Celebrity Flora – Galapagos Cruise Blog – Day 3 – Floreana Island
It was the third day of our cruise on board Celebrity Flora, and the 5th day on the cruise tour overall. Yesterday far exceeded my expectations, but what would today have in store? With three excursions booked today, it would prove to be a jam-packed but memorable day.
Celebrity Flora Day 3 Overview
- Celebrity Flora Day 3 Schedule
- Breakfast in Seaside Restaurant
- Excursion 1: Long Walk at Punta Cormorant
- Excursion 2: Advanced Deep-Water Snorkel at Champion Island
- Italian Buffet Lunch
- Excursion 3: Kayak and Beach Walk at Post Office Bay-
- Back on Flora: Life at Sea Panel and Wine & Cheese Gathering
- Dinner in Seaside Restaurant
Celebrity Flora Day 3 Schedule
Breakfast in Seaside Restaurant
Days start early on Flora if you want to get the first excursions in. So I was up at 7 AM, just after the sun rose. Thankfully, the amazing blackout curtains blocked it out, so I didn’t wake up until my alarm went off. I slept slightly better than the previous night, but I was still surprised by how loud the cabin was, with knocking and creaking.
I went down to Seaside Restaurant for breakfast and got a table by a large porthole window to take in the view. It was a gorgeous day, with the sun glistening off the water and pouring into the room.
The breakfast buffet here was largely the same as the day before, with a few swaps. Today, there were banana pancakes instead of regular ones, along with some new fruits and pastries. The freshly made juice of the day was tree tomato juice, which I really enjoyed. Tree tomato is the local name for tamarillo, a smallish fruit that has a sweet and tart taste, kind of like if you combined a regular tomato, guava, and passionfruit.
The dining room was maybe half full at this point, with no lines and plenty of open tables. It was a far cry from a port day that you’d experience on a normal cruise ship. I could get used to vacationing like this.
Excursion 1: Long Walk at Punta Cormorant
Today, we were exploring Floreana Island. The first excursion we picked for the day was “Option 1: Long Walk and Optional Swim/Beach Snorkel.” This included a walk across the island, followed by time to swim or do a beach snorkel near some cliffs. If you were doing the Advanced deep-water snorkel afterward, you couldn’t do the beach snorkel because there wouldn’t be enough time.
Preparing for the Excursion
We finished breakfast and walked across the hall to the Discovery Lounge around 7:45 AM for our 8 AM excursion. This one seemed to be the most popular, with at least half the ship signing up for the Long Walk option. During the briefing, Gio, the expedition director, explained that it wasn’t as strenuous as the previous day’s excursion, with fewer hills and slippery surfaces.
We went up to a naturalist and checked in, and they assigned us to the first tender. Then we sat down at a table and waited for 8 AM, when they promptly started loading the tenders. I was consistently impressed with how smoothly the tender process went for a ship of 100 people. In my research beforehand, I kept seeing people recommend the smaller ships for the Galapagos because you supposedly spend more time waiting around on larger ships, but I almost never felt that at all.
Tendering to Punta Cormorant Beach
They called Tender 1, and we headed down to the Marina to put on our life jackets and board the tender. It felt like I was traveling light today. Since this wasn’t a very strenuous walk, and we weren’t snorkeling from the shore, I just brought the Celebrity backpack they gave us to hold my sun hat and water bottle. I could have easily skipped it altogether.
The tender bounced across the water, and the driver threw it into high gear and landed us on shore. This excursion was a “wet landing,” which meant there was no dock. The tender would end up on the beach, and you’d have to get out and walk through maybe 6 to 8 inches of water.
Because it was a wet landing with hiking, I wore my aqua sandals, knockoff versions of the popular TEVA sandals that people recommended (see them here on Amazon). They were fine in the water and drained quickly, but they were also sturdy with a solid toe for hiking. I much preferred these to flip-flops and changing on the beach, or thin water shoes that would be awful for hiking because you’d feel every rock.
Walk Across the Island to the Beach
The guide took our life vests, and we started walking across the island. Floreana feels completely different from the island we were at yesterday. This landscape had many more trees and shrubs.
Even Floreana itself was diverse. We started on a beach covered in “green sand,” which is relatively rare in the world. The color comes from olivine, an olive-green mineral. When the island was formed through volcanic eruptions, it crystallized into this mineral, and erosion eventually turned it into the coarse, greenish sand covering the beach.
This excursion was the first time I wished they grouped people by skill level a bit better. One woman in our group had trouble walking, so she moved a bit slower and struggled. Since the rest of the group was more mobile, she missed explanations from the naturalist while trying to catch up. If she had been in a group that moved a bit slower, it wouldn’t have been as much of a problem.
Tip: Groups for excursions are assigned mostly by the time you check in. If you know you like to travel with certain people, or would prefer not to be in a group with certain others, pay attention to who is checking in when. While everyone on the cruise was amazing, some were more enjoyable to be on excursions with than others.
Encounter with a Sea Turtle
We arrived at the second beach, covered in much more typical fine, white sand. This is a spot where sea turtles come and lay their eggs. And we were in luck. Just as we turned the corner, a large sea turtle was slowly making its way from the dunes back to the ocean.
I never realized how physically draining that must be for these animals. Sea turtles have very little mobility on land, and it takes so much energy for them to push themselves with their flippers up and down the beach. You could tell the turtle was tired, taking breaks after every few scoots down toward the water.
We approached carefully, staying about 15 feet away, and the whole group watched in complete silence. It was amazing to see this magnificent creature slowly wade into the surf before disappearing completely. It’s something I never could have expected to see, and I don’t think I would have guessed how awe-inspiring and impactful it would be for me.
Flamingos
We headed back along the hiking path to where we came from, then just past it to a brackish pond. Here, depending on the time of year, you could usually see flamingos feeding on the brine shrimp living in the muddy water.
Most of the flamingos in the water were American, but our guide also noticed some Chilean flamingos as well, noticeably different in their color, at least to him. The flamingos were on the far side of the pond, so they were a bit far away, although still closer than you’d probably see them at most zoos.
Blue-Footed Booby
As we walked back to shore, a blue-footed booby sat high on a dune on the beach. Going to the Galapagos, I knew we were likely to see them, but oddly, it wasn’t the top thing I was interested in. “It’s just a bird,” I thought. But seeing one in person, with those aqua-colored feet against the beach, was something totally different. I’d never seen a creature like that. It felt almost like it was out of a CGI movie.
Like all the other animals we encountered, the bird was completely indifferent to us. It was neither afraid nor excited to see us because these animals are never harmed or fed by humans. It stretched its neck and almost seemed to pose for pictures.
Back to Flora
After about 2.5 miles and nearly 2 hours of walking, we got our life jackets back on and headed back to Celebrity Flora.
Back on board, we had to scrub our sandals because the green sand and large pebbles got stuck in the treads.
Our next excursion was at 10:30 AM, so we had about 30 minutes to grab our things, change into our bathing suits and wetsuits, and meet back in the Discovery Lounge.
Tip: Celebrity provides reef-safe sunscreen that was actually quite nice. If you run out, just ask your attendant for some more.
Excursion 2: Advanced Deep-Water Snorkel at Champion Island
At 10:15, we showed up at the lounge, checked in, and got our tender. This excursion had 4 different tenders, so at least 30 people were doing it. Because it was an “advanced” snorkel, groups were closer to 10 people or fewer so the naturalist could keep track of everyone.
We grabbed the snorkel bags already hanging up by cabin number, grabbed a towel, and jumped into the boat.
For this snorkel, we were again with naturalist Ivon. He told us the ride to Champion Island, where we’d be snorkeling, was a 25-minute tender ride each way.
The water was rougher today, so boarding the tender was an experience. The tender would literally bounce up and down at least a foot and a half as you tried to board it. But the staff knew what they were doing. They’d be right at the stairs, and each time the Zodiac’s stairs approached the deck of Flora, they’d give you the signal to go so you could quickly make the jump onto it.
The tender pulled away, and we quickly made our way over to the snorkel area. The landscape was beautiful, with massive islands rising out of the pristine blue waters. It felt like a scene out of Jurassic Park, the beginning parts when you’re amazed by nature, not the end when dinosaurs terrorize you.
This was an “advanced” snorkel because we’d be dropping in the middle of the water. There was no shore or land. The currents were also a bit strong, not enough to suck you out to sea, but enough to make swimming a bit more difficult.
We arrived at the snorkel spot, and Ivon gave us our instructions. We’d go as one group and stay together the whole time. We’d swim along the shore of Champion Island, and then the tender would pick us up at the end. Ivon wore a yellow face mask, which made it easy to spot him among everyone else in the group. The driver would be alongside us in the tender in case anyone needed help.
We suited up and jumped into the water one by one. It was brisk, but not overly cold thanks to El Niño, which made the water 3 to 4 degrees warmer than usual for this time of year.
The water was so much clearer than the previous day, and the bright sun made it easier to see everything. I saw so many more fish here than the day before. You’d see massive schools of fish swimming all around you.
Swimming along the island’s rocks, we saw sea lions relaxing on the rocks and swimming around. Ivon had his own GoPro and was diving deep to get good pictures of the fish and some turtles. There was so much wildlife here, and it felt completely different doing it in deep water where you couldn’t touch the bottom.
Tip: At the end of the cruise, you get a USB drive and download all the photos and videos the naturalists take. The video is one large compiled video of the whole trip, though, so if you want more detailed videos, consider bringing your own GoPro. This entry-level model worked great for me. (See on Amazon)
As we got to the end of the snorkeling stretch, the tender pulled up, and we all loaded back in and headed back to the ship.
Italian Buffet Lunch
Back on board, the staff welcomed us again. We washed and hung up our wetsuits and snorkeling equipment and headed back to the cabin. It was time for the second shower of the day before heading to lunch.
The buffet lunch in the dining room today was Italian fare: pasta, pizza, caprese salads, etc. It was pretty decent, and I would say that the pizza was actually better than what’s served on normal Celebrity ships, which I don’t care for at all.
If you didn’t like Italian food, though, there weren’t many other options in the dining room. So after I had some pasta and a slice of pizza, we headed up to Ocean Grill for something different. This time, I tried the quesadilla, which was delicious and jam-packed with flavorful chicken pieces and gooey, melted cheese.
The weather was beautiful, and I really enjoyed eating al fresco out here, getting the fresh ocean breeze while staying protected from the sun. I do wish this area was self-service rather than table service, just to speed it up a bit. It could get a bit crowded, so it could take some time to get the food. But then again, why did I need to eat faster? I had nowhere else to be before our excursion in 2 hours.
Excursion 3: Kayak and Beach Walk at Post Office Bay
After lunch, we had a couple of hours to relax before heading back out for another excursion. We chose the Kayak and Beach Walk.
Kayaking in Post Office Bay
We boarded the tender and headed back out into the blue waters. Kayaks were in high demand for this sailing, so much so that they asked anyone who kayaked the previous day to wait until everyone else signed up so everyone had a chance. They eventually accommodated everyone, though, by splitting into two kayak groups.
After about 10 minutes of speeding away from Flora, we arrived near some small islands in the water. Another Zodiac pulled up alongside us, towing the kayaks behind it. The kayaks all held two people, so group by group, we slid out of the tender and into the kayaks. It was harder than I thought, but I was impressed that no one fell in. It looked like everyone wore swimsuits anyway, just in case.
I’d only kayaked once before at a resort, so it took a bit to get our bearings, but surprisingly, staying balanced wasn’t hard at all. For the most part, navigating was fine too. We headed out as a group, following our naturalist along the islands.
The water was crystal clear and calm. As we paddled along, he’d point out sea turtles swimming underneath us or birds landing on nearby islands.
Tip: Since most phones now are splashproof, I didn’t worry about a phone bag for this excursion. The photos through phone bags are always cloudy, and I wanted high-quality pictures. Instead, I bought this tether that slides into the phone case and keeps it attached to you. I used it any time I was in a tender so I could take photos without worrying about my phone flying out of my hands if we hit a bump.
At one point, a sea lion playfully swam beside us. We were next to a grandmother and her 12-year-old niece, and their expressions at seeing this playful animal right next to them were priceless.
After about 20 minutes or so of kayaking, we climbed back into the tender and headed to the island. It really was a lot of fun, and not a tough workout at all.
Beach Walk and Post Office
Post Office Bay was also a wet landing, so I wore my aquatic hiking sandals again. The sand here was fine white sand again, and the landscape was overgrown with trees and bushes.
We made our way to a makeshift “Post Office” here in the Galapagos. Apparently, in old times, pirates in the area put a box here to use as a “post office,” leaving messages and packages for others to pick up and take with them.
Today, the tradition continues, though it uses a newer mailbox next to the old one. Visiting tourists can stop here and leave a postcard to be delivered by someone else. Celebrity left postcards in all our cabins the night before, in case we wanted to leave one.
The naturalist gathered all our cards and put them in a Ziploc baggie in the mailbox. Then the group started going through the postcards that were already there to see if there were any we wanted to deliver. Tradition usually says you hand-deliver them, not take them back to the U.S. and stamp them.
The group asked everyone which states they lived in and then started going through the postcards and picking ones that were close by.
We ended up taking a postcard that was going to a town about 45 minutes from us. Luckily, we had friends in that area, so we figured we’d visit them at some point and could drop it off. A few weeks later, we drove through that area, so we dropped it off.
To my surprise, the card we left was delivered about 5 weeks later. I guess I didn’t think people would actually go out of their way to deliver one, and I wondered how many people from New Jersey even visit this mailbox. Apparently, it’s more than I thought.
Tip: Everyone said the post office could be “buggy.” It might depend on the time of year. On this August sailing, one biting bug kept going after one woman, but everyone else seemed fine. I bought two whole boxes of bug spray wipes for this trip, but only needed them on the last day.
Once we were done, we headed back to the tender to get back to the ship. The walk here wasn’t really scenic. The whole point was to visit this Post Office. It was a short walk, less than 0.1 miles each way and about 10 minutes back and forth.
Back on Flora: Life at Sea Panel and Wine & Cheese Gathering
We arrived back on board Flora around 6 PM. They were already setting up a wine and cheese gathering for 6:30, but instead, I opted for a shower to get all the sunscreen and salt off of me, the third shower of the day.
At 6:45 in the Discovery Lounge, they held a Q&A about life on board Flora, which is quite different from life on other large cruise ships. Most of the staff on the ship were from Ecuador, and a good portion of them were from the islands themselves. It added a different dimension to the trip because they were sharing their culture and country directly with us. There was much more passion behind everything than on a Celebrity cruise somewhere like Norway, where almost no one working on the ship may have ever been before.
Because the ship is based in Ecuador, they’re subject to Ecuadorian labor laws, so it works quite a bit differently from other Celebrity ships. For example, the contract lengths are much shorter than on ocean cruises. A normal Celebrity ship has contract lengths of 4 to 6 months. On Flora, it was more flexible. The executive chef worked 8 weeks on and then 8-9 weeks off. His staff had 6 weeks on and 3 weeks off. It’s probably why you didn’t see any staff looking burned out like you might on other ships.
They also shared that the team of expert naturalists on board aren’t officially Celebrity staff, but rather work for the Galapagos National Park Service. However, naturalist Javier had worked on Celebrity ships since 2009. They get to choose their schedules, usually 4 weeks on and then 2 or 3 weeks off, but they have some flexibility. They’re also trained extensively. Most of the naturalists had degrees in ecotourism. In addition, they have to go through a dedicated Galapagos course and then 6 months of training to get certified to work for the National Park Service. English was also mandatory.
Dinner in Seaside Restaurant
Tonight, Seaside Restaurant had a new set of dishes. I wasn’t feeling great this evening, so I skipped dinner, but here were the dishes available.
Day 3 Wrap-Up
I didn’t know how anything could top my experience from the day before, but Day 3 at least matched it.
I was just so surprised by how much nature we got to witness right in front of my eyes. Playful sea lions, sea turtles returning to sea, blue-footed boobies posing. It was amazing.
And it was all so varied. We had 3 excursions, and each was completely different. Some were a bit physically demanding, some more intellectual, some scenic. It was something new each time.
Follow Along on Our Galapagos Adventures
- Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Pre-Cruise - Quito
- Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 0 - Quito
- Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 1 - Baltra
- Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 2 - Española Island
- Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 3 - Floreana Island (coming soon)
- Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 4 - Isabela Island (coming soon)
- Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 5 - Fernandina and Isabela Islands (coming soon)
- Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 6 - South Plaza and Santa Cruz Islands (coming soon)
- Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 7 - Santa Cruz Island (coming soon)
- Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 8 - Baltra and Disembarkation (coming soon)
- Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 9 - Quito and Home (coming soon)
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