Celebrity Flora| Galapagos Cruise

The glass-bottom Zodiac is one of Celebrity Flora’s most distinctive features in the Galápagos. While other vessels use standard inflatable Zodiacs for wet and dry landings, Celebrity Flora’s Zodiacs have a transparent bottom. This allows passengers to spot underwater wildlife such as sea lions, rays, fish, and the occasional turtle during the short ride to shore, adding another opportunity to see what’s beneath the surface for a trip centered on wildlife.

Another advantage is that Celebrity Flora was designed specifically for Galápagos operations and launched in 2019, rather than being converted from another type of vessel. Its hull, deck layout, and expedition tenders were made for the Galápagos, including GNPA-licensed itineraries, shallow anchorages, and Zodiac transfers. Passengers notice this in how the ship handles landings and expeditions.

It’s also worth being clear about what Celebrity Flora does not offer. With 100 passengers, the legal limit set by the Galápagos National Park Authority, it operates at the largest permitted number. Transfers to visitor sites therefore involve several Zodiac trips, with passengers going ashore in groups, rather than the near-simultaneous trips that are possible on smaller 20- or 40-passenger vessels. The wildlife is the same, but the experience and pacing are different. Travelers who value small-group access should weigh that against the ship’s facilities and price.

Celebrity Flora also does not have access to visitor sites that other licensed vessels cannot reach. The GNPA manages permitted visitor sites through a rotation system. Luxury, first-class, and economy vessels visit the same sites on regulated schedules.

Celebrity Flora operates two 7-day Galápagos itineraries year-round, departing every Saturday from Baltra Island (GPS), with flights from Guayaquil or Quito.

Route A — Northern and Central Islands

This route covers the northern and central islands. Key sites normally include Genovesa (Tower Island), known for its seabird colonies, including the largest red-footed booby nesting site in the archipelago, Fernandina, western Isabela, and the Santa Cruz highlands. The exact sites can change from week to week based on the GNPA’s schedule. 

Route B — Western and Central Islands

This route emphasizes the western islands, including Fernandina and the western coast of Isabela, with stops such as Tagus Cove and Urbina Bay. It also includes central sites such as Santiago, Bartolomé, and North Seymour. These western sites are known for Galápagos penguins, flightless cormorants, Fernandina’s large marine iguana colonies, and Isabela’s dramatic volcanic landscapes.

Both routes follow the GNPA rotation system. The exact sites visited each week are confirmed closer to departure and may be changed by park rangers for wildlife protection or weather. 

Celebrity Flora operates under Celebrity Cruises’ Galápagos Sustainability Policy, which goes beyond the baseline GNPA requirements for licensed Galápagos vessels. Key elements of the programme include:

• Solar panels — help reduce fuel use while the ship is anchored
• Onboard water purification — avoids the need for single-use plastic water bottles
• Hull biofouling management — helps reduce the risk of transferring invasive species between islands
• Wildlife-distance training — staff receive training on the GNPA’s 2-meter minimum distance rule
• Waste management — waste is returned to the mainland for processing rather than disposed of overboard

Travelers should also be aware that “sustainable expedition” is used broadly across the Galápagos, including by vessels that mainly meet the GNPA’s minimum requirements. Celebrity Flora’s sustainability program is more significant than the baseline. However, smaller vessels can have a lower environmental footprint simply because they carry fewer passengers.