Before Your Trip

What's included and what's not

Just about everything is included in your fare: 1 night hotel in Guayaquil before the trip, 1 night hotel in Quito after the trip, roundtrip airfare from Guayaquil - Baltra - Quito, 7 nights aboard the ship, fantastic meals, house wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, Olivia staff assistance throughout, Galapagos park entrance fee, use of snorkeling equipment, wetsuits, naturalist staff and service taxes, gratuities to local guides and ship's crew.

The price of your trip does not include roundtrip airfare from US to Guayaquil or from Quito, tranfers from airport to hotel at beginning/end, incidentals on board, wine, soft drinks, alcohol, International Departure Tax from Quito (approx.$28), insurance, telephone, spa services, fax, internet access and medical attention.

NDA charges are not included in the price of the trip but have already been added to your reservation as reflected on your invoice.

Travel documentation and identification

You will need a passport that is valid for six months past the date of the trip. If you are not a US citizen, please check with both your country's consulate and the consulate to make sure that you do not need an entry visa or other additional documentation.

Vaccinations

Please check with your local Public Heath Department or personal physician regarding immunization requirements for all countries on your itinerary. You may also check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web site at: www.cdc.gov. Just click on “Traveler’s Health” and then “Vaccinations.”

Travel insurance

We encourage all guests to purchase additional travel insurance. We recommend Travelex (www.travelex-insurance.com). In order to receive the most comprehensive coverage, please purchase your Travelex insurance within 21 days of your initial invoice. If you have questions about their coverage or pre-existing condition waivers, please contact Travelex directly at 800.228.9792 and refer location to number 05-0095.

Joining the Olivia.com trip group

If you’d like to chat with people who are going on the trip, sign up for the official Olivia trip group, Amazing Galapagos Adventure.

About Our Destination

Climate

In November, temperatures in Galapagos range from around 75 to 80 degrees.

Currency

US currency is accepted.

Languages

You will find Spanish and English.

Time Zone

The Galapagos are is 2 hours ahead of the west coast (PST) and 1 hour behind the east coast (EST).

Travel and arrival

Air travel

Where to fly into/out of

You will need to fly into Guayquil (GYE) and out of Quito (UIO).

Suggested arrival/departure times

You can arrive anytime into Guayquil (GYE) on November 14. For your departure, you can depart at anytime on November 23 from Quito (UIO). Most flights into Guayaquil arrive in the evening.

Discount airfare offer

American Airlines offers Olivia travelers a discounted rate. When you book your trip, you will receive a discount code that can be used by calling 800.433.1790 or visiting www.aa.com. Your discount code applies to flights in and out of Guayaquil (GYE), Lima (LIM) and Quito (UIO). Open jaws are allowed. Dates of travel are November 8, 2009-November 27, 2009. Booking begins on Nov. 14, 2008

Luggage allowances

While there is no luggage limit on the cruise itself, airlines often restrict (or charge) for excess baggage. Because each airline is different, and the regulations change over time, please check with your airline for baggage allowances.

Transfers and meeting up with Olivia

Getting to your pre-trip hotel

It is approximately 20 minutes from the airport to hotel in Guayaquil and 5 minutes from hotel to downtown to airport in Quito. There are no shuttles in Guayquil. Taxis are available for about $15 US in Guayquil and approximately $5 US in Quito. There is a shuttle from the Quito hotel to the airport.

Getting to your ship

It is approximately 20 minutes from the airport to hotel in Guayaquil and 5 minutes from hotel to downtown to airport in Quito. There are no shuttles in Guayquil. Taxis are available for about $15 US in Guayquil and approximately $5 US in Quito. There is a shuttle from the Quito hotel to the airport. Transfers from the hotel to the Guayaquil Airport/Baltra airport to ship and ship to Baltra Airport/Quito airport to hotel are all included. Transfers from the Airport to Hotel or Hotel to Airport on last day are not included.

Transfers after your trip

see below

Check in

Pre-trip Hotel

Our host hotels In Guayaquil and Quito are both Hilton Hotels www.hilton.com. Should you wish to arrive a day or two earlier or stay later, we recommend booking directly online with them. Hotel check-in is 3:00PM. (Most flights arrive into Guayaquil in the late evening, however.)

Ship

When we arrive into Baltra by plane, embarkation will begin immediately.

During your trip

Amenities

Amenities include: 1 restaurant, a small boutique, a small fitness center and a lounge. All staterooms have individually-controlled thermostats, efficiency bathrooms with shower, hair dryer, 110 volt outlets. Beds can be converted into one double bed. There is no TV.

Dining

Seating policy

This trip has open seating, which means you can sit wherever you like at mealtimes.

Times

Dining hours are: breakfast from 7:00AM - 8:00AM, lunch from 12 - 1:30PM, and dinner from 7:00PM-9:00PM.

Restaurants

There is one restaurant on board. Meals are served buffet style for breakfast and lunch. Dinner is sit-down style, with Ecuadorian flair.

Electricity

The cabins have 110 volt electricity. This is the same as in the US.

Excursions

Excursions will include snorkeling, swimming with dolphins, feeding stingrays, swimming with sharks, pearl farm visits and hiking.

Gratuities

Gratuities are included in the cost of the cruise. Gratuities are provided for your cabin steward, dining room steward, bus person, maitre'd and other-behind-the-scenes crew members. Gratuities for the naturalists are not included; tipping them is optional.

Internet/e-mail/fax

You will be able to send/receive emails to a private address, but there is no general Internet access.

Laundry and dry cleaning

There is no self service laundry or ironing. Laundry and pressing is available for a fee. Dry cleaning is not available.

Medical services

There is an onboard infirmary with a nurse. Medical services entail an additional fee.

Money: Paying for things on board

Onboard, the currency is US Dollars. Upon embarkation, you will register a credit card to your shipboard account in order to charge drinks, services, etc. You will not be able to get cash advances through your credit card; however, you will be able to cash traveler's checks.

Phone

In Santa Cruz, you'll have the ability to phone home at reasonable rates. Satellite phones are available on board at costs of approximately $12/minute.

Smoking policy

The ship is completely non-smoking except for the aft area of the exterior Upper Deck. Smoking is not permitted on most of the uninhabited islands.

Spa services

There is a spa onboard, and massages and other services are available for an additional fee.

Solo travelers

We average a few solo travelers on these trips who mix and mingle with everyone. For a trip this small, there are no solo coordinators. You can meet other solo travelers online at www.olivia.com/connect. Just join the Amazing Galapagos discussion group and introduce yourself!

After your Trip

Disembarkation time

We disembark early morning for our transfer to Baltra Airport. Exact flight times from Baltra to Quito will be announced in your final informational packet.

Post-trip hotel

We will utilize the Quito Hilton for our return Hotel. You may purchase additional hotel nights directly through the hotel online. Shuttle service from the Quito Hilton to the airport is available for a nominal fee, and cabs are available for approximately $15 US.

Transfers to the airport

Transfers to the airport on the last day of the trip are included. More specific information will be sent in your final informational package.

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