Celebrity Cruises will acquire Galápagos Islands tour operator Ocean Adventures and its two ships, the 48-guest ship M/V Eclipse and the16-guest catamaran M/C Athala II.
Having operated its cruise liner Celebrity Xpedition in the Galápagos Islands for more than ten years, the acquisition will see the expansion of Celebrity’s guest capacity in the region increase by 65 percent.
Offering modern luxury travellers more choice, the fleet expansion means guests wishing to experience the Galápagos Islands will be able to choose a ship whose size and intimacy suits their personal preference, and will also offer more destinations.
Due to the new ships’ smaller sizes, hosting 16, 48 or 100 guests, more options for regular cruises, group bookings and custom charters will be on offer, and will provide guests with the opportunity to experience the region’s breathtaking natural beauty up close, while enjoying Celebrity’s personalised service and award-winning cuisine.
Itineraries will feature an expanded list of destinations for Celebrity, such as Puerto Villamil, Darwin Bay and Black Turtle Cove, offering guests a choice of immersive explorations of local culture through village encounters, unique tours, and local hotel stays, while new packages will explore the most spectacular places in Ecuador, such as the Andes Mountains and Machu Picchu in Peru.
The vessels are expected to join the Celebrity Cruises fleet in autumn 2016, and after they are revitalised with Celebrity’s signature modern luxury elements, they will sail as part of Celebrity Cruises’ fleet in 2017.
