MisterBill99

Thanks, that is good to hear about being able to add the first night on your own and still get transportation included. Our friends are planning to fly out (also a very late flight) on the night that we return from the cruise and not use that last night, but that's their decision.

So I guess this is the current generic Galapagos thread. Back to flying in early; if I were to do that, how much does Celebrity charge for an extra night at the JWM? I can book it myself for under $200. And if I book on my own, presumably I'd need to make my own way to the hotel, rather than having Celebrity get us a cab. Friends we are sailing with (we booked the 10-night package) don't want to stick around in Quito after we get back and were thinking of booking a flight back that day, but I'm guessing that is not a good idea given that the charter flight may be late getting back (as a review mentioned happened to them on arrival at the ship). They were going to ask Celebrity to move the hotel night from the end to the start of the cruise, but that's not gonna happen.

OBC is pretty useless on the ship, other than for a massage. My TA agreed to pay me in a Celebrity gift card, which she will apply at final payment. A popular huge online agency was offering cash back and my TA matched that when I booked what seems like a lifetime ago. That said, TA OBC is usually refundable if you don't spend it, but I'd rather not find out with a sizable amount.

Not sure when you went, but the current Celebrity package has hotel stays on both ends.

Yes, I'd pay for the extra hotel night. It's not that expensive. And the flight doesn't arrive until almost midnight.

We're on Xpedition in October, booked the 10-day package, and I am about to make flight reservations. We always fly in at least one day early and assume that this is no different, especially given how few flights there are to Quito. Friends we are sailing with were pushing back on arriving a day early, but I think it's important. Is there a private tour we can do that first day which won't duplicate what Celebrity will take us to?

I'm booking this as well and noticed that zenhotels.com has excellent prices for the NH City Buenos Aires and NH Collection Buenos Aires Centro Historico when searching via Google Hotels, although the rates today are higher than they were last night although still a good deal. They both seem to get good ratings. When we had planned to do this cruise this year, I had found a great rate at the Hilton, but that's not cheap right now.