Silver Origin

Quite frankly, everything was outstanding from the accommodations (every room is quite nice and if your budget allows, SUPER nice (not ours). The food was extraordinary with something like 75% coming from the Galapagos - if you like to try different cuisine, this is the place. The lectures contributed greatly to the overall experience and appreciating the Galapagos - geology, culture, currents, as well as the flora and fauna. Lectures had amazing graphics to support the information provided by the naturalists. ALL crew and naturalists are from Ecuador contributing to the immersion into the Ecuadorian life. AND you get what is probably similar to other cruises in the Galapagos - getting unbelievably close to the animals. Some of the trails are challenging, so you need to be in somewhat good condition (note that we are in our mid-70s). We did minimal snorkeling, but you also get up close and personal with the fish and if fortunate, penguins and sea lions. An advantage of this ship of up to 100 (most allowed in the Galapagos), is that you will be alone in the venue (island) and the naturalists can control the excursions so that you are all alone with your group. We had zero issues with doing any excursion we chose. We hired a tour guide for the day before the cruise and visited the equator, the Quito Botanical Garden, lunch, and a few hours in Old Town - well worth it. We did not go on the City Tour with Silversea, so can't comment on that. The Marriott had a great breakfast buffet and the "pub grub" in the bar was excellent at reasonable price. They have a sushi option as part of this experience. I didn't rate entertainment below as there is none - NOT an issue. Sorry, I had to rate entertainment, since there was not a N/A option, I selected 5 just to be able to submit the review, but there was none unless you want to consider the lectures as entertainment???

Our expedition on the Silver Origin to the Galapagos was the trip of a lifetime. We felt privileged to be able to experience all that the islands had to offer - the wildlife, the terrain, the ocean - all breathtaking. The expedition team on the Silver Origin is outstanding. We are very active seniors, and there was never a dull moment. The dining options were perfect and the food was exquisite, with different options for every palate. The service aboard the ship was above and beyond anything we have ever experienced. We would highly recommend this excursion.

Our expedition to the Galapagos aboard the Silver Origin was an experience we will never forget. The daily expeditions were exciting and educational as well as expertly coordinated. Our cabin was perfectly appointed and we were always comfortable thanks to our outstanding butler Danny. Every need was attended to in the most accommodating way. The dining was superb with many options to choose from, everything expertly prepared. We especially enjoyed The Grill at lunch time. There were lectures offered daily, as well as a pre-dinner recap of the day and a preview of the day to come. In our opinion, there is no other way to visit the Galapagos. We plan to return and will cruise with Silversea again.

must do and see vacation on an amazing ship

84 pax and 91 staff. Every need was anticipated and met.

Pros 1. Took the stress out of traveling 2. Very knowledgable, friendly & knew where to go to see the best of that exploration. 3. Butlers, interaction with the head chef are a couple of examples. Cons After the nightly debrief they all but escort you from the lounge to dinner all at once. We prefer relaxing and having a later dinner. Bar service all but shuts down during dinner and everything is a ghost town except the restaurant. It would be nice to have more fun and entertaining activities. Lectures were interesting but that's pretty much all they offered for the 7 days. Overall: The pros way outweighed the cons. It was an outstanding vacation. Fun, memorable and the Galapagos Islands were well run by requiring a guide for entry. That allowed us to see the wildlife up close because the animals were used to humans in a non threatening way.