Silver Galapagos Review

4.0 / 5.0
0 reviews

Terrific cruise! Snorkeling with sea lions and penguins is amazing!

Review for South America Cruise on Silver Galapagos
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OtterDaughter
2-5 Cruises • Age 60s

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Sail Date: Apr 2018
Cabin: Explorer Suite

I cannot say enough great things about this cruise! This was a once-in-a-lifetime, bucket-list trip for us. As there are so many other places in the world to see, we do not intend a repeat visit, but if we were to do so, we would definitely choose Silversea. Once you are on the ship, all food, drink, and excursions are included: no hidden fees. The guests are all pleasant and respectful, and it was a blast getting to know many of them over the course of the week. The dozen or so teens and tweens on the ship did not become overtly restless and rambunctious until the last day.

This is an itinerary centered on moderately vigorous physical activity, often early in the morning to avoid the equatorial heat. There are excursions each morning, then back to the ship for lunch, then another late each afternoon. There are no repeats. This is NOT a leisure cruise with froofy drinks beside a pool, and huge buffets at every meal. There are 100 passengers, all wearing hiking clothes, wide-brimmed hats with or without neck capes, or bathing suits and wetsuits (the latter provided by the ship in all manner of different sizes) during the daytime. Hat is absolutely necessary, but the restraint cord for one's glasses, heavily stressed in the materials received ahead of time, were not. It was my first time wearing long hiking trousers in hot weather, and I was astonished how comfortable they actually were: saved a LOT of sunscreen! Would definitely recommend.

Dinner garb is primarily golf shirts, long trousers, and TopSiders for men, although a few did wear Madras shirts, dress shirts and/or blazer. Women could wear similar, or a dressier flowered top-plus-skirt, or sundress. You definitely do need a light cover-up if dining at the outdoor grille, or enjoying a cocktail in the bar, as the latter is so air-conditioned as to be freezing cold. Except for a few celebrating birthdays or anniversaries, there was no "dressing up." Dinner with the crew on the next-to-last night was wonderful: we learned tons from the crewmember at our table, the Chief Engineer.

Cabin Review

Explorer Suite

Cabin ES

Agree with others who have already posted about this cruise:

- This deck is on same level as the Explorer Lounge gathering room, from which all daily excursions leave, and the return doors to the ship after excursions. It is VERY convenient!

- "Butlers" Jamil and Evan kept things spiffy, but their roles on this ship are no different from cabin stewards on any other cruise we have been on, so not sure why "butler" is used. They even kept us stocked with extras of our favorite snacks.

- There are 3 windows starting at chest height, but they are streaked with salt on the outside, there is a broad overhang from the deck above, and there are folks walking around the perimeter deck, so they are useful for light but not any view. We kept our gauzy outer drapes closed much of the time.

- This cabin is right next to an electric winch to let down the landing stairs. It can be quite noisy, although is never used at night.

- Closets are generous, with large drawer beneath.

- Bathroom is minute, although the nice shower is plenty large enough. I found it actually easiest to wash my hands and face while seated on the WC.

- There is a single clothesline in the shower to dry bathing suits and laundry. Need more!

- At anchor, the ship rolls gently but steadily side-to-side, with a periodicity of 5 seconds. You must close the doors to the safe, the closet, and the bathroom tightly, or they bang loudly every 5 seconds. Once underway, there is no substantive motion issue.

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