seafood focused cruise (although wifey is still finding plenty to eat). I've been lobbying the Hotel Director to have more Pinot noir wines on board. There is only one on the wine bottle menu.

Today we got our picture taken with a wild giant tortoise. Huge... We will see them again another day.
D2

[Stumblefoot]

1 hour ago, wineasmusic said:

I've been lobbying the Hotel Director to have more Pinot noir wines on board. There is only one on the wine bottle menu.

That’s crazy!  How can a ship that has the highest per diems month-in / month-out have only a single Pinot on offer?  And, to think it’s a seafood focused cruise to boot.  

Ugh.  I’d be very disappointed. Especially when I think we had something like a dozen Pinot offerings in Antarctica of all places.

[Emtbsam]

Great report.  Do the wines have to be sourced in Ecuador?  Can you get a filet at hot rocks?

[wineasmusic]

The night I did hot Rocks it was either octopus or tofu. All the beef has to be pre-cooked before coming to the islands. The one piece of beef I had appeared to have been cooked sous vide, so it still has a pink color. No medium rare steaks in the Galapagos...

 

The wines are from everywhere, mostly Argentina and Chile, but even a number from Italy.

D2

[kimanjo]

17 hours ago, wineasmusic said:

The night I did hot Rocks it was either octopus or tofu. All the beef has to be pre-cooked before coming to the islands. The one piece of beef I had appeared to have been cooked sous vide, so it still has a pink color. No medium rare steaks in the Galapagos...

 

The wines are from everywhere, mostly Argentina and Chile, but even a number from Italy.

D2

Pork? Chicken? 

What about other proteins?  We don't eat any seafood, and pork and chicken are just fine ( we don't NEED steak).  Is pork and chicken widely available? 

Thanks

[Viking1966]

Thanks for all the information. We are sailing on the Origin June 11th after a pre-cruise trip to Machu Picchu. My wife and I love seafood so we will skip the pre-cooked beef. Not a big fan of cooking my own food, can do that at home, but I suspect we will give it a try one evening? We are big foodies and love good wine. How is the food for dinner in the main dining room? Dress casual country club? Not bringing a jacket!

We are excited about the kayaking so I will sign us up on the first day.  

Anybody else on the June 11th cruise?

[Stumblefoot]

55 minutes ago, Viking1966 said:

How is the food for dinner in the main dining room?

I don't know how, but maybe you missed wineasmusic's multiple reports on food in the main dining room. See below.

 

On 5/30/2022 at 10:37 AM, wineasmusic said:

The food has been very good so far.

 

On 5/30/2022 at 1:05 PM, wineasmusic said:

We have done the main dining room for dinner the last two nights.  The food has been very good.

 

23 hours ago, wineasmusic said:

We are now halfway through the cruise. So far the food has been very, very good!  I'm a foodie, so wine and food are very important to me, so I'm happy the food part is so good.

 

As far as attire, Viking1966, a jacket is never required on any Silversea expedition voyage.

 

[Stumblefoot]

1 hour ago, Viking1966 said:

Not a big fan of cooking my own food, can do that at home, but I suspect we will give it a try one evening?

You are not required to cook your own food at The Grill using the hot stone in the evening.  All you have to do is ask and The Grill's chef will cook your meal to your liking.

[ronrick1943]

Sounds like you are having a good time, just wanted to thank you for sharing you’re cruise.  Safe travel.

[wineasmusic]

The food was again great today. Wifey did have a problem with the lunch menu, first time, and had to rely on the basics menu. I don't know what all is on that menu, but there are standards you can order anytime, anywhere. She did a margarita pizza. The crust was a little different than she is used to, but she was ok with it. Cheeseburgers, pizza and things like that are on that menu.
Today had the most challenging hike we have done. They warned us in advance. It was very worthwhile, but it was a lot of work. Tomorrow the Darwin center and more giant turtles.  I think some of these are double the age of the oldest cruiser on the ship. We have not sailed Silversea since 2005, but we have done Seaborn and Regent a bunch. This cruise, being an adventure cruise, has a younger crowd than those.
D2

[LAexNY]

On 5/31/2022 at 8:34 AM, wineasmusic said:

We did the standard Silversea plan with 2 nights in Quito. We hired a guide to see Quito most of the day. Well worth seeing. Stayed in the old town area and did not try to do to much as it is 9200ft, so some huffing and puffing. We booked a year ago, so they may have a different plan now. Included was a Quito by night tour which left at 5 and returned about 7:30.

Wineasmusic,  Can you recommend the guide you used in Quito?  Thanks.

[kimanjo]

9 hours ago, wineasmusic said:

The food was again great today. Wifey did have a problem with the lunch menu, first time, and had to rely on the basics menu. I don't know what all is on that menu, but there are standards you can order anytime, anywhere. She did a margarita pizza. The crust was a little different than she is used to, but she was ok with it. Cheeseburgers, pizza and things like that are on that menu.
Today had the most challenging hike we have done. They warned us in advance. It was very worthwhile, but it was a lot of work. Tomorrow the Darwin center and more giant turtles.  I think some of these are double the age of the oldest cruiser on the ship. We have not sailed Silversea since 2005, but we have done Seaborn and Regent a bunch. This cruise, being an adventure cruise, has a younger crowd than those.
D2

 

What was hard about the hike?  Length?  Terrain?  Elevation? Was it challenging for everyone?

Thanks for the update on food as well.  We are not "foodies" so as long as we get something in our tummies, we are good to go.  Burger, chicken sandwich, salad etc are fine!

[Shipless in Seattle]

Wineasmusic,

 

We've really appreciated your daily reviews as we get on the Origin in a week. I've been waiting for 3 years for this ship to launch so can't wait. All you're little tips are so helpful to think about packing, etc.

 

Are you doing post cruise Machu Picchu trip which we have booked? If you are and have time along the way, would be great to hear any pointers. Thx again. Kent

[wineasmusic]

5 hours ago, Shipless in Seattle said:

Wineasmusic,

Are you doing post cruise Machu Picchu trip which we have booked? If you are and have time along the way, would be great to hear any pointers. Thx again. Kent

We did Machu Picchu several years ago on an orient express tour. Staying in the hotel at the site was a big win. All the tourists leave about 3pm to catch the trains so it is all yours. Don't do much first day in Cusco. You are at 10k feet! Your body needs time to settle. We took the Hiram Bingham train round trip. It was really cool.

D2