The Evolution of Cruising. Silver Origin to the Galapagos Islands

[twangster]

Our second excursion for the day was an advanced deep water snorkel.  A basic snorkel/beach excursion was also available.

A benefit of these snorkel trips is being able to see the coast up close.

Time to snorkel.

The waves and current were a little stronger today leading to more sediment reducing visibility compared to yesterday.  It's the ocean, it is what it is on the day of your visit.

A Starfish.

The waters were still full of life.

Approximately 30 feet down on the seafloor were a number of white tipped sharks.  Unfortunately I didn't get a very good picture of them.  Later our guide said he counted nine of them in different places along our route.

So many fish.  You can see why so many birds breed here due to an abundance of food.

The Origin was never far.

After 45 minutes it was time to get back on the zodiac and return for lunch on the ship.

[twangster]

This never gets old.

The Silver Origin is such a beautiful ship.  It's so prefect for the Galapagos.

 

 

[Doug_Texas]

WOW!!  SilverSea experience looks unbelievable!

[twangster]

23 hours ago, Curt From Canada said:

Geeeez @twangster ... off the charts (and you adventure is just beginning).  I have too many questions, so just a critical one.

If a "bot" did not do their homework, I would be shocked.  Therefore, did you consider Celebrity's Galapagos similar sailings, or was the SilverSea "expedition style" a deciding factor?  

We would be very interested in your thought process in booking SilverSea over Celebrity (and others as well).  Galapagos is very high on our wish list.

Thanks for taking us along ...

Curt from Canada

There were a couple of drivers for me that led me to Silversea.

Celebrity rarely offers a reduced single supplement on the fleet.  Even when they do on ships elsewhere in the world their policies are still unfriendly to the solo guest.  Even if you do find a solo fare their Always Included packages remains priced for two guests.  For example you pay for two drink packages but as a solo you only get one, and what would as a solo guest do with a second drink package?  Drink twice as much? It makes no sense. When X does offer a solo fare it's generally 'no perks' because it never makes sense to pay for two perks for a solo guest.  Plus, I've never seen a solo fare for Flora in the Galapagos.   

Silversea sometimes (but not often) offers a solo fare on the Silver Origin.  When you can get a Silversea solo fare it's actually several thousand less than Flora would be for a solo guest.  I can sail Silversea and fly business class for less than the cruise fare alone on Celebrity.

Silversea has always intrigued me.  I've wanted to try Silversea to experience a level of cruising above and beyond Royal or Celebrity.   

The Galapagos Islands are not going to be an inexpensive experience no matter how you choose to come here. If I am going to invest this much into a Galapagos visit I might as well do so in luxury.  

When I was on the Edge I attended a Galapagos presentation.  Everything looks fine and for a couple it would be a different equation but for me Celebrity rarely makes sense as a solo.  It's why I don't sail them that often.  Their ships, their rules.  I generally cruise other lines mostly but I do have an X booking next year.  

Putting all of these factors together and choosing Silversea and the Silver Origin was the perfect choice for me.

[Curt From Canada]

17 minutes ago, twangster said:

There were a couple of drivers for me that led me to Silversea.

Celebrity rarely offers a reduced single supplement on the fleet.  Even when they do on ships elsewhere in the world their policies are still unfriendly to the solo guest.  Even if you do find a solo fare their Always Included packages remains priced for two guests.  For example you pay for two drink packages but as a solo you only get one, and what would as a solo guest do with a second drink package?  Drink twice as much? It makes no sense. When X does offer a solo fare it's generally 'no perks' because it never makes sense to pay for two perks for a solo guest.  Plus, I've never seen a solo fare for Flora in the Galapagos.   

Silversea sometimes (but not often) offers a solo fare on the Silver Origin.  When you can get a Silversea solo fare it's actually several thousand less than Flora would be for a solo guest.  I can sail Silversea and fly business class for less than the cruise fare alone on Celebrity.

Silversea has always intrigued me.  I've wanted to try Silversea to experience a level of cruising above and beyond Royal or Celebrity.   

The Galapagos Islands are not going to be an inexpensive experience no matter how you choose to come here. If I am going to invest this much into a Galapagos visit I might as well do so in luxury.  

When I was on the Edge I attended a Galapagos presentation.  Everything looks fine and for a couple it would be a different equation but for me Celebrity rarely makes sense as a solo.  It's why I don't sail them that often.  Their ships, their rules.  I generally cruise other lines mostly but I do have an X booking next year.  

Putting all of these factors together and choosing Silversea and the Silver Origin was the perfect choice for me.

I KNEW you were a "bot".  Everyone ... it is confirmed.

@twangster ... thank you for taking us along on your incredible journey.  

(I think I am going to forward this blog link to a ton of people and buy shares in cruise lines that go to the Galapagos.)

Thanks again ...

Curt from Canada

[twangster]

While at lunch we started underway to our second stop of the day... Sullivan Bay.

I knew a Galapagos cruise was all about visiting the islands of the Galapagos but the scenery today was unreal.  You can't do it justice in pictures.  The slow cruise through the passages to reach Sullivan's Bay was breathtaking.

When we arrived the unloading of the zodiacs began.

[twangster]

Today's nature walk will take place on a relatively young lava flow.  But first, now that we are all zodiac masters, we take to the sea.

The short ride in from the Silver Origin.

Pinnacle Rock is another icon of the Galapagos and it looks very different from what we saw from the ship.

They offer walking sticks for this hike.  

It was hot and the sun was bright.  Walking on black lava contributed to the effect.  

This lava flow is from an eruption in 1897 which in geological time is pretty much yesterday.  Once again pictures don't do it justice.

This is Pahoehoe lava named from Hawaii which roughly translates to rope like.

Paúl our guide provides all the details for this hike and encouraged frequent water breaks.

[twangster]

Paúl offers to take pictures with our phones.  Fashion has gone out the window, I'm all about protection from the sun.  Doh!  I should have smiled.

It's not a hike with a very much of an elevation change but you do have to watch each step as there is loose broken lava bits with many cracks and crevices.  It would be easy to catch a toe and stumble so it's all about watching where you step.  

Our trail will take us around the back side of that brown hill pictured above where we will circle around and loop back to the start.  

Compared to staring at black lava the hill appears to be dirt but it too has a volcanic origin so it's really lava rock that has been discolored by centuries of exposure to the elements compared to the relatively young lava flow we have been walking on at around 125 years old.   In another couple of thousands of years the black lava probably won't be as black.

This lava rocks reminds me of what one might find in a gas grill back home, at least the small bits.

[twangster]

Behind the cone of lava rock we find an oasis of growth, at least for a volcanic island.  Over thousands of years vegetation has taken root.  We are in the western or youngest part of the chain of Galapagos Islands.  In thousands of more years this island may look like some of the islands we saw in the beginning of this trip.

This is just a start.

We continue after a water break.

Back here we find an area where the lava flow stopped in its tracks having run out of magma for this eruption.  Looks like a photo op!

Onward back onto the black lava towards our Origin.

A cactus has taken root.  Where the hill has broken down from exposure indeed we see it too has a black lava base.

[twangster]

A lava lizard is spotted darting around the lava flow.

These large cracks show the make up of the flow.

I spotted a cold cerveza in the distance.

Pinnacle Rock like a beacon to guide us home.

Lava cactus is another sign of the lava flow coming to life.

 

[twangster]

The patterns of the Pahoehoe flow are mesmerizing.

Or maybe I've been out here too long and the heat is getting to me.

I think I'm going to find one of these pictures to blow up and put on my wall at home to remind me of this trip.  It's basically like art.

[twangster]

If you had asked me before about a hike on some lava I would said yeah, okay, sure.  Now?  Just wow! So different from our other stops, and that is the magic of a Galapagos Islands cruise.

"Can we get an Uber for ten please?"

Just another example of pictures don't do this justice, you have to come here and experience it.

[twangster]

Back on the ship and you know you are having a great day when Pinnacle Rock is framed in your suite window.

[twangster]

Dinner menu.

Before dinner was a lecture followed by the destination talk for tomorrow.

The lecture was about the currents that prevail in the Galapagos Islands and it really helped to explain so much about the Galapagos Islands.

The Finch beverage (look it up on the bar menu posted earlier).

We cross the Equator four times on this itinerary (the yellow dotted line).  Given the different currents we learned about, this means at times, depending on the currents, we can experience some motion.  It hasn't bothered me yet and I'm pretty far forward but if you are sensitive you'll want to explore motion remedies before you depart for any cruise and this cruise is no different. 

Tomorrow will not involve a landing on the island.  There will be zodiac tours of the coast in the morning and afternoon with a deep water snorkel before lunch.

Spoiler alert - I'm writing this post on day four after dinner having experienced what this destination talk highlighted and wow!  What a day.  But more on that later...

This has been awaiting us each evening in the suite.  I've been collecting the Chronicles for another time.  Picari chocolate is a premium Ecuadorian brand I learned about at the Cocoa museum in Guayaquil.  There have been different flavors for us on the bed each evening.  All I can say is...it's good, very good, 

 

[twangster]

Day Four - Punta Mangle and Punta Moreno

First we have a Galapagos sunrise in the Bolivar Canal Crossing.

I stepped out on my balcony early and discovered the makings of a new day.

Time to head up to deck eight forward.

Even in the darkness it was easy to make out the silhouette of a Frigatebird soaring above the ship.

I could see a mist in the hills of the islands all around us.

[twangster]

There were a number of Frigatebirds gliding above the ship.

There were dozens and dozens of Galapagos Shearwaters skimming the service.

Then the sun made an appearance.

 

[twangster]

A couple of the Expedition team guides were hosting an event in the observation lounge overlooking the bow of the ship.

Frigatebirds were doing Frigatebird things.

Including trying to steal a meal from another bird.

The pirates of the skies maintained a lookout above the ship.

[twangster]

Almost time for breakfast.  Time to head downstairs.

[twangster]

Today consists of zodiac tours morning and afternoon with a deep water snorkel in between.

When I first heard that we would only see the Galapagos today by zodiac without stepping foot on land I thought it would be some rocks and birds flying around.  I was so wrong.   

It's hard for me to whittle down the pictures from our first zodiac tour so here is a photo dump from the morning session.

Another group from our ship.

Galapagos Pelican

Sea Lions pups love attention and throughout this morning they are constantly trying to steal the show.  "Look at me!"

Sally LightFoot Crab

[twangster]

Look at those blue feet!

From a distance it's a lava rock.  A little closer and it's alive.

Marine Iguanas are everywhere.

The Flightless Cormorant.

"Over here!  I'm right here!  Look at me!"

[twangster]

Our guides points and says... Penguins!

There are two flightless birds in the Galapagos.  The Flightless Cormorant and the Galapagos Penguin.

The American Oystercatcher.

[WAAAYTOOO]

7 hours ago, twangster said:

 

 

 

 

The pirates of the skies maintained a lookout above the ship.

I think we know who the legitimate heirs are to the tetradactyl bloodline....

[twangster]

Our guide points out a Galapagos Hawk in the trees.

And then a Sea Turtle pops up for a breath.

Crab!

Back to the Hawk.

Wait... another Hawk arrived.

There is wildlife in every direction.

"Hey, over here!  Forget those birds!  I'm right here!  Look at me!

[twangster]

Check out those blue eyes.

 

 

[twangster]

I've got to take a break from posting the morning session.   An excursion is departing.   Back in a bit.  

[twangster]

Finishing up with a few last photos of our new best friends.

 

 

[twangster]

With that we had to say goodbye and head back to our Origin.

And to think I was anticipating a boring zodiac run down the coast see nothing but rocks and waves.  It was anything but that.  It was a pretty amazing excursion.

[twangster]

After a short break it was snorkel time.

Today the water was noticeably cooler being where we were on the Western end of the island chain and the Cromwell current that brings nutrient rich cold water up from the floor of the sea to the West.

Eventually we came along some Penguins on the shore.  

Despite our best wishes they stayed on the lava.

That's okay because apparently we had been ignoring the playful Sea Lion pups who swam in to steal the show.

I wasn't giving it enough attention so it made a point of swimming right up into my face several times.

 

[twangster]

The thermoclines were very strong and at times it was like someone smeared vaseline on the mask the water was so distorted.  This made picture taking a challenge.  Despite this it was a very enjoyable snorkel.

After 45 minutes it time to leave our snorkel buddy pups in the sea and return to the ship.

There is nothing like coming back to warm bathrobes...

... and hot Ecuadorian chocolate waiting for you.

[twangster]

After snorkeling it's lunch!

I have a little time before the afternoon zodiac tour so I enjoyed the magnificent views as we slowly sailed to our next stop.

Out here on the Western end of the island chain the volcanoes are not dormant.  Compared to the islands that have slid to the East these islands still look the part from their volcanic origin.

Given that we are at the Equator basically, note the shadow from table.  It's almost straight down. 

[twangster]

The afternoon zodiac tour was another boring event with nothing but sun and water.  NOT!!!

You be the judge of this excursion.

We start exploring the coast where we see cactus unlike we have seen so far at our other stops.  

The volcanic hills in distance are a constant backdrop for this tour.

It isn't long until the zodiac captains find us some wildlife to see.

Penguins!

And of course Marine Iguanas.

But let's face it, Penguins are a lot cuter.

The markings on their chest are unique to each individual like a fingerprint.

[twangster]

Beware I'm about to go overboard with Penguin pictures! 

How often will I get a chance like this to be so close to true wildlife.

 

[twangster]

Next we boat off to a sheltered lagoon in search of something different.

It doesn't take long until we find something other than Penguins and Iguanas. 

The Lava Heron.

But wait, there's more.

[twangster]

This is were good polarizing sunglasses come in handy as they take the glare off the surface of the water allowing you see more clearly below the surface.

The sheltered water of this lagoon was teaming with rays and even some small sharks.

The wingtips of the rays were occasionally breaking the surface.

It was pretty magical.

[twangster]

Our guide reported they found something else when they scouted the area earlier.

It was the nest of the Great Blue Heron.

The parents were off finding food leaving these little chicks on their own.

They were pretty well camouflaged. 

 

[twangster]

With a pretty great zodiac tour behind us it was time to head back to our Origin.

[twangster]

I sensed a magical sunset tonight so I headed up top to see what I could capture.

Tonight the ship was hosting a "Sunset Fun-Fest" at 5:30pm. 

The Captain arranged perfect weather and the Hotel Director had the Chef prepare some wonderful small bites to eat.

Have I mentioned the Silver Origin is a perfect ship for the Galapagos Islands?

 

 

[twangster]

Destination Talk followed by dinner.

Tomorrow is going to be giant!

 

[ChessE4]

What an awesome report and more awesome journey. Thanks for taking the world along on your cruise!

[twangster]

Day Five - Santa Cruz Highlands, Puerto Ayora 

Morning greets us with the sights and sounds of an active harbor.  After days of seeing pretty much only our own excursions zodiacs filled with our own Silver Origin guests suddenly we are back in the real world.

Puerto Ayora is a busy tourist port for many fly in guests to the Galapagos Islands.  

The Silver Origin zodiacs bring us to the pier in town

We remain paired with our guide who was on the zodiac with us on the ride in just as we have been at every stop up to today.  We walk as a group to waiting busses dedicated to the Silver Origin.

We ride through town and start climbing up to the highlands.  The town begins to fade and the vegetation changes several times as we climb higher to our destination.

After 30 minutes or so the bus makes a left turn onto a dirt road.

After another six or seven minutes we start to see the reason why we came here today.  The Giant Tortoise.  This one and several others have been wandering the countryside outside the bus window.