Anne and Joe’s first sailing with us was in 2009 aboard Celebrity Solstice® with Anne’s parents. They fell in love with everything we had to offer and became regular guests. While aboard Celebrity Infinity® in 2016, they saw a presentation about sailing to the Galapagos aboard Celebrity Xpedition® and were enamored, but believed it was out of their reach. A few years later, Anne and Joe were looking forward to their next sailing with us when they learned their cruise would be canceled as the pandemic brought the world to a standstill. However, the couple saw the bright side of the situation. Celebrity was offering guests 125% credit if they rebooked a future cruise instead of requesting a refund. The Marques saw a golden opportunity to book their dream cruise to the Galapagos—and even added a land tour to Machu Picchu.
They eagerly awaited their vacation in the months leading up to February 2022, calling it an ideal retirement gift for Joe, who completed a long career with the Navy in late 2021. The well-traveled couple had visited many unique destinations on cruises over the years—including Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Italy, and a memorable trip through the Panama Canal. But they knew from the moment they reached Celebrity Xpedition’s embarkation port until they boarded their plane home that this trip would eclipse them all.
Anne and Joe said the Galapagos were breathtaking, and the service on board was impeccable. “We were so impressed by the professionalism of the crew and staff, and their obvious enjoyment of what they do. I would be remiss if I didn't give huge kudos to the whole crew but especially to Dora, our cruise director; Fernando the maître d'; Carlos, the hotel manager; and our naturalists Alex, Angel, Edwin, and Farydee, who made our adventure so memorable,” they said.
At the ports where Celebrity Xpedition stopped, the couple’s days were filled with hiking, snorkeling, Zodiac rides, and immersive wildlife encounters. They returned to land, and made their way to Cusco, where they would begin the journey to Machu Picchu alongside their guides, Jenny and Edgar. “It turned out that there would only be four of us on the tour, so we felt like royalty. Edgar was so knowledgeable and eager to share his country's history with us. From the accommodations to the food to the people, everything was first class. No matter where else our travels may take us, this was truly a trip of a lifetime,” they said.
We’re thrilled that Anne and Joe got to experience the amazing Galapagos with us. Next up for the couple are two sailings in Europe this fall aboard Celebrity Infinity® and Celebrity Apex®, and we can’t wait for our next adventures together.