Galapagos Hash Cruise - June 1, 2024

BOOBIES, penguins, sea turtles, hashers, sea lions, marine iguanas, giant tortoise, more BOOBIES, flamingoes, albatross, land iguana, stingray, heron, sharks, tropical fish, seals, great frigates, pelicans, even MORE BOOBIES, decorative crabs and other critters. None of them has a fear of humans so take your time taking those pictures. They aren't going anywhere.

Lava fields, flat islands, volcano climbs, hilly islands, desolate islands, tropical islands, a mid-sized town, and included wet suit and snorkel gear for exploring the underwater world of the Galapagos.

Celebrity's Xpedition is the largest-sized ship allowed to cruise in the Galapagos. It's not a luxury ship but it IS a premium experience for adventure seekers who want great food and attentive service along the way. It starts when you are met at the Quito airport by the staff and driven to the JW Marriott. The crew is top-notch. The food is wonderful, from breakfast to hot-off-the-grill outdoor lunch between your outings to dinner. It's all well-prepared and delicious. The beer and beverages are cold and included. The tour staff is very knowledgeable about all aspect of the islands and are there to educate you and answer your questions about this unique destination. Upon request, they even gave us a guided star talk that wasn't part of the program. Rooms are spacious and well-appointed. There's even a small pool, but you probably won't have time to use it!

Every evening, there is a presentation on what awaits you the next day. Each island has its own personality and wildlife selection. Each day has two morning adventures and two afternoon adventures. One is active (hiking usually) and one is less active (staying in the Zodiac and exploring the coastline and beaches, for example). In addition to these tours, you also have several opportunities to use your supplied wet suit and snorkel gear to explore the underwater world of the Galapagos. You don't want to pass up ANY of those!

This kind of epic adventure is much more fun when you get to share it with friends. Hashing friends. The cruise is all-inclusive with open bar. On our visit to the town of Puerto Ayora, we did a red dress run to raise money for a local veterinary office. We wore our red dresses to plant a few trees to contribute to the ecosystem of the islands. Of course, we also planned pub crawl in Quito, Ecuador. Amazing trip. Amazing people.

This 10-day package also includes 3 nights in Quito (2 nights pre, 1 night post) for acclimation and flight recovery. Quito was its own adventure with several tours around the city and fun on the equator.