Since the Xpedition carries only 90 or so passengers, getting on board did not involve long lines or delays. We were bussed from the airport on Baltra to a pier, boarded small 16 passenger Zodiac boats and taken to the ship. Our baggage traveled separately; we were responsible for our carry-ones. Transferring from the pier to the Zodiac and from the Zodiac to the aft end of the Xpedition was handled by the crew with great emphasis on safety. In fact, this attention to safety never wavered during the cruise. Our cabin was comparable to others we have been in. This is based on over 25 other cruises. The food was not top of the line, but it was very good. The staff was excellent and the entertainment was simpler than usual, but done in a more intimate atmosphere. What you would expect on a ship of this size. A little dancing, a little karaoke, some professional music and the nightly briefing by the Entertainment Director/Head Naturalist of the next day's activities. The other guests were friendly, but tended to try to respect your space. Didn't know much about CruiseCritic until the end of the cruise. The people who told us said that they had known all about what to expect before they booked. I thought we did too. When we got home, I read about 10 reviews and noted that one had mentioned that the walking surfaces were troublesome. The other reviewers gave glowing recommendations and I agree with them. It was an experience that should not be missed. The islands are volcanic and basically untouched by man. The walking surfaces included boulders, rocks, shale and lava rocks. I was always watching every place I put my foot. My wife has a deathly fear of rocks, is on a blood thinning medication and suffers from occasional moments of vertigo. The naturalist guides were very helpful. The closest doctor was on board the ship. Falling during one of the walks would have meant getting back to the small rubber raft, embarking, transferring onto the aft end of the ship and, finally, receiving professional treatment. We used a lot of bandaids, but never fell. I think of this trip as an exciting suicide mission that we survived.