Celebrity Restarts Galapagos Cruises aboard Celebrity Flora

(6 a.m. EDT) -- Celebrity Cruises announced Friday it has resumed its expedition cruise service in the Galapagos Islands.

The line's purpose-built expedition ship, Celebrity Flora, set sail today for the first time in 15 months on its weeklong journey through the Galapagos Islands. Its relaunch will be followed by Celebrity Xpedition on July 24, and Celebrity Xploration on September 18.

All three vessels will operate weeklong north and south loop itineraries that explore the remote and varied Galapagos Islands.

"The Galapagos islands are a treasure and a destination that is incomparable to any other in the world. We couldn't be more excited to welcome guests aboard the most special ship in this region for the very special, bucket-list voyage they have been dreaming of for so many months,”  said Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo.

The news of Celebrity's return-to-service in the Galapagos follows on the heels of its noteworthy role in operating the first U.S.-based large-ship cruise in 15 months aboard Celebrity Edge this week, and the restart of Celebrity Millennium last month on weeklong Caribbean voyages out of St. Maarten.

In many ways, the Galapagos is perfectly suited to the world of COVID. Passengers have always gone ashore in dedicated groups, and vessels are prohibited from calling on the same port twice in seven days as a condition of the National Park Service. Most islands are remote and sparsely -- if at all -- populated, creating the ideal "bubble" in the heart of what Charles Darwin' referred to as a "little world within itself."

Celebrity's Galapagos voyages are available for reservation now.