After carefully considering all options for visiting the Galapagos, including reading some of the not-so-stellar reviews of this cruise, I decided to give Silversea a try. I took my mom in July 2016 as a retirement gift. I must say that overall, we absolutely loved it!
To reiterate, as many reviewers have commented, this is an expedition cruise. We’ve never sailed with Silversea before, so can’t compare to the level of service on their non-expedition cruises. That being said, the staff goes above and beyond to make you feel special, address any and all concerns and ensure you have a great time. For us, the service far exceeded our expectations.
Most people don’t bother to even try and understand the logistics and planning that goes on behind the scenes to make these cruises a possibility. There are human beings working around the clock to make sure that all guests are properly taken care off. The expedition team carefully coordinates all excursions (hikes, zodiac tours, snorkeling, kayaking, etc.).
Spacious (by our standards) and more than enough for a week-long expedition. Given the extreme price difference between an oceanview and verandah, we opted for an oceanview (aka Explorer Suite) and were glad we did. The substantial extra cost is not worth it, given that you will have little time to spend in your cabin/on your verandah. Our Explorer cabin was on deck 4, and we felt this to be the perfect location.