The Galapagos Islands are a bucket list destination for many because of the unique encounters with nature and wildlife that travelers can experience when they visit the destination.
There are a number of ways to visit the Galapagos, but many opt to do a cruise for ease of exploring the islands. I decided to experience Silversea Cruises’ Silver Origin for my very first expedition cruise vacation to the Galapagos.
While I had heard many things about the Silversea expedition experience, I did not anticipate the level of unparalleled luxury and distinctive immersions that would await me.
The Onboard Experience
Luxurious Staterooms: Silversea Cruises prides itself on providing some of the most luxurious accommodations at sea and through my own experience, I learned this firsthand. With only 50 staterooms, all guests on the Silver Origin have access to their own private haven. Personalized service is a mission of Silversea Cruises, and this was evident as my butler and suite attendant worked together to ensure that my suite would be my home away from home. My butler attended to my every need, from customizing my minibar with my preferred snacks and drinks to assisting with laundry and arranging in-suite dining. My suite attendant ensured that my room was always cleaned with precision and meticulously comfortable, servicing my suite thrice daily.
My suite was innovative in that it could transform from being fully enclosed to a stateroom with an open-air balcony with the push of a button. I appreciated that my suite featured a spacious interior and had all the amenities that I needed for a comfortable and relaxing cruise with luxurious comforts. I especially enjoyed the plush bedding, spacious bathroom, and complete collection of essential toiletries created by women from Ecuador exclusively for Silver Origin guests. The punctilious design of my stateroom ensured a relaxing and rejuvenating retreat after a full day of exploration.
Onboard Silversea's Silver Origin. (Photo Credit: Terika L. Haynes)
Luxurious Benefits for Guests: Silversea went above and beyond to ensure that my experience was nothing short of extraordinary. As a Silversea guest, I truly enjoyed the personalized service, and I felt like my needs were always anticipated and exceeded with utmost care and intention. I loved that every detail was taken care of, as it allowed me to fully be in the moment and enjoy the beauty and wonder of the Galapagos Islands. In my conversation with the 11-year Silversea veteran, Senior Butler, Natalia, she shared with me that the Silver Origin’s Secret is in the details. She noted that the staff’s attention to detail is what sets the Silver Origin apart from other Galapagos expedition sailings. She said from day one, the team is trained to have an eye for every detail and established staff continue to receive this training along with regular refreshers to ensure that the guests can easily feel at home throughout their expedition experience.
The Dining Experience
Culinary Delights: As a foodie, I am always excited to try new dishes and Silversea did not disappoint. While the dining venues were limited on the Silver Origin, I found each dining experience to have enough options for diets of all types. Additionally, each day I had a new variety of menu options.
The open-seating options made dining stress-free and allowed me to dine when and with whom I wanted to. There were two main dining venues: The Restaurant, which is indoors, and The Grill, which is an open-air dining venue that boasts amazing panoramic views. Both venues were open for lunch and dinner, with each dining experience having a menu aligned with the destination we visited that day.
The cuisine onboard ranged from seafood to international specialties. There were also a few days where I was able to sample authentic Ecuadorian meals as well. The plating and presentation of the food at each of my meals was a deliberate culinary masterpiece.
Dining on Silversea Silver Origin. (Photo Credit: Terika L. Haynes)
During the time that I spent speaking with Chef Andres, the Head Chef of the Silver Origin, I learned that he has a passion for ceviche. As such, each day we were able to experience a different type of ceviche, all made from locally sourced ingredients. We even had the opportunity to take a ceviche class led by Chef Andres. As a lover of seafood, I was particularly excited to sample many types of fish that are native to the Galapagos and Ecuador that I had never experienced before. The wine offerings differed daily as they were paired perfectly to complement my meals.
Chef Andres also noted that as part of his commitment to culinary excellence onboard the Silver Origin, he is very particular about the ingredients he uses for the dining experiences. He shared with me that there have been times when he opted not to take food or ingredients that arrived on the ship because of its quality. He assured me that he personally inspects all of the food onboard and only selects products and ingredients of the highest quality for guest’s meals, even if it means having a smaller selection of options.
There were a few days when I needed more time to either sleep in or rest and recoup. On those days, I opted for room service, which was always delivered on time and prepared fresh. If something was not on the room service menu, my butler assisted me in getting the entree items I wanted.
Silversea's Galapagos adventure. (Photo Credit: Terika L. Haynes)
Expedition Adventures
The Galapagos Islands, known for their unique wildlife and stunning landscapes, are the perfect setting for an unforgettable expedition. Throughout the cruise, I was able to interact with each of the Ecuadorian naturalists who guided me in witnessing the incredible biodiversity and getting up close with fascinating creatures like giant tortoises, Galapagos Penguins, Marine Iguanas, and Blue-footed Booby to name a few. A major expedition highlight for me was having the rare opportunity to see a Hawksbill Sea Turtle, which is a critically endangered sea turtle.
Unforgettable Expeditions: The Galapagos Expedition Cruise with Silversea is filled with various adventurous and educational expedition options. Silversea offered a variety of expedition options varying in activity level to choose from, so I could tailor my expeditions to my interests and comfort. I didn’t have to worry about any expedition equipment as Silversea provided me with snorkeling gear, a wetsuit, a backpack and a reusable water bottle to enhance my exploration. My expedition itinerary included visits to islands, including but not limited to Sullivan Bay, Isabela, and Espanola. I found Silversea’s team of naturalists to be extremely passionate about the Galapagos. They gave me fascinating insights into the islands’ unique ecology and wildlife in a fun and engaging way each day as I experienced an array of adventurous and once-in-a-lifetime expeditions.
Cultural Immersion
The cultural experience was one of the biggest surprises to me during my Silversea Expedition Experience. While I was aware that all of the staff would be Ecuadorian due to the laws and regulations, I did not expect to be so immersed in the culture. From the moment I began my Galapagos journey with Silversea, I was connected to Ecuadorian culture at every touch point. Each day, I interacted with the staff and naturalists, learned about their personal journeys, saw spectacular native wildlife and experienced an abundance of locally sourced Ecuadorian food. Even the live music in the evenings included Ecuadorian music. When I spoke with Juan, the Hotel Director, he provided me with an explanation for the cultural immersion that guests experience on the Silver Origin. He explained that when guests sail, the staff can show them their home. The team has great pride in their service because they get the honor of sharing their beautiful destination and culture with each guest.
Wildlife during a Galapagos adventure. (Photo Credit: Terika L. Haynes)
I also had the opportunity to spend some time with Paulina, the Expedition Leader, who gave further insight into the reason for the cultural immersion that guests experience on the Silver Origin. She explained that having a staff of Ecuadorians helps to consistently promote cohesiveness and strong values throughout the team. I observed the close-knit family atmosphere onboard as everyone would pitch in to help with tasks and always greeted each other with a smile. From start to finish, I could feel the Ecuadorian passion and pride in their service and education, and I left knowing much more about Ecuador than when I arrived.
My Galapagos Expedition sailing with Silversea Cruises on the Silver Origin was a remarkable adventure that combined luxury, exploration, education, culture, and natural wonders. My cruise experience left me with lasting memories and a deep appreciation for the breathtaking beauty of the Galapagos Islands and the people of Ecuador. If you’re looking for a luxurious way to experience one of the most beautiful destinations in the world, sailing with Silversea throughout the beautiful Galapagos Island is the ultimate upscale bucket list vacation experience option to consider.
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