From August 17 until August 24, we visited several of the Galapagos Islands on the Lindblad-National Geographic Endeavor II along with approximately 90 other passengers and a large staff of naturalists, hospitality workers, and the ship’s crew members from Captain to seaman. Here are some photos to give you an idea of the experience.
 |
| Lifeboat drill — first activity on every ship. |
 |
| In the lounge as we get underway. |
 |
| Viewing the rock formation from the deck. You can see several of the many children who were onboard. One of the naturalists ran a special program for kids. |
 |
| Having a drink on deck as we approached the tiny island of Daphne Major. |
 |
| The Bridge is always open. We looked it over when the ship was anchored, so no activity. |
Zodiac Cruises
 |
| Getting ready to board a zodiac for one of several activities each day. |
 |
| On the zodiac, ready to go ashore. |
 |
| Bringing the zodiacs back on the ship so we can sail to somewhere else. |
Three Meals A Day
 |
| Breakfast buffet. |
 |
| The omelet chef. |
 |
| The dining room, decorated for an Ecuadorian lunch. Did you know that Panama hats are made in Ecuador? |
 |
| Pumpkin soup: first course of Ecuadorian lunch. |
 |
| Our usual waiter and two of our frequent dining companions. At right: Rich Reid, photo instructor, NatGeo photographer, award-winning filmmaker. |
 |
| The kitchen. |
 |
| Everyone who had a birthday during the voyage received a cake and enthusiastic singing by the waiters. Len was the first as his birthday was the day we boarded the ship. |
 |
| Between meals you could always have a drink from the fridge in the lounge. |
In Our Cabin
The Lounge
 |
| Afternoon and evening presentations in the lounge were often fascinating, including talks on the history of the Galapagos Islands, on their volcanic origins, and on the family history of some of the naturalists, whose families were among the early settlers. |
 |
| One night in the lounge a band from Santa Cruz Island played, and four dancers performed. Here’s Len joining the dancing. |
Goodbye to the Endeavor
 |
| The way the staff handled the luggage as we disembarked was amazing. |
All photos © 2024 mae sander
Oh! What an exciting opportunity!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this Mae. I love that cake Len had. Did he have to share it with everyone? Of course, who could eat it all by themselves? It looks like a great adventure, and it looks like you had a lovely time aboard the ship too. Those zodiacs look like they would be fun to ride in. hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos of the ship! Looks like a great cruise and an awesome place to visit. Take care, enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat ship and voyage. I have not been on a Natl Geo voyage but I know better now what to expect. It seems very organized onboard.
ReplyDeleteHow adventurous . Looks like you are having a wonderful time. Thanks for sharing all the photos .Enjoy..
ReplyDelete