Celebrity Flora

The 2019-built Celebrity Flora cruise ship is the newest member of the Celebrity Cruises Galapagos fleet. It belongs to the company's small-sized "Galapagos expedition" fleet - with fleetmates Celebrity Xpedition and Celebrity Xploration. Celebrity Flora is the most innovative, newest and largest cruise ship operating in Galapagos National Park.

The vessel (IMO number 9837925) is currently Ecuador-flagged (MMSI 735059945) and registered in Guayaquil.

History - construction and ownership

Celebrity Cruises was founded in 1988 as the Greece-based Chandris Line (cruise shipping operations between 1974-1996). In 1997, Royal Caribbean International (RCI) merged with "Celebrity Cruises Ltd" to become "Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd" (RCCL). The "X" on ship funnels is the Greek letter chi (standing for "Chandris"). Common features of Celebrity Cruises ships include aft located glass-walled dining rooms, signature alternate dining venues, bars and lounges, spacious Atrium lobby areas, a large number of balcony staterooms, large sundecks with swimming pools, The Retreat (adults-only sundeck with full-size swimming pool, Jacuzzi, cabanas, poolside full bar service). Rooftop Terrace (top-deck outdoor lounge-restaurant-cinema), large Spa (with Thermal Suites), premium retail shops selling top-brand merchandise.

The 100-passenger ship Celebrity Flora is the company's first newbuild designed for operations in the Galapagos Islands. Among the implemented environmentally-friendly technologies is the Dynamic Positioning System maintaining ship's position without the use of anchors, thus protecting the seabed. The ship is energy-efficient with fewer air emissions and ~15% reduction of fuel consumption due to its unique hull shape, specially designed marine diesel engines and advanced propulsion. The vessel also converts air-conditioning condensation and seawater into fresh water and provides in-cabin water filtration stations for further purification.

Launched in 2019, Celebrity Flora became the first Galapagos-based expedition ship equipped with an Oceanscope (latest-technology oceanographic research equipment). The onboard enrichment program is via Celebrity's over 20-year partnership with University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. The school benefits from the boat's year-round Galapagos itinerary program to create a cost-effective way for scientists to measure ocean water circulation dynamics. With the Oceanscope scientists can track and map the Galapagos sea area while measuring surface temperatures and gathering data for research predictions regarding the weather patterns El Nino and La Nina, which are critical for global changes in temperature and rainfall. All data gathered by the ship's scientific equipment automatically becomes open-source.

The ship design was developed by BG Studio International - NYC New York-based design firm specializing in large hospitality projects. The boat's interior was designed by ADRIANA HOYOS Furnishings (Ecuadorian company) using sustainable materials and hand-crafted art and decoration elements in venues like Discovery Lounge, Marina, Penthouse Suites.

Decks and Cabins

Celebrity Flora staterooms (50 total) are all in Suite categories, with oversized bathrooms and actual or virtual balconies/Infinite Verandas (almost 50% of all accommodations, first introduced on Celebrity Edge) as well as personal suite attendants.

The boat has 8 decks, of which 6 are passenger-accessible and only 2 with cabins.

Passenger accommodations include:

• 2 Penthouse Suites - the biggest in the Galapagos (1290 ft2 / 120 m2) with living space featuring comfortable chairs, smart HDTV, as well as a separate bedroom with King-sized bed and large, floor-to-ceiling windows. The bathroom has a spa-like shower, double vanity, toilet area plus spa tub facing a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. The 320 ft2 (30 m2) balcony features chaise loungers and telescope for wildlife spotting or stargazing.
• 2 Royal Suites (560 ft2 / 52 m2) with a living area, separate bedroom, and 130 ft2 (12 m2) balcony, with similar furnishings and layout to the Penthouse Suites.
• 1 Ultimate Sky Suite with Infinite Veranda (365 ft2 / 34 m2). The layout features coral-like glass divider separating the bathroom and bedroom into 2 distinct spaces. The bedroom has a king-sized bed that faces outward and a large flat-screen TV, while the bathroom features a glass-enclosed spa tub and shower facing the floor-to-ceiling window.
• 7 Premium Sky Suites (335 ft2 / 31 m2) with Infinite Verandas (nearly identical to the Ultimate Sky Suites).
• 16 Sky Suites (330 ft2 / 31 m2) with Infinite Verandas (nearly identical to the Ultimate Sky Suites).
• 22 Sky Suites with balconies (330 ft2 / 31 m2) feature a 75 ft2 (7 m2) balcony with lounge furniture and table, as well as a king-sized bed which faces the floor-to-ceiling windows. The bathroom has a large vanity with 2 faucets.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Celebrity Flora is among the highest-rated cruise vessels deployed in the Galapagos Islands. The ship offers excellent service and food, intimate setting for exotic voyages, together with many of the larger ships’ amenities. Celebrity Flora cruise fares include beer, liquor, soft drinks, house wine, and all gratuities and shore excursions. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in the Seaside Restaurant. The alfresco Ocean Grill is a casual dining space with an option to dine under the stars. The 24-hour room service menu includes fries, hot sandwiches, drinks and part of the Restaurant dishes.

• Seaside Restaurant (100-seat forward Dining Room) offers world-class cuisine, with a menu reflecting ships Galapagos itinerary, locally grown organic fruits, vegetables, fresh fish.
• Ocean Grill (aft buffet restaurant) offers casual breakfast, lunch grill, and burger bar. Once per cruise, Ocean Grill doubles as Dining Room with fresh seafood and barbeque specialties.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Discovery Lounge (ship's theater) has a stage for presentations and lectures given by naturalists accompanying guests during the voyage. With Celebrity Flora, Celebrity Cruises targets younger and well-educated travelers with an expanded onboard enrichment programming. Other popular public areas and venues are the SPA, hot tub, Sauna Room, sunbathing area on Sun Deck. In comparison to the Galapagos fleet mates, the mega-yacht has more crew space and provides 1 naturalist per 12 passengers.

The new "camping" experience "Galapagos Glamping" is available on top deck, where passengers can drink, dine and even sleep under the sky. With capacity 4 passengers per night, here can be booked two private cabanas - fitted with double beds and served with al-fresco meals.

Galapagos Glamping is complemented by a naturalist available during the evening to provide campers with professional information on stars and constellations visible in the night sky. Campfire-inspired dishes are served for dinner by dedicated staff. In the morning is served full bedside breakfast.

Follows the complete list of Celebrity Flora lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Gift Shop (toiletries, clothes, lotions, sundries, logo merchandise)
• Beauty Centre (Beauty Salon for cosmetics and treatments)
• Beach Club (marine platform for launching Zodiacs and storing snorkel/diving equipment)
• Internet Cafe (Internet computers room)
• Observatory/Library (Deck 7, books and board games; with comfy chairs and tables, wrapped in floor-to-ceiling windows)
• Discovery Lounge and Bar (Deck 4, main lounge and entertainment area, with its own full bar, Wi-Fi, dance floor. The program features films, trivia games, karaoke, live piano performances, dance parties. The lounge hosts Galapagos Islands related lectures by certified naturalists and various discussions)
• Naturalist Center (Deck 3, features displays of the environmental efforts of Celebrity Cruises)
• Darwin's Cove (Deck 3, houses the Guest Relations area; also serves as the spot for cold towels, infused water and refreshments. During the day passengers will find the naturalist team here and can ask about activities or talk about Galapagos).
• Bar (indoor complimentary bar, with canopied seats for panoramic sea views; most of the drinks served are complimentary)
• Spa and Fitness area: Exercise Room (small fitness/gym with stationary bikes, walking/running treadmills, steppers, free weights)
• Massage Room; Sundeck area with the Sunset Lounge (swimming pool, hot tub, sun loungers)
• 4 stick-style cabanas available for a day rental and sleeping out under the stars
• Stargazing Platform (Deck 8, with telescopes for astronomy lessons)
• "Galapagos Glamping" camping experience (via top-deck private cabanas)
• 3 Zodiacs (large-capacity inflatable boats), rinsing station.

Itineraries

Celebrity Flora itinerary program is based on year-round, round-trip 7-day top-luxury Galapagos Islands cruises with roundtrip departures from Baltra Island (year-round). The Maiden Voyage was on May 26, 2019.

Next map of Galapagos Islands cruise ship itineraries shows the park's two main routes (inner loop and outer loop) and the archipelago's all-island stops (ports/landing sites).

Following the Coronavirus crisis, Flora resumed operations on July 4, 2021, after 15+ months pause. The Galapagos-based fleetmates were scheduled to restart later - on July 24 (Celebrity Xpedition) and September 18 (Celebrity Xploration).

On December 15, 2017, officially started the vessel's construction with the keel-laying ceremony held at Shipyard De Hoop (near Tolkamer-Lobith, Holland). During the special event, a 49-ton keel/hull block was lifted and placed in the yard's drydock facility.

The boat was launched (floated-out from drydock) on January 19, 2019, delivered on May 14, 2019, officially entered service on May 26, and was christened on June 24.

North Sea trials started on April 13 and were successfully completed on April 15, 2019.

Ship's Godmother is Yolanda Kakabadse Navarro - 1948-born Ecuadorian conservationist, founder of Fundacion Natura (and its executive director in 1979-1990), founder of Fundacion Futuro Latinoamericano (and its Executive President in 1993-2006), also Ecuador's Minister of Environment (1998-2000), President of International Union for Conservation of Nature (1996-2004) and President of World Wide Fund for Nature (2010-2017).

The ship's namesake is the 2014-built riverboat Arosa Flora.

Next table shows Celebrity Flora's Inaugural Cruise (7-day roundtrip itinerary) as call ports and times of arrival/departure. Prices started from USD 10060 (EUR 870) per person with double occupancy. The Maiden Voyage in 2021 was rescheduled several times due to the ongoing Coronavirus crisis.

On other itineraries, the boat visits Santiago Island (Egas Port, Sullivan Bay), Rabida Island (coastal cruising, swimming, snorkeling), Bartolome Island, North Seymour Island, San Cristobal Island (Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Punta Pitt).

Godspeed!