DESTINATION GPS

Flora & Fauna

SIX WAYS THE CELEBRITY FLORA IS RAISING THE BAR ON THE CLASSIC GALÁPAGOS CRUISE.

CELEBRITY CRUISES® HAS BEEN BRINGING VENTURESOME PASSENGERS TO THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS SINCE 2004, but with its newest ship, the Celebrity Flora, the company is taking island-hopping to a whole new level. Launched in 2019, the 100-guest, all-suite megayacht was custom-made for its destination— and everything from itineraries to design serves as an unprecedented ode to its precious home.

THE ITINERARIES TAKE YOU DEEPER...

...Thanks to a series of inspired itineraries, you’ll be fully immersed in this ethereal environment. The Galápagos Islands are carefully guarded by government regulations that mandate how many ships can cruise the area. Additionally, itineraries are directed so that not too many boats, size dependent, occupy an island or site at any given time. It’s a necessary measure that protects this delicate ecosystem and its inhabitants. When you sail the Celebrity Flora, a collection of journeys break the Galápagos down into its inner and outer islands for a truly in-depth experience.

There’s no paradox of choice here, though. While the varied itineraries serve to greater preserve the islands, stopping in different ports and sailing different routes to minimize sea traffic, all of them promise access to the same incredible sightings: bluefooted boobies, marine iguanas, Galápagos penguins, and more. Every route also includes stops in the most coveted locations, including Isabela, a volcanic island home to seabirds, penguins, sea lions, and flightless cormorants; Santa Cruz, the site of the Charles Darwin Research Station; and Rabida Island, known for its red sand and volcanic landscape.

YOU CAN GO CAMPING AT SEA...

...But rest assured you won’t be roughing it! Celebrity Flora is the only ship in the archipelago to offer guests the chance to sleep under the stars—not in a flimsy tent and sleeping bag, but in a private cabana on the ship’s upper deck. The Galápagos Glamping experience is available to just two couples per night and includes dinner in an open-air cabana, followed by campfire-inspired cocktails and an astronomy session with one of the ship’s resident naturalists. You’ll be able to see both the northern and southern hemisphere constellations, a rare occurrence, with no light pollution, Doze off to the sounds of the lapping waves and gently blowing wind, then awake the next morning to the potential of seeing a frigate bird, blue-footed booby, or whale off in the distance. After a full al fresco breakfast, there’s no packing up this camp—it’s on to your next adventure ashore!

Opposite: the Galápagos marine iguana. Clockwise from top left: glamping aboard Celebrity Flora; departing Celebrity Flora via tender; the ship’s Penthouse Suite.

IT’S PART OF A MISSION TO GIVE BACK…

...And passengers join in on its efforts too. As part of its stewardship program, Celebrity has built greenhouses on the islands and established a fishing co-op, providing support for local agriculturalists and fishermen, while also procuring a fresh source of produce and seafood for Flora’s guests. Celebrity Cruises has also partnered with the Galápagos National Park to replant the islands’ scalesia trees, which in the past suffered from deforestation. To date, Celebrity Cruises passengers have planted more than 50,000 trees, helping to bring back a vital part of the local ecosystem that provides canopy protection for grounddwelling wildlife and prevents soil erosion.

IT’S ONE OF THE MOST ECO-FRIENDLY SHIPS IN THE GALÁPAGOS…

...Or anywhere, for that matter. In an ecosystem as extraordinary as that of the Galápagos, sustainability can’t just be a watch word—it has to be a mission by which to live. And Celebrity Flora does just that with a whole host of technological advancements that make it as amenable to its surroundings (and fellow residents) as possible. That includes a Dynamic Positioning System enabling the ship to maintain a fixed location without dropping anchor and an advanced propulsion system, and a hull configuration that increases energy efficiency and reduces emissions. Solar panels supplement the ship’s electricity supply, and specially designed diesel engines help reduce fuel consumption by 15 percent. The Celebrity Flora is also equipped with a reverse-osmosis water treatment system to turn sea water into fresh water, and is coated with a silicon paint that helps it glide more smoothly through the water, decreasing friction and requiring less fuel. Altogether, these innovations make Celebrity Flora an impressive machine that serves a higher purpose: to protect its environment on a level few ships in the world have achieved.

THE DESIGN IS EPIC...

...And local. To bring the Galápagos Island’s first-ever purpose-built ship to life, Celebrity turned to Ecuador native Adriana Hoyos and Francesca Bucci. Hoyos put her home country in the forefront with every aesthetic decision, taking inspiration from the landscape and its inhabitants in creating unique custom furnishings like the Chocolate Iconic chair, a sculptural piece inspired by the birds’ nests found throughout the region. Everything is designed with low-impact materials like wood and stone with bamboo accents, all of which reference the natural elements of the islands, from the sand on its beaches to the leaves on its trees.

IT HAS SERIOUS SCIENCE CREDENTIALS…

...Starting with a team of certified naturalists— many of them Galápagos natives—who have unparalleled knowledge of the archipelago and its extraordinary residents. But that’s only the beginning: Celebrity Flora is the first vessel in the archipelago to be equipped with Oceanscope, cutting-edge oceanographic research equipment that collects vital data from the water (which is freely shared with global scientists), and then researched by the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. Celebrity has also partnered with the Florida’s Frost Science Museum to produce educational videos on everything from oceanography to the El Niño phenomenon. Guests can watch them at their leisure in their rooms, or with a cocktail at the ship’s lounge and bars.

Digital Download. Enter OFFER EW29239 on the website found on the back cover to further explore.

NOW GO WILD by NATURE

MAKE SOUTHERN AFRICA YOUR NEXT SAFARI STOP

IF YOU’VE PUT OFF THAT WISH-LIST AFRICAN SAFARI, NOW IS THE TIME TO START PLANNING. FOR 45-PLUS YEARS, AFRICAN TRAVEL, INC. has been curating bespoke adventures showcasing the best of Southern Africa’s wildlife and culture. The experts at African Travel have lived and traveled extensively across Africa and know the right Africa for you. Their newest trip, Platinum Botswana, is certain to spark wanderlust and provides travelers inspiration for a handcrafted journey. What to anticipate? Once-in-a-lifetime experiences combined with stays at the finest lodges on the continent.

After a warm welcome in Johannesburg, you’ll arrive to the otherworldly vistas and glamour of the newly renovated Jack’s Camp, a legendary property in the remote Makgadikgadi Pans of the Kalahari combining old-world sophistication with incredible views. When asked when to visit, African Travel President Sherwin Banda says, “Botswana is beautiful in the green season when the lush foliage, baby wildlife, and waterways deliver a compelling backdrop. We like to time visits to Africa’s second largest migration.”

You’ll see Botswana contrasts as you next explore the Selinda Reserve at Zarafa Camp, where you’ll enjoy one of Botswana’s most prolific wildlife areas and see uncommon African species like African wild dog, roan, and sable. Sustainability is a key focus for African Travel, and Xigera Safari Lodge is the gold standard for Botswana. Located in the heart of the Okavango Delta where water safaris reign supreme, this 12-suite, solar-powered lodge was built as a personal love letter to the African bush. It celebrates contemporary art and design with a living gallery of bespoke works commissioned exclusively for the property.

Banda adds, “Some of my fondest Botswana memories are sitting in stunning locations with a drink and watching the animals pass by. At Xigera, your suite floats over the water and is the perfect vantage point. Or, take a mokoro for a feet-in-water sundowner. Everything from helicopter flights to walking safaris will be arranged on your own time.”

Depending on whether you crave more action or leisurely pursuits, African Travel can arrange a post-safari stop in Victoria Falls to see the famed “Smoke that Thunders,” or post-bush beach escape to the white sands of the Seychelles or Mozambique. If you’re going to finally take that safari, dream big, as incredible memories await.