Silversea Cruises will return to service in the Galapagos Islands this summer on its new ship, the Silver Origin, with an inaugural June 19 cruise. 

Full vaccinations will be mandatory for all guests and crew.  

The 100-passenger Silver Origin will offer two alternating itineraries that incorporate five maiden calls, including the island of Santa Fe. Both itineraries will include Fernandina and Isabela, two of the Galapagos’ most iconic destinations.

Celebrity Cruises also said last week that it would return to the Galapagos this summer: It plans to relaunch its three ships by the end of September, starting with the Celebrity Flora on July 4.

On the Origin’s San Cristobal-to-Baltra itinerary, the ship will call at Kicker Rock, Isla Bartolome, Buccaneer Cove (Santiago), Punta Vicente Roca (Isabela), Punta Espinoza (Fernandina), Tagus Cove (Isabela), Elizabeth Bay (Isabela), Post Office Bay (Floreana), Champion Islet (Floreana), Punta Cormorant (Floreana), Santa Cruz Highlands, Fausto Llerena Breeding Centre in Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz), Cerro Dragon (Santa Cruz), Isla Guy Fawkes and Baha Borrero (Santa Cruz).

The Baltra-to-San Cristobal itinerary will visit Daphne Major, Prince Philip’s Steps (Genovesa), Darwin Bay (Genovesa), North Seymour, Sullivan Bay (Santiago), Punta Mangle (Fernandina), Punta Moreno (Isabela), Fausto Llerena Breeding Centre in Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz), Isla Santa Fe, Gardner Bay (Espaola), Punta Suarez (Espanola), Rodriguez Breeding Centre (San Cristobal) and Cerro Brujo (San Cristobal). Silversea said this itinerary will appeal particularly to bird and nature lovers.

The Origin will offer year-round Galapagos sailings, and the fare includes international, roundtrip flights to Ecuador and the archipelago, as well as a pre-cruise hotel stay in Quito and a post-cruise day-use hotel in Guayaquil.

The Silver Origin was delivered by Dutch shipyard De Hoop last June,
one of two Silversea ships delivered during the pandemic: The
Silver Moon was delivered in November. Roberto Martinoli, Silversea’s CEO, noted that the Origin is both the first ship to join the fleet since Silversea Cruises joined the Royal Caribbean Group and its first destination-specific ship. 

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