Celebrity Xploration
Former name: MC Athala II
Specifications of Celebrity Xploration
Year built | 2007 / Age: 14 |
Flag state | Ecuador |
Builder | Botto Astilleros y Marina (Guayaquil, Ecuador) |
Class | Galapagos Islands expedition ship (motor catamaran) |
Owner | Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd |
Operator | Celebrity Cruises Galapagos |
Speed | 10 kn / 19 kph / 12 mph |
Length (LOA) | 30 m / 98 ft |
Beam (width) | 11 m / 36 ft |
Gross Tonnage | 319 gt |
Passengers | 16 - 19 |
Crew | 10 |
Passengers-to-space ratio | 17 |
Decks | 4 |
Cabins | 8 |
Decks with cabins | 2 |
Last Refurbishment | 2017 |
Former names | MC Athala II |
Celebrity Xploration Itineraries
Date | Itinerary | Departure Port | Price from |
---|---|---|---|
2021 May 01 | 7 days, round-trip 11 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $5814 |
2021 May 08 | 7 days, round-trip 11 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $5607 |
2021 May 15 | 7 days, round-trip 11 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $5448 |
2021 May 22 | 7 days, round-trip 11 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $5613 |
2021 May 29 | 7 days, round-trip 10 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $5367 |
2021 Jun 05 | 7 days, round-trip 16 Night Galapagos Machu Picchu Xperience Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $9510 |
2021 Jun 12 | 7 days, round-trip 10 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $5361 |
2021 Jun 19 | 7 days, round-trip 10 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $5350 |
2021 Jun 26 | 7 days, round-trip 16 Night Galapagos Machu Picchu Xperience Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $9617 |
2021 Jul 03 | 7 days, round-trip 10 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $5359 |
2021 Jul 10 | 7 days, round-trip 11 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $5461 |
2021 Jul 17 | 7 days, round-trip 10 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $5356 |
2021 Jul 24 | 7 days, round-trip 11 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $5457 |
2021 Jul 31 | 7 days, round-trip 16 Night Galapagos Machu Picchu Xperience Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $9500 |
2021 Aug 07 | 7 days, round-trip 10 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $5361 |
2021 Aug 14 | 7 days, round-trip 11 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $5464 |
2021 Aug 21 | 7 days, round-trip 10 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $5356 |
2021 Aug 28 | 7 days, round-trip 10 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $4908 |
2021 Sep 04 | 7 days, round-trip 10 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $8421 |
2021 Sep 11 | 7 days, round-trip 16 Night Galapagos Machu Picchu Xperience Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $13076 |
2021 Sep 18 | 7 days, round-trip 11 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $8586 |
2021 Sep 25 | 7 days, round-trip 16 Night Galapagos Machu Picchu Xperience Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $9129 |
2021 Oct 02 | 7 days, round-trip 11 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $8572 |
2021 Oct 09 | 7 days, round-trip 16 Night Galapagos Machu Picchu Xperience Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $9344 |
2021 Oct 16 | 7 days, round-trip 16 Night Galapagos Machu Picchu Xperience Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $9134 |
2021 Oct 23 | 7 days, round-trip 16 Night Galapagos Machu Picchu Xperience Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $9350 |
2021 Oct 30 | 7 days, round-trip 11 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $5296 |
2021 Nov 06 | 7 days, round-trip 16 Night Galapagos Machu Picchu Xperience Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $9357 |
2021 Nov 13 | 7 days, round-trip 10 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $5196 |
2021 Nov 20 | 7 days, round-trip 10 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $5198 |
2021 Nov 27 | 7 days, round-trip 11 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $7946 |
2021 Dec 04 | 7 days, round-trip 16 Night Galapagos Machu Picchu Xperience Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $9350 |
2021 Dec 11 | 7 days, round-trip 10 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $5189 |
2021 Dec 18 | 7 days, round-trip 16 Night Galapagos Machu Picchu Xperience Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $10733 |
2021 Dec 25 | 7 days, round-trip 16 Night Galapagos Machu Picchu Xperience Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $10439 |
2022 Jan 01 | 7 days, round-trip 10 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $5131 |
2022 Jan 08 | 7 days, round-trip 7 Night Galapagos Southern Loop Itinerary Cruise | Baltra Island | $6922 |
2022 Jan 15 | 7 days, round-trip 10 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $4657 |
2022 Jan 22 | 7 days, round-trip 7 Night Galapagos Southern Loop Itinerary Cruise | Baltra Island | $6932 |
2022 Jan 29 | 7 days, round-trip 16 Night Galapagos Machu Picchu Xperience Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $7659 |
2022 Feb 05 | 7 days, round-trip 7 Night Galapagos Southern Loop Itinerary Cruise | Baltra Island | $7194 |
2022 Feb 12 | 7 days, round-trip 10 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $4672 |
2022 Feb 19 | 7 days, round-trip 7 Night Galapagos Southern Loop Itinerary Cruise | Baltra Island | $7599 |
2022 Feb 26 | 7 days, round-trip 16 Night Galapagos Machu Picchu Xperience Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $7785 |
2022 Mar 05 | 7 days, round-trip 7 Night Galapagos Southern Loop Itinerary Cruise | Baltra Island | $7331 |
2022 Mar 12 | 7 days, round-trip 16 Night Galapagos Machu Picchu Xperience Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $7791 |
2022 Mar 19 | 7 days, round-trip 7 Night Galapagos Southern Loop Itinerary Cruise | Baltra Island | $7332 |
2022 Mar 26 | 7 days, round-trip 16 Night Galapagos Machu Picchu Xperience Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $7799 |
2022 Apr 02 | 7 days, round-trip 7 Night Galapagos Southern Loop Itinerary Cruise | Baltra Island | $7336 |
2022 Apr 09 | 7 days, round-trip 11 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $4719 |
2022 Apr 16 | 7 days, round-trip 7 Night Galapagos Southern Loop Itinerary Cruise | Baltra Island | $7601 |
2022 Apr 23 | 7 days, round-trip 10 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $4668 |
2022 Apr 30 | 7 days, round-trip 7 Night Galapagos Southern Loop Itinerary Cruise | Baltra Island | $7334 |
2022 May 07 | 7 days, round-trip 16 Night Galapagos Machu Picchu Xperience Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $7785 |
2022 May 14 | 7 days, round-trip 7 Night Galapagos Southern Loop Itinerary Cruise | Baltra Island | $7323 |
2022 May 21 | 7 days, round-trip 10 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $4928 |
2022 May 28 | 7 days, round-trip 7 Night Galapagos Southern Loop Itinerary Cruise | Baltra Island | $7330 |
2022 Jun 04 | 7 days, round-trip 16 Night Galapagos Machu Picchu Xperience Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $7790 |
2022 Jun 11 | 7 days, round-trip 7 Night Galapagos Southern Loop Itinerary Cruise | Baltra Island | $7332 |
2022 Jun 18 | 7 days, round-trip 16 Night Galapagos Machu Picchu Xperience Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | |
2022 Jun 25 | 7 days, round-trip 7 Night Galapagos Southern Loop Itinerary Cruise | Baltra Island | $7329 |
2022 Jul 02 | 7 days, round-trip 11 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $4853 |
2022 Jul 09 | 7 days, round-trip 7 Night Galapagos Southern Loop Itinerary Cruise | Baltra Island | $7332 |
2022 Jul 16 | 7 days, round-trip 16 Night Galapagos Machu Picchu Xperience Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $7794 |
2022 Jul 23 | 7 days, round-trip 7 Night Galapagos Southern Loop Itinerary Cruise | Baltra Island | $7324 |
2022 Jul 30 | 7 days, round-trip 16 Night Galapagos Machu Picchu Xperience Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $7784 |
2022 Aug 06 | 7 days, round-trip 7 Night Galapagos Southern Loop Itinerary Cruise | Baltra Island | $7332 |
2022 Aug 13 | 7 days, round-trip 10 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $6997 |
2022 Aug 20 | 7 days, round-trip 16 Night Galapagos Machu Picchu Xperience Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $15505 |
2022 Aug 27 | 7 days, round-trip 11 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $4576 |
2022 Sep 03 | 7 days, round-trip 7 Night Galapagos Southern Loop Itinerary Cruise | Baltra Island | $7330 |
2022 Sep 10 | 7 days, round-trip 11 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $4572 |
2022 Sep 17 | 7 days, round-trip 7 Night Galapagos Southern Loop Itinerary Cruise | Baltra Island | $7061 |
2022 Sep 24 | 7 days, round-trip 16 Night Galapagos Machu Picchu Xperience Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $7653 |
2022 Oct 01 | 7 days, round-trip 7 Night Galapagos Southern Loop Itinerary Cruise | Baltra Island | $6675 |
2022 Oct 08 | 7 days, round-trip 16 Night Galapagos Machu Picchu Xperience Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $7453 |
2022 Oct 15 | 7 days, round-trip 7 Night Galapagos Southern Loop Itinerary Cruise | Baltra Island | $7067 |
2022 Oct 22 | 7 days, round-trip 10 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $4540 |
2022 Oct 29 | 7 days, round-trip 7 Night Galapagos Southern Loop Itinerary Cruise | Baltra Island | $7056 |
2022 Nov 05 | 7 days, round-trip 10 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $4527 |
2022 Nov 12 | 7 days, round-trip 7 Night Galapagos Southern Loop Itinerary Cruise | Baltra Island | $7056 |
2022 Nov 19 | 7 days, round-trip 10 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $4665 |
2022 Nov 26 | 7 days, round-trip 7 Night Galapagos Southern Loop Itinerary Cruise | Baltra Island | $7065 |
2022 Dec 03 | 7 days, round-trip 10 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $4524 |
2022 Dec 10 | 7 days, round-trip 7 Night Galapagos Southern Loop Itinerary Cruise | Baltra Island | $7062 |
2022 Dec 17 | 7 days, round-trip 10 Night Galapagos Ecuador Cruise and Land Tour | Baltra Island | $5664 |
2022 Dec 24 | 7 days, round-trip 7 Night Galapagos Southern Loop Itinerary Cruise | Baltra Island | $9330 |
Celebrity Xploration Review
Review of Celebrity Xploration
Celebrity Xploration cruise ship entered Celebrity Cruises Galapagos fleet in January 2017. The boat features indoor and outdoor dining areas, bar lounge, sun deck with Jacuzzi. The vessel belongs to company's small-sized "expedition fleet" - with fleet mates Celebrity Xpedition, Celebrity Xperience, and Celebrity Flora.
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 "Χ" 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 319-ton, 16-passenger Galapagos cruise ship Celebrity Xploration is a luxury catamaran-class designed specifically for exploration of Galapagos Islands. Outfitted with a wealth of luxuries that cater to her 16 guests, just as her environmentally sound design helps preserve this immaculate archipelago. In spring 2016, following the acquisition of the local tour operator Ocean Adventures and its two ships - the 48-passenger yacht Xperience (formerly Eclipse) and the 16-passenger catamaran Xploration (formerly Athala II), Celebrity Cruises increased Galapagos Islands passenger capacity by 65%. Both vessels continued to sail on Ocean Adventures itineraries up until January 2017 dry-dock. The Xploration ship is an adventurous alternative to line’s larger vessels and offers personal attention which is afforded by the smaller size. Ship’s capacity of just 16 passengers and active itineraries attract younger and better educated demographic.
Cruise itinerary program
Celebrity Xploration itinerary program is based on 5- and 7-night year-round, round-trip luxury cruises throughout the Galapagos region. In addition, Celebrity also offers new Xperiential Galapagos packages, interactions with locals, multi-night hotel stays, and expanded list of destinations, including Darwin Bay, Puerto Villamil, Black Turtle Cove, Wall of Tears and Chinese Hat Islet.
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).
Celebrity Xploration staterooms are total 8, all oceanview, fully air-conditioned staterooms (with a size of at least 17 m²) and 4 decks. There are 4 cabins on the Upper Deck, which feature interconnecting doors, and 4 cabins on the Main Deck that boast private balconies. All amenities offer an intimate atmosphere and all the gear you will need, such as wetsuits, snorkelling equipment, and binoculars, included to help guests fully experience the most amazing archipelago in the world.
Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks
Celebrity Xploration cruise ship offers excellent service and food, intimate setting for exotic voyages, together with many of the larger ships’ amenities. Celebrity Xploration cruise fares include beer, liquor, soft drinks, house wine, and all gratuities and shore excursions. The dining options feature a main dining room with an elegant yet casual ambiance. Guests can also enjoy an Early Riser continental breakfast and lunch under the open air shade canopy including specialty drinks and music, or on special nights, Dinner Under the Stars.
Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport
The relaxing indoor atmosphere of the lounge is perfect for watching a documentary, reading, or having a cocktail. This is also the area where Naturalist briefings take place. One of the most popular areas on Celebrity Xploration, the Sun Deck is best for stargazing, whale watching, or relaxing in the hot tub. This intimate ship is ideal for family get-togethers, small groups who wish to explore together and getaways with friends.
Celebrity Xploration - user reviews and comments
Other Galapagos cruise ships
Celebrity Xploration Wiki
One of the top-luxury Galapagos ships, Celebrity Xploration is the ever-smallest vessel in Celebrity's fleet. The boat officially joined Celebrity's Galapagos fleet in January 2017, following a major drydock refurbishment.
In March 2016, Celebrity Cruises acquired the Galapagos travel company "Ocean Adventures" and its two vessels - the 48-passenger yacht Celebrity Xperience (formerly Eclipse) and the 16-passenger catamaran Celebrity Xploration (formerly Athala II), With the acquisition, Celebrity Cruises' Galapagos passenger capacity was increased by 65%, after both ships started operations in February 2017 - joining the 96-passenger ship Celebrity Xpedition. Both newly added vessels continued to operate on their pre-scheduled Ocean Adventures itineraries until their 2017 dry-docks.
In August 2017, Celebrity Cruises announced that the female Captain Nathaly Albán will be the chief commanding officer on Celebrity Xploration. This was Galapagos cruising industry's first time when a woman serves as Captain on a Galapagos Islands-based passenger vessel. Captain Nathaly Albán (of Ecuadorian origin) has served 12 years on various vessels in the Galapagos region. She joined the Celebrity cruise company on Celebrity Xpedition.
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