Live - Celebrity Flora 9/1/24 - Slow Boat to the Galapagos

[alexandria]

8 hours ago, Rewind said:

My DW pointed out the only improvement they could have put in would be a wet locker in each stateroom to hang your wet swimsuits / rash guards from when you come back from snorkeling.

On ships with self-serve laundry (like Silversea and Seabourn) we take a couple of mesh laundry bags.  I wonder if Celebrity would permit passengers to bring one in which to put those wet items and hang them with the wet suit down on the marina deck?  Or would there not be sufficient room with everything else that is already hanging there? 

Edited September 4 by alexandria

[Rewind]

I don't think there is room near the wetsuits for everyone to hang another bag.  For us, we like to shower off as we remove our swimsuits to rinse them out.  That would require going back to the room, rinsing everything, then taking the bag back down to the marina.

 

It's just a minor inconvenience at this point.  There are a few hooks in the shower where you can hang things, but then our stateroom attendant has been rehanging things on hangers over a towel from our ceiling in the infinite veranda area.  We feel bad though as we don't want to make extra work for her, but I think it's easier for her to clean the bathroom if things aren't hanging everywhere in there.

[Rewind]

Good morning from the coast of Bartolome island.

 

We got up early:

 

Still waiting for breakfast to open:

 

[Rewind]

Ok, one more 

[Ellis1138]

14 hours ago, catspaw1 said:

Very experienced hiker here. I always use 2 hiking poles & it's important they are adjusted correctly for your height. Also important they have a rubber tip on the bottom so they don't slip. Adjust the poles- shorter going uphill & longer going downhill. I've been using them for years & will bring mine. REI has lots of them to chose from. They collapse so are fairly small. I just took them to SD with us & checked them on the plane. They cannot be carry on bags!

 

United has always allowed me to bring my Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z trekking poles in my carry on. It might be just an airline specific thing. 

 

To the OP: How do you go to the bathroom on the excursions? I have some issues, so am curious as to whether there are any facilities at all (I know they'll have to be 'eco' and that used toilet paper goes in the trash) or are we just doing it like backcountry and bringing bags to put our our waste in and carry it back to the ship? TIA

[Rewind]

Nope - no facilities on any island.  There hasn't yet been a need for anyone to need facilities - all the excursions have only been a couple hours.  Line up to get off the ship at 8:30, back on the ship around 11:00, maybe 11:30.

 

I think that is something you might need to call the Galapagos desk at Celebrity to find out if that is something they can plan for.

[catspaw1]

My husband is UA Silver status. I didn't think hiking poles would be allowed as they can easily be seen as a weapon. I can take my rubber tips off them & it's a sharp pointy bottom then which is clearly dangerous from the airlines viewpoint. I just always put in my checked baggage. 

[Barwick Cruiser]

I think that would be the advantage for those who have a proper balcony to be able to hang their swimsuits to dry. Might keep that in mind OP if you do decide to book for the alternate loop. 
Just loving all the details and the food pics and menus, gives us a better idea of what to expect when we go. I hope the water conditions clear so your next snorkel goes smoothly! Thanks again for all the postings!

Edited September 4 by Barwick Cruiser

[Rewind]

This morning we took the Long Lava Rock Walk.  This is for steady footed people only and they even recommend not using walking sticks as they could get lodged in crevasses and actually cause you to lose your balance.

 

For timing, we were on the first tender that left at 8:30am and we were stepping foot back on board at 10:45am.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rewind]

Tonight's dinning room menu:

 

[Ellis1138]

6 hours ago, catspaw1 said:

My husband is UA Silver status. I didn't think hiking poles would be allowed as they can easily be seen as a weapon. I can take my rubber tips off them & it's a sharp pointy bottom then which is clearly dangerous from the airlines viewpoint. I just always put in my checked baggage. 

 

I don't have any status. I have the 2 poles folded up, one inside my backpack and the other is in the side pocket of my backpack, because I will sometimes need to use it like a cane if the walk in the airport is very long. I mean, there's no harm in putting them in checked luggage, but I don't want these lost or delayed since I use them as walking aids aside from just hiking.

[catspaw1]

I'm a retired Fed & used to work at DHS- the parent firm of TSA. I looked up the regs. Hiking poles not permitted in carry-on luggage like I said.

 

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/hiking-poles

 

I sometimes use a cane, although I am not using it as much these days, & these are always allowed under the ADA.

 

Hope this helps!

[Ellis1138]

2 hours ago, catspaw1 said:

I'm a retired Fed & used to work at DHS- the parent firm of TSA. I looked up the regs. Hiking poles not permitted in carry-on luggage like I said.

 

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/hiking-poles

 

I sometimes use a cane, although I am not using it as much these days, & these are always allowed under the ADA.

 

Hope this helps!

Wow! I'll put mine in the checked luggage, then. It's amazing my poles slipped past them all this time.

[catspaw1]

You were lucky that time but maybe not the next time. Just put it in checked baggage & use a cane at the airport. I just did it in June & was glad to have the cane. My poles were in checked baggage. 

[Rewind]

Afternoon Walk to the Top was a workout.  There were a bunch of Blue Footed Boobies diving near our landing zone.  It is then 380 steps to the top with some places to rest and take pics.  This is the place where if you search for a pic of the Galapagos, this is the place you will see.

 

We left the ship at 4:30 and we're back on board at 6:15.

 

On the way back, they did a quick tender ride to go look for penguins...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 4 by Rewind

[WeBcruisingMN]

22 hours ago, Rewind said:

The FIL and DW did get the Ribeye and it is confirmed that it is better than the fillet in the main dining room.

Just wondering- what made it better? Taste? Texture? Or is this cut (ribeye) sourced elsewhere?

 

We love a good steak, so just wondered. ✅

 

Also- just saw your menu posting for tonight (Wednesday) and saw Braised beef short ribs. Anyone you know order that, and any comments?

 

Your review & pics are Super Duper helpful 🌟we are heading out in a few weeks on the Flora, the excitement has been building for 17 months since we booked!?!

Sharon 😃

[Rewind]

I did try the short ribs and it was pretty good.  We were dining with a group last night and someone said as long as the menu states Braised, the meat should be tender.

 

Not sure why the ribeye is better, but my guess has to be preparation.  They are required to source beef from the Galapagos and as they said in a presentation that as there are no plains, the cows have to roam up and down the mountains to feed which makes their muscles nice and tough.

[Rewind]

Not much to report today yet.  This morning was a beach walk which was more than just a beach day.  The walk went back and forth a long the beach, to a couple brackish ponds, saw a couple flamingos, ghost crabs, and marine iguanas.  Then it was time to snorkel and some people saw a couple sea turtles and my DW saw a shark.

 

Then just before lunch we spotted a turtle from our windowed veranda and had enough time to roll the window down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rewind]

We are just about to leave for a long walk on Seymour North island.

 

Here is tonight's dinner menu:

 

[calicakes]

On 8/29/2024 at 7:45 AM, Rewind said:

I do want to share a bit of the booking process for anyone who is thinking of doing this trip in the future. I am a fairly detail oriented person when it comes to booking cruises and have planned many trips in the past so I thought this would just be a super easy process and I could handle everything myself and just book the simple 7 night cruise and take care of all the other aspects on my own.  While I wasn’t wrong, I will say that it wasn’t wise.

 

You have to factor in quite a bit more if you book the cruise only package.  First off you don’t want to just fly into Quito and not see Quito.  And by spending a day in Quito, you will need a hotel, and you have to get to that hotel.  So there is the transport cost from the airport to the hotel, the night in the hotel, the cost of the independent tour, meals, a second night in the hotel, and then transfer back to the airport.  Then you also need to book airfare for Quito to Baltra (which isn’t direct and also doesn’t specify that the rates on the website are for Locals and you will need to pay extra for being a tourist).  From what I can tell, once you land in Baltra, the ship will meet you there and take over the rest of the process.  But then on the way back, you need the return flight to Quito, and then depending on plans, maybe another night in a hotel or just hanging out at the airport for 8 hours.

We're booked on this trip for October 19, 2025.  We booked while on board a year ago.  I was under the impression that the only way this cruise is booked is with an all inclusive.  Airfair, hotel before and after, transfers, etc.  I will say we paid(well, not fully yet) around 26,798.00.  That is for a suite. 

[Rewind]

Let's talk shoes:

 

I think I was pretty good with my choices.  You will need a good pair of hiking shoes but if you are slightly uneasy on your feet, I highly recommend upgrading to hiking boots.  There is plenty of uneven terrain and your feet will thank you.

 

The third pair of shoes from the left are my water shoes.  I could take or leave those.  They keep more sand out, but not all sand.  And if you take the shoes off on the beach, good luck not getting sand in them.  However one trick - keep the shoes off when you board the zodiac from the beach so you can rinse your feet as you get in and then put your shoes on once you sit down.

 

The gray Keens that are second from the left are my other wet shoes.  I wore them to another beach stop and they get sand in them easily but also clean out super easily.  I also wore them to the top lookout spot on Bartolome as they are very comfortable.  I think for ease of cleaning, I would rate them better than the more closed water shoe.  But that is personal preference.

 

The other Keens I have on the very left are my "boat shoes" that are thinner / lighter weight - I am only wearing them around the ship.  My DW is doing something similar with a pair of sandals.  It is nice to have a clean pair of shoes to use to go to the discussions and dinner.

 

Knowing what I know now, I would only take three pair of shoes; hiking, wet, boat.  I think I can do a week with only three pair.

[Rewind]

Afternoon on North Seymour - we saw a lot of Frigate birds, plenty of Blue Footed Boobies, a few iguana, and a handful of sea lions including some newborn pups.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To the left of Mama is a pup in the rocks:

 

Different pup:

 

[calicakes]

On 8/29/2024 at 7:45 AM, Rewind said:

 

What are you having for lunch?  Is it a buffet?  Is pizza available? 

[shirazcruiser]

2 hours ago, calicakes said:

We're booked on this trip for October 19, 2025.  We booked while on board a year ago.  I was under the impression that the only way this cruise is booked is with an all inclusive.  Airfair, hotel before and after, transfers, etc.  I will say we paid(well, not fully yet) around 26,798.00.  That is for a suite. 

All cabins are suites…just some are larger and more expensive. How could they price you a package with airfare when flights/prices aren’t available until 330 days out? We’re looking at the Oct 10, 2025 11 night Inner Loop in a Premium Infinite Balcony for just under $22K without airfare. 

[Homelines]

Does the crew on the Flora rotate with other Celebrity ships or just stay on the Flora?