Jump to content

waterbug123

Members
  • Posts

    9,536
  • Joined

Recent Profile Visitors

The recent visitors block is disabled and is not being shown to other users.

waterbug123's Achievements

5,000+ Club

5,000+ Club (4/15)

  1. We are not at the Marriott, we are staying at the Hilton but about the same distance from the airport. Planning on arranging a car at 4am. It is what it is
  2. Thank you, I don't know why I was thinking it was more difficult than that!
  3. We booked round trip flights on Avianca for $371 per person. That was for "L" class tickets, which allowed us to change the flight if necessary, as well as choose seats in advance and have a bit more luggage allowance. Heading to Baltra, the flight leaves Quito at 7:51am and arrives in Baltra at 10:48am. I believe it makes a stop in Guayaquil on the way. It's going to mean a VERY early wake up that morning since we have to transfer to the airport, then get the tourist cards, do the luggage inspection thing, and then actually check in and get through security. Returning to Quito, it leaves Baltra at 11:33am and arrives in Quito at 4:15pm, and again, I believe it makes a stop in Guayaquil on the way.
  4. We have Diamox we plan to take for altitude sickness. We’ve been at altitude many times, snow skiing and gorilla trekking in Rwanda. It’s never bothered me but I’m taking the Diamox anyway, just in case. My husband has occasionally been affected so he’s taking it as well!
  5. Definitely taking reef safe sunscreen. We have individual packets of deet bug wipes. We used them in Africa and liked them so much better than spray. Ordered on Amazon I think
  6. Now I just need someone to explain how to add photos to a post. I think I figured it out once a long time ago but forget now
  7. I'll be happy to write up a review when we get back. I will likely post it here on the Celebrity boards, rather than in the general cruise review section, so that it can be seen easily by anyone booking Celebrity Galapagos. We are not spending any pre-cruise time in Baltra, but your itinerary looks good to me. We are spending our pre-cruise time in Quito. Our schedule is: 4/30- 4 of us arrive late evening 5/1`- the 4 plan to take the Teleferico cable car, and have also booked a walking street art tour in the late afternoon. Just seemed like something different and interesting, and includes a drink or two and snack. The other 6 arrive late than evening (we're a group of 10 friends). I'm searching for places with good empanadas for dinner! 🙂 5/2- all 10 have a walking food tour at 11 5/3- 6 of us have booked an all day birding trip to the Mindo Cloud Forest with a private guide including hotel pickup/dropoff; not sure what the other 4 will do 5/4- booked our own flights on Avianca to Baltra, and board the ship same day
  8. Thank you so much! I'm not going to worry about our luggage; it will just go wherever it goes. Appreciate all the other info as well. We got full body dive skins to wear under the wet suits so we don't have to worry as much about sunscreen while snorkeling. You mentioned beer, wine and soda, but there are cocktails available too, correct? A few in our group are wondering how well stocked the bar is; I'm guessing it may be somewhat minimal in selection due to the small sie of the boat. ???
  9. Thank you so much, that is reassuring to hear! As I said, I called quite a while back with a few questions, and have vague recollections of the conversation, but for the life of me I can't find the notes I took during the call.
  10. I wouldn't worry about check-in; I don't think anyone is going to stop you and tell you your teens can't check in with you. We've sailed in The Retreat and were able to have non-retreat guests dine with us at Luminae on a space-available basis, which usually wasn't an issue, they just had to pay a cover charge. As for the Retreat lounge/sundeck, I understand wanting your teens to join you, but please let that go. If everyone was allowed to bring non-Retreat guests in, it would be crowded and unfair to the other Retreat guests. Either stop by without your kids for a brief drink or go elsewhere on the ship. I know that's not the answer you want to hear, since you and your partner are entitled to access, but if you're booking so late that you can't book two cabins in the same category, that's just a trade-off you might have to accept.
  11. We will be on Xploration in a few weeks and wonder if you can answer a few questions- 1. I recall reading somewhere that regular luggage doesn't fit under the bed on Xploration, but in pictures it looks like it would. Did you have normal luggage space under the beds? 2. How was the food? 3. We did not purchase air through Celebrity and have made our own flight reservations on Avianca from Quito to Baltra. I believe Celebrity told us at one point that there would still be a Celebrity rep to meet us at the airport in Baltra and take us to the ship. I know you booked air through Celebrity but do you recall if, when you arrived at Baltra airport, the Celebrity rep was also greeting pax who booked independently? We do plan to confirm with them soon, just hoping someone who has been there recently can confirm. 4. Is there anything else about Xploration that surprised you, good or bad, or that you think would be worth noting? Thanks so much! We leave for Quito 4/30 and sail 5/4 and can't wait!
  12. another option, if the hotel doesn't operate its own shuttle- ask if they can arrange a cab for you in advance. Hotels usually have a reliable cab service that they call, which relies on being dependable to continue serving that hotel's guests.
  13. Well I guess I'm glad we are booked on Xploration this May, before she's taken out of service if that is indeed true. We booked with a group of friends specifically because we loved the idea of such a small, intimate sailing. We will be 10 of the 16 passengers so it's going to feel very much like a private charter!
×
×
  • Create New...