Ask the Expert - Cruising the Galapagos Islands with Silversea
The 19-island-archipelago was the world’s first UNESCO Heritage Site and rightly so. An astonishing 9,000 species of flora and fauna call the archipelago home, many of which are endemic. These include the Galápagos giant tortoise, the Galápagos sea lion and, of course, the charismatic Galápagos Penguin. Additionally, Red-footed and Blue-footed Boobies, Frigatebirds and Flightless Cormorants are popular sights, along with stealthy marine iguanas, green sea turtles and towering Scalesia trees. If you are looking for a travel experience that makes everything that you have ever seen pale in comparison, then look no further.
We asked Julie Nunes from Silversea about why cruising the Galapagos Islands is an experience you will never forget!
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Who do you think a cruise around the Galápagos Islands would appeal to?
Certainly the curious traveller, wildlife lovers and warm destination afficionados! We welcome all age groups on board and we do have a growing family market for this destination, so it suits everyone.
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What was the highlight of your trip?
Oh my goodness, that’s like asking me to name my favourite child! Every day we were surprised with the abundance of wildlife – a mother sea lion leading her new-born pup to feed, Waved Albatrosses dancing with each other, but for me the absolute highlight was day 2, snorkelling off Sullivan Bay with a giant manta-ray who swam with us all for around 10 mins.
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Why is Silversea’s fantastic new ship, Silver Origin, perfect for cruising in the Galápagos?
Silversea’s first-ever destination-specific ship, Silver Origin has been designed entirely with this unique environment in mind. With state-of-the-art technology and solutions adapted especially for sailing here, Silver Origin’s footprint is minimal. The ship has a dynamic positioning system, which can keep her stationary without dropping anchor, thus protecting the delicate seabed. And thanks to a new hull design and advanced propulsion system, Silver Origin meets or exceeds the highest standards of energy efficiency. All suites feature a freshwater purification system, which significantly reduces plastic usage. And as education is often cited as the best way to encourage conservation, we created the Silversea Fund for the Galápagos. Dedicated to safeguarding the archipelago through educational projects, the fund is a big part of our commitment to keeping the islands pristine for generations to come.
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What happens on a typical day on board?
Everything is so well organised on board, you have a briefing each evening by our amazing expedition guides who run through the activities for the next day which gets everyone excited about what’s instore. There are a range of activities for all abilities and the great thing about our expedition cruises is that you can do as much or as little as you like… Be prepared for early mornings , around 7am usually with a leisurely hike always with one of our Expedition team who are there to point out the abundance of wildlife and their eagle eyes will always spot something off the beaten track! Once the morning activities finish then its back on the ship for a leisurely lunch in one of our 2 restaurants onboard before heading out in the afternoon.
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What are the essentials to pack?
We supply wetsuits, fins and snorkels to all guests onboard so you don’t have to pack them! A good pair of walking shoes and wet shoes for our wet landings are a must, a sunhat, even on cloudy days and of course a high factor suntan lotion, although of course in typical Silversea style we do provide suntan lotion for all guests in their suites.
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Why choose Silversea for your Galápagos cruise?
We have the very best guides onboard and they truly make your Galápagos Experience. All of our guides are certified Galápagos park rangers and they are so knowledgeable about the history, wildlife, marine life and landscape. We have 10 in total on board and each day a different guide will accompany you on every activity from hiking to snorkelling. If it wasn’t for our amazing zodiac pilot we would have never spotted the giant manta-ray swimming nearby us!
Follow this link to see our Cruising Holidays Silversea Galapagos Cruises Collection