strawnarts
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2025
- Messages
- 3
Wahoo111 Also wrote an excellent review for this same trip back in June 2024, so I encourage to review that trip report as well. There are not a lot of recent reviews about this specific trip and the online itinerary doesn't match that closely to what you'll actually be doing each day on and off the ship.
Adventures by Disney - Galapagos March 2025 East South Itinerary
The Galapagos Island are very special place, and it's no exaggeration to refer to the whole National Park and Marine Reserve as PARADISE. Seeing it by ship (like Darwin did) is the best (and only) way to see many of the different islands in a relatively short period of time. On this small ship cruise trip you will enjoy many unforgettable experiences while hiking, swimming, snorkeling and occasionally kayaking on the islands of North Seymour, Bartolome, San Cristobal, Espanola, Floreana, Santa Cruz and Baltra Islands. All the stops are weather permitting of course. We had fantastic weather and very warm water for the duration of our trip. It was very green everywhere because of an especially wet year, but the heavier rain cells kept going around us, which was very fortunate for us.
The ship:
The Galapagos Legend is very large by Galapagos standards (about 100 passengers and 75 crew and guides), but quite small compared to the big Disney Cruise ships in the Caribbean and elsewhere. It's also pretty old... originally build in 1961 as a military medical ship and refurbished later as a leisure cruise ship. It's pretty well taken care of, safe and clean, but don't expect the immaculate conditions you might see on those big Disney ships (especially the brand new ones). Note that the ship will not be tied to a dock at any point of the trip. You will only be accessing the ship by panaga... more on that later in the excursions section. The majority of rooms are on the Earth deck (the first deck above where you board and exit the ship). Most, if not all, of the outer rooms on this level have two large rectangular windows which will give you great views of the islands and sea as you travel. We even saw a few sea creatures from our stateroom. So spend the extra $$ for one of these rooms if you can. You won't regret it! Balcony rooms cost quite a bit more, and who has time to be out on their balcony when there are so many excursions to do all day? If you are going with a family of four or so (we were 4), you can request adjoining staterooms, but be careful... we requested adjoining rooms early one but did not actually get them because of an error by the booking agent. By the time we spotted the error it was too late because the ship fills up so fast. Most of the meals will be in the Lonesome George restaurant, an indoor space on one of the lower decks, just above water level. You will have an assigned table at the start of the trip, which you will keep for the whole trip. It's a nice enough dining room, and the food was very good, but everything is a bit dated due to the age of the ship. Some days or evenings, weather permitting, you will eat 'Al fresco' in a partially covered area on one of the upper decks. It's a nice area, but space is even more limited up there, so you need to just grab a seat wherever you can and make 'new friends' that way. It's nice to be outside in such a beautiful place, but frankly, the meals down on the restaurant offer better service and quality, so don't be too put out if most or all of your meals are not Al Fresco due to weather. Besides the restaurant and staterooms, the area where you will spend the most time is the Lounge room. There is a bar in there (not always open though), unlimited coffee (except when more is brewing for an hour), and this is where almost all of your briefing, lecture and other onboard activities will be. It's a fun area with great views, and somehow it never seems too crowded even though it's not nearly as big as the restaurant. There is also a room for snorkeling gear and wet suits (we never needed wet suits, even my daughter who gets cold easily). There are big tubs of fresh water to wash your gear after each outing (required) and there are also dryers there that you can use for free for swimwear and other wet clothing. NO WASHERS though, so plan on washing things in your own stateroom sink as needed. There is a laundry service on board for extra charge but we never used it. A little more about the rooms.... they are small, very small, just about a foot between two twin beds for my son and I. They all have their own bathroom with a small shower, but again... emphasis on that word small. That's just life at sea, especially on a smaller, older ship like the Legend. Also expect a lot of rocking (the boat has no stabilizers), especially when cruising to and from some of the outer Islands like Espanola and Floreana. Also on the ship there are: A small library, kids room, small auditorium, outdoor pool (very small) & bar, two jacuzzis and supposedly a fitness room (which we never found). Just know that it's all VERY small, but still much more than the typical Galapagos charter boat would offer. If you want a a newer (but smaller) ship, look at the National Geographic tour operator for Galapagos. It's only a few years old, but I'm not sure what the price comparison is. No Disney options on that boat yet that I know of. There is free wifi on the Legend, but don't expect it to work very well. Ours went down for a couple of days, so if you're syncing photos and things to a computer be sure to bring cords and not just rely on wifi. Is that enough about the ship now?? Let's move on.
The crew:
The ship, the food and most of the activities are overseen by the ship operator which is Go Galapagos, not Disney. There are three official Disney representatives (Kim, Kevin and Robbie in our case) there to make sure things are being held up to Disney standards, and they were all excellent at doing that. They really know how to keep the day packed with great activities without just making you feel like herded cattle. We first met with them at the hotel in Quito to ask questions and pick up some goodies the night before departure to the Islands. They remained with our group of about 100 until after we arrived back in Quito at the end of the trip. They felt like good friends by the end of the trip and I wish I could bring them along on all my trips. The non-Disney crew was also very good but be prepared for some of your waiters and other service folks to speak very little English. Brush up on your High School Spanish if you have it, and put a translator app on your phone. There is also a doctor on board, which you may need. We need her a few times due to some mild sickness and a badly stubbed toe (more on that later).
The guides:
Shortly after boarding the ship, there is a safety meeting and a briefing where you will be assigned to one group of about 12-15 people with a guide. We were the Gaviotas (Seagulls). You will be with this same group for most of the excursions so you will get to know your group and guide very well by the end of the trip. Hope you all like each other! The guides are all very knowledge about the wildlife, geology, oceanography and other aspects of the Galapagos Archipelago. They will present lectures on several days during the cruise to cover several of these subjects in more depth than you get when out on excursions, so be sure to attend those if you can. Most of the guides are born and raised on the islands (almost no one can move to Galapagos at will) so they are a wealth of information and truly seem to deeply love the treasure they call home. The guides are all good, but not necessarily great. They are contracted by the ship operator, and required for each group of 15 or fewer people to enter the National Park areas at all. They're not hired by Disney or managed by the Disney reps, so you get who you get. Our guide was a younger man named Marcos (late 20s probably), who was quite experienced and knowledgeable for a man of his age, but not super outgoing or friendly. He was often more concerned with keeping us moving on time than sharing the wonder of the islands, like most of the other guides seemed to be doing a lot. There were two guides in particular... Emil and Juan Carlos... that were absolutely fantastic. If they happen to be there if and when you go on this trip, get to know them early and speak to them often. Listen to them carefully and you will benefit in many ways. Juan Carlos especially, has been guiding in that area for 40+ years and should be considered a Galapagos national treasure in my opinion. He is an inspiration for knowledge, kindness, fitness and living life to the full. I hope he can read this someday and hear my gratitude (also please message me if my underwater camera shows up in Panama or someplace like that).
The expeditions:
Without doubt, the expeditions are the true star of the show. Don't miss a single one if you can help it, no matter how tired you may feel each day, especially toward the end. If you are a strong and confident swimmer, also be sure to do all of the deep water snorkels if you can. It's the next best thing to a scuba-specific charter and frankly a lot more free-feeling than having to deal with a bunch of scuba gear. You will also have a chance to snorkel form the beaches, swim in the waves in some places, hike the interior of some islands and even go kayaking. Kayaks are limited, so be sure to sign up for your kayak outing early. There is also a glass bottom boat that you can sign up for if you're not comfortable with snorkeling or swimming, or just for something different. I never used it, but it is included (like everything else) at no extra cost if you're booking the Disney way. For all expeditions, you will be using a panga (aka dinghy), which is a zodiac style boat with a large outboard engine that seats about 12-14 people, including your guide, driver and sometimes a Disney rep (such a great job!). Expect a lot of wet landings, where you will have to lower yourself off the back of the boat into maybe a foot or more of water and sometimes waves. The guides and support folks will help you whenever needed, so younger children and people of more limited mobility need not be left out. They will also hep you get your backpacks, fanny packs, camera bags and other things on and off the ship as needed. Exiting and returning to the ship will also be directly to and from the panga via a hatch on the side of the boat. Expect a lot of waves and current, so step carefully and accept the help of crew and guides even if you don't think you need it. It's part of the adventure though, so do your best to get in shape before this ship and don't let nervousness hold you back. The things you will see and do on shore (and in the water) are unlike anything else in the world so participate in everything that you can. Expect to be woken up before 7 am to have breakfast and be off the ship by around 8, with at lest two or three excursions happening every day. There is a briefing in the lounge each night to help you know what to bring and expect the following day.
Activities:
Besides shore excursions, there may be a star night (we got lucky with just one very clear night), a dance party night and things like bingo and trivia nights. But don't expect such things every night or for them to last very long when they happen. Everyone will be way too tired at the end of each day anyways. But again, do everything you can, enjoy it... this is the tip of a lifetime (and probably the $$$ spend of a lifetime).
A few short warnings:
(1) Book early and make sure that you actually get the room(s) you reserved
(2) Get some kind of travel insurance. You don't to use Disney's full coverage, but you need some. We used some basic coverage by the Disney folks and more comprehensive (and cheaper!) coverage through our bank.
(3) Bring extra memory cards and/or a way to back things up. I lost my small underwater camera at a scary moment of deep snorkeling and all of my underwater images along with it. A better leash and float would have helped, but things still happen out there.
(4) Photography equipment: Commercial photo and video equipment is not allowed without special permits. I have some pretty high end photo gear, including a big zoom lens and a tripod. There was some debate about whether this should be allowed or not. Eventually most of it was, but I would recommend not bringing along a tripod at all. You will seldom have time to set up any kind of fixed shot, and it may be prohibited anyways if it looks like pro gear. A hand held wide-to-zoom lends and maybe a monopod is best, but usually the wildlife lets you get so close that you won't need much beyond a basic point and shoot setup anyways. You may want a real zoom lens if you plan to capture flamingo images. They tend to be way out in brackish ponds.
(5) Closed toe shoes. Use them. Crocs will be better than sandals for beach excursions and hiking shoes are best for the hikes. There is a day we played soccer on the beach with some of the crew. It was a sandy soccer field on Espanola Island with lava rock beneath. Everyone was taking off their shoes to play in the sand, so we did too. My son stubbed his toe very badly on a hidden lava rock and almost needed stitches, which put a real damper on or whole trip (fortunately it was the second to last day when that happened and he's fine now). Once of the other adult passengers also stubbed his toe that day and needed bandaging too. Wear shoes.
OK that was really long and mostly unedited. I don't usually like writing long reviews, but the price tag here is so high and I'd like to help other really know what to expect. We had a fabulous time overall but there are definitely things we'd do differently if we could have a do over.
Adventures by Disney - Galapagos March 2025 East South Itinerary
The Galapagos Island are very special place, and it's no exaggeration to refer to the whole National Park and Marine Reserve as PARADISE. Seeing it by ship (like Darwin did) is the best (and only) way to see many of the different islands in a relatively short period of time. On this small ship cruise trip you will enjoy many unforgettable experiences while hiking, swimming, snorkeling and occasionally kayaking on the islands of North Seymour, Bartolome, San Cristobal, Espanola, Floreana, Santa Cruz and Baltra Islands. All the stops are weather permitting of course. We had fantastic weather and very warm water for the duration of our trip. It was very green everywhere because of an especially wet year, but the heavier rain cells kept going around us, which was very fortunate for us.
The ship:
The Galapagos Legend is very large by Galapagos standards (about 100 passengers and 75 crew and guides), but quite small compared to the big Disney Cruise ships in the Caribbean and elsewhere. It's also pretty old... originally build in 1961 as a military medical ship and refurbished later as a leisure cruise ship. It's pretty well taken care of, safe and clean, but don't expect the immaculate conditions you might see on those big Disney ships (especially the brand new ones). Note that the ship will not be tied to a dock at any point of the trip. You will only be accessing the ship by panaga... more on that later in the excursions section. The majority of rooms are on the Earth deck (the first deck above where you board and exit the ship). Most, if not all, of the outer rooms on this level have two large rectangular windows which will give you great views of the islands and sea as you travel. We even saw a few sea creatures from our stateroom. So spend the extra $$ for one of these rooms if you can. You won't regret it! Balcony rooms cost quite a bit more, and who has time to be out on their balcony when there are so many excursions to do all day? If you are going with a family of four or so (we were 4), you can request adjoining staterooms, but be careful... we requested adjoining rooms early one but did not actually get them because of an error by the booking agent. By the time we spotted the error it was too late because the ship fills up so fast. Most of the meals will be in the Lonesome George restaurant, an indoor space on one of the lower decks, just above water level. You will have an assigned table at the start of the trip, which you will keep for the whole trip. It's a nice enough dining room, and the food was very good, but everything is a bit dated due to the age of the ship. Some days or evenings, weather permitting, you will eat 'Al fresco' in a partially covered area on one of the upper decks. It's a nice area, but space is even more limited up there, so you need to just grab a seat wherever you can and make 'new friends' that way. It's nice to be outside in such a beautiful place, but frankly, the meals down on the restaurant offer better service and quality, so don't be too put out if most or all of your meals are not Al Fresco due to weather. Besides the restaurant and staterooms, the area where you will spend the most time is the Lounge room. There is a bar in there (not always open though), unlimited coffee (except when more is brewing for an hour), and this is where almost all of your briefing, lecture and other onboard activities will be. It's a fun area with great views, and somehow it never seems too crowded even though it's not nearly as big as the restaurant. There is also a room for snorkeling gear and wet suits (we never needed wet suits, even my daughter who gets cold easily). There are big tubs of fresh water to wash your gear after each outing (required) and there are also dryers there that you can use for free for swimwear and other wet clothing. NO WASHERS though, so plan on washing things in your own stateroom sink as needed. There is a laundry service on board for extra charge but we never used it. A little more about the rooms.... they are small, very small, just about a foot between two twin beds for my son and I. They all have their own bathroom with a small shower, but again... emphasis on that word small. That's just life at sea, especially on a smaller, older ship like the Legend. Also expect a lot of rocking (the boat has no stabilizers), especially when cruising to and from some of the outer Islands like Espanola and Floreana. Also on the ship there are: A small library, kids room, small auditorium, outdoor pool (very small) & bar, two jacuzzis and supposedly a fitness room (which we never found). Just know that it's all VERY small, but still much more than the typical Galapagos charter boat would offer. If you want a a newer (but smaller) ship, look at the National Geographic tour operator for Galapagos. It's only a few years old, but I'm not sure what the price comparison is. No Disney options on that boat yet that I know of. There is free wifi on the Legend, but don't expect it to work very well. Ours went down for a couple of days, so if you're syncing photos and things to a computer be sure to bring cords and not just rely on wifi. Is that enough about the ship now?? Let's move on.
The crew:
The ship, the food and most of the activities are overseen by the ship operator which is Go Galapagos, not Disney. There are three official Disney representatives (Kim, Kevin and Robbie in our case) there to make sure things are being held up to Disney standards, and they were all excellent at doing that. They really know how to keep the day packed with great activities without just making you feel like herded cattle. We first met with them at the hotel in Quito to ask questions and pick up some goodies the night before departure to the Islands. They remained with our group of about 100 until after we arrived back in Quito at the end of the trip. They felt like good friends by the end of the trip and I wish I could bring them along on all my trips. The non-Disney crew was also very good but be prepared for some of your waiters and other service folks to speak very little English. Brush up on your High School Spanish if you have it, and put a translator app on your phone. There is also a doctor on board, which you may need. We need her a few times due to some mild sickness and a badly stubbed toe (more on that later).
The guides:
Shortly after boarding the ship, there is a safety meeting and a briefing where you will be assigned to one group of about 12-15 people with a guide. We were the Gaviotas (Seagulls). You will be with this same group for most of the excursions so you will get to know your group and guide very well by the end of the trip. Hope you all like each other! The guides are all very knowledge about the wildlife, geology, oceanography and other aspects of the Galapagos Archipelago. They will present lectures on several days during the cruise to cover several of these subjects in more depth than you get when out on excursions, so be sure to attend those if you can. Most of the guides are born and raised on the islands (almost no one can move to Galapagos at will) so they are a wealth of information and truly seem to deeply love the treasure they call home. The guides are all good, but not necessarily great. They are contracted by the ship operator, and required for each group of 15 or fewer people to enter the National Park areas at all. They're not hired by Disney or managed by the Disney reps, so you get who you get. Our guide was a younger man named Marcos (late 20s probably), who was quite experienced and knowledgeable for a man of his age, but not super outgoing or friendly. He was often more concerned with keeping us moving on time than sharing the wonder of the islands, like most of the other guides seemed to be doing a lot. There were two guides in particular... Emil and Juan Carlos... that were absolutely fantastic. If they happen to be there if and when you go on this trip, get to know them early and speak to them often. Listen to them carefully and you will benefit in many ways. Juan Carlos especially, has been guiding in that area for 40+ years and should be considered a Galapagos national treasure in my opinion. He is an inspiration for knowledge, kindness, fitness and living life to the full. I hope he can read this someday and hear my gratitude (also please message me if my underwater camera shows up in Panama or someplace like that).
The expeditions:
Without doubt, the expeditions are the true star of the show. Don't miss a single one if you can help it, no matter how tired you may feel each day, especially toward the end. If you are a strong and confident swimmer, also be sure to do all of the deep water snorkels if you can. It's the next best thing to a scuba-specific charter and frankly a lot more free-feeling than having to deal with a bunch of scuba gear. You will also have a chance to snorkel form the beaches, swim in the waves in some places, hike the interior of some islands and even go kayaking. Kayaks are limited, so be sure to sign up for your kayak outing early. There is also a glass bottom boat that you can sign up for if you're not comfortable with snorkeling or swimming, or just for something different. I never used it, but it is included (like everything else) at no extra cost if you're booking the Disney way. For all expeditions, you will be using a panga (aka dinghy), which is a zodiac style boat with a large outboard engine that seats about 12-14 people, including your guide, driver and sometimes a Disney rep (such a great job!). Expect a lot of wet landings, where you will have to lower yourself off the back of the boat into maybe a foot or more of water and sometimes waves. The guides and support folks will help you whenever needed, so younger children and people of more limited mobility need not be left out. They will also hep you get your backpacks, fanny packs, camera bags and other things on and off the ship as needed. Exiting and returning to the ship will also be directly to and from the panga via a hatch on the side of the boat. Expect a lot of waves and current, so step carefully and accept the help of crew and guides even if you don't think you need it. It's part of the adventure though, so do your best to get in shape before this ship and don't let nervousness hold you back. The things you will see and do on shore (and in the water) are unlike anything else in the world so participate in everything that you can. Expect to be woken up before 7 am to have breakfast and be off the ship by around 8, with at lest two or three excursions happening every day. There is a briefing in the lounge each night to help you know what to bring and expect the following day.
Activities:
Besides shore excursions, there may be a star night (we got lucky with just one very clear night), a dance party night and things like bingo and trivia nights. But don't expect such things every night or for them to last very long when they happen. Everyone will be way too tired at the end of each day anyways. But again, do everything you can, enjoy it... this is the tip of a lifetime (and probably the $$$ spend of a lifetime).
A few short warnings:
(1) Book early and make sure that you actually get the room(s) you reserved
(2) Get some kind of travel insurance. You don't to use Disney's full coverage, but you need some. We used some basic coverage by the Disney folks and more comprehensive (and cheaper!) coverage through our bank.
(3) Bring extra memory cards and/or a way to back things up. I lost my small underwater camera at a scary moment of deep snorkeling and all of my underwater images along with it. A better leash and float would have helped, but things still happen out there.
(4) Photography equipment: Commercial photo and video equipment is not allowed without special permits. I have some pretty high end photo gear, including a big zoom lens and a tripod. There was some debate about whether this should be allowed or not. Eventually most of it was, but I would recommend not bringing along a tripod at all. You will seldom have time to set up any kind of fixed shot, and it may be prohibited anyways if it looks like pro gear. A hand held wide-to-zoom lends and maybe a monopod is best, but usually the wildlife lets you get so close that you won't need much beyond a basic point and shoot setup anyways. You may want a real zoom lens if you plan to capture flamingo images. They tend to be way out in brackish ponds.
(5) Closed toe shoes. Use them. Crocs will be better than sandals for beach excursions and hiking shoes are best for the hikes. There is a day we played soccer on the beach with some of the crew. It was a sandy soccer field on Espanola Island with lava rock beneath. Everyone was taking off their shoes to play in the sand, so we did too. My son stubbed his toe very badly on a hidden lava rock and almost needed stitches, which put a real damper on or whole trip (fortunately it was the second to last day when that happened and he's fine now). Once of the other adult passengers also stubbed his toe that day and needed bandaging too. Wear shoes.
OK that was really long and mostly unedited. I don't usually like writing long reviews, but the price tag here is so high and I'd like to help other really know what to expect. We had a fabulous time overall but there are definitely things we'd do differently if we could have a do over.
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