Viking Galapagos

[eddieg07410]

I just read that Viking is now offering a Galapagos extension. I just read this as I was just about given up on touring the Galapagos. I contacted Celebrity and they advised me that because of my slight balance issues I would have difficulty entering and exiting the inflatable boats and that staff would not be available to help. I was wondering if this true for the Viking Galapagos tour, as usually Viking staff is very helpful with issues like this.

[Peregrina651]

Where did you read this? Has this been posted on the Viking website yet? If so, please post a link to the description of the extension.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Cienfuegos]

My wife and I took the Linblad /National Geographic tour of the Galapagos several years ago.  Many islands are accessible by Zodiac boats, while others are accessible by larger launches pulling up to docks.  Some of the Zodiac islands require you to sit on the side gunwale of the beached boat, swing your butt over the side, and drop down a few feet to the sand. The guides had a small step-up box for people to enter the boat at the end of the island adventure. It was ungainly, but effective.

 

My wife has some mobility issues, and chose not to climb a steep stone staircase on one island.  Since she was already in the Zodiac, she, two other reluctant climbers and the boat guide took a cruise around the island.  My wife also declined several of the hikes across uneven, razor sharp, rocky terrain.

 

The menu of islands offered on cruises may vary each year. On our cruise, one island was opened for the first time in 12 years. Several bird enthusiasts booked the cruise for exactly that reason, and arranged early access to be there at dawn.

 

I don't know the current regulations for access to the many islands. But, I would consider some of the island hikes to be in the moderately strenuous category. And, it gets hot. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

 

[Heidi13]

2 hours ago, Peregrina651 said:

Where did you read this? Has this been posted on the Viking website yet? If so, please post a link to the description of the extension.

 

I haven't seen any details yet, but they did mention a Galapagos tour on Viking TV the week they presented the Octantis re-positioning cruise back to Ushuaia.

[tcuprof]

14 hours ago, eddieg07410 said:

I just read that Viking is now offering a Galapagos extension. I just read this as I was just about given up on touring the Galapagos. I contacted Celebrity and they advised me that because of my slight balance issues I would have difficulty entering and exiting the inflatable boats and that staff would not be available to help. I was wondering if this true for the Viking Galapagos tour, as usually Viking staff is very helpful with issues like this.

 That's surprising that Celebrity says staff would not be available to help. We cruised on the Celebrity Flora and I can't imagine anyone with minor balance or mobility issues would have a problem. Their specially designed zodiacs (which they call tenders) are entered and exited via a built-in stair system. There was NO sitting on or exiting from the side of the boat. Also, staff were ALWAYS there to assist everyone getting on or off. If we were taking another Galapagos trip, I would absolutely choose the Celebrity Flora. 

[Messybill]

We are doing the Chilean Fjord Cruise from Santiago to Buenos Aires in February, 2026.  We have also chosen to do the Galapagos (PRE) extension.   This looks a like wonderful opportunity and we are very much looking forward to it.

 

Can anyone who has done this extension comment on the logistics? (what airlines and hotels are used, but most importantly, how the last day of the extension plays out).

 

It seems that on the last day, we will be travelling from the Guayaquil hotel after breakfast to the airport and thence to Santiago (flight time 4.5 hrs - the only scheduled nonstop arrives in Santiago at 9:30pm), but wait there’s more! … the 2 hour bus transfer to the ship.  It seems that with waits for customs, luggage, etc., we won’t get aboard until 1 or 2 am, which tends to make the following day a sad echo of what it might have been.

Edited September 3 by Messybill

[Messybill]

21 minutes ago, Messybill said:

We are doing the Chilean Fjord Cruise from Santiago to Buenos Aires in February, 2026.  We have also chosen to do the Galapagos (PRE) extension.   This looks a like wonderful opportunity and we are very much looking forward to it.

 

Can anyone who has done this extension comment on the logistics? (what airlines and hotels are used, but most importantly, how the last day of the extension plays out).

 

It seems that on the last day, we will be travelling from the Guayaquil hotel after breakfast to the airport and thence to Santiago (flight time 4.5 hrs - the only scheduled nonstop arrives in Santiago at 9:30pm), but wait there’s more! … the 2 hour bus transfer to the ship.  It seems that with waits for customs, luggage, etc., we won’t get aboard until 1 or 2 am, which tends to make the following day a sad echo of what it might have been.

Actually the flight is closer to 5 hours elapsed  plus a 2 hour timezone change.

[AZ_Tim]

Viking is offering an overland excursion on their expedition cruises that go up or down the west coast of South America on the repositioning cruises at the beginning or end of the Antarctic cruising season. I found the Galapagos Overland excursion listed on the day for Lima, Peru. It is a 4 day excursion. On the northbound trip, you leave the ship in Lima and rejoin it in Manta, Ecuador. It would be the other way around on the southbound itinerary.

 

[Messybill]

I should have specified we are on the Ocean Cruise (Viking Jupiter - Santiago to BA).

 

The extension starts in Quito and ends at the ship in Valparaiso.

Edited September 3 by Messybill

[May B]

On 9/5/2022 at 2:40 AM, eddieg07410 said:

I just read that Viking is now offering a Galapagos extension. I just read this as I was just about given up on touring the Galapagos. I contacted Celebrity and they advised me that because of my slight balance issues I would have difficulty entering and exiting the inflatable boats and that staff would not be available to help. I was wondering if this true for the Viking Galapagos tour, as usually Viking staff is very helpful with issues like this.

 

On 9/5/2022 at 5:32 PM, tcuprof said:

 That's surprising that Celebrity says staff would not be available to help. We cruised on the Celebrity Flora and I can't imagine anyone with minor balance or mobility issues would have a problem. Their specially designed zodiacs (which they call tenders) are entered and exited via a built-in stair system. There was NO sitting on or exiting from the side of the boat. Also, staff were ALWAYS there to assist everyone getting on or off. If we were taking another Galapagos trip, I would absolutely choose the Celebrity Flora. 

I would echo tcuprof, and in fact, the crew absolutely works very hard to be sure every guest gets strong assistance getting into and out of the zodiacs, if my experience ten years ago is still being maintained.

 

There is a dedicated Galapagos reservations desk for Celebrity, designed specifically, I believe, to avoid misinformation similar to what you received, eddieg07410 (unless my experience from ten years ago has not been maintained).

 

I’m sorry I can’t give any Viking experience comments, but Celebrity’s experience was so outstanding, I didn’t want to leave without commenting. Honestly, I would expect Viking to match Celebrity’s wonderful experience.

Edited September 3 by May B

[Famsw]

Anyone know the cost of the Viking overland Galapagos excursion?  We're on the longitudinal  spring 2026 cruise so too far ahead to see yet, but perhaps someone taking the fall 2024 longitudinal cruise has seen the pricing?  

[OneSixtyToOne]

1 hour ago, Famsw said:

Anyone know the cost of the Viking overland Galapagos excursion?  We're on the longitudinal  spring 2026 cruise so too far ahead to see yet, but perhaps someone taking the fall 2024 longitudinal cruise has seen the pricing?  

If you do a dummy booking, extension prices are displayed. For 2025 it’s $6,999 pp. Not sure if the excursion is the same number of days but you can do a per day calculation for a ballpark price.

 

Edited September 4 by OneSixtyToOne

[LindaS272]

2 hours ago, Famsw said:

Anyone know the cost of the Viking overland Galapagos excursion?  We're on the longitudinal  spring 2026 cruise so too far ahead to see yet, but perhaps someone taking the fall 2024 longitudinal cruise has seen the pricing?  

If you just scroll down on the itinerary page of the cruise you want, all the extensions are listed there with prices.

[OneSixtyToOne]

55 minutes ago, LindaS272 said:

If you just scroll down on the itinerary page of the cruise you want, all the extensions are listed there with prices.

In this case it’s an excursion not an extension. They are on a longitudinal cruise with a multi-day excursion offered in the middle of the cruise.

[LindaS272]

Right. But one doesn’t need to do a dummy booking to see the extension prices.