Celebrity Xploration
Former name: MC Athala II
Current itinerary of Celebrity Xploration
Celebrity Xploration current cruise is 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands. The itinerary starts on 02 Dec, 2023 and ends on 09 Dec, 2023.
Date / Time | Port |
---|---|
02 Dec 15:00 | Departing from Baltra Island, Galapagos hotels |
02 Dec 16:00 - 18:00 | Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos, Puerto Ayora |
03 Dec 07:30 - 10:30 | Santiago Island, Galapagos |
03 Dec 14:00 - 16:30 | Bartolome Island, Galapagos |
04 Dec 08:00 - 17:00 | Isabela Island, Galapagos |
05 Dec 07:30 - 11:30 | Fernandina Island, Galapagos |
05 Dec 15:30 - 18:00 | Isabela Island, Galapagos |
06 Dec 07:30 - 18:00 | Santiago Island, Galapagos |
07 Dec 08:00 - 18:00 | Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos, Puerto Ayora |
08 Dec 07:30 - 18:00 | Genovesa Island, Galapagos |
09 Dec 06:00 - 07:00 | North Seymour Island, Galapagos |
09 Dec 08:00 | Arriving in Baltra Island, Galapagos hotels |
Specifications of Celebrity Xploration
Year of build | 2007 / Age: 16 |
Flag state | Ecuador |
Builder | Botto Astilleros y Marina (Guayaquil, Ecuador) |
Class | Galapagos Islands expedition ship (motor catamaran) |
Speed | 10 kn / 19 km/h / 12 mph |
Length (LOA) | 30 m / 98 ft |
Beam (width) | 11 m / 36 ft |
Gross Tonnage | 319 gt |
Passengers | 19 |
Crew | 10 |
Passengers-to-space ratio | 17 |
Decks | 4 |
Cabins | 8 |
Decks with cabins | 2 |
Last Refurbishment | 2017 |
Former names | MC Athala II |
Owner | RCG-Royal Caribbean Group (via RCCL-Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd) |
Operator | Celebrity Cruises Galapagos |
Celebrity Xploration Itineraries
Date | Itinerary | Departure Port | Price from |
---|---|---|---|
2023 Nov 25 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $6427 |
2023 Dec 02 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | |
2023 Dec 09 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $8544 |
2023 Dec 16 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $7636 |
2023 Dec 23 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $7913 |
2023 Dec 30 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $9435 |
2024 Jan 06 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $8778 |
2024 Jan 13 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $9894 |
2024 Jan 20 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $7861 |
2024 Jan 27 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $8752 |
2024 Feb 03 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $8311 |
2024 Feb 10 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $7351 |
2024 Feb 17 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $7636 |
2024 Feb 24 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $8311 |
2024 Mar 02 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $8311 |
2024 Mar 09 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $8466 |
2024 Mar 16 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $8371 |
2024 Mar 23 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $8977 |
2024 Mar 30 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $7662 |
2024 Apr 06 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | |
2024 Apr 13 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | |
2024 Apr 20 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | |
2024 Apr 27 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $8570 |
2024 May 04 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | |
2024 May 11 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $8778 |
2024 May 18 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $7351 |
2024 May 25 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $8164 |
2024 Jun 01 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $10802 |
2024 Jun 08 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $6442 |
2024 Jun 15 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | |
2024 Jun 22 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $6442 |
2024 Jun 29 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $8069 |
2024 Jul 06 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | |
2024 Jul 13 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $6685 |
2024 Jul 20 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $6442 |
2024 Jul 27 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $6339 |
2024 Aug 03 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | |
2024 Aug 10 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $6079 |
2024 Aug 17 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $6243 |
2024 Aug 24 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $7255 |
2024 Aug 31 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $6442 |
2024 Sep 07 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $7048 |
2024 Sep 14 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $7662 |
2024 Sep 21 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $6140 |
2024 Sep 28 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $6321 |
2024 Oct 05 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $7662 |
2024 Oct 12 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $8069 |
2024 Oct 19 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $8311 |
2024 Oct 26 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | |
2024 Nov 02 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $7662 |
2024 Nov 09 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $6140 |
2024 Nov 16 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $8164 |
2024 Nov 23 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $6339 |
2024 Nov 30 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $6221 |
2024 Dec 07 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $6641 |
2024 Dec 14 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $6382 |
2024 Dec 21 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $7662 |
2024 Dec 28 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $7662 |
2025 Jan 04 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $6182 |
2025 Jan 11 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $7930 |
2025 Jan 18 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5282 |
2025 Jan 25 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $6823 |
2025 Feb 01 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $6918 |
2025 Feb 08 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5361 |
2025 Feb 15 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | |
2025 Feb 22 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | |
2025 Mar 01 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5282 |
2025 Mar 08 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5767 |
2025 Mar 15 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5872 |
2025 Mar 22 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5282 |
2025 Mar 29 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $6900 |
2025 Apr 05 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5361 |
2025 Apr 12 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5361 |
2025 Apr 19 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5361 |
2025 Apr 26 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5282 |
2025 May 03 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5282 |
2025 May 10 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $6805 |
2025 May 17 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5187 |
2025 May 24 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5282 |
2025 May 31 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5187 |
2025 Jun 07 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5438 |
2025 Jun 14 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5187 |
2025 Jun 21 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5187 |
2025 Jun 28 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5282 |
2025 Jul 05 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5671 |
2025 Jul 12 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5187 |
2025 Jul 19 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5187 |
2025 Jul 26 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5266 |
2025 Aug 02 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5673 |
2025 Aug 09 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5162 |
2025 Aug 16 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5673 |
2025 Aug 23 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5162 |
2025 Aug 30 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5266 |
2025 Sep 06 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5067 |
2025 Sep 13 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5067 |
2025 Sep 20 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5067 |
2025 Sep 27 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $6528 |
2025 Oct 04 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5283 |
2025 Oct 11 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5283 |
2025 Oct 18 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5266 |
2025 Oct 25 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $4920 |
2025 Nov 01 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $6624 |
2025 Nov 08 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $7134 |
2025 Nov 15 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $4988 |
2025 Nov 22 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $5187 |
2025 Nov 29 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $4988 |
2025 Dec 06 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $4988 |
2025 Dec 13 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $4988 |
2025 Dec 20 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $6805 |
2025 Dec 27 | 7 days, round-trip Galapagos Islands | Baltra Island | $6805 |
Celebrity Xploration Review
Review of Celebrity Xploration
The 2007-built Celebrity Xploration cruise ship entered the Celebrity Cruises Galapagos fleet in January 2017. The boat features indoor and outdoor dining areas, bar lounge, Sundeck with Jacuzzi. The vessel belongs to the company's small-sized "expedition fleet" - with fleetmates Celebrity Xpedition (2001) and Celebrity Flora (2019).
The vessel (IMO number 9455882) is currently Ecuador-flagged (MMSI 735057940).
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 16-passenger Galapagos ship Celebrity Xploration is a luxury catamaran-class yacht designed specifically for expedition voyages in the Galapagos Archipelago. 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 (fka 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 the company's larger vessels and offers personal attention which is afforded by the smaller size. The boat's capacity of just 16 passengers and active itineraries attract younger and better educated demographic.
Decks and Cabins
Celebrity Xploration staterooms (8 total) are all outside/oceanview, fully air-conditioned and sized 180-190 ft2 / 17-18 m2. The 4 Upper Deck cabins are with interconnecting doors. The 4 Main Deck cabins are with private step-out 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.
The boat has 4 decks, of which 3 are passenger-accessible and 2 with cabins.
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.
Itineraries
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.
The above 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).
Due to the Coronavirus crisis, the Celebrity ship Xploration was passed for ~2 years (March 2020 thru January 2022) and scheduled to restart operations in the Galapagos on Jan 1st (out of Baltra).
Celebrity Xploration - user reviews and comments
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Celebrity Xploration Wiki
One of the top-luxury Galapagos ships, Celebrity Xploration was the ever-smallest boat in Celebrity's fleet. She officially joined Celebrity's Galapagos fleet in January 2017, following a major drydock refurbishment.
In March 2016, Celebrity 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 announced that the female Captain Nathaly Alban will be the chief commanding officer on Celebrity Xploration. This was the Galapagos cruising industry's first time when a woman serves as Captain on a Galapagos Islands-based passenger vessel. Captain Nathaly Alban (Ecuadorian) has served 12 years on various vessels in the Galapagos region. She joined the Celebrity cruise company on Celebrity Xpedition.