Step Aboard the Galapagos Islands

After 2 years of planning and 18 months of construction, we’re excited to introduce Celebrity Flora℠ to the world. It’s been an exciting journey creating a ship that will create breathtaking journeys for you.

 

Here’s a look at some of our proudest achievements in building this incredible ship and delivering unforgettable vacations in one of the most unique destinations in the world.

Celebrity Flora is the first ship of its kind designed specifically with the captivating Galapagos Islands in mind. Flora marks an evolutionary turning point in the approach to ship design by allowing the destination and its environment to inspire and influence every decision made. We designed Flora in 3-D, which let us see and experience every space on board in virtual reality before we started building. The 3-D design let us fine-tune every detail and create the most state-of-the-art ship to ever sail in the Galapagos.

Our talented and trusted Celebrity partner of more than 20 years, Francesca Bucci of BG Studio International, executed our vision for Flora. Francesca’s design concept emphasized sustainability and luxury throughout the ship. Flora pairs exquisite custom furnishings with intimate spaces that blend seamlessly with the sea, the islands, and the sky above. The design invites you to celebrate the magnificent environment and connect with your surroundings from anywhere you are on Flora.

Francesca’s design also honors the heritage of the Galapagos islands by sourcing upscale and sustainable materials from the region, including chic and comfortable furniture created by world-renowned designer, Adriana Hoyos, an Ecuadorian native. Adriana’s furniture collection for Flora is inspired by the landscape and character of the diverse islands of the Galapagos. She uses local elements that connect organically with the environment, which helps make Flora as unique as the Galapagos Islands themselves.

Together, we’ve created a ship that truly differentiates between visiting this incredible corner of the world and experiencing it.

All-Suite Accomodations

Culinary Excellence

Onboard Experience

One of the finishing touches that makes Celebrity Flora one-of-a-kind is the work Rebecca Wilson did to curate a coherent collection of original art that was specific to the Galapagos and could be found nowhere else except Flora.

All of the art is inspired by the flora and fauna of the Galapagos. It’s an incredibly rich environment, and the reason people know about the Galapagos and want to go there is for its natural habitat, and Rebecca wanted this to be reflected in all the art on board.

The collection includes sculptural pieces and paintings that were inspired by the islands. Rebecca also worked with photographers who have extensive knowledge of the Galapagos, both on land and under water, and she selected photographs for Flora that would inspire guests to discover and spot some of the main attractions (wildlife and landmarks), which creates an exciting sense of being on an ocean safari.

Many of the accessories on board were purchased from markets and stores in Quito, including bowls and tortoises made out of special clay by Canelos Quichua women living in the Oriente region. The painting on these bowls is so fine that the point of the brush is made using their own hair. And, of course, the ship wouldn’t be complete without miniature blue-footed boobies made by local artisans.

We know today’s explorers have high standards when it comes to traveling in comfort, and we set our sights on exceeding every expectation while staying true to the destination experience. The Galapagos Islands are a once-in-a-lifetime vacation—especially with Celebrity Cruises.

Celebrity Flora is an all-inclusive mega yacht designed to blend seamlessly into the destination. Aboard Flora, you’ll enjoy the largest and most luxurious accommodations in the Galapagos, featuring unrivaled design, amenities, and services, plus our vacation packages there are all-inclusive, so your vacation will be completely carefree. From shore excursions (two a day) guided by Galapagos National Park certified naturalists to hotel stays, flights, beverages, and menus crafted by our Michellin-starred chef, we’ve got it covered. Because, who wants to carry a wallet in a swim suit?

We not only offer the most luxurious vacations in the Galapagos, but we do it with the smallest footprint we can make. The Galapagos Islands are one of the most unique archipelagos in the world, and our passionate focus on the importance of the environment is ongoing. In fact, in the thirteen years we’ve been sailing in the Galapagos Islands, we practice the highest levels of environmental stewardship. We’ve done so much to leave the islands virtually untouched that Ecuador’s Secretary of Tourism holds Celebrity Cruises as the standard of excellence for reducing our carbon footprint.

So, as the first ship ever designed for a destination, we wanted to ensure that Celebrity Flora was built with every state-of-the-art option and latest technology to make her one of the most eco-friendly and environmentally safe ships sailing on the planet. From a Dynamic Positioning System that enables the ship to stay on station without the use of anchors (to help protect the seas) to the solar panels on Deck 7 (it’s the first ship of this size to have them) that supplements the ship’s electricity supply and reduces emissions. Celebrity Flora even uses reverse osmosis equipment to process sea water into fresh water that supplies 100% of the ship’s needs.

Our Exciting Partnerships

EarthEcho International

We’ve also partnered with EarthEcho International, a nonprofit organization founded by Philippe Cousteau. Jr., to introduce a comprehensive and customized youth program designed to empower a new generation of environmental advocates. The program is designed to inspire young people to act now for a sustainable future. Together, we’re engaging with youth and the local community to support the protection and enhancement of the treasured ecosystems of the Galapagos Islands, and we’ll explore opportunities to expand our partnership to other regions of the world.

Frost Museum of Science

We’ve collaborated with Miami’s Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science to design educational videos that are part of our immersive Galapagos experience. Fun and engaging, the videos can be viewed at your leisure in the bars and lounges and in your suite. Each video ranges from 5-minute shorts to in-depth 30-minute “TED” style lectures on relevant topics that help prepare you for your daily adventures in the islands.

Beyond our eco-friendly focus on Celebrity Flora, we also work closely with local organizations to create programs designed to improve the quality of life for the residents of the Galapagos Islands. We continue to explore opportunities for our guests to participate in tours that give back to the Islands like our successful Scalesia Reforestation Project.

Since 2014, through our Scalesia Reforestation Project, we’ve worked in collaboration with the Galapagos National Park and our Naturalists to have guests plant more than 36,000 Scalesia trees. This not only helps the wildlife that rely on these trees for survival, but it helps ensure future generations get to experience this magical place.

There are many other ways we’re helping the people of the islands. We support the local communities by continuing to purchase sustainably caught fish and seafood from local fisherman. We also continue growing the Galapagos Fund, which together with the Galapagos Conservancy, gives our guests the opportunity to have a direct and lasting impact on the preservation of the region’s rare and species-rich marine, wildlife, and plant ecosystem. Since 2006, our guests have contributed over $1.5 million to this fund and other projects in the area.

We’re extremely proud of our ongoing efforts to protect this amazing part of the world. Our goal is to help preserve this unbelievable living time capsule so future generations can experience it exactly the way you can today.

Flora's Godmother - The Perfect Fit for Flora

With our passionate focus on environmentalism in the Galapagos Islands, our choice for Celebrity Flora’s Godmother was an easy one to make—Yolanda Kakabadse. She’s a prominent environmental leader and a champion of sustainable development and biodiversity preservation. Yolanda is a former Minister of Environment for the Republic of Ecuador and a former president of both the International Union for Conservation of Nature and World Wildlife Fund International. She has dedicated her career to leaving the world a better place, which is exactly why she’s the perfect fit.